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. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHInxvRf58z
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFfMPifvDN
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡab3km7zMFo
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCmo9rPxCN
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLLHTGgDCl
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncOVPrcUtP
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRTLy3aYGs
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMK2u4tc1mW
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?218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwRgbCe7vm
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqMMMNjXun
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3TEI8Rjxx
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8pYXisACt
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnk4loFoiz
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgq6fiQRyld
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrr3XUmguus
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlz8pamv4y
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoHuXJx2jQ
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNoejGSTUL
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYYCVU3mKG
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcGrhIQXcX
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtU8hUwPmor
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFt5eQWfm2
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VpUmqmGx2
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpR5WpYsGD3
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgY14IaREb
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5a92PNxIC8
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkhxws86wn
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFPikuEfWr
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGdDAKxeL9
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJ34ikAaJo
[Transition]218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusciEtO8gM
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSErDXvtHWa
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CoUlxfXti
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqm3u3FxOSl
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZazGyCXV7
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpYsEbZdKb
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVx4O69RPf8
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwO3V3mDvuI
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7X3MG4WylT
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9hc9CZeba
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1w9klZVGaU
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftjkLorFJ9
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkv9lkUqAEO
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjT2uJySEuS
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?218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBwRWvERor
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0j2AkCzYnJ
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgV3REGETz
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT18bmuhHZY
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiscIyzJ2ka
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNBnrtivQa
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZSnF3pzgO
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5qkZwKaNW
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3sBbTYtuf
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3R0FBnkUU
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiW5VRj0b9
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31j89roR22
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcARvMgJhOx
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYC6vaSpGQi
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUi9Ksdja8h
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPgbTGNLLj
[Transition]218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzy36Rwcrli
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRzWo3Ngvb
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrX2uz3Vjw
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0rCCK3OBk
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MjFze2Vhv
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLgAWB9Omo
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwd8pqsl9cS
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrG71ED4hX
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?)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNons8pZ8fH
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHMsImD8Vl
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKeojL0UCV
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubtyVMp0Dj
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkgSeveIo7
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYdUYDefbD
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfabuzmIvT
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjZqNYCLTC
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.)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnewO2H7Ig
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNng1sXe19
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoonBmZSiqC
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdpQoTr0PA
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?)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5yeawTpl6
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJncu220nS
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB59ZrjcStA
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXd8kvxH3Ou
[Transition]218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIj0ZBlmCJr
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKicn6sPxDo
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlf7PB0zIi
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdLbYLr7PZ
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsvZIUqrmT
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBJ1dA7k3x
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEShPeztBC6
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQK38ZgrWjZ
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbu1yZqpuy
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8E5DT280c
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9PgRlAQC7
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9Y9XtNgei
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGqTrMInli
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMsoNrT45Z
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQ6TvKilLb
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6F9yyN12E
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGtb7gndMd
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2inzpKEMt
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlfhzLrGf7
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyREriv8Zz
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLOOiFAakr
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlWIU4pqAc
Shin-woo: Need some help?218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ601gK3dGeJ
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsowmh4Nex9
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pf6WOPFdc
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8as5OCKZy
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4o62OMEquL
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsx2Ix6NCHP
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSdcJhnazi
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQZDsBzgbl
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorHPLA4GTp
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYlJeJzPlL
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtljof0t2O
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Tw0x6EqoJ
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFp7DS23nv
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvMTKo49q8
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnS4b2lpIF
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYHbzHXlEm
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4OKHm1q1m
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxm72mf7Fe9
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiL0XJ32NUw
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjzwsMSkoL
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRBf1GMC0E
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MfjnxPagd
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.)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yYZMtrB1Z
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfijQzFsQEv
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSL4FVhW77L
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiLdcGUTED
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QmhhnKAwg
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUYCBZ5iVD
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. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SrLclskoS
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPD9SfsP14
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4RcOcfaLr
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEdGMWWLvi
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpYOEsgOZj
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1AsjTmTB3
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpJkXFypuz
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEA0SWjwMgI
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSHLgGrovx
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoE2YrxCx8F
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtZQYiZI9O
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvKuqGYQGI
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlYxeELy0J
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQQMqYBT6c
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzytqXLTeG
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKt71MYt0UZ
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jW0iqKqgK
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0rhN0HtLA
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUF5Pm0Q65R
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeHMYpnaa0
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYyEXA9xVJ
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Zcix9aSc6
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivk9DKr8TR
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYFIZc8cOc
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHyKHDqhDr
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurbIN1ad3S
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEY8VYfzjt
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66zhDeGDZz
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHMmKIV9SG
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPJfAPXIV2
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcciL2Yeivy
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ652vBYzcWH
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ngWKCmVZ1
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqrHQDPLJd
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQvxt3NirF
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG43Acn6seK
[Transition]218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdfoJCCCQb
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBMRQX0yNH
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGztZFuR9rq
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0ukTgvY2c
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0hyC4dGbw
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDha7yZ4KX
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.)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZUNnnmVmZ
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6wrO5gwtE
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIcU9Q6teP
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtqH4boJfl
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPNTJc0Y0O
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuk64vr7u3
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.)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNwbfONVwX
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5937ySPzd
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn04cy2ddX8
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6YzeoCLrs
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6msntSwis
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtIg1SGUbA
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9s4dyhZCDt
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJenO0FpNn5
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4p2X2kikrj
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Ks6Cy7RJ3
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]218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWh6xGogtOK
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylqP562wNM
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. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCf6pq9RLd9
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRX1LDKCdJD
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBOAIJ0dMc
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbz0XuFM6Ie
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgjoY3Sl52
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGlZA3rqHe
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. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTJIY2vKP0
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroTyS9JSVD
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NG3AWUlhc
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NITCFUHsU
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYSNsDaRXV
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkGN5X4pYk
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.)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2tGYxlaLO
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBMK43v5kD
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoV4Dyqkx9b
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvcxmmR0z2
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwo21iHHly7
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSyLVrOn2b
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kXOOP3O9t
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIgIuqZX6l
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvw2dC37XLf
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrsLGHjPgy
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpiHTBrcl6
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFao1SSIAIR
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfydHlwSkt
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfMrsJYLtF
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGWkksupRp
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUb3ff4sfoJ
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMA4caQMTtY
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcq1semgqVb
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnUexvVnY3
Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3VCPG8GI5
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoENRdMKJgk
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. 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxr2U1rVMsn
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9JTAfKsdL
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.)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrdJtYyVqU
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIwxMpIszK
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NlPExIYrZ
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemIXOb0MhV
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCceQTZ1Ys
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7bHyXlQAZ
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtU3oEqxqlu
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLzU5w7r4d
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIebV6dVYL
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TaTPaEv7A
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9u1ATtyH0
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxk1SiTCd3
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBwXrhcqtd
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMAtpPbsW5
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOF9n1xGsw
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcDWqjFUZk
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ojCGWt1df
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VCShEnekl
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.218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNs0ruupp4y
218Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQJBUIkF7q
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
