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. 148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVYKKmhOFy
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpUOJD4nl3
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCeWaMtlRO
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrZbtieZAr
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa00U15KCQ8
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrVMqAG5Tj
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZgrE8lE0G
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafF5146jMZ
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?148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEmysINHG3
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGz3sQY8Ys
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmhzdqL7r9
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvOmPCPeu2
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CgcDhwd4z
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxraQkCAkY
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtPFNlv3x5
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCIGzSHi1I
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJh8x9VyCqK
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJO5fqszA0
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlcqp9vogy
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIfhHZIfhA
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxIQ4oeRzM
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FJ8SnQI5o
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFvb8cQPWa
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dd2JYJqLg
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwm8gLvOPoi
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVeXEG7Vv8
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK985Ot6StV
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡav0gZc2I2N
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuutQdDSOwT
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5JQA03WWc
[Transition]148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEeDY2taAk
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYBGYZZpfx
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHrTJ2fePq
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAd9QeEcLgV
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTEguBupos
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTC09gXNVp
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV80pz75Sjx
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mearbNR0S
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGjQmXkEGD
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCq8sGTVJL
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcO6kEPf6iA
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhm1bso1Ak
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOeeOludp5
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yt6ex0hMZ
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?148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaG29JJ8QRR
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mQBsebUTt
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMBSF0Hixl
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZN25OYBX8
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmhQnTioxO
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZf4NdcF4l
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZCjIAHCmN
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdxN6FDNwT
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJsN2i2U7r
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebtYOk2M2l
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpBRogYOuI
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6w6XlqtrA
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjovqusaZ0g
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUccRofOKS9
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSj5Qct4VP9
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsg31tBcaR
[Transition]148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDkkKvObG7
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQDkpTldqX
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjdRYOPgxn
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQPH4Srguj
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJA0eBqlSJC
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXwRUR1Qkt
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOxW0y5A3s
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmMXnpsymj
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?)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHu0Dl4YnZ
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3N7LJYjuy
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnJqLhc8OF
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdtwY0FBrI
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfLXU579Ev
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZB3JSjBfqR
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMzNKpq5mT
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmFCE3Ffz5
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.)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdZHJHhYvg
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZp6Gjmgjfe
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveofo4fKC8
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9augkoOSZ9
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?)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIT0FwX4fr
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBY4MDJOQ2
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnz5YrWttkG
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZZFos0kx9
[Transition]148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQTqfVRBu5
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CICFcbPdS
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EvQiFPVWH
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOynqRvOjC
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPhrjHFAxs
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfD6NtEat9X
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnvvjUNFFE
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFfoViGNZo
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9W9W5Wt2J
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4tJnM2FYi
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgC9fXBpc9
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1IJ11d0rJ
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQUqyUU47w
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJ96YK0m6Y
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOCYrl9GQH
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVYQna13IT
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajY0kpsClQ
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3D9Oe3BHjv
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85Gqsfc28K
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAg2VLMtTRZ
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WQbHUPF7f
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6L6D2ZrrU
Shin-woo: Need some help?148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWFO6VDB6T
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqalnrYmV8
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1caYLWMij
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKs0NfdOgVw
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9v6BG5VSM
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQUW7SeFiY
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMEtmecSEV
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxSEWfZ7cm
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9f42eD2dcF
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIfUE8BoNd
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrdw2KABoj
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡza9z1gQclt
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICsOp29irb
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CpUm0eAER
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ851ZLP4Vog
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINBsGtx9Pl
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0WHANnPbk
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBip6Cf11Gi
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRNRxfodvl
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEiiYgw9fv
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3F361XNNCO
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSsIzIdn0M
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.)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAqjpA04c6
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJssz94y7QG
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBt6QVIusy
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL90YRmQtuX
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyepXhivA16
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczUoUocs6F
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. 148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjYy1KNiEv
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUpP8nsfQV
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZM21umLRNg
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUj6jXbloYe
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuxVyEHjaQ
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHLQn81cdI
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTzZpdt1yy
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTikC9VcIV
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPDS6tISUx
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRZrULfLAk
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDMWFtHHzA
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7A48Qtmtc
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIRYkL3ZoN
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBqPDWtk23
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdp6I1KzOg
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgbMkCF5F2
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguB9RWIaOr
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79WhIjSRl5
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5ic1m9IHr
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2ribSq0dc
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHKOCcig0c
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qMsUquwle
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNncVLYmnz
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrGHMxhbYZ
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9icmBbmLQ
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUPot0hVZE
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkE54wmQex
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOCFbEHN3i
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqpWAqeFmk
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FYNny7i2k
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJb22rX77de
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmw9CMWuvF
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEr0e4oZ8W
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKrEkYUWS8
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDji95G6s8S
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwf1qzO0wzY
[Transition]148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTSjM3Imbm
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqGPQGkvkY
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3f2rMvw6Ks
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6e9bYOw8ir
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqY6MamUGh
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NXHOXntWo
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.)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelIIN4t1vD
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXEdTnFds3
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp19tQ8rWQX
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucZS1fSw2z
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFVw8UxxpH
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAU0DXzMkr
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.)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXfTAN5kcK
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwG4j3b8Wte
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zRYrxnIOP
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIiB2f4YrW
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hjVfFGyMI
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9udqrq4FBI
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD42GWjYL2e
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5rvPgKSTt
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGs76AAiJY
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnS0tGPEhY
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]148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XpMqXTDP7
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Mw88I6dnJ
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. 148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CXPYhoft0
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tWjfYACcU
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLPc9R8pSU
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKgqZcTekL
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WzSjTyGb9
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzUtxpPr75
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. 148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjw11Yhdf9
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwsHo8NC4r
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEi9sSOK8O
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSklh5VWaT
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYORqX31skQ
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzAuV0XtlT
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.)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP40i80OLOj
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzFjzdMh9l
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDigoa24eU
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8G6931SupB
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9577eryA6
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYTPgdIJKX
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxP1qJzTWXT
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngBVqM3QdZ
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtOUOazt7E
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQYrktUWIV
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87zLEu6XVa
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorbDD1KyDX
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo65oUxx9jS
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1ipXqofm9
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZVduPTVLf
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOtLKO1zn4
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF70T4KhJVt
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBsbHv4ZHE
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBLYelgPFX
Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IPjQIgeDs
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7ulGOnwsE
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. 148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2foxBhHIs9
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeGeTMHNu2
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.)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhE5IrxHZ7
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsuE6bo9jm
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSCrX2NZ53
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbWVs3vRkt
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSv5hHwTsuc
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjf8fE8ipfz
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikx83WjcV0
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVO9GgxseeP
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBy1wSdO21
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOtGl0FDEf
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAnTMvseU8
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUciLoKAA6
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0u9sKRuXl
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmLwpwYSPE
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxbAwANLXL
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodYOfcMqYp
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMLkwIQ63n
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCf1oY89Qx
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.148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwrII6eRXU
148Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrqueKFvJm
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
