Love in the Halls [Lee Donghyuck]

Chapter 86: This Isn't About Attention

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Narae settled into the soft cushions of the couch, sinking into the plush fabric as the gentle sound of the ocean waves outside blended with the low murmur of voices drifting through Chenle's beach house. It had been an hour since she arrived, and she was grateful for the peace, even as the others scattered, busy with their own plans.

She leaned against Renjun, who sat comfortably beside her, providing a sense of relief after the chaos of school had finally ended. The sun filtered through the large windows, casting a warm, golden hue over the room, making everything feel softer, more relaxed.

"So," Renjun began, his voice lazy with contentment, "did you finish that drama I told you about?"

Narae smiled, letting out a soft sigh. "I did. I binged it over the weekend."

Renjun raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And? Did it wreck you emotionally, or did you see that ending coming?"

"The ending was brutal," she admitted, tucking her legs beneath her and sinking deeper into the cushions. "I mean, who writes a love story like that and then just—" She gestured with her hand, "—destroys everything in the last episode?"

Renjun chuckled. "That's the beauty of it. The heartbreak makes it unforgettable."

She groaned, covering her face with her hands. "I don't know if I can handle another one of your emotional rollercoasters. I need something lighthearted."

"I warned you, though," Renjun teased, leaning his head back on the couch. "I said it wasn't for the faint of heart."

Narae rolled her eyes, a scoff escaping her lips. "Next time, you're watching a rom-com with me. Something cheesy and predictable."

Renjun made a face, but there was amusement in his eyes. "Fine, but only if I get to pick the next emotional gut punch afterward."

"Deal," she said with a laugh, feeling the tension from her week slowly ebbing away. This was what she missed—easy conversations that didn't require overthinking, just a calm escape from the world.

The moment of peace didn't last long, though. A sudden burst of energy filled the room as more people arrived, their chatter louder, their footsteps quick as they moved around the house. Narae barely registered them until a group of girls entered, one of them being Heejin.

And Heejin wasted no time attaching herself to Haechan.

Narae's smile faltered as she watched Heejin giggle and nudge Haechan, who seemed only half-engaged in the conversation. Still, it bothered her more than she cared to admit. She tried to brush it off, focusing on Renjun's latest K-drama recommendation, but her attention kept flickering back to the two of them.

Narae noticed it the second Heejin entered the house—the way her eyes immediately found Haechan as if nothing else mattered, and how she stationed herself right next to him, giggling at every little thing he said. At first, Narae tried to ignore it, focusing on Renjun's comments about the drama they'd been discussing. But as Heejin's presence grew louder, it became impossible to block out.

"Channie, I'm glad we got invited. I was already starting to miss you," Heejin's voice floated into the room, sugar-coated and laced with affection.

Narae clenched her jaw as Haechan's light laugh followed, his voice drifting toward a different room with Heejin in tow. Normally, she wouldn't have cared—people liked Haechan, that wasn't new. But something about the way Heejin attached herself to him, as if she had some unspoken claim, irked Narae more than she'd expected.