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...
After the quiet intensity of their conversation at the café and the simple yet profound kiss that followed, Haerin and Danielle had settled into a new rhythm. The kind that was easy, natural, and full of joy. They were no longer just two people fumbling through a sea of misunderstandings and awkward moments. They were "together"—and somehow, it felt like it had always been this way.
But even though things between them had become more settled, there was still a sense of playfulness in their relationship. Neither of them were ones to take themselves too seriously, and now that they were officially "together," it felt like the perfect time to embrace the fun side of their connection.
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It all started one Saturday afternoon when Danielle texted Haerin, the message brief but intriguing:
[Danielle:"What's the silliest thing we can do today?"]
Haerin, who had just finished a marathon study session for her AP History class, stared at her phone for a moment, smiling to herself. She had no idea what Danielle was asking, but she was intrigued.
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She replied quickly:
[Haerin: I'm listening. What's your idea?"]
Danielle's response was practically instant:
[Danielle: "Mini golf"]
Haerin raised an eyebrow. "Mini Golf?"
[Danielle: "Yup. Totally. I'm bringing my A-game."]
Haerin couldn't help but laugh at the idea. Sure, it was a little random, but that was part of the fun. She had spent so much time overanalyzing everything before—worried about expectations and what everything meant. But with Danielle, the simplicity of just having fun felt... freeing.
[Haerin: "You're dead love I swear."]
—
The mini-golf course was small and a bit kitschy, tucked away in a corner of town behind a rundown ice cream shop. It was the kind of place that hadn't changed since the '80s, with colorful windmills, bright fake waterfalls, and oversized plastic animals scattered around the course. The kind of place where the goal wasn't to win, but to just enjoy being ridiculous.
