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. 216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9uZA5DyUj
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGriyUhPL0
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHiD0UfC6r
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7b9BFd3SO
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2ggeMO3ld
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTcwxIlui1
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ153gQliU4s
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQm8ZIbsI7
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?216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdJgyhkTQE
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGX7NYu3yn
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAp3fchFm8e
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooXzDf8pCe
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWTfm2WpM4
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SO0HV2kOB
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYnimzTSZA
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqZP90QdB1
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsMRe7AwxB
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVwtLRVMBv
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwjFzmtCAo
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEah8oh7sJ
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFQn3W1auh
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAJXq95TGt
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEjeONf2bO
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhMW9Z8o2J
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzuFOnukjz
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmcVCt2sv1
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyEqDBAX3d
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Xuhw5XRx1
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAMNeh5m6C
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC83u72ZkYv
[Transition]216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12xdHkFo2c
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzYru4r9dn
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzREs0OdKAo
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ622CdtfsRf
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9rPuWLUDv
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWTUi6oh0K
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm98AxqsUiJ
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KSKEHRpuF
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLprCufIlS
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBq8ZaKnwr
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iLt374onH
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPGg0rDkhQ
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaZYlIYd42
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRIxZS5VSs
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?216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0caWiZxkTK
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FtzDQlaGU
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIZJZOMvoW
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUUWwRyCYf
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFU6915pr7
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfOZqlyPRf
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDYxustWK8
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVWUI1i1lX
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKk5M1mJl8Y
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOoqj1fBVb
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI132LbUyip
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFjkwMvGlX
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdx0gXrmaZ
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQxAziJBGL
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Fg2BPGDYK
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRF7ceg98K
[Transition]216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQ5ekQR9ac
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexFY6BZfgU
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUgcju9ETg
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOnP8jFEMJ
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9emqkDCig
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAOuHdw0jC
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1atEgvkql
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPK4nA4azD
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?)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeH9ybYkQT
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQe2YNViwU
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhHzqMfmkz
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSX3yjfTQ9
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTic2taa8Yr
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5s4WTFcPZ
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RqtUTHUkg
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQmLICCx95
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.)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05Tsa44X1G
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinChgfqSdj
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBitnhCBVOM
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlwP2H7QDX
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?)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhah5lEPiU
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzvPpbmcVY
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvQeGlzhjY
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRMnr64PV0
[Transition]216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQadagd3Sp
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD16FYSb5p3
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKW1rU8EfaV
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaki6n6hcle
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWZEW4wdTU
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kSsBoLNFA
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdE7XjjilNL
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoSd82ptiK
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYPHYX3Uoi
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHXP5HsRuz
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtjKoKrilZ
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYeCTDe1mD
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxV0sqWoNu
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7feRFS8wzO
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6A0kgl6gh
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydTBjWab6d
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyu4JWHpuZ
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxq5bjIY12u
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ajZbJysC8
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78NxrLzFSH
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKNXKwDNme
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSvKvnMPY9
Shin-woo: Need some help?216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7BHjUUvqr
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWh08SeTR3
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5JQoCjdzM
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLFQp4ttgy
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMcyCvuAYf
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjlTVFr2rB
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPmH7Yq0HN
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hCo5xMyoI
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAYkt5sYSh
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQcax8qL0A
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNT0KzSyI3
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DwrsIPStX
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdn1UepvIrV
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbREzB3BoQ1
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcQf17rm9o
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSAZ2OmZPl
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3orvj61Pen
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY32SE0Wq44
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM55TPjeccK
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kC4bS5kNm
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vcS85j6ex
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrK69VKSbet
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.)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJjKegpE0o
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvu93B8wUq
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoaZcCk3E5
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9t5DwfCJcO
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyZrZXntny
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswLlNt0MXv
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. 216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06n1HPcoHU
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsf3S2WE6u
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZXRkjezBL
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHeDbTqhX2
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadWhrXh9iN
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibTJIuvvyn
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvs5BMbdM70
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgXl7jnDo0
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIS9hbbc1dH
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGWPjyV6dl
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBChsLy3RN2
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnillF5ok6
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHDclRWxjZ
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM040ld9fn7
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooXSyGVvK8
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLzOuqeg4N
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wq3JlQxE0
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZIIGGiodf
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lDTtGQt0z
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOZW6gWXRv
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdJaYtOmei
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VDIKFSc87
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmb8RztW88i
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhLWeqUuIC
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5kEUktGD7
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5UErJBADN
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZyHjioLv9
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSSGnxNNrc
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rJJqbG3HT
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BSb2Ie4Pv
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRFALxU04o
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpva9lRiBc7
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZMIkXMuTz
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoczgayYbg6
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRFATxffeN
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwuPGdhLdQ
[Transition]216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLB7HIrcNI
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOniNGYe0hx
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4puTO3coq
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZDd1zoR7r
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAKi8lvN9F
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXBYgWcFWg
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.)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3A8aRyXFGW
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIP6hc1AExC
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDQxOo2hbd
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0p487ZPG95
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rsuLoWf5e
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oA5onNzt5
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.)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoSO4zmJH0
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYM4O1DIlk
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pkLABykLW
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9f9cvRB0f
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTyk8q9CEo
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIw28ys1VH4
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJ6SwNED8B
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbECJEuq892
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCChHKECbNe
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSmytguVVc
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]216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZeNRK6ygf
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfoVQORp18
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. 216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KoBgkvxhx
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JwChKOv1g
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlqiIQk8Gz
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzVeAo4rdm
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWEteirsJb
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4e0C1AzT4
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. 216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiMpeNQE2s
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESj5R6nOjO
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdkgIAq40QK
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WvwG9MSuo
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH33x6ZZdaB
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxxlx01rx0
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.)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEe0RCtNeoM
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnz7vcyKGD6
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWnil0SiZr
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUrF1ju6Wq
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmYQeJLGQE
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiO1xQT4Ion
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0Sz0Yq1ch
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUG2gCpWrcB
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XfqnXZu3W
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevfHJxnaEy
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp80WfTPm4L
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7HcmTB2C0
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhjbQOBedP
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpZWjQpYiM
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5o2x30VeP
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNp1YdyhpIQ
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRe97oxSRw1
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSiEqxwOsi
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeWC20TpoF
Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllEGE7qSFd
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbshZLOk81
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. 216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNhOe9RVyI
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnBD91ng2J
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.)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrdvGG9OEt
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpc3zw6WWfr
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMfTqoSMBm
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4l7JOodlAh
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9Wf4RySzy
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jjyb1sGUf
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9F0atd9Mc
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXREZPF1Zn6
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNBvkAiJwd
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNCevEl8JF
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mkgEJPhAO
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj869PvzrXS
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcE7SthCNrb
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcKDR5dsIA
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWLlNsHOzx
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5D9yC4USTS
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoz3uWpeinW
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88mLVskPZC
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.216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vC6e0XV3n
216Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxybrbboQh
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
