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. 144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWsyyQ6C4m
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQnuirReGO
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKxK9kt0LQ
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYEOoaqEsg
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YGDTOOsPe
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAdJOiVAcu
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKyTVLZX1o
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGq7tUrpWm2
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?144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqRjDu26yT
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JIcqjdZXZ
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVsPNevVxA
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubf87WdQBM
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoT7wf24kt
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjY6tHKBe48
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTwAyTObIV
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4KxIGvOCF
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7butugQLA
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3TW1waKdK
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGwRPyukdb
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEz1Q30EQ6J
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUc6q2Boom
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2F3JhOzBZV
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVn0ppz1FIf
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3B6mrMV9F8
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zXWx9HTNK
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZJTmmqQrE
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOu5tqkGkr
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzwgVB1amR
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrX4WV08tH
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWZGcPYlFp
[Transition]144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2OUjeXt5z
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAb2wHXLmw
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0PwFKMeUV
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccFmqjjDJ3
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhJlZJQ5if
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPs17Kv4ut
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ez9ikk1cR
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1pXYgJq1b
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CjKlatf1R
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygLHr3ZbtE
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLDEEXqGTF
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavcZRkyeM8
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17ePIlD5gd
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjiUWJpA7o
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?144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IV2Htshoq
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBN9By8hR33
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXK1t5rM83p
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdHt3oiiJd
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomDr4jAlab
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Fi70Fl7Gb
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKODz58ach8
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQi5qGgXc2Y
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6z5XArySQF
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEgbQnXU4s
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHF4n7mE92L
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gWDQk7Fvu
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7k3yRlv3CM
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzIJIxVqed
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4kowwyKWR
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNi18aj329E
[Transition]144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMYR0XbCw8
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDJfOYmi85
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcozUv0AIxk
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ombTS4AWP
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19DoM1lWrU
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJ1G8FoHKq
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLOGoyuVYI
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtezO0QWT5
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?)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLFWdEubuL
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFTwgKBeh4
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbdYO9ummn
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvu4aJakEe
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpYAD34bVM
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLeCyzFBHT
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZfA4JKdRh
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fzEbjjfXh
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.)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZxupqn3Fq
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SOyhxbS2T
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTzxpL3hxp
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvS7mZ3w9m5
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?)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAHAv689cC
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4C15IC1z7
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDsGgdQvXF
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJX6u3KYRTw
[Transition]144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbHhgePvJr
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPg0BLYsRBL
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IN9CCZOe6
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMft7JYIrA4
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarh0CWd9hh
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBEMmWav5R
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoupN9WQ8g
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyREAAh90qT
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPdPrYLLbY
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5gbONlPe7
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYwbX3dvHO
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65GInaN5IG
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaOfjpJVaW
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Hz22sr5h2
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWA2C04T6QJ
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMPTsGhINf
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhvpcKqZhV
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7l2H2jVAiG
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75TuJwWemy
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvGU26XEtJ
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNz8ef9ySJ
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8piNZvKDo
Shin-woo: Need some help?144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLWfbsDf5y
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm383gBxYeZ
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb31RZtEWw9
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQ9j8rgUR9
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSWXCuHLtC
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6LFbrWcve
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvLPYZ4hyS
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4cb64tzHB
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeDOb5uqNl
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FIlrXvod0
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDK6iGGpGEp
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAl13DmvjZ
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU702L0yjss
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBcVaKweJ8
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjIuRFxHRA
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJNAx3c6dv
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVfFfkOlvJ
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPbjgibfzD
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Y2kPftqh4
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5iO8gUiQ7
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGyA3bQS4V
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXUVgQQOd6
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.)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKgURmwH4e
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7R2Nlazk3
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGs38ggyZc
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyNXEDmg51
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsDOhpFq6s
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzH56Yz1cw
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. 144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7QgTMFfxa
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEcaNFO2SW
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0Y5WPe4zf
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzr4yg8c1O
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47Q3iiy8Ax
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqrzpREF2d
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUftBf3ePn8
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCROs3cdXh1
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQ82xdBBfH
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbgTJ48BYa
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2F16TVfVa
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffNWSbytCT
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUwg8Uz6Yv
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkY77GU36HG
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMUikDWDQG
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nzaWsFICE
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk08VDMeCqn
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIYaF2qWjG
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbcM3Elgbm
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2K96F96PPa
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFD8vR93TJE
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTZ9BKK0y0
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcvsmz3CWB
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuBOo1UDPP
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gUFVQPERe
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22iXxCywf6
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEc9pZH9wAe
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwPYxy9UIG
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKUkZzE7M7
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTWI8qOJ7G
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIg6dmIZUFx
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kN16JXqLy
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsr3sViztt
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2Q0FKiA2y
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ020toZJ7Y
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[Transition]144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5Tu2rq6hJ
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KQwDrm1Wq
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtotmnmMEg
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eAj3bBj2T
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NUxQ9HjTN
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mYWDY3Dsy
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.)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDU6kA6TWFW
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUtbahqat1
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1R7FQTrbDu
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoBqPeN6D0
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl78tnhOqQR
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJLGxIVofK
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.)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDAVNp8RDk
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVeEUuJx6p
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErciLViGEi
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvv95axJUI
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7tJTg1k0R
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKU46iQO10W
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjTIepCBiF
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5q7wNe8LKn
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQjwgk5wfE
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjTrA98xnz
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]144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAEoBoei7s
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVcYWCz549
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. 144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFw5TonAvmP
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvfoM2ssO0
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbTh2n7a0y
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqJrQuroMM
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjkWLqj5TD
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7U04C4fVa
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. 144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3WAiFC0gd
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNdHR7gDBv
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuqUDRWkjk
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXh10MAzt2S
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKYpbUDrYw
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcN3uMIHph
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.)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKFXigtBGM
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgCfiKMoDU
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wBC86luzk
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibBRl1XDSs
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FlPiMzzS5
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEwyTqDdal
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUynxLHtW6
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eKsR1B0eA
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTL2rgp9gl
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoB1P5ezoyg
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzObJKPb1YE
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Y0hVdeHGZ
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAJevBwQ0Q
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡal3Fc8KAU4
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡus81r1x2ri
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKpOF7ybFu
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYGoO4537e
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0TPChLT2V
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZiwyYtKXO
Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnngFdmbqbL
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClHLqA1T3w
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. 144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2eptHmEkv
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4jUHfCHEz
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.)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjl3bdirbP
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91JxWQRG1r
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLxgNCg2hl
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNZSMJfRlL
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMF47wJ8hX
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFfL840lsj
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFprwh75H5
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4CxVeNwWe
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJMUKoTYq4
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRogvokXPSp
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuM5V6guSd9
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQkZ7QwmGk
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjGszP9MiR
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzT2yAhvAV
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaRRTv38Pe
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisfABBwgGK
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmmoFRZ0DA
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNc4KDYy3S
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.144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJS0ZQJb9Y
144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzO8leGS89s
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
