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. 21Please respect copyright.PENANAbICrRtOhyB
21Please respect copyright.PENANAcx2YLBZ58i
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.21Please respect copyright.PENANAtRXoEi86in
21Please respect copyright.PENANAJUC2Rl5H9j
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.21Please respect copyright.PENANA5ZRdnG7Of2
21Please respect copyright.PENANAzzFD0x2ikq
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANA4gmywmslDw
21Please respect copyright.PENANA5ei57El5DF
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?21Please respect copyright.PENANAWHwMBoKVVP
21Please respect copyright.PENANAtFZvXMssXV
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAoNtJM1S3QA
21Please respect copyright.PENANA8taz6gtpsE
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.21Please respect copyright.PENANAVjaVdlogrS
21Please respect copyright.PENANAVI8RRS1CNI
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.21Please respect copyright.PENANA72YOY7Fx9H
21Please respect copyright.PENANAgqJ6aIA5WN
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAvoGkdbEoAk
21Please respect copyright.PENANAWQJdNXVMgq
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)21Please respect copyright.PENANAnzRIiPB6zq
21Please respect copyright.PENANAE0OtgXxX8e
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAeoycE21r7x
21Please respect copyright.PENANA3WIwec3ebQ
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.21Please respect copyright.PENANAklLwnYztpx
21Please respect copyright.PENANA9iyKBq72g1
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAJn0rPmeEPf
21Please respect copyright.PENANAO9PFJGh9BW
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)21Please respect copyright.PENANAyuBsZkaUb8
21Please respect copyright.PENANAcSYxGfwGjQ
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.21Please respect copyright.PENANAz71TPIKYhy
21Please respect copyright.PENANAyYI2i1wDfD
[Transition]21Please respect copyright.PENANA44IY8zi4nz
21Please respect copyright.PENANA0MKXVhMz5r
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAyZv0WWn6ap
21Please respect copyright.PENANAlzUVn18pGa
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)21Please respect copyright.PENANAnVZgUgMoVS
21Please respect copyright.PENANAzzgFFC797D
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAiJznI10avO
21Please respect copyright.PENANAbgQtKJUblG
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANATk91ntV5yG
21Please respect copyright.PENANABdHyA1wXKF
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)21Please respect copyright.PENANAHBZ5PgfPK9
21Please respect copyright.PENANATZWgDTQFcJ
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANA617DHRJHbV
21Please respect copyright.PENANAeHjPDRwVkH
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?21Please respect copyright.PENANA7WCnDXgiSW
21Please respect copyright.PENANAepYAZY0YZ4
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)21Please respect copyright.PENANA35MtSbLxM5
21Please respect copyright.PENANAZLcwUinO0e
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANATQnNS9sLf2
21Please respect copyright.PENANA585bFaEgiU
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.21Please respect copyright.PENANAwyht30Jw7M
21Please respect copyright.PENANAydLs6Fir4m
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)21Please respect copyright.PENANA8edYwGgr98
21Please respect copyright.PENANAZL305UcGcE
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAIwNvNxuaco
21Please respect copyright.PENANAKP5RPDC1ZU
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)21Please respect copyright.PENANAz4NdgRYtKC
21Please respect copyright.PENANA8ncvyCK9oE
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.21Please respect copyright.PENANAReu3CkiLAT
21Please respect copyright.PENANAFIa4ZrOB05
[Transition]21Please respect copyright.PENANA38st2PO5cr
21Please respect copyright.PENANAEXBGWPpnvf
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANABxz7LYcrZf
21Please respect copyright.PENANAxdpg11MQJB
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)21Please respect copyright.PENANArqOpCF28XZ
21Please respect copyright.PENANAY20xtfkzvs
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAWGrUUjxET5
21Please respect copyright.PENANAodfBHl4bmH
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?)21Please respect copyright.PENANAz2SrlKpZ9k
21Please respect copyright.PENANAw0fhwT3iML
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAB0et9mQ2I7
21Please respect copyright.PENANAgBDLFPm8Ho
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)21Please respect copyright.PENANAaTJPA1zGWi
21Please respect copyright.PENANA8Jrcb34oeG
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAEyXG1Fqkus
21Please respect copyright.PENANAxerPWBaayP
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.)21Please respect copyright.PENANADsJQMjTTiE
21Please respect copyright.PENANA1DaHaVLvEq
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANA7LHCDSdU0S
21Please respect copyright.PENANA8tdDI0q3NQ
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?)21Please respect copyright.PENANAXsS9yrP69O
21Please respect copyright.PENANArXERFTR49N
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANA6sONyQzrEE
21Please respect copyright.PENANAchkfsar6rl
[Transition]21Please respect copyright.PENANAc7ar14NLFX
21Please respect copyright.PENANAhczvub69m5
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAB1yEzflFm0
21Please respect copyright.PENANAic0463If6N
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!21Please respect copyright.PENANA5BrDEy3t8W
21Please respect copyright.PENANA4BKreoj47h
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAtL7Sc9tClQ
21Please respect copyright.PENANAnN3nDHpAvh
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)21Please respect copyright.PENANAazn2naETUQ
21Please respect copyright.PENANAhFmtjwlu59
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANA2K5Mxko4nh
21Please respect copyright.PENANAUoMNVhKufn
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!21Please respect copyright.PENANAg9FIQLTu5k
21Please respect copyright.PENANAEMwaMSwznu
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAZSsLqCu4hC
21Please respect copyright.PENANAcnM7JxxNal
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)21Please respect copyright.PENANAlKSBv1DF66
21Please respect copyright.PENANAh2mNtZeXpV
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAJxxgtNwJkM
21Please respect copyright.PENANAsxfeWqOb9c
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.21Please respect copyright.PENANAVttNNXogT0
21Please respect copyright.PENANACkiNh08rwX
Shin-woo: Need some help?21Please respect copyright.PENANAGppMZSG3q3
21Please respect copyright.PENANAD4Wy3aRwyK
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.21Please respect copyright.PENANAiHUN4w7J9g
21Please respect copyright.PENANA0uE4IILw57
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!21Please respect copyright.PENANA1bRP31kqc5
21Please respect copyright.PENANAQhOEowfBYN
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAwFL65Dfvn7
21Please respect copyright.PENANAuGukc1KPnN
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)21Please respect copyright.PENANAHr5xjRrMfT
21Please respect copyright.PENANAnD4o8I00oQ
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAMHeB3Teqoh
21Please respect copyright.PENANA7ny166MOM9
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAbYr9HYOXX7
21Please respect copyright.PENANAax9j3edHuR
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)21Please respect copyright.PENANAAO0DlB0TOd
21Please respect copyright.PENANAHQbv0uaJjY
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAKoZI2Tg2yo
21Please respect copyright.PENANAC43ZGflPUN
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANA35pIChxzcb
21Please respect copyright.PENANAb6FPFyUb6t
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAHmbL7V4DFc
21Please respect copyright.PENANA9jAV0VaU7V
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.)21Please respect copyright.PENANACv7k4WsB9f
21Please respect copyright.PENANAXA8MJnGHuL
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAfjsAbjCAv0
21Please respect copyright.PENANA41nPZRMSni
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)21Please respect copyright.PENANASrBYfKvD7g
21Please respect copyright.PENANATafTJH2bic
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. 21Please respect copyright.PENANAZ5RclRspIm
21Please respect copyright.PENANAqmNm1Hioq0
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.21Please respect copyright.PENANAA5NdorO8kA
21Please respect copyright.PENANAVGMqHiG3z2
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANA35L1ge7BvU
21Please respect copyright.PENANATt6wyY5EF7
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.21Please respect copyright.PENANAVogdDFdCZR
21Please respect copyright.PENANARjEdcne4g5
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)21Please respect copyright.PENANAlKdAdQNQwp
21Please respect copyright.PENANA1YqlrZRvIf
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAnv91UtUyjC
21Please respect copyright.PENANAS1iSEfI8OU
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?21Please respect copyright.PENANAYdnIvXrzdy
21Please respect copyright.PENANANRV1ykfH9H
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANA80iyyJmhNT
21Please respect copyright.PENANAe45SQk2Ngh
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.21Please respect copyright.PENANAYSH5vXhWQd
21Please respect copyright.PENANAS2sarsYZnW
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.21Please respect copyright.PENANAoOCxBq1zXE
21Please respect copyright.PENANA6Zk2qL0TRr
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?21Please respect copyright.PENANAB1grohEvyV
21Please respect copyright.PENANAvKatcUw779
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAeAm2HErUYS
21Please respect copyright.PENANA5OR4oe58O6
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)21Please respect copyright.PENANAd4EJ0C7Tqq
21Please respect copyright.PENANAiYPdpmYM5x
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAgXbky0vXmt
21Please respect copyright.PENANAuwkG8OqrKW
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAqjURN5BvYG
21Please respect copyright.PENANAKWSJ0Jrcvl
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)21Please respect copyright.PENANAaPBMRkJUoy
21Please respect copyright.PENANAdHmLOfrz7Y
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAcvxHImamL5
21Please respect copyright.PENANAArT8GWA8qb
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANA9wxrNbw6Dr
21Please respect copyright.PENANAnWsCKaH8w2
[Transition]21Please respect copyright.PENANALavayK3BqO
21Please respect copyright.PENANAai3RGTEjeR
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAwu5uL9a88r
21Please respect copyright.PENANAISaGQJnxse
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAOU5M8ozR2P
21Please respect copyright.PENANA1dxAhw603D
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.)21Please respect copyright.PENANAUmlJE77Ku1
21Please respect copyright.PENANA0TmqJJFPBt
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAuAw7OaoLCu
21Please respect copyright.PENANA8EN3KmYmzA
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAwP0eplYnd6
21Please respect copyright.PENANAu90zDf18vG
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.)21Please respect copyright.PENANAPH5i9d3YyI
21Please respect copyright.PENANAKzRpdIcRvF
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAtiXcjFV1qT
21Please respect copyright.PENANAmOHuq33T69
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAhbRGVXJZld
21Please respect copyright.PENANAzxVOyZ2yXB
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)21Please respect copyright.PENANAexuXcnoNGX
21Please respect copyright.PENANAoLjoJotz5L
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANA78a38fbwke
21Please respect copyright.PENANAasvhU1MxyR
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]21Please respect copyright.PENANAlBVPyrO0EW
21Please respect copyright.PENANA1e7RwU7O7T
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. 21Please respect copyright.PENANAN8T37JTNSu
21Please respect copyright.PENANAgbqM4kuIbK
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)21Please respect copyright.PENANANksf1Duc0E
21Please respect copyright.PENANADdlbWz0KPS
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAEUEpBnhXlM
21Please respect copyright.PENANAkG8YAkMAMU
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. 21Please respect copyright.PENANAKowrWjNWeO
21Please respect copyright.PENANAWj7A68HTBP
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)21Please respect copyright.PENANAHWIi8kXoMn
21Please respect copyright.PENANAViVigcYliJ
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAANEdp36WDG
21Please respect copyright.PENANAkf0snczXNa
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.)21Please respect copyright.PENANAz0djwvIVaB
21Please respect copyright.PENANAlvtNQA320s
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAQtswRpdgJ9
21Please respect copyright.PENANAFKO0RYxre9
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)21Please respect copyright.PENANAVyIiZGSPbn
21Please respect copyright.PENANAQWqRvVVfjk
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.21Please respect copyright.PENANA26thVuXqRx
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His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.21Please respect copyright.PENANAScQVGcrREo
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.21Please respect copyright.PENANAwmWMbTt7gs
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAeTlyVRjjAq
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Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)21Please respect copyright.PENANAVzRBE9aYq3
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANA4lRPQgOWH8
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He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.21Please respect copyright.PENANAJpYJ6tJqAf
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Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)21Please respect copyright.PENANAPVMiRmbZN9
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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. 21Please respect copyright.PENANAmPhrgGfMKx
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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.)21Please respect copyright.PENANAA24FqARXDu
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAqbagvKhljY
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Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 21Please respect copyright.PENANA7dGQtt3RDR
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANANLeIH5AfgI
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAyTaQPdedHO
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Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)21Please respect copyright.PENANA3WsgJvpbkB
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAm61lgtXGoN
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Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)21Please respect copyright.PENANAPbCKXGUZ4C
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANAKV48FfxOXT
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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.21Please respect copyright.PENANA04wThgXd6a
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Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)