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 following week seemed to pass in a blur of laughter, late-night study sessions, and moments shared in between. Danielle and Haerin had fallen into a comfortable routine—one that, while still new, was beginning to feel more natural. The jealousy Haerin had once felt, the doubts, they all started to fade into the background. Danielle was there, present in ways she hadn't been before, and she found herself looking forward to the small moments with her.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
But even as things between them seemed to grow smoother, Haerin couldn't shake a sense of unease that had begun to creep in. It was a feeling she couldn't explain, an inkling that things were beginning to shift in ways she wasn't sure she was ready for. She wasn't the type to admit vulnerability easily, and the idea of letting her walls fully down around Danielle still made her uneasy, despite how much she enjoyed being with her.
Then, Thursday afternoon arrived, and everything came to a head.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Haerin had just finished a meeting with the school's student council, where she had been discussing the upcoming spring dance. She walked out of the meeting room, her mind on the checklist she needed to complete before the end of the day. When she turned the corner of the hallway, she almost bumped into someone. Danielle stood there, grinning as usual, her hands in her pockets.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Hey, you," she said, eyes bright. "Hey." Haerin returned her smile but noticed that she seemed unusually distracted. Her usual relaxed demeanor was edged with something... off.
