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. 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw98RDS0qI9
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0PpvvwrNZ
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDOtlqP0nN
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMPAiuk5wC
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWauNbRkBHZ
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoLlhwfdPf
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Htc6CqdHK
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAsSzxulTS
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?260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMlqGC1Srn
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwYaBCsIx4
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7lqEUTArG
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPMWZ8wN2W
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTIA1zgMbu
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloqFMidSpv
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVGHyUAxrA
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iV1O5lmxf
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6ABHQt3Su
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nH8CMWw7i
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSeNiXz83V
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tDgQFoKt8
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdD7Zng8lg
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrH595IZMuI
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppFPjlVKyu
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyhb8jl272
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbxBNEr1E5
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX25Kg7SsHc
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSoDCV0RD1
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVzGiZycOG
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5m9E7cr5fD
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxv5YBO1PvE
[Transition]260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMDCODk1eZ
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3Z2ymyFqb
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfTfXmotON
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqGHnPv7W9
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl80aBUcbfD
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsHqOGft14
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzGrMNadXf
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7DhNthWCE
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLNgpZedbZ
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt50MYjeKJf
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0ffHT5WuT
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPIwoHDz2J
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZw9qrnBWQL
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuEcwDbwec
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?260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iJvYRQw8s
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhApj0uRA4
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXDPkLqien
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzXismaDM3
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocCOuVgbTF
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4grPGOW4wz
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKMlUXIJJg
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoTt1efLJb
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBASjyuuuo
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RneVGn4bQ
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzX5TLjhe3y
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsFjViyqg9
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYI3B7jNSG
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsy8T7vwfw
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIA4GS55bUh
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeV7f2dmwrr
[Transition]260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoPQdDd6qi
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RY3wrXXKn
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqwD1QFtPN
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKlmya2Wx5
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AjeUGPJb4
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrNDnm1ZYT
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zIPENh0mO
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXXwFllx5g
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?)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPJNCp5e7a
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOGjzSq79d
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPpSmA7Rx1
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6vw58XvcB
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3rzCWLT4r
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySFCHa1Zd7
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7bZod05Zb
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5mCheWHG2
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.)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WSazhkU8l
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7Z4jkpRfc
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCR5WQp2ro
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiWqeGcTK7
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?)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwf1ZxFGGL5
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUs6CtC1Tx
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwg0DN9QoHq
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuKunc7qex
[Transition]260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltRoewMOUJ
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBL126FhdYt
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0OH5ElR4B
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ162RZ99Gsj
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzo9veqGnpv
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZ2n0mSX55
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4q7vEfluw
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwU28Lsn2n
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjjuCsC0XR
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsyokmfNxH
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXorQeCWFy
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxZAiiGNup
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZdhB5IM2c
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtV4xcrvIp
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lZoCHUu4J
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTAXIVKp9H
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHAZ9GhvC8
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3e56hvio7
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEM7SK3NGh8
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKge13B2PFB
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwdHOdqCvF
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzcXWTvv6m
Shin-woo: Need some help?260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5AZsdHmyu
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6miKLa2ern
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEyIwljyK8
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SKI9QqxQ4
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9twgHqRZd
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PIt0uUuiJ
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAdCYl6TtL
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxeI5de7PL
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3f4za4rsfU
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEcNR8Aptm
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTB6FvzQvg
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvQDuL65Mk
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHbF92PjjW
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflWGWCN7jF
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyJpXsqNzo
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFItwADLNm
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMU8v2tok3
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVjK1Dizku
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZUv8lpfe0
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmN27UOrgTK
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNmMeCKahR
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5S3nCfYyuL
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.)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvJV9LPhFU
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCy03o2eQK
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iqHzKvMdC
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7UBhZc7Om
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEuqTq3Vxv
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMwlzzbIVh
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. 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjLjd7uFL3
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgc7F31avF9
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBBQSBTiaJ
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7PF4s5ZTA
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKq4UyOP4A
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVau0MZwxO
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRizKyuknAU
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYD85Vg9zz9
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkvh3wZF0r
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9SuVxK1Pg
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNXlTLu6cx
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrN3WK2cVU
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX83eDCBi6C
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidkEq9WRiD
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhte9VRrQX
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw507HzHROT
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODBS9cwptP
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tWwkb7PWX
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YrbnIhPHl
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8EXaJkGfi
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabq0CVJh2V
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46p4THPuoN
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tq4rOXlmh
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo19rtQGgGW
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejQ7tB5dyQ
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4lHohx1BG
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJLf0Zdrr3
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8X9NmYqWR3
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAdAAE9NyO
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMMJCmCwFE
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnys5OXcuXR
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOA68SkALO
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdo50MyWg9
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHCAD2kcSx
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Rs0pasOSb
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14kf3IGXgz
[Transition]260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqq0XBnRSwR
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hOdUt36dG
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbhSnatQd9
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5T9t5MrG8
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzPkI5c9cr
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILzgKKOAoy
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.)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJ8a791nEG
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrh7APYdRf
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EQeYKfFHC
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBhvVESFVZ
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalTzF1Y5BF
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHLsIBFAoV
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.)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLBYmey2NK
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1xXPdvH5a
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkFtWAAK76
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzM6pD74DL
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bBTGwGbZn
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0NvZ87uX3
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQxE8ixmYF
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhq4AwiMNA2
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlA4Dh80Ds
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvUwHDWGcr
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]260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaj2oNHigh
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xhVExRjYe
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. 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOR4AAWjkc
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6aqnvKdFq
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VBS4P6GsK
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbcHENJgJR
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8BIlswM7F
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IpyUQqT3O
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. 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8UhG16FDf
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZAeCzHUAy
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6O1vtZ3NM
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosGEcjbGtN
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jcCt7dZzA
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoqs0yJGtf
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.)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIPiOzXr1m
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgdAn9pzyQ
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElGqpc26hw
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqsWZflDfv
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCGbBZ2K8R
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanWK9ZUz9E
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURiUzEyeb8
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YSc36vZf2
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdf4ucxS7eQ
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULH5wXikQ3
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdN62FEmuc
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rW8D3LrjI
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMYVuWylU6
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRXTCpOK24
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68FQaQmKks
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPHnS4BDLk
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzF8JQayR1
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsKpcxsu8d
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnr84876nm
Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchbIF7jbP0
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU20lWhSx7i
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. 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVC5B57T7t
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACuZDZnw02
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.)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1LG0dAiTF
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2bHscl3H9
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQZaYSYjIq
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaK8rheAJT
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwg5U1VJnv
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPICmnaDfeo
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTC19BDBm1
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOXyKdEMsA
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4g5raTcpgW
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yO3ReNJPm
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuR8aLMFAQU
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zCHDUjOa2
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoebWht0fbH
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5d9jyVWHQl
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7FFhhKZjC
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOON5MYCak
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp90pKuRMbd
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37Rhr7mOSh
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPSCTgRB9O
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxerF1nvqUv
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
