In Hearts in the Hallway Kang Haerin Senior year at Hanlim Multi Arts High School begins like any other: filled with the usual stress of grades, friendships, and the ever-present tension with Marsh Danielle, her longtime rival. Danielle is the golde...
The next few days were a blur of tense moments, stolen glances, and calculated silences between Haerin and Danielle. Their rivalry, already an established force at Hanlim High, was about to reach new heights—and neither of them seemed willing to back down.
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The next morning, she walked into the classroom, fully equipped with her calculator, a notebook filled with notes, and a determination so strong it practically radiated from her. She dropped into her seat beside Danielle, who was already flipping through his textbook with that casual confidence that drove her insane.
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Danielle glanced over at her, a glint of amusement in her eyes. "You look serious today. Nervous?" /Danielle teased, her voice a little too smooth.
Haerin shot her a look, smirking. "Not even a little."
Danielle raised an eyebrow. "Well, I hope you're ready to lose." She leaned back in her chair, the smirk never leaving her face."I was born for this stuff."
"I'll be happy to knock you off that pedestal of yours," she said coolly, unzipping her bag and pulling out her notebook. "Let's see if you can 'actually' handle being 'second place' for once."
Danielle let out a laugh, not bothering to hide the amusement in her eyes. "We'll see, Kang kitty Kang. We'll see."
As the bell rang and the test papers were handed out, the air in the room seemed to crackle with tension. Every time Haerin glanced at Danielle, she could feel her eyes on her, a reminder of their unspoken competition. She had to stay focused. No distractions. No matter how much she seemed to enjoy pushing her buttons.
The test was harder than she'd anticipated, but Haerin didn't let it shake her. She methodically worked through each problem, blocking out the rest of the room, even the subtle glances Danielle kept sending her way.
About halfway through the test, Haerin caught him looking at her—no, not just looking. Danielle was watching her with that familiar, infuriating 'smirk' Her pen nearly slipped from her fingers.
