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. 291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJcaCaMeAW
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSscaMxI90
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtiqKIymJZ
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMioCKHDoPP
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0k6ZrHvv4
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCawB1WqPIi
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHBXBEqiBT
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOQ9OkneNB
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?291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoP5dsfVFn
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDeiS3TasQ
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUekHYzd01
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEcctQvzyx
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogJ7NtzdLh
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKhoBn3BZP
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3KjANq87e
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezLhvStnqa
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt507OqleVd
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRB6AbcEbxJ
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxdsdUSoOW
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8KatckhZD
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAbwm6yXA2
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQkSlksFnm
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMj6s1EBFBU
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0fTGVkQV4
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUcrCG887P
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCH4ozokiZD
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuduoyR6t45
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQTC1LkK3n
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YAATZLh1A
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28qEINSLfZ
[Transition]291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCe3rgsMLHf
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhtOTKs0J7
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk92tACjHVZ
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbe7YsmIUk
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3MCII3f1n
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1grQhNuYoE
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4i6gizGhQ
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBAWIIsxzo
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrXCqHZQIR
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVm3SxM8nbO
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XFKYnucDh
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsderZD0NUn
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuuiACFqAN
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdCLi3mRKX
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?291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhesUnzuM3
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6GzGzG9UH
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5ziUisnmE
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxl2GMH0HW
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOshvFc8dj
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTNTHZedyi
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiy23rHaIB
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1N1fDDQ0my
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GDGBo4RDe
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXvuJdTdY8
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhCcKLEKGo
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdNxfu3aYg
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sEMDNdOJB
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQla1DP1A9I
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEguH7lttd0
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhdT2u4PSG
[Transition]291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8D3mOaZobr
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxJjaRXQWs
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tKwYtZ2zM
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2a3FFKu627
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RIlBXGKFh
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeMiJqs6la
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeDGLZ4bqM
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQ9Py2Z6Zx
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?)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yni1Txlov
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkr5PF3kAvH
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz682jNPLsC
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Vdg3zqV4g
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4aNjMuQYl
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRqpnAHIqN
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRkAEX8BzG
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5WY0MUeTB
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.)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMZY23JYj5
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhGPjGSsFO
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP65jf5eAe0
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnDsut3dXj
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?)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7LkbpuiDI
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5F31FogXKT
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Pnkn4L00r
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UND5vJyfo
[Transition]291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3usJ7VMwZa
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBmABgg6kf
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUL6OXjRGyT
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlj47u9vfMJ
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZOHtohovq
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbe52WWlal
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXWpxldeSU
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVH2Inv6uFY
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QhauKX2JY
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSSgJInlzB
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3snKStCPAu
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytlbBFzu5Y
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmIBd4om2W
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdYxv7Q9Eg
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZm6lC5l5I8
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2q8SowWoI
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaEPKewog2
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKjLeogNH3
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzknLzB6EoC
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRojEr6wfg0
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0CvlcgaGV
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZew8KAukA2
Shin-woo: Need some help?291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5z56FM4pu
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXEg3H2ibf
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvi23oi4CbY
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8wzVUZ5AT
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4brRKE3dXM
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCs3HJ9AyDk
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09xZ81ekRI
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oibjetgB2
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wFaMPtln4
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS36UYdfM5r
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeavdpg3EN
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pB23bVLbX
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhP3nIuJX1m
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1ZyhGk0BV
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKshnCjfRe
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FiEEUrMp5
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9adj9sPWZh
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkX3YHJHlS
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrvtzOzvHz
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0b1jfnvXd
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVihfqroeEy
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05oyfswLL1
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.)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CLea6Q2hH
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBwOVy4PfW
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHn8OLKbkU
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxu9lAPja3
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7Zz1eoNqa
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbcswgmyOu
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. 291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7OjB6j9Xv
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOxf5OIG77
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCt64xhu5Yo
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPR1DeQVbEI
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6EsdUtlZo
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNZIqVpAQO
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYycwiheaIo
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DJNe60abC
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZU0e4IjrG
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6oBxtXyz3
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWGtXuiZ1V
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhq4QTqfIOo
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNFbqPK515
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHVmGuPbGk
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9cDJbT6q5
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVeK6IE2Lg
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ztj9neRKf
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBga2DNXsS
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6T1wLoQnyi
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeArDKYOg0
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZSjPYFim0
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxroUmvV6m
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsW0eJzReM
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuZcLBbFk5
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTQ56r1J5G
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaw8aatGmxM
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGZojrbPsg
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEZTDxpBOc
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSdx0gdjXt
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiLwNPImV2
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kKvC3tvOC
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZq3jaZgLiD
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMoi4xgaAF
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGLSfu0gjl
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVrNTycVtx
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIHtQpMHjk
[Transition]291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChS6gqhtJ2
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYOgVgjNm5
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRp2rWjWoh
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3Qt35YfMw
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEV3DSSIEZ5
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQwaLNZwo8
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.)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3iAL57Q5S
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyvudjsc0z
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZafTr7EeN
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmAEglqUma
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNKbmti1lw
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUc1SeYgcY
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.)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bpYYFRXxH
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡse1gl3tNP3
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEgCm2NBNV
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdZAg9ehCz
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwFhnd288p
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxZNatiK47
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZMpcVrcOG
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyyK4r50pw
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpl9WcL9Dse
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdGfBHBCJA
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]291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOm07w8kcL7
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQphtqe6F8
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. 291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHHzXk8dOx
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpuaPrG17u
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkjkuzdOna
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTyxkFiHlR
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjtOppcAFf
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVlfabVFaP
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. 291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhNJWKRsm1
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0grHyNOKI
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNemaEccqo
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagQc7iaVJw
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnR7ffJeyIU
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fi8h2SXrI
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.)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnOXYa2lf6
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGokcBvr1ue
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqy1xgpUXcp
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePRCrIXOTs
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGUPiG9JqY
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSB6GkmoI6
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWCOWtYZIM
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtl4KWP46py
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJN9QyMYtEu
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopqWcy1F49
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTflRB1yVca
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WH6Xx28jj
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxVwyf5jmi
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqJ6Gpa5Xq
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM63XHRZiUY
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GF8taERfn
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkpjsN8zrH
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXy32mOd81Y
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvZ0OBO6W0
Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZIu0UrmwN
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYR3tWgZcH
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. 291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78iDHPqp2Y
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtcHK67ZN0
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.)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTL3u0Awogu
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZE9Gf6DDO
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJwj62pc6c
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwXgoTz5oS
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQr15YZVmN
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhZPshseJF
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZObtYhu8u
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoAnDZ9eZb
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrSd7uKnHy
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKh8xlftwE
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmYqKkKEMj
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYhlKGg2tj
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSu7KK4NHE
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnKN93578d
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2j5690Uey
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NsOHwGXeH
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR088Ftauxy
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4XLr2BuL0
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBULqIKpD5z
291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQMAz29Lcy
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
