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. 142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURfu0to0qf
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacVE1a994O
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeVb3UZKra
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKnJSzcQYn
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3j9DymyuF
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxI2XjdYym
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8F2cQ7YYE
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqemoyigJU
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?142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1WBgtBKi2
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOR23Ypjzao
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudACj1fUdC
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJgSlr5SD0
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0T56jDD13n
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ899P8qaeM7
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXffKcTd92
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybPiZeazn7
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3b6ulDES2O
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEex3Vy5XYc
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1A3eI8pn4
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfWqbcdpGJ
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WdYVbKDwt
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ra7dpCkqq
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xPnIAUEA1
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1dIldjtxh
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJn8DGkrLcb
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8y8pRw2GP
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUxhVYnzbG
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3mGHZgjAF
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz46OTfeD5z
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xQ0WgVs1M
[Transition]142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJw6uOOJJb0
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiGDsAlE9K
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPT5rPCEdDF
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOc8a2YtpPN
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJ723FnxQX
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2cpCbHNhi
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlClmliVSJ9
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0huYWnUe1K
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQ2K1EXnRO
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhP9xj9bIA
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqNWVwqHzC
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5D04OzLmzh
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxB6NFmnT0
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0tkQf369p
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?142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOB5gpz2Dli
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTRGQIXqhC
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaQntDdfom
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkmgt6l4Ka
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtR7swKg1e
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYBgwyQwhs
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXG9bUiAyRf
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3pFk9ZVfk
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDvNmXeVbc
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczKQDq6qtz
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfj45Ftmu2
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3jfvKqnz1
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡturNOY1vTv
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznBgEM99ZY
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaYEFGKggM
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfUm1oiojM
[Transition]142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKlJDIsaE4
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsp7KU04L7h
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6C91ntGZF
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uB0FEg4xI
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiHEdcusy2
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbDRO3VAgJ
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvai1DS5JA
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYokyrdXV0i
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?)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RLG5ylrqO
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiRBzG40LW
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pIgaMVW77
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidgVJptktc
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfu2E5Zlkw
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoM5UfCVqW
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmp1q2I8Yyu
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9jznQyaM2
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.)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOHT2JxRzt
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oQfDgmdWo
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1h7He7lvFz
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunhdE1G9ux
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?)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrriYN9OIY
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMYqFzKu5r
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvklJXa7IZU
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbEM19tzYb
[Transition]142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMomHcAAwiJ
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AvoZD0Te2
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmz7ubZgH9
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnyGjNafjB
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQvOwebQJr
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hsdOT5we0
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3ij5q4NSY
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xQJG3wSKE
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEpoluoJCN
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfz9SsyME9
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3M1D9tGAI9
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrhOhzW0mm
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQpFo9pN7z
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTA4FzxgpP
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimx2jqQC61
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhvrbAgJaD
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MpjlrHGFL
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RlpXFIbdz
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA42S04f76o
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4VgzdL6o9
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpWKOIPZUG
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUz5KoOJtS8
Shin-woo: Need some help?142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYkEN45GlU
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6E9tWkYVao
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2ksj5ZOm7
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsoDGSfEwY
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphS8IbmY7p
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCLiyGBD1s
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33rNvEfWYr
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IjpNgE5LY
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqzc2Og35s
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgc4177VgLu
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVTwcbEKeD
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEYzAHVyyO
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvpqQSAsjH
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7Z91s8vNo
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgv797pl5w
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7f4ynLjUU
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qpNP6S3sd
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmesbWeK4X
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLN77Dvxnp
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnfLigwU1s
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGW2eBLRpRW
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ExHbBnURR
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.)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63paRa0XXP
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RGQmV1zLu
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aeOQu53s6
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEV4X4MuTi7
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIHamDd50A
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviPjcSOYaX
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. 142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKkYA5GCtl
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDKLWhw4go
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoXYfJ2E49
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zzD3JSzDA
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLxxW60acQ
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1QEaZn04W
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuW0d7w37gD
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVd5p6lkuTz
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjy197w66T
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQaj6DqYOI
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYt3EnCx0q0
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8S2rG0mNe
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWjaTI0ue0
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrbYLiv3iJ
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMuiGy0NW6
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjw45fj0OI
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYRNUIlLmM
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraBZs6yEuC
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRVBvMdbAC
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62toug2Ob8
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUM8EgVadl3
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLx8rubAdT2
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSxbyZwEh1
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbD6zjAYIS
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUi9AIZLnpc
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH44nuydbw2
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwpQA55aKR
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfhn8zLkAc
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL61AbEZXyf
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXJmEQwKTl
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgj4B5akDlI
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSb55yzgOg
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsekqlxvdJp
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklDSdjJ5OZ
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3JNMNPPzR
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzckOQBJ5Dm
[Transition]142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXwIjmZFO0
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKHYEQbcSv
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAge79X0aC
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzs5ELrQFbr
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVhSojIixq
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gYDHYDnHx
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.)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyCMUoL8fj
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oA55YgIFg
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jZQStWjI3
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8mSzZEdF7
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUebF69qagG
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDmnTPgu82
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.)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9OF5ovPPf
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EPGuYPQ3u
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHsCUdkd9r
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PNhAdoq15
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ravCka2Bw
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRmjTBnf8S
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAC3ogK9DZ0
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYno6PD7nQ
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcFw81vjeN
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPfh604lOE
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]142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixakE0QG98
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCNCLWfkyn
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. 142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcD4aLk08zv
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVn6bnCO0G
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2w0veCzhrp
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAOcQgSuQc
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksO23zJR5W
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHp7JK2sNDZ
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. 142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRQa4P56G9
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXl3xkQVwx
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAfIKckUNp
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDlujwNt4Y
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6P6uuEcyG
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwlpCGkV43
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.)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuI6j1A30Oi
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQh8SqbagMK
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPdKXLOuwY
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxfDaXPq6V
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iZEFXWHcd
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XIn4AIrfi
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGK6XeChb79
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2NlWHBBnl
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0r1oQLM433
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMpB6Qrlt7
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmcI6MMzkm
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQBHtCE8Pv
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYz4WxBolp
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9M5UzqO4s
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHBQAs8wIa
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xxmoFZAa1
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mCPGYlp9Y
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhPXQ0n5WS
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdo96bjMRxm
Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxNkuraoF3
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK47wxiMXyA
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. 142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhpzIllbLL
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MlqR0Z1fQ
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.)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yybVYjBFS
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxEsI9lMZf
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEV0PuGnsq
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXx0YjhRkUZ
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWVryunaOV
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkJ0XpEe1H
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Thzdy5llq
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92tSDK0DT5
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6gSWZI9ME
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWI6oHsk4fR
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIsm2oM5E0
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRWSIt8IXW
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIQXej8EwK
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKSesVfH35
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68edbHurpO
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfu59uIC2V
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8A5GRMs9a
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTKc6fLcl4
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCVlEMtoHH
142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lqsbfeaPh
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
