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. 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2u70WDXKS2
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIBGt0iWM6
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLDiUxbxXc
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2MZhTKXre
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphD68njxuS
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKl2zTU7gtR
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJywhcOxf6
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PFKeaAMp4
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?265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhXtm8oYWs
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrLkOhl1dz
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJnmQjyAye
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKti75edfZb
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnDlOUjMWj
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ehj0Igfrn
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6rNS3TAFW
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xsHNKSf80
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiqANeDsGe
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3bxoHXqjY
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZG38Fb1YV
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLWkrRDmfj
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsOU3rkydj
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94bPalrrdd
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMPfHOKPet
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTf9rzszQtV
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ot8kIv6Io
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFePwF1gMNO
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihbcRRlPLK
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzurE0Jc8t
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qKKECZLDN
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpLL1Jv04T
[Transition]265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdXmPhUYyV
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgn0aSqyaG
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXeigRNsez
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pk1hKSxkm
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06WQK3EX3Q
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgImtBDqTu
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BG70PRJxk
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtMvEeLrSE
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGGcDPAuAC
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOmVUrAOWc
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhEInd1Pvj
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6FDgBVRXJ
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTj4SqJwDd9
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeO4PkKQwKP
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?265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZ09eOLuoS
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnV8AlXGDwG
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcYtqgcIvq
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDy0XmjsiR
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgL2El9jM16
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnN6ba4HB2z
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQad60XQKE
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYq8H2U5rwz
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvl2M0mcvav
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSomWL5iLS
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxjBIinfJq
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzl30wI79K1
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDfk8I6tff
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIlvdKo7ws
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1RGAC0NDv
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1OhxTpzf8
[Transition]265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5pU6oCG4Q
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgO8pJB8js
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgLZhYrqZn
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDvyDjWnTo
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1jPMLHI9Q
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXaNK1SxQX
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAdhebLH2Y
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqjKTWbHth
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?)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFpl1SPj5y
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiJGneDYcg
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplAB6Nirea
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPI3cOzuBHY
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyn1GqbTBUV
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lZnSBsNZG
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4NRUpUrO2
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjo9jIIPitw
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.)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKlqyOaUK7
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWBHIFBYSY
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPouRXBH7Wp
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzcByL9fGc
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?)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg48mKW8U2x
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6qYuMMvUu
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LRAFkwJG0
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwRdhPSoy8
[Transition]265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwD0zXxvgT
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJZbGJ2RlT
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvEmauuiDV
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFovZHO0HE
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EJxq7CYQm
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7Imd1N5oZ
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VeNrjBYQs
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZuXGrFkle
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YZL7Z4V5f
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0P0ftDnIr
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RNI1Bs3kf
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQ3rAYNzlS
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcYcwSgLP0
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTW4BkjEfSZ
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAnlpNEEYg
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4p9Jat4Uu
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GgWT210nq
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCTx3aZIEs
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9mfEz0iPb
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42HYt7baaT
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkx4kUt2QlH
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGTAnWsomF
Shin-woo: Need some help?265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDboNxSbGEv
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPDLHTcZ2M
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KAKDTEIvB
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RpGyeiE9Q
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UIInLdoI2
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4w6US4s38
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6DbElrJpt
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KHJGv7Tow
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUdRvFJivY
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNakS3wjSY2
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39LzumnhF2
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikHUOCl60a
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNZccBokYB
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BaUsDOwVa
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndZxxEhivV
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCRc89Obd8
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSJs2Dj1hL
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jWmHq478M
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPrj1UbfEQ
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aFtvljsKU
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnUUB9Su2D
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOiwIaadYf
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.)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdhYFPwz2z
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDWH5KWKXH
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4x6lTufA90
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIk3L0GMKQU
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBu4114eQE
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ePgA6Hy6g
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. 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAITpAkyP8l
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKCNTIbgFh
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gbxcRhPZL
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtYvKMRS4y
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh87v1l4YgB
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHguhjB0pt
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9wY0jPDRB
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3R1oVVRgtw
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaa8d5ZSCey
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBGejIVFLL
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdVLOICf1l
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmWQQtfOPc
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE85UngasQz
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrFWH0zpTe
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGw75KSbHG3
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpP1Z8eSp9J
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgork4GzCK
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7EGzCQYrL
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATslNpsE3c
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKk9ncIuVB
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmG5W4mKlJf
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrV1BSsZ6q
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvFZs8aGj6
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVyrnVkRJg
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJlEzCwerC
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzjY5Fl3PU
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CWCApCqyQ
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvCRW48sJF
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJs6LiPWKY
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVL4qgQT0Es
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUHLvYMVAM
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7MJ4CDLUA
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQz0Jt0v1Cx
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbux2OrLdt0
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04pRmcNSVR
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRy0s13624
[Transition]265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfRH5w31DB
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcrfrSOFOc
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFGkZmDYHw
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcB2iUXakgu
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeJLEqavjs
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu17YYBgf17
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.)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡao8UhtKkOF
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9z0aHeAzv
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfD8UGqE9WJ
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1f7AJXkaXe
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxU7zmc4sbb
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2edPlR8Az
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.)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGaVbo0GqV
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgckUmBULGc
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQfQXD9iNj
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qmnRui7TG
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpl3hqxXLsH
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtnaYb90jr
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrz6NeIS8XV
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDFE6NB0So
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnhV05aRqF
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQULet283xU
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]265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOckRozwiF
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQ1LKg5KEq
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. 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXBpc7d8nr
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJPmZGjFqk
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoshNrYApU
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4DjbElRSu
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDGBOm2BtU
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6jMhxW87a
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. 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0UZleVeJj
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozJKyvE7PX
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rJ6mhoUGE
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNqSYIlqCm
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNJCbWOy96
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWkKfF589J
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.)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOgKfD3cRV
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wpXN4VrF2
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tgPr1woPr
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkrdwWjORz
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4zHoJopyu
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8gj9CJZ9j
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnsRUB92vO
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOwjuQqaUX
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYucJQUXE9k
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUffWbi4C1
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0j9LkAEXC
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnh9ML31p4
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3P6WGruOLs
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfj1w9khIh3
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncn0giV57F
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOx2M0KPRvR
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkB1xkaHjuk
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5l2pJUuxX
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6N3cfFGO7n
Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ODGbRX6ON
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqFsa2RThI
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. 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXs1amF9Cw
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQyxxYX5aX
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.)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKBeWmJMru
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mXmldhweo
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yOSopQAbX
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zmM7EN9Jp
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkNYVOZ4D9
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaqAnLOH0h
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBE4EbMjlZf
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBIKymIfBQ
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVOfOlhQni
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmVQcFx2uj
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8pu6P0Ijl
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRTSMmSZ7w
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ386NrYmMVm
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQfBGCyXtg
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZfwBJzlsl
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oeiYyIgIo
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLMrfSDaWE
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRQggAnOQ8
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.265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXDlEBBqhD
265Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP98hXKAprm
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
