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. 292Please respect copyright.PENANAQTY7In4QdB
292Please respect copyright.PENANAHOApcp4Sxs
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.292Please respect copyright.PENANAkXinzWRZpF
292Please respect copyright.PENANATxYHbV4Uds
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.292Please respect copyright.PENANAdz9BKvkAWf
292Please respect copyright.PENANAUKaFiIdjOM
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAiwTJiiVFRg
292Please respect copyright.PENANAoUGvQ7XDVX
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?292Please respect copyright.PENANA3P7ONFErCj
292Please respect copyright.PENANAPbbVSlb3Fh
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAnNQGNNb6Wy
292Please respect copyright.PENANAWyP38fL1eM
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.292Please respect copyright.PENANAP7YjbQkHVF
292Please respect copyright.PENANAsCp4AzdYsC
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.292Please respect copyright.PENANAPLhpLqLQGQ
292Please respect copyright.PENANA9JQKOlsUho
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAaiGAlbjWss
292Please respect copyright.PENANA3kHYbfeAdq
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)292Please respect copyright.PENANAnQtXqlVAle
292Please respect copyright.PENANAuMLjMwhuUC
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAK5TOslRCs3
292Please respect copyright.PENANAAPqX4rxqxR
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.292Please respect copyright.PENANAHjtl19PV9i
292Please respect copyright.PENANAe17hHhlM4R
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAKdX1Thq02W
292Please respect copyright.PENANAUtdlNE4LC7
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)292Please respect copyright.PENANAgkKWDK4vFj
292Please respect copyright.PENANAlPZnLUvj8R
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.292Please respect copyright.PENANA3PuE4udGFy
292Please respect copyright.PENANAueGDkM1NSX
[Transition]292Please respect copyright.PENANAX6XN97Cp3X
292Please respect copyright.PENANAzqAur0dEmF
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAbtHqSxPXvR
292Please respect copyright.PENANAbF1zBx5gMF
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)292Please respect copyright.PENANAJS6OBBr2Xh
292Please respect copyright.PENANAcWO21nGqAy
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAOnGNnBvrZ8
292Please respect copyright.PENANA5oPvuAMtNp
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAFqYzaOP5pK
292Please respect copyright.PENANAmrKXakDp37
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)292Please respect copyright.PENANADk87LCAfdG
292Please respect copyright.PENANAJCwmaTLXKH
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAzYvjHCBAhZ
292Please respect copyright.PENANAZZ2LMFNQ51
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?292Please respect copyright.PENANATCW95dSTvO
292Please respect copyright.PENANAJegEYAGcjh
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)292Please respect copyright.PENANAPrRCCuImYB
292Please respect copyright.PENANAEiJ0lgO4Ms
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAXQnhhvfB5z
292Please respect copyright.PENANA6Q4wDJOTbx
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.292Please respect copyright.PENANALVcqp1rysk
292Please respect copyright.PENANA3FGYAtKjKa
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)292Please respect copyright.PENANA09Kvbm9wFV
292Please respect copyright.PENANABBNNoIASOS
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAPdm7Zk7FAD
292Please respect copyright.PENANAxb6ADfnJd5
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)292Please respect copyright.PENANAx4EHvg5oVl
292Please respect copyright.PENANAaXj9UomyPq
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.292Please respect copyright.PENANAIBSQ8nYl8s
292Please respect copyright.PENANAjjcqbSwylc
[Transition]292Please respect copyright.PENANApavcuxJzz2
292Please respect copyright.PENANAN98pt6Kv62
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAJNrslq0U5r
292Please respect copyright.PENANAoY6111qhrv
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)292Please respect copyright.PENANAEZBPzOyaG2
292Please respect copyright.PENANAhwj4veP2z3
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAsq4Rb3mpTD
292Please respect copyright.PENANAXxNrCmjxbj
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?)292Please respect copyright.PENANAXHGcfRkiBQ
292Please respect copyright.PENANAAQoTJf4IsV
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAcrrwz0uEah
292Please respect copyright.PENANATyeNI4D9Wk
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)292Please respect copyright.PENANA9f6VYFr3j2
292Please respect copyright.PENANAwCm9qonqHf
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAMpsj8r36TD
292Please respect copyright.PENANApu6r1mX8Ji
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.)292Please respect copyright.PENANA6ZihgHjwCD
292Please respect copyright.PENANAFQQc4Dnepc
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAq7sBRp99sx
292Please respect copyright.PENANAaKP1c3zuEv
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?)292Please respect copyright.PENANAbf0RNhfSty
292Please respect copyright.PENANAoWh83aIliL
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAjXtUCuyThL
292Please respect copyright.PENANAbuceSNGfkJ
[Transition]292Please respect copyright.PENANAJD6E85XqSj
292Please respect copyright.PENANA7jr7N2YmRQ
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAbr2SlGcTmY
292Please respect copyright.PENANAt8SmXdIqNS
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!292Please respect copyright.PENANAggn0j1ugZE
292Please respect copyright.PENANASwmHVnG3g5
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAXghiIaL47X
292Please respect copyright.PENANApC1C6xmEKe
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)292Please respect copyright.PENANAfyHWiTTmtO
292Please respect copyright.PENANAaLOjhbxX6L
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAzTgreiYOiH
292Please respect copyright.PENANAwpavmARnBi
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!292Please respect copyright.PENANAIizqslSaLa
292Please respect copyright.PENANAqQA4YOaF7v
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANA4tOnhAqf3G
292Please respect copyright.PENANAFwy3ohuN6n
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)292Please respect copyright.PENANAGluLL0JlwD
292Please respect copyright.PENANAat4XnBxhbM
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAeudkMQdCCD
292Please respect copyright.PENANAbsRcXiXsSM
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.292Please respect copyright.PENANAmHQSUSIR7z
292Please respect copyright.PENANABKPBS27ckQ
Shin-woo: Need some help?292Please respect copyright.PENANAAKQEyxnCOg
292Please respect copyright.PENANATTnrpU997D
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.292Please respect copyright.PENANAt1b4HNra6q
292Please respect copyright.PENANA3PwtkHu3pQ
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!292Please respect copyright.PENANAQthscQdqKq
292Please respect copyright.PENANA3aBqfOb4k2
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAnl4ik1ueZW
292Please respect copyright.PENANAiCMgENHC7O
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)292Please respect copyright.PENANAzDF5EKZBJ6
292Please respect copyright.PENANAnjgSKFn6yV
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAbf8vqxM72k
292Please respect copyright.PENANAUxIE0XNmSO
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAksdZuovINo
292Please respect copyright.PENANArmqzDgPpZe
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)292Please respect copyright.PENANA4MwX0pQnjh
292Please respect copyright.PENANAgdtxRPkyCE
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAwruHzyZGcp
292Please respect copyright.PENANA95HsCukzTt
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAlfFsFbEIRt
292Please respect copyright.PENANAL9ZjbW85GY
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAUPhoXmPskm
292Please respect copyright.PENANASDZ8uIrvav
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.)292Please respect copyright.PENANAIDFqN7xhHf
292Please respect copyright.PENANAwzdyhFldDt
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANA3B1yykplbU
292Please respect copyright.PENANARBTUtBPZZn
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)292Please respect copyright.PENANAR89S0lqwXM
292Please respect copyright.PENANAOrBHRlFt57
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. 292Please respect copyright.PENANAkGEgEABTYn
292Please respect copyright.PENANA3UBOEHhVs9
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.292Please respect copyright.PENANAVQC5EJUXzU
292Please respect copyright.PENANAtkQRiYZ4NM
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAR2oAx0LvCJ
292Please respect copyright.PENANALKiyd9DCGu
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.292Please respect copyright.PENANAfwAYsLJUdK
292Please respect copyright.PENANAxeNM98xGgJ
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)292Please respect copyright.PENANAYeU17m2nct
292Please respect copyright.PENANABMc6tI5d4u
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANASwtPkeVtNp
292Please respect copyright.PENANAg3tLZTWkmG
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?292Please respect copyright.PENANA9Oq2dAPO5N
292Please respect copyright.PENANAWlWVOHIcW8
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAm2DcR0YYtw
292Please respect copyright.PENANAajE3vDsBG1
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.292Please respect copyright.PENANA09fVM6EOSa
292Please respect copyright.PENANAukOcNzS75z
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.292Please respect copyright.PENANAvt9IpVFnhe
292Please respect copyright.PENANAtKsN899APA
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?292Please respect copyright.PENANAFyior3wO6Q
292Please respect copyright.PENANAHiA5NwPrpO
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAXJr1dOmUXF
292Please respect copyright.PENANAiayTkHmQui
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)292Please respect copyright.PENANAsB9z8LqNb2
292Please respect copyright.PENANAfOrYAcr12v
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAIwsVwblqCa
292Please respect copyright.PENANACTCcTikJhQ
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAdD02K7dFLs
292Please respect copyright.PENANAbY3D8n4tYz
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)292Please respect copyright.PENANAwpp6HVpqgH
292Please respect copyright.PENANALq0yuOWHGA
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAUl7JwdQaxJ
292Please respect copyright.PENANAHecMKmjoyr
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAarEcrZtTkM
292Please respect copyright.PENANA6HzlB5kib2
[Transition]292Please respect copyright.PENANAb8iSVmNy5J
292Please respect copyright.PENANAuD5YQ9FhV7
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAvwFtDTdxQQ
292Please respect copyright.PENANAD8oYlrwJk3
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANA3ZxSpmyZJh
292Please respect copyright.PENANAumjeabKsc7
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.)292Please respect copyright.PENANAf6XpjnCNl5
292Please respect copyright.PENANA0yNVrLpOSp
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANABLeZlvWDkC
292Please respect copyright.PENANACxuhB2jUE2
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAp7o009pFDr
292Please respect copyright.PENANAtD54eWHCV4
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.)292Please respect copyright.PENANAXNy70p3FAV
292Please respect copyright.PENANAORq8oj37Ff
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAFuVmi0QcwA
292Please respect copyright.PENANAmqKXjy2kyB
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAH8P0AOqG4X
292Please respect copyright.PENANAjhkt5UEDfX
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)292Please respect copyright.PENANA1fAkGhQ7cc
292Please respect copyright.PENANAF54h79evIE
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAfGsi3a2GWW
292Please respect copyright.PENANAqUScVEfnIG
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]292Please respect copyright.PENANAwkrSfizyyA
292Please respect copyright.PENANACG50lLPDWi
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. 292Please respect copyright.PENANA10jqTKQsJh
292Please respect copyright.PENANA3HOmKptsYl
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)292Please respect copyright.PENANAYKTYv33ZZz
292Please respect copyright.PENANAZ1pCbZh9Ei
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAEONvGjsNFp
292Please respect copyright.PENANAFzbt07ZNNW
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. 292Please respect copyright.PENANAz3LdYAL892
292Please respect copyright.PENANAZym8UC8OJc
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)292Please respect copyright.PENANArgjA1p7LGX
292Please respect copyright.PENANAvmsQFrVNFq
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANA2a1XqDR4Ya
292Please respect copyright.PENANAGnCiTP2SlN
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.)292Please respect copyright.PENANAmy6peXsbiC
292Please respect copyright.PENANAHlIdwtpKX6
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANARZ2gH0q9Ic
292Please respect copyright.PENANAgMuba129Vj
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)292Please respect copyright.PENANArgJfdKwcnK
292Please respect copyright.PENANAn9d7WF48de
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAmguJDowpM0
292Please respect copyright.PENANA36xD21wLqY
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.292Please respect copyright.PENANAh1cP326Fe2
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.292Please respect copyright.PENANATDl8AE5dQu
292Please respect copyright.PENANAOyZCHg6a8O
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAAmAJd4Amio
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Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)292Please respect copyright.PENANATSKetaHy3T
292Please respect copyright.PENANAnW9PR6apnf
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAhrG84D5I3P
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He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.292Please respect copyright.PENANAAs8MmOTqGF
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Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)292Please respect copyright.PENANAmRQqdj2old
292Please respect copyright.PENANAtPnQgk1kfo
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. 292Please respect copyright.PENANAeUB8poKnF4
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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.)292Please respect copyright.PENANAvbhxA2Vqjy
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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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAxnmJm9ybau
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Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 292Please respect copyright.PENANAOxksbcVj4o
292Please respect copyright.PENANAhKhBuRwA1z
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAa1iPQyxT1I
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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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAeosPeYQjAL
292Please respect copyright.PENANAe61jtslBbR
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)292Please respect copyright.PENANA9d7dTzss2G
292Please respect copyright.PENANA3RGAxr20JX
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAwruYHfxSIB
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Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)292Please respect copyright.PENANAL3d2Wf7Rj8
292Please respect copyright.PENANAYz5folHXTS
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANA17WfT12InO
292Please respect copyright.PENANAbfJJN7k3NU
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.292Please respect copyright.PENANAuIC1Y2hdvh
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Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)