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. 186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9yMuqKdPB
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCvvYwrMDg
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafXzQT3gLB
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2E5walqya
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3JFfFBEO8
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgdI9Vg6K6
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREg5COtzla
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRYhrb3XMw
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?186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOMr4fVxXT
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6YesHtlVo
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyJrcpRruc
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfa5fR1Ay7a
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHG76VPYlS
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbgVtVNg2n
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNiNofeeSK
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8B2UDbD9JO
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggchPwu3EM
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCPMh4KK1i
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGm8GPl0r2
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrx4q9SDgFO
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wFiqgKfwK
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVqL9bw1ez
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNkhwzkZIl
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2uF4leFMW
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVtSFaRD4X
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpF7Gw5NlHK
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuBEwWuOXn
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrXd9T8wp9
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3Q922sn6U
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimuVRS5b9Q
[Transition]186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dmRB8usAU
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ919cfEHNF
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyozBfNTdj
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNjKdnPwiv
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ncUsznTnw
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpzrGsthzL
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkMqTG7LAL
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8jmiT1RrP
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbRJpLO3nQ
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxgLlp1clK
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjk1wiHMbAu
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjo8cBv8Zvr
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpFc96ZiOF
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcj2vzdJA97
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?186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOwqjSQdIl
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCKqSTYp4J
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAWUg2yLOD
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9P8wYQM26U
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfWMsxON49
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dpvz5XbeF
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4qFUWY60r
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJq94PsiUN7
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VpenH4FUy
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJKQXE9I5x
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAD4Q9QwWvI
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVJFMUwg50
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDi8F01N6OW
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRLGaZtTo3
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHQITW7pTO
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaK2BQJLsOV
[Transition]186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRMjQNlnMG
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XD42vBion
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92bei7XYpN
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMHPVufsMr
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpADpGGbGiU
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARHe5Hk84l
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGP2t5hEZst
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNUSB5Vrsx
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?)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg40LC0csmt
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwUAkqCqgz
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IZtUOabej
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiunF56El5
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzir9Fw4VI
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlfzsB6T3m
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83keAVzE0U
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbcn7bXSkZ
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.)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4n9PHJYas
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zbhABhsdU
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWRvmMWMXE
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjOgTdcjVx
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?)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYjv4v1qIs
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHcLVx0p7O
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkmiuk2BuN
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqbp9oGQ3j
[Transition]186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigRP4m4P6M
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPNYbKYmcT
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiXapPh2QQ
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyl1af5PrS4
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIF4yhLb6e8
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoStnJcI9XK
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyLkWTGP2S
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJYoWeD8Lx
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3usxjYnPL
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumraNLc3Dh
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMlPFreZsf
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8I6UzGxBxW
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScnwgP1JHJ
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqCX5nRuZ9
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2SgSVKJkR
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbcILvaUfG
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhikjk1LObZ
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXKtaYVDSl
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSoexY8kCv
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3vxJO7xzi
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLx17Hrlppa
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ88XYnXPOl
Shin-woo: Need some help?186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQejeXQ54wf
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP29ylWPfYW
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdb0WrrXomu
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmV0omNme12
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9czxXdj8yS
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZvDOkRj0e
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVzdFBE95B
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJj0x4BjLj
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqovqCtMw7
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabtBeXDYVV
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8n0Oe5TM5r
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡir0USSB6Lf
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsd1TXLIPwh
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7spmBtnDb
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83SuUJL1r4
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeY6geU3kLZ
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTHeAGMmYJ
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUC1CCvSFi
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPzpednDJ7
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3c31gV2KB
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsM0yLcx4u
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs228LERqcX
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.)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWg8PP1ZjKl
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5htHHMi6sU
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2VbVeMwJF
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgy62cmtMlh
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHS2p8SeIPB
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevD3C26KSN
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. 186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxjB8YCqUL
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxKmpX8RJe
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhSQoIC6oi
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2By6wOZeOp
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0Bl5FFFMA
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dW3UNKqaN
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRoDkM4sUh
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡad7UVI3EEG
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI07cPZUQf7
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCzmCKT1HD
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6I9tLdRkSh
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEqKe0FYvW
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMvr22bZNU
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcUmswtukp
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvMHMWRsOF
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJToOOGFG6
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYvt84MJWS
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4XVCz61Hs
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3Gu2sTgY8
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVTb0CrmP9
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrkndlz3tI
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZL9IkfDNY
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7ll9eIacY
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2WA5le1sy
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjgunf8g6A
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaQeFowX9a
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSjeJwmBSf
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeM8SKXVZzy
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnfCTeKEAF
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeJEjORb9R
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWRDxMhBy1
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXb7wbzQfXT
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIGGUbugye
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7qzz7ZgLk
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VWo1vc930
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9VFlZTmoM
[Transition]186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVp0CwBzIN
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAPAtADrhE
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpdUg3okKB
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMeDeNVQa2
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDta29YjRnR
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0XgdGbs3d
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.)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4H7qcDZa9v
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nB7L0NZXk
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNED8K6aWH
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMO8ktsVeCg
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYTQifL2kI
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGjlYFNy3O
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.)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTT1X5UQm12
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUygG2FjzuK
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeda8sKBaU
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBBhfoGDF4
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzu6utdpjMI
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qAr4ioUEX
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOjQuCApDr
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMVBza1DCx
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSReVUDRFoT
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHLesyFznM
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]186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqqoAjdiHV
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTha3Ymr86b
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. 186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYqqirnk78
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfquh0Qvyh
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5Btfetzy0
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ158zixswiR
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhB12nRDDH
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24VVP2l3Sf
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. 186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVJfU35Shh
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkOzrQQG1W
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbZtV4901I
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5y38W1rGn
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOH0LnmRmOO
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLc7TiZ3cpH
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.)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlDJdTkLSD
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPgIVaTXkJ
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92DaLKlgUb
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx52tHdnsOi
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0LxHfSksE
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOiI9xRUFe
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhFMgbeh6D
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80xIGNSEe0
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxOyYtQkAF
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnJxngxuXz
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjItUgtKWp
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO92LrsgvMq
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3ePaA3GTY
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1wWfFy8cl
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IG6oocLp2
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpsljq9ymt
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzY013rI1xC
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hbyxeduXQ
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjv7qDxwBJ
Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcCSVx0X3p
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPet1vCAlmq
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. 186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7LUDw9k75
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5g6V5bMmek
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.)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3xA4xCpC1
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSfi55H0L9
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjMXUptxJ3
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyDZXvEnby
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4HlTgQB7J
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBI2YgpA5p9
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhxfqEePhO
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4D9WyhWpbs
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DCQQ9ck1N
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFph9ZK7E9
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHi1uGHobl
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Wvn5xiVb1
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOnnxlxl3T
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6l9PR0u2U
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBSW06p3Ui
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5NTiJFuDh
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YKaJ4CSkm
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZit7e8pLp
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.186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqm7EqshjI
186Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzUygZkArT
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
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