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
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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
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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
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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
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[Transition]304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkHcXEizB9
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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
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExCGVlSy4a
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
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHx1YaBsmu
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
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStPSKUlvc3
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
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5byMYYtLQJ
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
304Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaZht9V8Vb
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.)
