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. 143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFp7fShOH8g
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54uD9uorPZ
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClQNCQuUc3
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0RN65Y1f2
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4DPzbOpG5
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRCeAXSkIH
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqGyVTAe2Y
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwuX0kbp1i
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?143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgl4PwpXB9v
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPP9wsoSl62
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmrtLbcoa0
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FGWAAsssE
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRXQspcKXV
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LoJd5IQyX
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm37GEZdxiS
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvQyctMSZY
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkbnydbIg3
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2NuWFY6Wx
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlGejrlzp4
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxKmXLJfTi
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjrBwGxUl0
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxDagvzpx2
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4PuWTY50P
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5f4RBlCBv
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwx0SyErJi
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTr6MlI6q5
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kF2vzuGIW
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnsTItT8GI
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwRaow1STK
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQI7fTdCpVE
[Transition]143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mJMLNgih9
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7759vU0p2W
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MqoSi6wjb
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkbo5TGSYf
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWjAM8wDKB
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggp9E1U3kI
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0dN2Jz9SY
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxE6VVz33i
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxbfXpgcq0
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSUOaTFtDj
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9z7d6E4o6T
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaSHkPa0B0
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KoUCDhPHf
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5E00WBMJ6v
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?143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PC3I9X0za
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiw1qdYiNgc
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIjPRImED2
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0S7ryNrTX
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5rhZ2dvaw
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSP40leSLZ
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXT2wloV7sD
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKc4nTRAMQ
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcjbd20Fxv
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5SOveLXuf
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSlJSMn64A
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUJZPFWiIn
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Ynzj2luBy
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkmrXHJC66
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlb3lSHfk6N
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[Transition]143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTsIblA0ta
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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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7tVoo8qRx
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkZdf27deY
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76KIUMJamO
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfg8LsfMdQR
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnNbd92gam
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3yJ4JjbZj
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?)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGhz7Axmv2
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTXGFr8pXt
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2xT7ranlc
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJItzdl5nFU
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDTq4NYHvK
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRW9Ml38Kb5
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMPXsfjjNf
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCv8n6tAGse
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.)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRe7G9XcwZ
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDpDplJPvT
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuH8EkZnmML
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCsTr8bkCz
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?)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpVNlwfTBr
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpM1dNmPLE
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucfkAkUnEP
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqPfB770Vs
[Transition]143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdNwUUeLcZ
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmj3n5i0qlv
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0r9JQqht4O
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡji7qPrhr9f
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlOUlmgCtN
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MuJqQPxzr
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4a02ZjUjz
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hD4sYaD5B
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6Y6NK4HXa
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieg2zTBF6b
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJCBUu7vBf
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeQ8BC5Mol
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwSkj8TSaO
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNASzcQ9ZS
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFoplGHFsT
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgQHNemv7o
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzs7gVgc2Q
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60BIR0q1Tv
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9gb4xOXjU
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjlCMFkVuw
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFrSGsZ4v1
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wNwfCzhqh
Shin-woo: Need some help?143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9i8L3e8YCr
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGhdoAnD7Y
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWlo5JoqHc
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXe2EuFfgPR
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsmRuaMmvi
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUGJgdpUQ9
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQVWko0WLl
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVrbE3qTds
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnygnTu4U34
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxzJZyPAnc
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0WBfqiN0B
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhckMMk2o2
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgV5JyLdfwf
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xxMWyw5eU
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8z6AbChUE
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEkRRHdKuc
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSGxEZgZ5g
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO82CS6AIqj
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn74TgjffTq
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7U8XkpUpo
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupdlszDUvq
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgRFWJNGqT
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.)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFjFcyOuGc
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fmRDrm5e4
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjYT3ZyVDr
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJTBYzp3Gv
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85xxba3O0U
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMb9ztDpi3
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. 143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuA8GJEAbp
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgiHNSqt8us
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaGFwGdUQy
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJk0BDbryP
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQfWRXbpBt
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexCAsdPHdX
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJTmXDOk8n
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqpk8zDxCV
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZG8Z8br5Us
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklbcXTsXSX
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ff2zGyz5g
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmOKST6TWK
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoG3if6OON
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaqM79oaj6
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89IhXZ5LDp
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKueq7bxnz
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHGNXNL3nh
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERjD3fShZm
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhUCbVuafT
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Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIopgiO4RYx
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgL5qb7gKg
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMB3bBGhts
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vzbT5SNF3
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wpdEe3hsS
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslKO7ExZkd
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoYYqk49Vh
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERRWyJPObO
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYuOol6Zoj
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CllWkro3E
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86yTtvusUD
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZkVmhc8W7
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iOL1fhZI3
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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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2E6g70xys
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[Transition]143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMr6SETVqMI
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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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NZX6tPcQz
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tI6rMbzK9
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIK4W8Nfcq
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLXElHoSfT
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.)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtTqJRpKN6
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5D6UeLG4d
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAvrIV4OIB
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMk8n2fJwMw
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7N2LRY4MlA
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8YQuKX13c
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.)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNyJ4urhFM
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbSix84g86
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxWnOS5mhm
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajOpqzUvWy
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19NDANKrmd
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSzUToxBVR
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNERNgpovZ4
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBZ6CHjFxe
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5AOjVD0gG
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2rrmPq3Bn
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]143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5KXWA7DMA
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiC0b9SRf0z
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. 143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tZtoyGwtn
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAKeRzobur
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCw9jk9PeIf
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WuMtraOBs
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgS7dqTPQgQ
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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. 143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XJjoCvZNO
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkc6uYKLlcY
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSjKGjgRGS
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJuMay9DTJ
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWulQWSOFV
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2YVqQ9zLy
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.)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8L3hcQiif
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFgSNlDuDT
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKbFoU5sh6
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwN0yBOMCUs
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dm53XVa9Z
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWC2taNnpRQ
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStkfHQ3l8s
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMT2iGdQHI
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXchVH8Nq1B
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXJWKMYEzk
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcygfvq1OzD
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfIhEvFmOR
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaZ3U8pzIZ
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCUjUWfl2m
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaoBMb364a
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrxpW7Sjii
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6M1eikQCC
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOyd1oyCoT
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSWRC0owpN
Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKXj7yH9aR
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNIOgdaHpq
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. 143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7fRJ7DIoy
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuzp8uhS3y
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.)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuCrTScxJN
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMXHPTIGQH
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiswkpGPa8O
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuhevyYofe
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyswo7BgVHS
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLZUbIesWC
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1prrEg4mE2
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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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaBHLOwG2E
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89VSFyEfCH
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNcVGb5yOU
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0M4ebvN6QM
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp42PH6bMhT
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7W4GlQvxhV
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IexWwUQM9
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCxRsEmLK3
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgG0P9Vyn3c
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkVfMKgvAt
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.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBiaUtRshe
143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs30bIqYRwR
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
