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. 191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeEPJC2Nwa
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLyXPwhcls
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeq6aoDHH9I
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvlK2vXBDA
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgNGEb1MrH
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlOgrmvxYP
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHKicmKgxs
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIAVReNOw5
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?191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwnfGORQ3B
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XwP8Vv58h
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZffqHSWF44
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdufkKanu5f
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6AIiLzm5M
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESPQUdq9qa
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSm6Qta2iSj
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriAtO8oD8P
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPuEf3KSgN
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5ujSt149W
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvz0ytL7LA
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPyzKdJFe9
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFS45S0bsXm
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMjEIIBd7b
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1C60OE51Dv
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡif4dWk3sa4
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhZSvNWLDS
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXGVAHt8i1
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsahv9lrt2E
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmF9tkizyuW
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboU1A1RbWV
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyZSVIlrga
[Transition]191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6p0ZDYU7F
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81iEOL1krS
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrawiMxCylK
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8sz1iJ9dd
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoVXYecATB
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23FHdLaav6
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvl2qZmVopF
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZ2GzgOphW
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapxqTjLSUH
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhP9Ar7JSQG
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMR72lzSTWN
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxW84ZhCAk
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQbyFx24Lq
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfVlcAzMFL
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?191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvAZNjmpf6
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMmcGD2GPj
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ErVZQGKhG
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DqHlHaaWb
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDlpNbVYmj
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMJdNztxqo
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDU66umYRIc
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GFJo4Wono
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNd9CPYgzeD
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxndJRFU9Ks
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwomuRLST5
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuCu7HCFNW
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36hLMhw9kd
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxP45DDjL56
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONRzFJFIuI
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEvsnMreGy
[Transition]191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1ZqmoVKpb
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsu0S72Io3Q
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YjE4lrblN
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WS5roILz1
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVfBpoFukG
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiZd1fvoKO
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8AXntlSmL
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6N7aaoRIG
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?)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE42XTPYNU6
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3JwVQhdsL
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3ksQu86M4
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyljgR8Rni
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFthSLq0sZJ
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvHgmCnOOh
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vN0qXJLe2
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzLww5COEo
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.)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHMcQpcV5z
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLx4uNRGyW
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwbwMLCd9n
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXeiNjzp6R
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?)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWNZLlXP2M
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuhFBHrF7f
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegCCLCVK9Q
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFu5P6E1j2f
[Transition]191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFil2eUfC6N
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bptkwq8lC
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJQl2L46AS
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAjfoBFKIz
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDKVGYzvsy
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3R9kGJMyZ
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQsCPSPSbP
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuXV6JLEiB
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5RJ7CILNH
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhPeaZdCoF
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEP2T2zz3sW
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpUVCvYld4
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChInKgCcbf
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNKcbIzPMw
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiYNYgsGDS
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolOEQASe7e
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUnhMzTwSu
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZZd0p1SBM
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN65iZqSyW9
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TRQHytlVi
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0zIR2w40s
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLI4VmGZjRh
Shin-woo: Need some help?191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsA78WY7nlT
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6B8QnmRbfB
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90ZeU3Kzzc
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYS3Frcl9Z
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWa6fXPzcI
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TXJM6ukRr
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYGgy93T5D
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOa6vgeOED
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygaS4vgD9n
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IYUISwM5E
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYCbauZfWe
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTk8TKh13j
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4Zqv1KNPr
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dq36wLmRL
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pAhMDBx28
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqlsbvuQbq
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuJrdvdeIr
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcHTCju52j
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUXyNAdCnz
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd378HNRl9S
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BJ82JLJXT
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCfVGW40Co
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.)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFfYIhK2wT
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUPjVDbssH
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDiAQ39L9c
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesoiS0vxrA
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxoQX2rFJ3
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQXwm9ksgC
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. 191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tDwKTONIn
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfpaCoUqqK
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFSmYX8gE5
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7TdQOUw3o
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWvPT2AP5p
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTIP0YCz5T
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXtMwvLYmJ
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcF2fhzy0W
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBntYUSIt2
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4X06RUBv3Q
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsIkBQzkiA
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecDwOrpW9R
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bne914Hya
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyzfkr4ONU
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60FK6UZw8H
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sZMlsLdk4
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XAZoeIISD
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpEIeOI3kZ
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vPcwrwjf2
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OhiBXt5xc
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkakGr9fjNA
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwD8yLKaOdi
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0CsChXVnp
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hEVxh3aDp
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2G3U4k36OO
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatG9bPlMZA
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyZZOlgzRk
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXegGRJ0Jk3
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgmcYAiuzP
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXYXY3drTi
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1IlRb3GNy
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3WYhekCOW
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dlKxqmzDV
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcku5k4ktCc
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZSZWIEuYY
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRI1ImB6k1
[Transition]191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS810gX2UgR
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡam5h74K8zL
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BGklazUDJ
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgiWt8AMqQ
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6ny2JZVd1
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUoTCZr9nh
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.)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipG3JM5slL
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRkDU7V53J
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiI8aGgyfqj
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPV8PslabFA
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2H4RnCtrE
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMxfNkLoxq
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.)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqhzZUMTKF
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiG7HSB48v
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkUitXLySZ
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNTkIPNMHM
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqFVIdzHVS
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnPWIBn6TU
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGf84b9cRC
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexOdUuKV8w
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1Oa7cQxJW
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNyD28ioAk
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]191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurUuLZ5bdb
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4IgsN6DbE
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. 191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rVtPzC6Fv
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uXwItN0H2
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUnu2WUZOv
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fJ7vPVfSH
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TnKDnLu9S
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIg60CCUYIk
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. 191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQG9w1jTyP
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwH5tPOD640
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSTqUCKvCD
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPb1goMwXGO
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqDzFvFufe
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpF2noW9kCD
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.)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5HtlY4j1L
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vCjeH6Aqu
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWq39BMjDY
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmR0IK93pdK
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaVDvqC5is
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfIyfzR3Yn
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFc0suU7H8o
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQgxu2n0x4
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EElkjc0Ou
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jCOaFPYeX
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjm9IkPiPr
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1CcvIYx5n
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIibLDpGOmr
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8suxq2UTR
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlz9nkmhAvl
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVSC0esoAI
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbw3onmMvk
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmNf5PJ5N6
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZw7iTfJXQ
Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6h8YMBiev
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUm8IPP3c2
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. 191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQChbQf1u4
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvr2XJ84e5
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.)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBfiuZoP5Z
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUYo4bB1gq
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHnnFSUvDW
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmRQmKMdju
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbF2Cx61NpQ
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaXfud1ywl
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrugxjqJmn
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdmhfTdtG4
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BCD4U2uEN
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27HDnt0OF7
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4YBmzvgKp
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKfAMLMCgl
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNCW7BuMK9
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZS14ZcXt3z
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVq6waUoDB8
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEMWvEALmh
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcUQgMLVMP
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvqi2XItnJ
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.191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpA8ZCRWcl
191Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XuoRlXcna
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
然後按「加至主畫面」