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. 214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoboJg6CdU
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgBYvEkMOe
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyy74jgINU
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgh8VaR3kH
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcOvn0RM2q
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53MX88aNzI
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaBHjlZDLB
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEW3dcX2QD
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?214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfR3Xghy5k
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtD0tPff294
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSGPphu0zK
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4d9n93avif
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAxMad4vt3
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3uz5uFTx4
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3eKIY3Nv58
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsROy5HBau
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzd3Yuxs6sH
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ950usUP6J
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoDsJL6rzM
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowtQ2kR97E
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcK5UQ9PuV
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hpAKpK2Jm
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwNtCvEdwo
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvP65J2d7Rf
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6z6Tbvjcnl
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUidVh8kNX
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNT0oC5vda
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3zjC8iMkZ
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJqbtGFVyX
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[Transition]214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDp7hKUEnih
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOQhK7NO6A
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP38SElNDKv
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5juNBSg98U
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVfBnTEOKs
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbefGqsXNZ
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYz7t4ERuP
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnjPeJXcrl
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaSVAXzDNO
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejEbih5ynH
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpUut06RNz
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSuDw68epK
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWKrVvlBiP
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEv3Pm2gN2
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?214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblw8qIga6o
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXPBeI2K12
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIwWuNsacg
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hLeJJLjk4
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNsrtooLdk
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUo2RGTRnf
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGds3HlZyYn
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5zexqSBth
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LF0cuexNJ
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Kkl0n0jLz
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bHEkGp0NF
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLpW1FihtG
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YlNBkp2fs
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdcQ8bgiaw
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhF9vClTua
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TKUr6CDX3
[Transition]214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVkIS3NC9U
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpvQKYLCFg
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GKIv9eIHH
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZY5kzG6MSv
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2qrRvQko1
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZE03cH2SUj
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeMTymdOIX
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsnBLhgjLS
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?)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdv98TcyXww
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEceCV42Xs
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvb24xhb5z5
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOvYsfIYch
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uRPeAGdbt
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwONxLdrl6m
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpNx7eXZgA
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLG8tXLghGB
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.)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytt5UljG7N
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71UsX0E5Ce
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEB1Cszfpog
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1HielcgL5
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?)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7WPEA7OVb
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsGPktUb0Y
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3ZTZMtmKS
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50sgH4M9pw
[Transition]214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxjt6v7dRn
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNKkYS1u5a
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhKbcvoWSi
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5C73Zb3FSq
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlcvXNvCau
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6O4wvTi79E
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRIM0FcTuv
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkV6YTz96SY
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJQ6q0lFT8
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0umFdGZ7N
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDVa4FLNZV
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLP9KE8qJW
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXVsIHfnd4
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8k7BahFNv
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qjCDwfYJI
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VAs9ymi2Y
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxAW46RDJj
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SVZ6PiS8d
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PbiKbTnMf
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhScAg4qTl
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaUXJ3l3EN
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOloNaOYaRF
Shin-woo: Need some help?214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE860pYzKrU
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovqxYhOB8S
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLtVffB9W8
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkNK0YhEYz
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPthx4GiTC2
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQu3jwvFmSM
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGeHrb0RMq
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbndBumMmmh
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjZhmtCk98
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVyHOxusgc
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6WKsIiVLi
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOb2xF32Xmk
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLFmvhILvo
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhNF9A8FEP
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiUPMURGc5
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9flLl6pOX
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sroG96oPw
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dYrNPoJ43
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwgFQVcoQg
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpoUaUEyGO
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpsIUvccIT
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EFNHDVRfy
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.)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHo7BWjQcU2
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qcr4MUuDz
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcKsTidEBg
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6g2w18vutf
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pAnGHe8iR
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpqwRt994U
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. 214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaojfsWGYjw
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpH1QYIkd7n
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Wr5Gw7jja
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGW9UqFNqYC
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgddEZwm5D
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmY8lrElYqS
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pTInDe7MJ
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡso55N37TBi
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayVppDY8V7
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQxJYHkW62
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzi2upfbPnh
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvVQz9sEYh
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOaEY41USH
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXQazGBGp0
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb15zELq2Bx
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfZXxe40S9
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQj1wejUfu
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kMSOM1HWP
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKtvu1U9hR
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2KLTJA9nd
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB32e1vB9lB
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOJdOWq2om
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1cXqcrrK0
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBH8OWwqDBP
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzinbGWLWct
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywbWGQBL2F
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UTlPwDxkm
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe51ifByUWw
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnPdVBjgGR
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCy6LELa7cT
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xnbaruxj0
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotI7zh2wC1
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgOapjfNaU
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DJJu6GzVd
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfhVyxpkse
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAArpYstOCT
[Transition]214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLSVnKivsR
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IV5kcygvz
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgSHPaaLvR
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjPt1GbeWB
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bRmv7Li7W
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODJ17aJPh8
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.)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSPRg6N915
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsIDm1tCsU
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2MmaCoWyi
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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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2ZMDwZPtX
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74SQ7KIa45
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.)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjNrguL6M2
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvWb22GfLl
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzeNH9dL25
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnNZP0DXKy
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJx6lXOnpp
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIhYbI2bw1
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HnnzdoKlH
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XHoBsI4p0
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUkWbDi7kQ
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aeiCwlCK3
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]214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaPsNmAelm
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVfofMXE63
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. 214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtw01StxctI
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtP3P60Pf5
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9hukHOne4
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsNvRfmgzs
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CI4nkRRqI
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACkihbDRTD
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. 214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYORs0n1mHe
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwFUzYI9xo
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFAASNlldc
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGa9DoVx6R
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIt1qISnqTu
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcOHinvakl
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.)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TBFnugXXP
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE15Y73eRSa
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hzwIKMsBm
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepTGKFK5NS
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhteSPqHSq
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCe8mya803h
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImjQ6kj7aq
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xh8IdVMRt
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jmgTVLOaZ
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUq9kRhOyYM
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7a3Dlrf4u6
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKOae1LVHM
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVKOTEGdA1
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HxMCpY5gA
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6Ku5m2b8S
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMaZvrsvWW
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMyDxOpaji
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkQVVA1EVR
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Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjVx5qGqqh
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkxQtk3g9z
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. 214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxsA341YXX
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAm2fosbBkP
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.)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCv4TVD5hgR
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6H2QwgIW2
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4nKzwieWG
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIL36cOBb3
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2XpYzX2Wt
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMvfFEUWLo
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlSPGIujVd
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36h1wlxLMX
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITnEZn84fA
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtTUe08N7M
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzpqY2e0eS
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGVZSlW4Dk
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7eqlFoTZ3
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJsZORY0Zr
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYDsAWbyXL
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcS3R94lEmw
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLRPnBwjw9
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrcp5cHjMa
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.214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IuJnEnWHN
214Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7BVLYNE8R
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
