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. 277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXyTDhmDuW
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7J53E60vj
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTivyI036tq
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXvdvSdDyj
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ggNcrO8OH
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQD9p0Nxs9
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7p87gwT0h
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17Ta6heNU1
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?277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeGKMLAc4R
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iOAdugUEf
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtwQvaEfPi
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQR409paAh
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFl6gNdlmL
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVceWec9Wr
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkhUqD8bNS
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ggbnsQOU9
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZaaPnAKvz
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkAslkKjYM
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9m6tyfH2j
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9j9a0DREj7
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCCPU4tyIX
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpb0T4UYMA
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlRktHdH3k
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pXLDcVjme
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAE6hplWzXR
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3v1kYSo7Se
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivZDcqRL1T
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOdqlbscFK
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYPzCD5B0Y
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7F2fx31MG2
[Transition]277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQarEvFyJ0T
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHmIXz3S1U
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksxHWcD0BX
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0QAQiEDmY
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXx29AYv5Nl
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84CvrkRV3K
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiT66ggcaE
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8D6xWseBh
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcmFH0GxfU
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDMu05mVPX
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZpyGczYOm
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDc00BxHKQ
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7FMmTWDA4
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lmdvED17M
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?277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKCJLihd8t
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKbByS9Idm
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZbapmODCG
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVsusZH2fh
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zcQBf7zgH
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVET4vCiFbr
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rs7TZE7qp
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBV75wraqh
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSbSausHA1
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSMJdgEtq5
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBUpB53gc0
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jhrNS62Wn
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngiY4dsAmA
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKMDHFzCLM
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9KNvwWYgL
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3JkJJydKb
[Transition]277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDPpfyc2Gc
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw847lyd1mt
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHmaLsYO1P
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5LT4xRycd
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0yzx8ck4b
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYGFNXlNFh
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCTvP2wHUQ
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXbeAVxcTh
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?)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrP8N3NsXsp
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQkxnyJSDD
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkL9MhmtBt2
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YarFhzQaH
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2eUmmF7F5
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdDn9igphL
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWqduoDPFv
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlU4SanQn0
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.)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeI4x4NVkCj
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0u2HApzFG0
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnkArgvJyZ
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhd6AfaqA6Z
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?)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWOsVPuJBs
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxugabYopp
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLS8JOo7hV
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkqhCoQxtJ
[Transition]277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmLQ3SvMcO
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNV7ER0pfV
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcJy1j7J6a
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBp30uBrXt
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5squ0R7MFj
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCxNYrhoxN
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasDbZBuPia
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGPKaTb99f
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzbHrUQXCh
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqtEc0tlLe
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyD5Tk7mO7y
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKcNtsEsLc
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDiJbh1nry
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjm29p8siPF
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rJxB2rPZR
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXMXxCvoAZ
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5s3IhFyJSv
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRBlxBgeCq
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYFWd1oCPG
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAc4Doqw7i
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5HxkloRZG
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsxBDzETqP
Shin-woo: Need some help?277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImIySMB8er
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRm7MXnDu6
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzNssT5QTw
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGa91h3s0H
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1a0hP0VH4
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrYyG3tvUG
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvB6sKKMWBx
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FawJphlkB
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6osH92vFhe
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomhgyVwAsU
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKq5ZGBApp
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIqcE52MPN
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEncxI7vL8W
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbUT1JYGpd
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hzvrRTPBH
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzF6ryH93FB
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LuD7faeKZ
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpk0ek4s3xo
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzYUIn3IkI
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYcqBcal6q
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKhPTwKzgg
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBsUzzulSx
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.)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡud2HIdJeAC
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2W5pPuzGt
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zwkt0Uihg
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nFZrbjrRs
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41T7Hf3WJo
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVn4OBuS1F
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. 277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflN3FcaAHY
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JLf0zd0u2
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQ74PnOM9A
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFL0tiUymA
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRC1v3cjg1
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68qh9111Be
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lpnZ6GVj6
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgRvGSmrzv
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEttn6wywJc
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAU1yhlbxTd
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAb4nvKOre
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ImfjaN6UU
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1YEou13z0
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJF0E7NYUn
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4nm2rxvVO
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlxgHqFZdq
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzN9udquoAz
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgBIxWHiev
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGVVu80vai
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboZkIM5OWT
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3G45BrBsBk
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6UGap3hKI
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQYT4YFp3E
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfa6NCUVQWp
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoizUXgqVQQ
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgJUCpdSNl
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWqVTnKKBC
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhKQdy4OND
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37vBsggtPh
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SRA6hA1zp
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQF831njBjP
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HgER8NoxU
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFskINvX4N5
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAOPSz4eOR
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mgbRZAA6V
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXufD4U5dB
[Transition]277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2LQbulqrw
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIarAcUuRF
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJ0Yg1UBcO
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzm8cx2d4uI
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadHAYEE1AP
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8Ts0JtK6J
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.)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MbaDaAPBt
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyMGPGC3Rr
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIDJbjdzei
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjVxq425Zi
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsPyN2SWuJ
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy5oahzBOOE
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.)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9fqfzoceY
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkyfaRxopQ
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNZkEMB8qn
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8iJ4Ry5S1
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudsCsRKgvM
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtY9DnjDZI
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLuH7qkiAc
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZO0rg5QqD
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREyuR5kgc7
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyccAObovR
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]277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRhsceAH5B
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwP4zy8gxX
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. 277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxRWORXppo
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEqFxiqd6m
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKfSlDyY3B
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKKRBprxP7
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGM3MAKNZA
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExxVAIgGcS
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. 277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWYfkugy8y
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4l3GhTE7W
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKrBIB2do3
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJqezlE56M
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAy2Nv629z
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolyBTlZ8s8
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.)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNP1jNKdsZF
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdkxJuL1sO
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkRsQxBDtg
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvxZy7KJSd
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtz0Toiq4w
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKKuwaW0n8
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2A3owspWlL
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqp6Cqki50y
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45bipW5K48
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PeasxhxAZ
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCeheTdNXy
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hllc4ofWX
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpWpgjx56r
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6zzDnISGe
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UV2wyPtge
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnFKsMFkYc
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWzpwZIe7i
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kLXcquCwq
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzKIvr2reG
Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJje8SXiVNE
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkc5p6ZmDMG
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. 277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFQ2IrrrpG
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSe83CTopBZ
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.)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNRYVWTw9k
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡND1eWn2rlN
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSz1MVcvbPO
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vWoe0e3al
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2LuEI8vCx
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5LyM0KaLm
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DsSEfI1Sx
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡholzKdActg
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29tknlSQmi
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94303aOysW
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7afRY7dIU
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraeUvkICCi
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGg27JiZRWU
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKhsLezHEz
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTE0bStV5d7
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOw2OelGvTs
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY16u9RwWGL
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgjpEjP43W
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.277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSwF7u2hhX
277Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfy2aHmF1aR
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
