Clad in an oversized hoodie, your dark curly hair tumbles forward, concealing your eyes and most of your face, a welcome barrier against the surrounding bustle. 220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3P3fKIn5Uq
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9V63iCzwe3
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejCdQgFq4R
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1hkazj60F
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBVlDJuudZ
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNb3mfsmQR
He stands by the lockers, his stance casual yet imposing, his face giving nothing away. He catches your eye with a look that pins you in place.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3Wc7yK2Rg
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwbN3oPblH
In-woo: I need you to run some errands, grab my lunch, and don’t forget to pick up my math homework from the printer. Make it quick, okay?220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxNFNBDor6
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaZeIK4gsX
You nod, resigned. There's no escaping the routine. Every task is an echo of the years spent under his quiet dominance. You never use your money for his errands; he makes sure of it, a small token that doesn’t soften the burden of your duties.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndJGNsQSrL
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyroP53jawV
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNv5UpUfSM
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlj80KgJj5Q
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuL0bhM9vTH
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1YBe8rlLY
The cafeteria is bustling, a cacophony of adolescent energy and the clatter of trays. You fulfill his lunch order, the familiar pang of annoyance softened by the routine discovery of a burger among the items—a small treat he includes, unspoken, for you.
It's a strange, silent concession from him, a confusing gesture that adds complexity to your tangled feelings.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jvLYCF89o
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiBfeIrFYP
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvqaR7h0H0
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwh27mod7q
Back at the lockers, you hand him the neatly stacked papers and the food, his fingers brushing against yours briefly, unintentionally. His expression remains unreadable, his eyes not meeting yours.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZbIYUWwhp
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZy02hGVcN
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwf5KFVOt6m
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡks0Put86ur
You turn away, the frustration simmering inside. His indifference is a mask, the reasons behind his actions as obscured as his emotions. Every favor you do, every task you complete, you’re left with more questions than answers.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67YiUb565V
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAu5BpLqbW
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07TkZFCLDf
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnmZ6JDZVz
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjk6VIicku
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[Transition]220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLHNLUsFMF
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You navigate the quieting halls after your last class, anticipating the solitude of your walk home when you spot In-woo near the old, rarely used art room. It's not a surprise—more of a routine encounter.
He positions himself intentionally in your path, a silent sentinel with an unspoken expectation.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMwqtsCEiN
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVymwNzkKy4
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBN6wQizNx6
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVmqSqLaBd
With no spoken command needed, you walk over, feeling the invisible tug of his presence. This enforced ritual has turned into a personal challenge for you to fill his silence with a flood of your daily trivialities, hoping to drown him in the mundane details of your life.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovXX4xR3IW
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnAPCinynN
Today, you launch into an animated recount of your younger sibling’s latest antics, the words pouring out in a relentless stream.
He stands there, a stoic figure, giving nothing away as you chatter about the mess at breakfast, the chaos of getting everyone out the door, and the comedy of errors that followed.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsDLC7a0pN
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaWbuUwTcH
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUdMyKIzGz
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtR4XnVo3OG
Your monologue drifts to the more tedious aspects of your day—how you nearly fell asleep in history class, the peculiar smell of the school cafeteria, or the peculiar way your pen keeps leaking.
It’s a litany of the profoundly ordinary, delivered with a hope that maybe, just maybe, he’ll grow tired of these one-sided sessions.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFomZdqvPTM
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDkAjkNrdN
Despite your efforts, In-woo remains as impassive as ever, his face a mask of indifference. Is he even listening, or are you just background noise to him?220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwhdSqh2Fn
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJpbh8EgmH
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcJweV1J2N
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6690EPlhr
As the corridor empties, leaving echoes in its wake, your stories begin to run dry. You look at him, trying to gauge any sign of boredom or irritation, but his expression is unreadable—locked away behind a façade of detachment.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcusCHHaPB
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCL0o6Ow0cR
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIvbfDMVgT
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqxr15n617
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaZxZMmMnT
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiO53uiMNm
You watch him disappear around the corner, the weight of unspoken questions lingering in the air. Picking up your backpack, you start towards the exit, pondering the peculiar form of attention he gives you, wondering if it means more than you realize.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdiEicFCXP
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGBIreylet
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk32XKSu19N
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtqVGBzJhk
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvWqTdXtzK
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[Transition]220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovRE9VMbhD
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You stride down the school corridor, your thoughts swirling with the conflicting emotions that have haunted you through the years. The echoes of your footsteps mingle with the whispers of your internal turmoil—a constant battle between disdain and desire.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4bksRClP0
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgQHoPDdvB
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIzcYRlGX3
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViC7uF8Ena
As you pass by, your eyes catch sight of In-woo in the library, helping a younger student reach a book on a high shelf. His movements are graceful, effortless.
His face, usually so impassive when he looks at you, softens with a smile that doesn't reach his eyes but lights up his features all the same. The sight tugs at something deep within you.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32ZcBvnDL7
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEjuiXPPKL
Shin-woo: (Look at him... even when he smiles, it's like he's not really there. But it's enough to make my heart skip, isn't it?)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVvCZNXylJ
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2z1m0auly
You lean against the lockers, watching him interact with her—a stark contrast to how he treats you. The girl giggles, thanking him, and he nods with a trace of that unreachable smile.
As they part ways, your heart tightens, the familiar pang of jealousy and longing squeezing tightly.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTAxdIPfHU
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgCXrLzgfa
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56fGrbEcd8
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dxjTuKrxa
The bell rings, pulling you from your reverie, but the image of his gentle smile lingers in your mind. You push off from the lockers, forcing your legs to move, dragging your tangled emotions along the tiled floor.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaN2HcZ3vlF
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FA7vuquxa
Shin-woo: (He's so confusing... so frustrating. I hate how much I pay attention, but I can't stop. It's like being stuck in a loop, always back to square one with him.)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8p956YOMlX
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaz2vZ9zLA7
As you turn the corner, your eyes inadvertently search for another glimpse of him, a habit you despise yet indulge in every time. The complex weave of your feelings tightens with each sighting, each casual interaction he has that you witness from afar.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfJJtScP0A
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1a2Aogf161
Shin-woo: (And every time he's kind, every time he smiles at someone else, it feels like a small betrayal. Why do I even care? Why can't I just turn off these feelings?)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoxHvXM0WG
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQSD5Rk1Ew
You head to class, the weight of your unspoken questions and unresolved emotions clouding your mind like a fog that refuses to lift. Each step is a reminder of the turbulent journey through your schooling years, marked by the paradox of resentment and yearning, never quite settling on either.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtM1FYtP8wh
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[Transition]220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJPlwdwOcC
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnv3MF4ULwg
Saturday morning unfolds slowly at your home, the air filled with the laughter and occasional squabbles of your younger siblings.
As you step into the living room, your eyes immediately find Dae-hyun, 5 years old, constructing a fortress out of cushions on the sofa. His eyes light up when he sees you, and a grin spreads across his face.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsaxrQgrRx
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJz2jpL81Mq
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxSjpW8Snc
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgY5kM3Xg9L
You can’t help but smile at his enthusiasm, bending down to assist him with his architectural endeavor. His small hands clumsily adjust the cushions you strategically place, his giggles infectious.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTDC4yyKWz
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHH7rezKL79
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOoSt8YuYv
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQFraAUiVL
Next, you find Byung-ho, 6 years old, engrossed in a makeshift game of pirates, his toy sword swishing through the air as he navigates the treacherous carpet seas. He spots you and immediately recruits you as his first mate.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjCCFlpeEU
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEskYA1Fr8
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKy5nTODfl
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1jdtuO4oB
His expression is stern, but the twinkle in his eyes betrays his playful spirit. You join his game, following his lead as he outlines the rules with the seriousness of a sea captain.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3gHwb2aGr
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOaHQEuEiJ
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7cK4tr76J
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRKpbBw6AM
Meanwhile, Iseul is at the kitchen table, working on her homework but clearly struggling to focus. Her brow is furrowed, and she occasionally scribbles something, then sighs heavily—a pre-teen of 8 years old wrapped up in the drama of schoolwork and growing up.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpWEKNFG5X
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0xFKtqgaD
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3YoiRd9yR
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPwB181zAZ
Shin-woo: Need some help?220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIa09zJdPK
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8oCoF5zL4
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EKWNQu3vG
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5psgs9mrP4
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoWuZURyXD
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTHyZMJlj7
Her tone is a blend of the capricious pre-teen attitude you’re starting to see more often, but her eyes are grateful that you’re there to help.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwltVxeh0aT
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5ugyKvfMp
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgjieiOxeM
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibD79KNKKO
As you sit down to guide her through the math problem, explaining the steps with patient gestures, Dae-hyun clambers into your lap, snuggling close. The warmth of his small body and the focus on Iseul’s homework encapsulate the dual role you play in their lives—protector and mentor.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMe08siYmfz
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfzIw3fbNU
Byung-ho’s victorious shout as he ‘finds’ his treasure fills the room, blending with Iseul’s relieved “Ah, I get it now!” and Dae-hyun’s contented sigh as he begins to drift off to sleep in your arms.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfIo3XkcfY
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJX65Pg5OMs
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4afpO2d1o
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgxcou7Uql
You balance the weight of your youngest brother in your arms with the weight of your family’s needs, the love you have for them making every challenge worthwhile.
Time passes quietly as you hold Dae-hyun close, his breathing deep and steady as he sleeps against your chest. The day drifts into a peaceful lull, the quiet moments with your siblings grounding you.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEex1YdI5tF
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBF9SduLgw4
Eventually, the stillness of the afternoon is broken by the soft creak of the front door. Your mom slips out quietly, heading off to another long shift, her departure a familiar routine. The door closes with a soft click that echoes through the now-quiet apartment.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WtwC3Xwy7
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHS41AS8jc
It’s a sound you’re all too familiar with, one that signals the start of another stretch where she’ll be at work, trying to keep everything together for the family.
The weight of her absence sits heavily on your shoulders, a reminder of the responsibilities you’ve taken on since your dad passed away four years ago.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uqXa34g27
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIC6FyrMr8R
Shin-woo: (She’s always so tired… She never complains, but I can see it. I just wish she didn’t have to work so hard.)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzRLsJp1om
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSsqGFDkIo
You glance around the small apartment, now eerily quiet without the usual hum of activity. It’s moments like this when you miss your mom the most—not just her presence, but the way she used to laugh more freely before everything became about surviving.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xDq15tT3m
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBolwKdCNb0
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTrbZguLLs
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnzN8psIeb
Your thoughts are interrupted by the familiar knock at the door. You already know who it is before you open it. Eun-ho, your childhood friend, stands there with a grin that could rival the sun.
He doesn’t need an invitation, stepping inside like he’s done a thousand times before. 220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpj7jYDTbcQ
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNlsgICwEU
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqD98WMtfd
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oZd9ZVBlM
He drops his bag by the couch, plopping down like it’s his own home. In many ways, it is. The two of you have spent countless weekends and holidays here, filling the silence with laughter and mischief. Eun-ho’s presence always has a way of lightening the atmosphere, his energy infectious.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfFGfOMcwf
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmF6GKgOQvM
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeubfELa093
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34JHf8lkkS
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC05BAPt96n
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oM3ize8o0
You join him on the couch, and he immediately starts goofing around, poking you in the ribs until you’re both laughing like kids again. This is your escape—a brief reprieve from the worries that usually occupy your mind.
He throws an arm around your shoulders, his voice dropping into that playful tone he uses whenever he wants to get a rise out of you.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpmcE9cf6u
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQmYbRNXUD
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRl6LwYtjHC
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYSe5AU9uj
You freeze for a second, shooting him a glare, but it lacks real heat. He’s the only person who knows about your complicated feelings for In-woo, and he’s never let you live it down.
But you also know it comes from a place of understanding, not judgment.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBt2FuCvLVG
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuaAUZZlP7
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTGxGewhG6
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡle8qF20gAr
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPCcUcaF4d
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QMjLeYkRJ
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTA0Tcz0X1N
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrs2GtolU3
You groan, leaning back against the couch, trying to will away the flush that creeps up your neck. He’s relentless, but that’s just who Eun-ho is. He knows how to push your buttons, but it’s also his way of showing he cares.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5j9NC7CwvR
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeZCx6BeQg
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrbPSb507i
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpwe28s5kz
The two of you settle into your usual routine—talking about everything and nothing, playing video games, and just enjoying the rare moments of peace when life doesn’t feel so heavy.
It’s these weekends that remind you you’re not alone, even when it feels like the world is on your shoulders.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrgT1i1TFF
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As the evening draws on, Eun-ho eventually falls asleep on the couch, his arm draped over his eyes to block out the light. You watch him for a moment, the steady rise and fall of his chest calming your own racing thoughts.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmU4U4Ju3d
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kJ0y3e1rU
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5VVwrfq9p
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7bn1rzV6N
You pull a blanket over him before heading to your room, the apartment now filled with the quiet sound of Eun-ho’s soft snores.
It’s not much, but these moments are enough to keep you going, to remind you that, no matter how tough things get, you’ve got someone in your corner.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPDZzjSl63
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtsTU3wqpD
And with that thought, you let yourself relax, knowing that tomorrow will bring its own challenges, but also knowing you won’t be facing them alone.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYPP2NXlMm
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[Transition]220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4CoLNaGCB
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It's spring, the season when the world outside bursts into color and life. As if on cue with the blooming flowers, In-woo has his own ritual.
Today, like many times before, he leads you to the old cherry blossom tree on the edge of the school grounds. The air is cool, but the sun dapples through the branches, casting playful shadows on the ground.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbfbTEyWHm
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLntW14iUhf
In-woo stretches out beneath the tree, his back against the grass, eyes closed in a serene expression. You settle next to him, not as relaxed, your body tense as you pretend to gaze outward at the scattered petals.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuljHisn28p
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3IaYYeKOk
Shin-woo: (Every spring it’s the same, but I never tire of it. It’s the one time I can just look at him, really look, without fear of being caught.)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjbzUP8kuQ
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkZEKE3raE
You shift slightly, turning to steal a glance at In-woo. His features are softened by the gentle sunlight, making him look almost peaceful, a stark contrast to his usual stoic demeanor.
The setting is almost too picturesque, him lying there without a care, and you sitting guard, watching over his repose. Your hair falls forward, a convenient veil that completely conceals your face from curious onlookers, allowing you to gaze at him unnoticed.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSI3hPQYOVZ
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfS8jguSYV
His chest rises and falls with a rhythm that lulls you into a sense of tranquility you only find here, in these moments. Your heart beats a little faster as you allow your eyes to trace the lines of his face—the curve of his jaw, the gentle arch of his brows.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3M8CL61NqE
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWWIxqS3OD
Shin-woo: (He’s like some character from a story, too perfect to be real. And here I am, close enough to know it’s not all just a façade.)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Rqc0AJIHb
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5DgfXKW37
Your hand inches closer to his, a subconscious desire to bridge the gap between fantasy and reality. But you stop halfway, pulling back before a touch can break the spell.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGjVDq34LU
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSxgsyYoZu
In-woo stirs slightly, his eyelids fluttering but not opening, and you quickly avert your gaze, focusing on a random point on the ground. Your heart hammers in your chest, worried for a moment that he caught you staring.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUUR7SncEu
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OZpmaYTuI
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xfgqEzGnp
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0T0YLd9p5Z
You draw in a deep breath, the scent of cherry blossoms filling your lungs, and settle in to enjoy the tranquility of the moment, however fleeting it may be.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AFAMLt87s
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6uXF0q1uu
The fleeting serenity of your spring ritual with In-woo comes to an abrupt end as he springs to his feet, full of energy.
With a characteristic tug at your sleeve, he pulls you along to the next event of the day—a basketball match against a rival high school. In-woo's school has never lost to this team, thanks largely to his prowess on the court.
[Transition]220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0et7Hz8wX
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXA3M1AJc3p
You follow him to the gym, your role during these games well-practiced. You find your usual spot in the front row, armed with a bottle of water and a towel, essentials for In-woo during his breaks.
As you settle down, you feel the weight of numerous stares. Jealous glances from both girls and boys slice through the air towards you, their envy palpable. 220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSAw4VNQsi
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQRu1qIIr1
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYuiCJBa6Z
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLp95nDlxZr
Your lips curl into a smirk, one that doesn’t quite reach your eyes but serves its purpose. It's a small rebellion, a silent assertion of your place by his side, even if the nature of that place is misunderstood by onlookers.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetQOZ2znUb
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MyllKL0aH
As the game starts, In-woo transforms. On the court, he is not the stoic, unapproachable figure you spend your days with but a dynamic, almost untouchable force.
Each movement he makes is fluid and precise, his athleticism on full display. You can’t help but be captivated. 220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOckB02tyda
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjtvx6Njzl
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAKVAMHyJF
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsf844vD0J2
Your smile widens as he scores yet another basket, his team pulling further ahead. The crowd's cheers swell around you, a tumultuous sea of excitement and energy, but your focus remains solely on In-woo.
His shirt clings to him, damp with sweat, outlining muscles that shift and flex with every move. The sight sends a warm thrill through you.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JG2CLNBwB
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSMvlyYRqE
Shin-woo: (He’s incredible. Not just as a player... but just him. Every time I think I’ve got my feelings under control, he does something to show me I’m far from over him.)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTKKpvVeS8
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoc37ep2P8
You clutch the water bottle tighter, anticipation building with each pause in the game when you know he’ll jog over to you for a quick refresh, his face alight with the thrill of the game, eyes finding yours for that brief moment that seems to stretch and bend in the air between you.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcO8jSVM9jF
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgNPXYjcKv
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3Mn62uMJb
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrZSnnEpCF
The whistle blows, snapping you out of your reverie, and he jogs over again, that same determined, competitive gleam in his eyes that somehow softens just a fraction when he looks at you.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFBIhKhUZ9
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDVI0s8a04
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqumEjhCyS
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsVp35FhtQ
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknwNReOUk5
You hand him the towel first, watching as he wipes the sweat from his forehead and neck, his movements precise and calculated. There's an intensity to his actions, a focus that he carries from the court to even the simplest tasks.
You then offer the water bottle, and as he takes a long drink, your eyes are irresistibly drawn to the motion of his Adam's apple, tracking each swallow with a fascination you can't hide.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONc76LBagu
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYOt65wCrU
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vb9rXYfRi
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVtpXGwZsR
A droplet of water escapes, tracing a line down from the corner of his mouth to his neck. Your gaze follows the path of the water, lingering a moment too long.
Unconsciously, your tongue flicks out, wetting your own lips as if you could taste the salty sweetness of his effort from across the air between you.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4At8ztLtRp
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkThc6CaXrq
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEU3Poyo9ea
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDudlu9YG3i
Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDBmuvf1rf
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmtuc6rURX
His look is a mix of amusement and a challenge, a silent question about what exactly you find so captivating. Flustered, you scramble mentally, looking away briefly before meeting his eyes again, an attempt to regain some composure. 220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsT4xuM7nx
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEc7UHqSaa
Shin-woo: (Focus. He’s just a guy. Just a guy who happens to throw my world off its axis every time he looks at me.)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiWBKh5zu7
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfunnzPrbJ
As he finishes drinking and hands back the bottle, the moment stretches taut between you. There’s an acknowledgment in his glance, a recognition of the unspoken tension that always seems to dance just on the edge of your interactions.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRCGx6rTNc
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5w9qUW0Zn
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZfCZqfeQj
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbnfrjGcR8
He returns to the game without another word, leaving you to ponder the brief encounter, your heart pounding a little too loudly in your chest.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVXBXZMqPT
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepg63SBwcf
The game resumes with its usual fervor, the crowd’s energy palpable as the players dart back and forth across the court. You watch, half-lost in the ebb and flow of the match, your nerves tight each time In-woo handles the ball.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlZ6MuwMQR
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAMopWK9Si
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXPh7DR0Py
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAreZKgyUH7
Your focus sharpens as Dylan, a notorious rival from the opposing team, enters into a direct contest with In-woo.
You know Dylan by reputation and unfortunate personal experience; he's the type who bristles at being overlooked, and his interactions with you have been uncomfortably forward, always trying to catch your eye with a wink or a smirk during games.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qypdlx0NJ
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLc61eOQy9p
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTO3UGVcLCq
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSdv2neLi2
Today, Dylan's antagonism is more palpable than ever. His taunts seem louder, aimed not just to unnerve In-woo but to draw a reaction from you as well.
However, In-woo, ever the stoic, ignores him, focused solely on the game. This only seems to infuriate Dylan further.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqeqOGk4p5
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWO5YnRRmfv
As the tension on the court builds, a sudden movement catches your eye—a deliberate, aggressive shove from Dylan. In-woo, caught off-guard, stumbles backward, his balance lost.
The world seems to slow down as In-woo's head makes a sickening thud against the metal basketball post. He crumples to the floor, motionless.220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBIki6XoJr
220Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpq1gKlzHI
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
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