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. 304Please respect copyright.PENANAeLMvyYDgZy
304Please respect copyright.PENANAsbVKzdMIuJ
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.304Please respect copyright.PENANA34ho4gk6ZF
304Please respect copyright.PENANAWgBgPo8ieg
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.304Please respect copyright.PENANApo1M0SypJz
304Please respect copyright.PENANAQhYjEuJ2SS
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAJMlTyBnkl6
304Please respect copyright.PENANA5kORUhZ0g1
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?304Please respect copyright.PENANAIcknS2QDUV
304Please respect copyright.PENANAfdwjq8xyYi
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANALE7HIO1Z4k
304Please respect copyright.PENANA7naRPC5gQ6
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.304Please respect copyright.PENANAb0A1NfflcJ
304Please respect copyright.PENANA9XIOkaH7Rt
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.304Please respect copyright.PENANAloytraXMBa
304Please respect copyright.PENANAOffuALULHz
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANA2ZwdUcrgOx
304Please respect copyright.PENANA2D7eEFilwD
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)304Please respect copyright.PENANAm2CGHWtKYD
304Please respect copyright.PENANAD3yKgBVaaU
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAjjgxpLGuqB
304Please respect copyright.PENANA1ZSLjuKGAC
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.304Please respect copyright.PENANAwiKPpZhaTW
304Please respect copyright.PENANAUo7CqPqbKP
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAoIBSkzpgWh
304Please respect copyright.PENANAzDD0ESFl6P
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)304Please respect copyright.PENANA0WGLfGI8dv
304Please respect copyright.PENANAHSoRgkKKW6
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.304Please respect copyright.PENANAxw2OglyXRy
304Please respect copyright.PENANANN66ZbhEdP
[Transition]304Please respect copyright.PENANAOx7WzoRpGd
304Please respect copyright.PENANAdSltXerUix
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAL7kYtx1hOZ
304Please respect copyright.PENANAGs3thmEDAJ
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)304Please respect copyright.PENANAO7FaUDz4V0
304Please respect copyright.PENANAzBCZPSHJJJ
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAwbiTOA50BM
304Please respect copyright.PENANAtkC7h5a9L1
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAcYfq5GDZ6j
304Please respect copyright.PENANA63MfzGb3g7
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)304Please respect copyright.PENANAcXEBgj5LPw
304Please respect copyright.PENANA8Crx0eFWEP
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAOAXT24jJT0
304Please respect copyright.PENANAtpCyE8yjJF
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?304Please respect copyright.PENANArsn9adUAjt
304Please respect copyright.PENANA3Vc0DxZSiK
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)304Please respect copyright.PENANAmgvatWp01b
304Please respect copyright.PENANANXhroCPTn4
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAHPFmLS9HIL
304Please respect copyright.PENANA1QLi3XfwBo
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.304Please respect copyright.PENANAh0cxyhmlzu
304Please respect copyright.PENANA9xWvZCITU2
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)304Please respect copyright.PENANAKRy0WaJF7S
304Please respect copyright.PENANAjNQKOfvBce
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAR4r38Cmovn
304Please respect copyright.PENANA13tjTMQQfF
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)304Please respect copyright.PENANATmc2to61KU
304Please respect copyright.PENANAa4McfHeiWk
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.304Please respect copyright.PENANAyfa74WFzLz
304Please respect copyright.PENANAtObIsBt8DQ
[Transition]304Please respect copyright.PENANAxnGo0bQ6UI
304Please respect copyright.PENANAV8hBSVwiTV
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANATKPAhgm3L0
304Please respect copyright.PENANAj4XZXGiCyW
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)304Please respect copyright.PENANABtXQDGQUYz
304Please respect copyright.PENANAWMVvgqEw3b
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAs9DXuqzUjS
304Please respect copyright.PENANAQeAEG3cOUP
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?)304Please respect copyright.PENANAobivB5QaS1
304Please respect copyright.PENANAlJ4T5L9sRW
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAdJOXLW1oSp
304Please respect copyright.PENANAiM7wKGLFHz
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)304Please respect copyright.PENANAE2tjqwIICG
304Please respect copyright.PENANAi5nShobPE1
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANACy1PwQYB7l
304Please respect copyright.PENANATgrBeOvUFQ
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.)304Please respect copyright.PENANAeOpmPjEsku
304Please respect copyright.PENANARcvdWD4JtH
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAdHUe2wE8xf
304Please respect copyright.PENANA3XJKwIcwHN
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?)304Please respect copyright.PENANA7fPJr2uhSx
304Please respect copyright.PENANAlSkYyklHe1
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAAUyCK9J5ZN
304Please respect copyright.PENANAgFyIJcHtKK
[Transition]304Please respect copyright.PENANAgFb55DjgTp
304Please respect copyright.PENANAGzIdMF8rn7
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANA281dNTKNTi
304Please respect copyright.PENANA26FlUFqf0c
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!304Please respect copyright.PENANAMoYxeS1wua
304Please respect copyright.PENANAGUMZgQEiFY
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAttRJ8Hrlwn
304Please respect copyright.PENANAHwlYB3yuaQ
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)304Please respect copyright.PENANAe6q63HTr4K
304Please respect copyright.PENANA81D1cpjATZ
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAdUMaPmTNym
304Please respect copyright.PENANALE1CrH9B2O
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!304Please respect copyright.PENANAnP9b6pqzmN
304Please respect copyright.PENANA8qYwkgEBeR
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAmD2gzu6u79
304Please respect copyright.PENANAano9CkJXsA
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)304Please respect copyright.PENANAjZIx1EzlYn
304Please respect copyright.PENANAEdjJk4KjVa
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAwy3t6U8QpP
304Please respect copyright.PENANAMGUchIgDiD
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.304Please respect copyright.PENANAvAunNPlc4f
304Please respect copyright.PENANAOMU6t7w5Hf
Shin-woo: Need some help?304Please respect copyright.PENANAgJDNMFWWlv
304Please respect copyright.PENANApIsLXv2M5b
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.304Please respect copyright.PENANAJWcVRtqxjW
304Please respect copyright.PENANAo1MtGaRVhy
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!304Please respect copyright.PENANArPmhHiWpZE
304Please respect copyright.PENANACV6jy1IxaD
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAAECVlBSVpC
304Please respect copyright.PENANA13vlfLXcU5
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)304Please respect copyright.PENANAQl5iyhw32r
304Please respect copyright.PENANAln117Mhhn7
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAuvmAYqerCH
304Please respect copyright.PENANAqjWu23wgYn
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANARksdrIya5o
304Please respect copyright.PENANAFudOHTXVfu
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)304Please respect copyright.PENANApUiYVgJKzw
304Please respect copyright.PENANAcmostQMDiF
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANA9K8KToeGnE
304Please respect copyright.PENANAmAPMNSurkw
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAaakiku5BuG
304Please respect copyright.PENANAVqlUplRDiQ
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAKPDS3w4waj
304Please respect copyright.PENANA3hoVBs1o2B
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.)304Please respect copyright.PENANAjYgasmgqZm
304Please respect copyright.PENANAIR6eNAd1be
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAEWRYz6I10X
304Please respect copyright.PENANAdGy723mTZr
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)304Please respect copyright.PENANAoOucmPjYYk
304Please respect copyright.PENANAwZ2PazHjWl
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. 304Please respect copyright.PENANAOIHGNVkxeZ
304Please respect copyright.PENANAAGbxVGuTHc
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.304Please respect copyright.PENANAk249uTQFFy
304Please respect copyright.PENANAW5vj4c2mvK
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAh28UIWIeB1
304Please respect copyright.PENANAEbyEMsk1JR
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.304Please respect copyright.PENANAQ3YsGU9PHz
304Please respect copyright.PENANAvFrhFCVmvK
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)304Please respect copyright.PENANAI8YGwLlgrM
304Please respect copyright.PENANAL9NC1e1pmq
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAlO3yNpYcFi
304Please respect copyright.PENANAUD9OgIAFKl
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?304Please respect copyright.PENANAOWRtrYal4r
304Please respect copyright.PENANA1ibXoYxXuP
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAZXGdcnVuJw
304Please respect copyright.PENANAOLlaiqjcuv
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.304Please respect copyright.PENANAHB7TWadYSA
304Please respect copyright.PENANAsToxZCnLFu
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.304Please respect copyright.PENANAIizVLLV679
304Please respect copyright.PENANAcx0CCsqprU
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?304Please respect copyright.PENANAJae9Xd3G7N
304Please respect copyright.PENANAr8N0gXkmwP
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAye9M4XqBz7
304Please respect copyright.PENANA2bO8dU7MGd
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)304Please respect copyright.PENANAuelLEbuUYi
304Please respect copyright.PENANAg04JitVnzb
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAWfZjvR7S71
304Please respect copyright.PENANAXLLdB9ESJZ
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAoZrJJRumQ3
304Please respect copyright.PENANAkB9HhX4qQF
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)304Please respect copyright.PENANAdCtioHzvsz
304Please respect copyright.PENANA1G5O9Q3T2Y
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAmTa6kJJMlQ
304Please respect copyright.PENANA9KbDHyj1aR
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAf0qf0RLFdp
304Please respect copyright.PENANAdXLaKM19Iq
[Transition]304Please respect copyright.PENANAOkHcXEizB9
304Please respect copyright.PENANAAXxF0d8gx8
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAfRsFRSg6zm
304Please respect copyright.PENANA5LhsQ21QpH
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAZKF1PD7gxj
304Please respect copyright.PENANA8iPLrRZhJ3
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.)304Please respect copyright.PENANAQtdDajrlHm
304Please respect copyright.PENANAbCYnKWEiak
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANANBTuJkvvav
304Please respect copyright.PENANAdf6GiLGrsx
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAJOkvSxiIdO
304Please respect copyright.PENANAuJfJum2y78
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.)304Please respect copyright.PENANASjHx0VF2Ou
304Please respect copyright.PENANAdk4nQr9TVH
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANApiOcbjZgwI
304Please respect copyright.PENANAWP1IlMJPN8
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAkYGswd7jbT
304Please respect copyright.PENANALFmYKEAhhT
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)304Please respect copyright.PENANATeuHlT5wU7
304Please respect copyright.PENANAOE1EUus7pC
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAqoQNI6Ajqd
304Please respect copyright.PENANAh0F5p943IX
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]304Please respect copyright.PENANAk8Bk5j3OrN
304Please respect copyright.PENANAgNw99vj8Z0
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. 304Please respect copyright.PENANASlq8VXOG8e
304Please respect copyright.PENANAB5GxDsPO8b
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)304Please respect copyright.PENANAjrd2wxglWp
304Please respect copyright.PENANAcwy1KVQ7oS
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAUFpitZDy9G
304Please respect copyright.PENANAnCQZhySXz7
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. 304Please respect copyright.PENANA4ioBkJXeDv
304Please respect copyright.PENANAVYUbx1XxF6
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)304Please respect copyright.PENANA4zfoGapVuE
304Please respect copyright.PENANAcrzKf9w4Vy
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAbIqfcSYdLa
304Please respect copyright.PENANAuYjJAJHBhK
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.)304Please respect copyright.PENANAA6JeKeb8p2
304Please respect copyright.PENANAczK7cYgtsr
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAR29YPlVz3W
304Please respect copyright.PENANALj3f5iE5Hf
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)304Please respect copyright.PENANAddqGc6NZll
304Please respect copyright.PENANAdlt8o154mr
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAzqCGTrZz4k
304Please respect copyright.PENANALv1BN10cRQ
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.304Please respect copyright.PENANA8JqODqACFV
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.304Please respect copyright.PENANArqouMA5zVI
304Please respect copyright.PENANADCy4RPYeDB
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANA1IIputOIbj
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Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)304Please respect copyright.PENANA7OTarBE2OC
304Please respect copyright.PENANAWLeVdl2hzW
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANA3vVlb70D4o
304Please respect copyright.PENANAz84OjEg6fk
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.304Please respect copyright.PENANACXmTGyt1d9
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Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)304Please respect copyright.PENANAW3yy1uqDPS
304Please respect copyright.PENANA2crAFRj2zZ
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. 304Please respect copyright.PENANAQRn9U4Jr1O
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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.)304Please respect copyright.PENANAURMXQByCEV
304Please respect copyright.PENANAjvGYuUSabq
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANArXhYRbLw4p
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Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 304Please respect copyright.PENANAD5iinuTSLq
304Please respect copyright.PENANAxj0gt2aQaA
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANA33S21EcKfg
304Please respect copyright.PENANALQgNZt934d
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANARUr2JTwZqv
304Please respect copyright.PENANAlh1SxpTgnV
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)304Please respect copyright.PENANArRDhgLhCq0
304Please respect copyright.PENANAm1JiXcHeYF
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANAHqwZOxD6pu
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Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)304Please respect copyright.PENANA2WVIbJkxtA
304Please respect copyright.PENANAtVwHPmgNbt
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANA9GVsTf0VUS
304Please respect copyright.PENANAVs3QcSDis3
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.304Please respect copyright.PENANA6NG2lG5O15
304Please respect copyright.PENANA34hfJRMnqY
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)