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. 282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKr2uuiGbR
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFNC8e4UOl
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmJtOUdrhj
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGPHuA9rUR
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg02xx2dyiH
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCsi6mGZR9
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8JfZtYANa
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanw1vUudeJ
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?282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINx1i4GBCY
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkKkMoOpIf
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5ro9KlWEU
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjsLndQejI
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99QkzeRMWg
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxKrbRZhFI
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeTP9CUZBM
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaDivqmZ8K
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9kcxtJmMA
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7wW4Z2FrN
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdkRspPmKb
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh73YtFP2sR
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbZp5Il8oX
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNe8wvW1T0
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrycHsGLKB
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ671TT36LzO
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zSLoHGb0I
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66QdwsPuVX
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SkhzTjScZ
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUwSVhHrGU
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWDV72AOf1
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtcfydgSUx
[Transition]282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpQeY64MxV
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaolCoCZRy
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlSv17ziXk
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZaVolUopO
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXGBDGRaRU
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlVSWhyPtS
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAxYRa1JUb
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzQ7GWf3AF
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4EJn3GwJ6
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMS5egbWgYK
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPfWPmPx66
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUd01dexa9
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8tgOkYr4r
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4saIcQVPc
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?282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuM3JsrtGU
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpl0KYFnhn
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxuM7cmGGS
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeEqzxQ2bv
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNa5ci25rdd
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jcmId02kX
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jbQgVAAf3
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEi3GpUq2i
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6b8b5qVZiC
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwNZh7Hb6M
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRpA9qQOGB
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBTtoIgfMW
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtpPnfonJ9
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhBhiz0naw
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4x0M9ermPM
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSTraxBzgj
[Transition]282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpJB7A8JNa
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPN6ido7lmL
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfU48RToKu
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydNMmBAUWr
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7AXzG5IHW
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0RtdJYzPZ
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4vAkQhZ4O
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3SqR6yvdg
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?)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstpAA1xNSu
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheDQDuBN6z
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf14OxhAXh0
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmydmWn2o2
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYunmfWuttZ
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItPQFVa89r
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtOLw7lymA
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcJVQ9hGqi
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.)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45OxVNaGUD
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2Pfst3PEl
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjESMAtu8o3
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvDZWtRKvh
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?)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoLZl5Gi8H
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3yHwFsRsd
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBRAuwIb9m
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9svzIS9M7
[Transition]282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7FttXieye
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEOg9HiZ9v
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOiakrqKd1
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSMIgdMmmq
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡME2aWDaDqN
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOTqNB19t0
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzTaGkyF5D
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AvKfJD88U
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMFp7w3uZi
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjbv1zFI9o
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLl7EiTugA
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqVmiU0oxP
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlQibhjf4D
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRwq8lr5wS
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8SJ8LdHvV
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSMB7C9IVF
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRh1eDzglei
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgTPm7HltN
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgK3xvs7Kvd
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkXrjCL5qg
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLLl5PTUSX
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zO4upH0Ki
Shin-woo: Need some help?282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQr66ghWmr
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABbEVSlfxj
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrLMyMHIGy
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDhDyaNr0z
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMDZwbZ7Py
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHZRsEKMoY
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkigSTaFsc
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95FpRDnODn
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJLdoFUUKs
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIypMWAx7b
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSJOIFch6C
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLKAJW0d1g
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpxI7DpKii
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7O3esjduiV
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9VzTJT7u3
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqQG3tnQRI
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0UhGPsfBG
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrDFYdu8lo
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcJQugyIWO
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9pQkgbYVq
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqBL6oyh6A
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWID7A1Vo6s
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.)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQjewNND8h
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyV44va7dYw
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJkaxhUuAi
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6TLT7UzCi
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUWZNhwbOt
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJIBSUxplN
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. 282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgp0nkYsci3
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97GrP1Skro
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwV7fWlPJr
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFDGg9qPzE
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdn09nRzzn9
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xflcZJ3Mt
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfGCjw4Wsg
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsYAYpA5E2
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQhdY5xpjH
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJ9btQL3yw
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jGbww558Y
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbh4B8ca9vI
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAT3FkeJwAF
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmfcyEkAIj
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFLskuT7jq
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiGHaUslna
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30tUu4VC1M
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfcp29IQDc
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtsWBh6skr
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCdkR0AJ6F
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8Z2MuiBdZ
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgtUKmTPOI
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Oj7yneuXa
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmFkf0WErI
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpUynmkKVW
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSSu3z1E2J
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqIshuLsQi
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLShH8BAu9C
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ri4gfN1hX
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufg15DsYo2
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfwx1dngOP
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4grqOWL4e3
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24aC7xUiOa
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMZ5ry8LwP
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxPTJbZQ6i
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhV526Mccp
[Transition]282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RWWvkgoi6
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3O6mVdcy3
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfk4gwDRRoe
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSsYElfTcQ
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFEJS4ugDO
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAX918K274
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.)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkY1aijpPe
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjK7qTeos5E
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OJBihWB9R
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwSs4MTuyQ
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuM69a7dNe
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRqzeXkG3E
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.)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyk6LDcY0Jk
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajOukxC5fP
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46CKHvd55I
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1g6PH30Rgf
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjq8I3N6yI2
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZBNsmmSwA
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4TEKVgvEn
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7evZ9OUyJ
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIq7EWUMyN
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZziFWZgzg
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]282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfENGDr6Y0
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayTpxoAjmK
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. 282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAlv1oDUO2
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdwAVXPEOn
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5k0AvQA0TJ
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvWuVGCYWi
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi751Svo2Yg
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0RCAMEUD3
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. 282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaEgWcsYi2
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVGtMAUAp5
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqcaDKNbDv
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4CgTQ24MM
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxN9Vq9XqQL
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqTaEj7EyS
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.)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNh0YYr4o06
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpvfGBIL26
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSnznltIkn
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd49urZ94CJ
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYzmE1UnD6
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62UyUyslrP
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNtZx0X18g
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMzfQEvg2i
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBY9iKisY4c
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpzGE36JmK
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYfINidY9W
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXX0DianoTu
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzarfILM2r
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGMrmUBfZA
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYGGJEkmh5
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Q2JqdrG41
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTGNmAegL8
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sMyK8kMpn
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWiJYmppNS
Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF72tjiAMyn
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGn10biwVB
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. 282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRT2VzowgiM
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuo4Q6o2V6h
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.)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvv7tUivrTJ
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABlIABLvzX
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGuk16K6vC
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnj1Dfniwfe
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnd0Soh2z7r
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSoyo2JzLS
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgj08SQl4z3
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgqnIZ9Imv
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwlq1Ok2RC
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UUy0kLW3f
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8cxaUWd5f
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDf3tgKnfBd
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA83enqgFVa
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6txJ5YyC9a
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHp5ZYsrHQ
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yRs3uDDmj
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdwqixRFg5
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2Lep3K7un
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.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwwM0Liqz3
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡume53JPbRz
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
