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 week after their quiet dinner had passed in a blur. Danielle and Haerin had settled into a new rhythm, one that felt simultaneously thrilling and terrifying. They spent more time together outside of school—casual afternoons at the park, late-night study sessions.
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It was different from before. Gone was the tension that had always lingered between them, replaced by something softer, more genuine. But beneath the new, unspoken understanding was a quiet undercurrent of uncertainty. Haerin was still trying to make sense of what was happening between them, and Danielle... well, Danielle wasn't exactly the best at expressing her feelings. Still, the small gestures—the late-night texts, the way her smile seemed to light up when she was around—were hard to ignore.
It was on a Thursday afternoon that the first crack in their new, easy dynamic appeared.
Haerin had just finished up a grueling chemistry exam and was walking out of the classroom, her head buzzing with a mix of relief and frustration. She couldn't wait to get home and put the whole thing behind her. But as she made her way down the hall, she saw her. Danielle, leaning against the lockers, her phone in her hand, her back turned to her.
She hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should interrupt her. But when she noticed she was talking to someone on the other end of the phone—laughing, her voice lighter than she was used to—her heart dropped, and she felt an unexpected surge of irritation.
["Danielle?"] she called, her voice quieter than she intended.
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Danielle turned, her face lighting up when she saw her. "Hey, you," she said, pushing off the lockers and tucking her phone into her pocket. "What's up?"
Haerin tried to mask the frustration creeping up her throat. "I just... saw you talking to someone." She couldn't quite keep the edge from her tone. "Are you always on the phone with someone?"
Danielle blinked, caught off guard by her sharpness. "Uh, yeah? It was just a call from winter," she said, her expression confused. "It's nothing. Just making plans for the weekend."
![["Danielle?"] she called, her voice quieter than she intended](https://img.wattpad.com/a1c35e24778ca24da05047bce75c2438af70c5e3/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f5f377a52347342777842334547513d3d2d313439343434343735392e313830363861343166643531346664633232343439313132383231312e6a7067?s=fit&w=720&h=720)
