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. 288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTb8WBb4Y3
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICxdw7GQae
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5d4tR5tzen
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0pmkowoL4
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrG4S1L4ilM
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyP7YID33UJ
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8Oz0OEBQs
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KgmMtH2NB
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?288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAFs6XATbc
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MzebnwR5t
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOujg18042
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawyiy72ANw
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYgp45p0Ao
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SsH13Zely
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI89kbMA2xA
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrrsWbD3hs
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lMQ9UTlMJ
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CtyocYJCV
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjsgSjlGSG
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlQLp2omZd
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XOfOrd6Wn
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenCAT1MphT
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBis2LCsHc4
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMoEuTfWo7
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2jbqEn927
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVN6Uvdmld
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvusNkIh0p
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7C3VKUUet
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTBSKvdUWD
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTtSLFEcKn
[Transition]288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLM5BQ4o5y
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1KldVWIN3
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9JzySA1Es
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mUdaPAfND
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZY9XCc4Sc8
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtZoPtK0WN
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iNLvDiAH7
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzp6JUupHlK
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKE0Qh7wN0
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCnBOSrI2R
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRs5X4di4fp
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90HVgmgKiW
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1kjP8PTlJ
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8JNBOpbbJ
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?288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeURLlw3xN
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fYHEe8B0J
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuq80m3Ygw
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8lYFRDRpa
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ggy2Xd6zH
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9BE64gp5f
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxW94mwqdE
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQGGYzuQp3
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzqaKLX7C8
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrmNok1ADf
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUR4E0Izrp
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8NLzz2H0G
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOQzWh9rKQ
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGePZhleGaS
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRDvFFiAJY
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSFqdu2SdS
[Transition]288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqkB0UXTqs
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9u26wZhEOK
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7BrAuwoyz
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxAQhAYUDq
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtUzZK36ot
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PfFqwe0uh
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUV4imKETH
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENNIaNSZtW
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?)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDt0Z136tgJ
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjL8Q6cTvuc
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEgwufpCYC
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ruXwPXhU4
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYIVoXbxm0
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE15bsi081s
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbq6r4RJOXL
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsECFHbClA
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.)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oCdptLlhD
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOy1Jobbh3d
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAgweB4W4h
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70eHg5qWKR
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?)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlGDO3ICWr
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk12qIH24ON
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZZMSRtozO
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVmu6MNups
[Transition]288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLTNrkjDds
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZfpLeeMG7
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoVV2n6Lyi
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0CUh0My6k
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9JLvSoA2O
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZFEgoluKg
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3YLviHhxq
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZGStIaw7M
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2L1XUUm5Gx
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaXwyygiUG
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvV8cnjdR7R
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52aePsZFbu
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6R4Y4dyPrs
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkZ4FYG3g3
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6r4sqixtLb
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfVBupT9Ez
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBdedCJvru
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9SGfefM9M
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNOYiBjmmY
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8K9LbtBCEa
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUjFwFualF
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqsAOZ6VwM
Shin-woo: Need some help?288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9gf7kQte9
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7kMxnVnqD
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspgPOCS8wH
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1cCMycZgd
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3rPheUIOo
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TwZbO9JNW
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5MDICOsBe
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhhuwaJxB3
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0JTuTLBdE
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnCzMizAxM
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAceiBfxx93
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCOUMxSuUa
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPzFh09DwU
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRxAOKfuAm
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRcc6LspTd
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoEpx4PCyk
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwSzaNPVwZ
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioxfGtfyEI
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzwG0XHsJe
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oUlEIT0v4
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNPJWU4lFz
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwgfRfp1tu
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.)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUf99wGoPiZ
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoa9QVr7lc7
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRL5WFHUGe
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLNocjoDnB
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lTqjpCcQx
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfcDWUhAeh
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. 288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5uE0qm9Fd
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdhYWMTxuP
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErUSXjyH5A
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvyKjscA10
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZX94BthBdr
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpx2kaL4Pt9
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRGs5MfXNA
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBogMIUNiR
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceztGaVcSZ
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNU0MggjOb
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRnBh2Ioox
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Jeq0kXMDD
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5XM9IDDzT
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChTmQSLlVD
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JUxYv2djU
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHYjVIKX1Z
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rjoyhDdLC
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtNLoVPRmI
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdonJLCav8
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbEp2RnArr
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RscBoQeJs
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFHodcLVwF
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpthylF4JUE
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOdyFGU9C6
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBY09MpwV4B
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWMYuLGmkZ
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctVO8jJNpu
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvxTcMzppH
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAbXeNLm4V
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCylX4iDbf1
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnQEOU6Jmx
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bU60MbyBR
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjoyTJdMQW
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKMIZJ9DiQ
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6r6tcTETu
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bfHEeOaLQ
[Transition]288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacGRSPgSTd
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGviDCnxSh7
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEgWqHRCSX
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTGJ6AWqGL
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZLn9IpTmr
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6n0b0M9Q7K
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.)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOweMiE2rnj
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKiFwmRmHM
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmJ6PtHzt7
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3UFkYDKvL
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6f3PoE9rH
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCgoPkBvS6
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.)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrtTcI9VT4
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tUc8lDnVo
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIfMLsu6M7
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmp9UxDAsd
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnWH9dWFjA
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zcaCWV8TU
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpUpQoxwOR
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfNMLu154a
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0qC5AsmxJ
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFQBG6Az2P
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]288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKUIHT2VWT
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2IB2Ddvtp
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. 288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsx9Zee8g0
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc65czhASKt
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIu4xx05ORh
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xlUEqY4RZ
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUMB6juzJs
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG464ggvdHK
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. 288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yFWLzGrib
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2a3sW6zSvV
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoYsS7dtFC
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSOHOAJUnV
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTnQBNJwSu
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCraqTdpdf
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.)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhD7gYLnzI
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPQwaXGll6
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JnYamNR8n
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOhj2Xsmvl
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfp2Z1spnE
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96fLlHONiX
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiBtJJcQfJ
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQNXZ45mFM
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhKduQ3NKi
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzckumfWGvF
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7inI23kUZ
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWI7aJ0r1o
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1R1fXathE
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKFNGixuYB
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRxhamq3pK
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHhTMRJP9B
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcpOi3FCWQ
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxfjKgqRni
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLYlgSGERT
Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92BJ15rDOV
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgAxaUt6Ts
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. 288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcAk3FieNx
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMKzxb1LrR
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.)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpqtHe41kk
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzujKevt7Gq
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb90f8406Nm
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYu4nxV61cC
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcwDOnVLy7
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9lxVc3qHg
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cSvST78zC
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7ETh8nhZA
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDY0gWw6HB0
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEXzPIgmLP
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWLgqhTSf2
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoTVe9513X
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1fp9gDK7n
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfF8OHnMiS
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7E8Bzvac7F
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8ECeeXiLu
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNe1SbWWJM7
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgc708K9qrx
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.288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtk7yXFOo4e
288Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4eHJxDuTV
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
