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. 254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY89yHUsJb8
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrD59SmcUAH
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFak5v60xo3
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMNcR9EdKD
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgieQuih9hd
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdGIVMJaBu
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAoK6BYTWO
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AC6G3svMy
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?254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OFvIWs2bE
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lGbHsYMRn
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbpTIPdAkO
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcItX1HbOk
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90oVGvsmWV
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiY6IO0Uz2r
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYfBTLoZf0
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsOMfpfNHo
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrPcUkdmIW
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZBhyv9rIV
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8Cq4HhzVT
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtiArc0mi4
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmL02usjnOW
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSDDmWWOFN
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmK6ligY1Z
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLb4sAqzzzz
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTn9rIlIvc
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhW3aihwKr
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneIOW3jTuY
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjtIq26mhm
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hYpKTFS0P
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxA0VlW7vIE
[Transition]254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2A8766rbR
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfT5RS5UlgC
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSShTxAJBJ
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnzllZKw9V
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0FmfJ7hvf
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8kDopMnKy
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIs11XjnBr
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QdAhRHPLR
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzvjkdOQOW
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXilUw5qdvf
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFM21OnvD0
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhEytrbJbP
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwoc6goYl9
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11rRDYC6kl
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?254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0pcOwaPje
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2JlsxkteM
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJN7ClaRcpN
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAhZrwa0je
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrt9UcARCm
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlrspXs7Dh
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuF8tbaH1F
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAH7YFlJPI
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6Gbk2WWk9
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcikMJV4BR
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPHf745dmo
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbMe10tqh6
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyJmZhIRrH
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDuxmNvuZJ
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGoI1yud2k
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFXKIcgE8D
[Transition]254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXOgxuIzsM
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsRsSv4Qxi
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVt0yprg7tr
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4VJX7wWo5
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatjUNGEhbz
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9PG9RW9jv
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYreyFWx39R
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknzEnKLE8K
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?)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sF4EIiutu
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpE8Wi3jykk
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jaJ75JcLS
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbG9OUEVjF3
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85RKUvB4xD
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsw3txBZjp
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEjic3mVoC
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShMSbWZk1L
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.)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡai0mmhwZOB
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlP3gW1TwE6
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEEzKiDZCe
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyUX2LbFzG
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?)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGYww9AmOn
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKYRFeAmbW
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhGE4Lus6u
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGTN6wj1xs
[Transition]254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjtM2ZE94B
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zuPo5vJH4
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStLJ8v85dD
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzJbYNpvSu
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXuH7iAz2f
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgcnZcfCgg
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnqEA47OdZ
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpk73e8nNhi
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB443z0SlF1
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzjlj1v3Kr
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQa80es66C
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjywXzccjJ
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChsXEN5Mfy
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ab0S8sCKB
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPJMHZkVDk
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCP8r4RDSq
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCCEl39c4g
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJg0FpRg6wV
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZYeIxaWjF
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftuWGfun5x
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6cGyENB0I
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDVvJoPbEc
Shin-woo: Need some help?254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44eb41crWP
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVD42kNz2Qd
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPsK3NEKxG
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JkRAN0z5t
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUkkzxlZ7s
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTrWRmPjIb
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73ajfs15q6
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHCuOS8ftK
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AR4sGHxue
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiVf3D12CW
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexRLuQrFdd
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXzNkj22xY
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnmRj4yIvz
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJlFBSD2YJ
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEp6C1mkuV
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2JzMKRRnd
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8wiZsYtzj
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJn4U4zhjAs
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ki5YTbZdN
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhWP1Q0FyN
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LeSyIgi96
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGhcTiXnRY
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.)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gB4B3PCM4
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yUX2BSPrp
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4QIUetlIz
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrX0pBJClY
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDu4StO1KqD
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsIskeiyvW
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. 254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIz0gKpXAPq
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7FqYlrRaU
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGatz56qAUL
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETbdPlpYLy
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVFt0fXzDQ
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdzNSxsrbd
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaRcfBrGOJ
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJi6R8gqLh
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcyPs4Guat
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtC22VEKZNc
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeqBqGXITr
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXC9Yk7jFsI
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEUcLMslTB
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcleMfhLIz
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfI0j0AcCoU
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW74paGPcOG
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNybvE1ksQ7
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ738nEdgLnL
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6M15KJxH2M
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNyFDiZEdU
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsS2ACTHmc
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXJBzdf6T0
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxUA8aZ28x
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VK0OvyaaZ
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNUJgoQpkF
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhAIU28qwt
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiufYKvgVqR
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZftSQ1O5iT
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mcJcNgI8i
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcweAD0fXVg
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdmug8bZUy
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHcuWUhRZr
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mIpC3VBy3
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSgPHTuWhU
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6C2EAQvK3A
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86xkgb2yJT
[Transition]254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MtkWOzE31
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr55XTyIDGG
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsIXEuFNhm
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbwq9knExx
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF60mEC1r2y
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW82SrSTfnB
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.)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMe7jNaFRqT
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6AdSQ3CDR
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrq1xVIkCQ
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡel8J25dOqp
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9o4pg5X9Hr
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXqJc7B093
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.)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuQ7rAwNiD
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjiXSGNrmS
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1DDULbbHp
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBN0Qm7Vij
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqUiOLddmv
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3XcFBA33C
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEtpnhZkcE
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOSP5D1vaq
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXXq3GlLJf
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCI0bOZl03
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]254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2h4XtY7kEc
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiifx8BfVQ
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. 254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvCExCRFxX
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMBWIKoFFa
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0o8U3qgOfi
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgUjuQdt0a
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIzUofNhS3
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jouBOKRy9
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. 254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWljYZ6xxKa
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMqqNzXVS9
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobXxoX1rYi
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeY2cU0yb4b
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3vuZUpCND
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LP6E85PXK
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.)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq29D5pGiSC
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QeHSyjWKP
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzbRjEydil
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhe4xDzGyP
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RwMihEGjT
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDUin7IT2b
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdlyt59j5f
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqIq3IfxNX
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOMudFsyhQ
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWqvo4wLwK
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJw5xJYqla
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3QtuwSCiX
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDuVmLmnYo
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4EJBCTRzt
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQidjtA8IF
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WOy2uEeQ4
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweDnLzjKtV
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7RpSf6qlo
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiOBABDvKR
Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUxEu40x8Q
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97bNjmyHtv
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. 254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPK9ZJb2400
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqd7lkru4Pb
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.)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ438kIzNobe
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWt68m2OQ9d
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkSnkZPD57
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjseYfBBwsC
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToknL94v4q
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPLcNgFDzd
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZz1x7JLM7
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6IHyBh0n1
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpMl7P1b7e
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL23ZT2NmZz
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkjH96B8Pb
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekhiSfLLPu
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4kJWXs8JY
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVPcfpo8QD
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkFhQTwFho
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGlrNq1MXP
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGJvRMMC6M
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAu0X8GJUop
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.254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLb6RlaonAl
254Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5AvXTwJUn
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
