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. 318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KtsD3lwg9
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzLh9B3h3h
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JYJR0wkhL
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxURaLJ8AM
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1CYAgp9RC
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSzzdrHaoW
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEx3h9i1aG
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLR9BuS3Npz
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?318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKE9VXPmBwN
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIcmSr97k2
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxYHHKG4XM
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVeJqA6Er6
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wCb1UgL9D
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3iKFLkm1v
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevgDhCOsIw
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzi2mm7snrF
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HiA0ll5VK
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZOukTZ4Wy
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TjRyJjz9Z
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdhJ7KcoGh
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmotQN9E4r4
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡur6e71BtYZ
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvG8Y2ymshI
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lfBkpm61R
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvwc1oWK6y
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsjQjjY32Z
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnKbuHyhwo
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeY7rzHSeU
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UeQ7wlHUX
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHpmh6eEWP
[Transition]318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdYPSvFCU2
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjkM6c5QAi
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOmTgKlWjC
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhSCsZvdhC
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBj5fn1JP8
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8eeTSXUtu
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2ndGTCT6b
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77eN9SUd7h
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEMfkPnPCJ
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDelT9VNexM
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizGvWsUL8g
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3PII98Dlp
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZSW4EExQw
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUJSqqm2Zz
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?318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3viG1PnxD
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwz89pMVBIO
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5PMcn3vL0
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzjTMEHkjE
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAoOab5SYC
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjwrftYXeP
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunNMCJmFRN
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxkiyEw7l1
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4g2X1vXeql
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheZA4lyJUP
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfHxpXSj4d
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7DZ65WU21
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPS9NmRmTE
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJt82Im4VI
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVSB3tbxnU
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukvXYs7Pu8
[Transition]318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJMzqVJE5x
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrMmhMLiAr
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxPhuVSf6U
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IB6ywokeY
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJ0MVnHn2x
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bwlbLS5W8
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdA3EcHRWcc
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNSwMM34PG
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?)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqv1zLX6w4
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HD1AfiZDz
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxS6virMWG
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsG68eavfFd
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGV1bWyzv33
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1zGPSxg2B
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRAqM2axLf
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtlfBPGyXE
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.)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmoFJ9bM2aX
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32CaBNWWYp
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5Bnd1jhfo
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Gf2zFg2Hq
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?)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mRAmQdWpY
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5brOFqStay
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3vgO3SsEV
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6usPYMKnVr
[Transition]318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQHReCI7qx
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFUs0bjiNm
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6hbKl1f10
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNKq50tvcj
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbt7oUmyzz
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mcJ20wWCK
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKVMKtWW8j
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVHNG5TvML
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqLLACcz6R
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygRbO04gYX
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qVtbCUphi
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsib7WLXpa
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6MeosUXHA
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmiwcsgY9P
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOX2LRzP0Z
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaj0yhzD6E
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6pFHNjylS
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KuTEKLMqz
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEt19hKl3O
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OtBURuery
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQgUG83rb8
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oAaKY164k
Shin-woo: Need some help?318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLVx58ewio
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tgMVtQ7n5
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QDL2XlNJn
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0vruiFFLm
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrT25DyKyq
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUA1l0nBdIl
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWJFagwFCA
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtAOOqWH2M
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaHQKbwiaA
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFjfOoOIWt
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSc5cBOPsbL
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzuKhMUv5L
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHb4Fi1Xqhn
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCZRaa1vOn
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBLEgwQ7AF
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7ve17Barr
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcs5TQ9D9e
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXudGzNbaE3
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUm1PR1Kbt
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXXhefY3b3
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtF2C6Krra
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKUJCEq3QN
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.)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwk7ZsKfvV
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6t23nhoHd
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGN4pTEng1
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAT54voASj
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqA2tAI1Po
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEjXWuasVi
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. 318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyGNvcXjbA
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ElISfHMre
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2wIN5ZeJ3
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaKc72rzyJ
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCJ1DNtqtH
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BVw6gHgIL
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKaeWGZONx
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9epCYEOUgv
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ305w00hjXr
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eroxvTSa2
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpQa9B6Wy6
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlvvShNcBZ
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7tSyE7j8d
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE17rRgzCXd
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHGEhg9K6u
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhUEjnr3cD
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uGU5AGg7u
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4VEMVbSIe
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlz9QH9PIdP
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9q0A2iLOfj
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwfxhsUj5u
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sR172nBSv
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqxEoNtEe5
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgCAXmL0gZ
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZemoqwq0pA
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZe4nWmOfj
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIAX23UhFt
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8tMctfZl8
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jv9jJs6Mo
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyI4PcdoVY
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqhKUPXjaK
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0T2n6g2uOr
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlYGrAOyyc
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtjDKCbRpn
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7xpg5vjAL
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5heaYBasy
[Transition]318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1D8W33oNK
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUY0FdhNUF
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3vpCo7ZMV
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmO7frX4Amd
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkpGAFufuD
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jDXaPAeHK
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.)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYtvYqLUTx
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vOekUPhPS
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaVG4qjh40
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DC78pigxd
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEouw6s9biF
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxQ7K6ghOM
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.)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuYEUeIgew
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGk9A5cBkn
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡambg1E36dD
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYk7PUTXBtc
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhZRwohsxj
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRFsEbdeJz
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFDEIGKY5W
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XIMee0xMb
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknJmJGndwU
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8T6oMvcZ5P
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]318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLQ7NSO9An
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqiWj6ah99
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. 318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6EE4fjykt
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtWT662wl1
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZXqbtCbmN
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5ddcIuaWi
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74rIEIaZBZ
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXD1w6pCFk1
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. 318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7G7IIflgl
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFtQ8LIE9V
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Bal3NNnCB
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxH3lL2gJO7
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUK9Q0zT1km
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIq0szFP2L
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.)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOw5dFIRBL
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTZYgVfhG4
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbwR2QBjWE
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZfA3b1EbJ
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzwSCnF9qi
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAvBozNhEC
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQi8M323ML
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygVeMNBEaS
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxwa5ZfAkT
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpjhUeAGrx
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBjMQX25RU
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Jdfi9dCL9
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6128I7wLVi
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdWztWHrfE
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjpLdxJtEa
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HQ0NWCldw
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ516StwcoMT
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWUBuRbQpb
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyl1bNnZCX
Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZtty0EZdf
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadENzieD6w
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. 318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwPR3o8qbf
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJEbGptLmv
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.)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDB1Oc887kC
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCw6Oj13Gec
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe34d89fXs2
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSStG0DQbx
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLq0Fyc54Hj
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZVGJ7JMFt
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qOeFwlrXY
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebWFxffdWd
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnYODvftL2
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZOZcrVlQi
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9dbUs5KjG
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBRmXYfxuW
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MbNssZ6qS
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDnlKbRbG7
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi507AptDVJ
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdv36QFXpe
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXio1oKEnff
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Six234ZO2
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.318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpc27ScssMW
318Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJf02n3BxQ
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
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