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. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDlRYNB0xn
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTbYdhjj5g
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQV2sB9G8Q
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsuCKFOYok
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuA0OGRc4w
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoHKX19sAo
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewlAZz19v3
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zAVrGzJyL
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?219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTj7v9BxIQ
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqyUfFV8aq
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eSEGKHDud
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxDPRIzRee
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqeWaFwnru
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eZF63oanm
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgieQGkNZf
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjKXNhk4UJ
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgX3EDj3jxK
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGN6BZ66C2
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ001iMpFIus
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdfEYn4Zm2
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5hxA3yz87
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKKxzDR8gR
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjESQYh9Ce
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVGqNWCmk5
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3XSA7HXkm
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXsPpBRQp6
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsG25Q0hWZG
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGZYWTllIW
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIzQAk4451
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuQ6LME6ey
[Transition]219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2SfwCQ9Or
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vwNYx12V2
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dKeWue59i
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIjh8G13AD
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuD0gjUIv3O
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gWcxxUjyJ
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqFlDgZfYB
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNU7HOukDR
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgBOTqk9it
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7WquVKt1c
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WgOV5OEjT
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIEUtD61p2
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn62QQkY641
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMgtZCbfNP
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?219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡii7nN7WVj6
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaQZrJvlUB
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDaQhItIOU
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgb2dHoH1AE
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYx1kY66Mm
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhVJyy0PZz
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BST24h7sq
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nsFdSclbm
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkPIPbgFgI
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrS72su7MP
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdb0FXlcVa
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUk8TffYOI
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiz929sn5f
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyfrpcse3H
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywF6onZPxS
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LVMESNH07
[Transition]219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqqRlNBk5l
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18ZRszpLdG
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb67OSYV609
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmqofN78s8
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6V1Bjqs6W
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2j9L3IwMD
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9YbdwYsAt
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDayHhod3aj
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?)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikNjsddBHD
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mp0UchKCU
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDmbFR90Iu
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsB0gp4jbKi
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjce4IUncC
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTrx6lEkof
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FqYIMcYkI
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVxqBaPjUu
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.)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIDM09jjws
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0khAXxQYi
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOHH8Iu653
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3egoK1VWSc
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?)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjpihbZ00c
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzokixASCQ2
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr66J7c8Xqd
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0gTUfiPK5
[Transition]219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJf3lHR4cn
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbBphC3Mzq
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlL2S9aBuf
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpETW1r6N7
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKiq6xjBoF
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yWBFOrjk4
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Q8TfFPBAY
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNKeZAqCOf
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3uXfIjtX8
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHygirlheJw
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1XslySVoD
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtySa4ELo1J
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHQkQC6EOu
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLY0WIRVR3
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lce26Fswp
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtGn6NBW9U
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8FJBENrPA
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Co2353Sau
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZ0zIELzmk
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHD9zc2dIEK
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvWrVWt9OU
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjY6AA02jk
Shin-woo: Need some help?219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJOWtrtDjd
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1n3Y5Tb7O
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡua6SSjf9QS
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYpMhSwX9C
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbokdtRzDI
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMkDOPRM3i
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgPo5Y4Vd7
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOU1a8PpmNs
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0uheSkxNG
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiC9cbfqGi7
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6jnfonJFL
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OZH89HGKd
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlgp6f2oBQ
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qckVxWIcC
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqMGBK2B1u
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbOTnx1rnV
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74rlFRR0lm
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMHTvimThy
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyCl1n35wH
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6zkcKc4TY
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKplX7JluaE
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CaWvJFzPZ
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.)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsf9FGJzva
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqETiUydS9
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHHWYAtqlO
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEWjAxlLms
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgpyMxc7Ve
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9I4wv6vuB
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. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMMkL0shlo
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXU4LHpFUuM
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9lPYgGynO
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqRfWQu2Re
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMv5zz2AFx
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEdw7L6KB2
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFDH63F3so
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYmpzaiNDL
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLzq6VeYdF
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfJBHAAMiA
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5c1x8EHoP
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx282RsuFZU
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9KXntXGWC
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5Qj8LJ9jD
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxfzFxyyLl
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeA0TpRqNj
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8PPyIFfRr
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtmjg0Mn1U
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3wAFnoU5H
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJ2fuhbXzi
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNtNQnSlQB
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMZplSWSjf
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8EOoJ3Qub
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQ0KhtHZE6
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSns1d1aHu
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkikW0VgqQ
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqk9UF9MrSg
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbCQs32Bli
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJopcixtI7a
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Yoa5jwOz7
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkE4yG3UIf0
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavcMYMidt6
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKDsUifIK7
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpVUn0lAfB
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqHBPBC4bT
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEUHvyzM2w
[Transition]219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxr7Hc4jr4n
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYtmSQLt5g
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOasZz1IEc
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BpfbAyDDQ
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OTVQiGUDZ
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRrzImVc7D
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.)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqn2jdxMQ2
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbju77A22Uc
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYODooIPGU
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SpsZCeopt
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7MlcINUO6
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZ81c4w02S
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.)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsUxdUWejI
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mfJ6U9IwK
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFflvLt60q
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xCf8shMhp
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQyFWcdc0C
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHsFlyWXj6
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VjORfDS5l
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKHFgeiI6E
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDC0ZxK22cW
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyrYgya1oP
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]219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKQmkMq0aw
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXITZX2KmHY
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. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimiNKFDTRQ
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7m58Jnn8T
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nZN9podTB
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcirEDYOhn
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxTw8oLktE
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gQ1B7Jjfn
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. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWAjLp6yJi
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSy1JikSXyx
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxk69pQT021
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAytY1sv1E
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKv0r2x2M0
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrJKOFAwE0
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.)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrzJdxW17M
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gGJzn1zEX
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULou7koUBI
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZCSubzrvJ
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyOIJvQpfd
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKciCMqta9
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVTQBw3THV
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLC8Shl76N
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdIOqyKiOp
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3BConrpO0
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdPvLoHSit
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPJ8i978vs
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgysabzNcOk
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3k4wGvlVbw
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDjDIYEILD
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwUGJBiHY7
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMekLeQzH3D
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Q3RsbRMO7
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ohXoIDKfO
Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEod5IvrdIm
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4D7YODHUb
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. 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpbVEwRIpU
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9pZyiMSMK
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.)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhO311lK7M
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIO7NEI06X9
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhusB9y3Vb0
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcXo5yuUji
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8FSNtCSuD
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHp6giV1ew
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7wQ7rKPup
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyp6HKvUFC1
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpM62HLyoZq
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6qTmNzBX6
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg20mXIsPCI
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoPFb46Hil
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWiSwyRAb6
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquvkfSiAhb
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1za2t4J4ED
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8RYa0WSJy
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpmbmI44S5
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg79146egPd
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.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXXVKMvr7A
219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKza692Sgw
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
