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. 93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICt4AU4cUX
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNzZRsQ2GA
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7ny9VnZFM
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLui7EMYyrj
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqR7oyBe75
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3RgFLBnuN
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05e1i8V7Ls
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgXHJR0Hv6
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?93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXAKVO8UbE
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKHfYqq5F5
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMjKrWbaiA
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1I8HAzBTz
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf41YqLVgMB
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUf7zERdWFv
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiDjDRm7Y1
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80EZZzwxZH
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyomt4M1Vy4
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhuG9JZ5yO
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45sTdup0Hb
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0apM0grIW
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMECMb3ReYG
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfsbFrGypi
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpLHmFolUr
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ454MxLOaCh
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9k5mXSsQm
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw39Rhdh7IU
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EKnURQ6Ja
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgRFe0v3za
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPipmPaUXBa
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIigfYiWmOb
[Transition]93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptJYl0qHXW
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5bR40XKzW
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCK8DC1GMxv
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEbnxCXz6d
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhjU2Jihlt
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoV2DfZb7K1
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaNzlWmXKE
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLATqo55Gy
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxYgzYxTX2
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtrb93wonv
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2HqlV44TF
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz60MgJC0An
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJWc4DYrPA
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPAA4CRhKJ
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?93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3STTPma3KB
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKYUArx7Xi
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sB6QiWusv
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GTFuKAMRJ
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPskVT7MPw
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHd73yZByd6
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoJfhEOIeV
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQ582hWGqW
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVao14p2syV
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokxDu1B5mB
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDndUX7qYB
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwmNbQHhaF
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphIxW1RNho
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTJSMiyDOF
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReytdHM4P5
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ30S9uoe3E
[Transition]93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLLijAr7Uh
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmc189rUKHS
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJnBBI2SQt
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmVSonG62o
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZbZDYHiCF
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMvihMZfID
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdq3E5T3Edk
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNok6rJj5b
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?)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAeyzyHfu3
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFQES8rHko
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbWrYGzYlA
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMKfR39mJX
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIvUx9Dz4G
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvA2bNhydOO
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfB4ZIiTRx
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYQulTP0bT
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.)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6emlMyBiB
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmt3hje8dm
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoNbov9lK5
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlt2ZKnJDn
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?)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOI5pkEDA3
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIt53wTYT0
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDevyeGEcY
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FjNuuSdw8
[Transition]93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9l6EFyUEAg
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdprKJosAPQ
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDToLgxWAss
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDN1HpdXqNW
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEAQzRvaav
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5jWU16lMd
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6OSMTTwk2
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLm14R4j5j
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiRR52rxM7
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTkndEaBWo
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstV2g325LV
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkSBWX4a82
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIMGrWEoHD
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWGOkW36LP
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcD2PFulH5M
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlNbwwDgYk
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3GIDASsW7
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAStLyRkkw
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZgX2HQEFN
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxoGdMX202
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOQOXYVbrL
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85RPFCaGbT
Shin-woo: Need some help?93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRAbCiA5AH
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjLWs6A1R0
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewWe0N6nPV
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzn5nyYk2XP
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXrbUBXQwh
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG81R5OJcah
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEspfWE7RjD
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGX2TyKQr4S
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOxie8Umag
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1CHlEqcjZ
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrc9T3sSwT
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lL6zTSpkt
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRw4wNnwf8
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaQuYuJsqb
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJx9ih2a1J
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRldkKUiIU5
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9iRFA6UHA
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyN6COpbut
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetaczCDzUE
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hGJwhj7rn
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡforlr8UQFX
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFbGfFbLli
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.)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJl99bEeAZ2
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PZAErYWPd
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFrx8ln6MD
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVjRyd2xzN
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QGV1loIGm
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHy3a9v4y2Q
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. 93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK68h0hzJT2
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhe2sSnsH49
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY93B7OTDzA
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB08qwjyZJv
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyATyliISXU
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSogLefOmKQ
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6cjHHmcRZ
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsa9Jr5A0pv
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cVxNMoMQk
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunGGC3urzK
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtxZZNrSjH
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQXZB47sJw
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oTkHRKp3w
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7rTN7XXD0
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUYMRYUgR1
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZrxo7rfBa
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UJOaItEKr
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyD8M5OCMgc
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaPdKX6kGU
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbGtHGEfV6
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsK8hq5MDL
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXdPP73pVy
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1dD9b5MqW
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HstR2MVhN
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNvBP8yziV
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMtAAvByLp
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7AABC1MKE
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvszfznwL4
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqg2lOhs2n
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMGE2Wq6vU
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvHfDCUXkw
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvHz3zBFlW
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfwKTLG8X3
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlcSZDU7Oo
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1GwEE10ox
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpUwEP2wJk
[Transition]93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Kcl62Xw72
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXcQu6ge8O
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MXYgmRBZh
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWlYEYuaic
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFm8SSFYIf
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0oPqESSc9
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.)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65PnXJsguz
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8QWiMDenT
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5Yzafoqk0
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWFBi9z2fD
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEilZzl900
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7ON99XcWy
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.)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6rxzoGQVo
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWx634CxLJd
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UoxqAdLgv
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYxIDkf8je
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJ3rTmXC7Y
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFk1MsgYYvd
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yuvtTaTbr
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkTgJooFlI
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuamJMfWONr
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguS6wyKeWi
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]93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aXqoCFg2V
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJ0qubiXN9
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. 93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeGUjocEWm
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuK5lEA7yQ
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7L3HCMnZVy
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNEfl54TDj
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlClRUg7SKm
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AfL5RxJRw
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. 93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiKfwQVwtY
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllyuGz9dWE
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lSXj7GfOk
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeq6k3sympJ
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6uvJDVPPZ
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVGvEIH9ea
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.)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYWhQGKmjU
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiac23gt9V1
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQO0J9LSgt
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5p6BjxzAh
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QHoCffoZ2
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1RLs41KPY
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNt9gUpVaA
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xds974CFP
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvG18A9bts6
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxclnVkEpP
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXOH1XRtcH
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJaFtnPVPU
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDK7bZt2JzV
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5ossShiFB
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡateaKPuavj
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVBATC589S
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kWQG0WXAW
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsxjql6Iru
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglGh8LMRQL
Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZw1DwXWMI
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CdBOWJZ9a
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. 93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRoGSfYOos
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ojwOMPTDa
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.)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMEmNTBREu
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqdvNdjGAA
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3t8W5DoE9
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnMRSg2m5V
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0uUv6E4zA
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3QNV2yb97
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiaM3rCEY2
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33otnZF2Ku
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbz2N3H2Ps
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Y2vl6qzfO
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqiUnFU2ec
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaP6ttKr0K
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTQC8YAh2B
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2OrNEcbjG
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSB15p1Ej8
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACBWvHdcSm
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemej2TyFIc
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1c27gkPEY
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.93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMxMYJJvHF
93Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkeyOWK0lj
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
