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...
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The weekend arrived with an almost suffocating quiet. Haerin had spent most of Friday night and Saturday trying to sort through the whirlwind of emotions that had followed her conversation with Danielle. It wasn't just that she had talked to Winter about their relationship—it was the feeling that she had chosen to confide in someone else before her. The trust they'd built, fragile as it was, now felt like it had cracked, and she wasn't sure how to put the pieces back together.
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She avoided Danielle's calls and texts all weekend. She didn't want to be rude, but she wasn't ready to have another conversation yet. Emma needed space, time to process. She didn't even know if she could put her thoughts into words without snapping or saying something she'd regret.
By Sunday evening, though, the weight of the silence was unbearable. She sat in her room, staring at her phone for what felt like an eternity. Every time she tried to come up with a message, every time her finger hovered over the "send" button, a wave of doubt washed over her. What was she supposed to say? "I'm angry, but I miss you"* Or 'I'm hurt, but I want us to work?'
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She finally pushed herself to send something. The message was short, careful:
[Haerin: "Can we talk tomorrow?"]
There. It was done. She hit send and put the phone down, letting out a shaky breath. The waiting was the hardest part. She could already feel the familiar nervous pit in her stomach, the anticipation of whatever conversation was coming next.
