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. 86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJav6Na6Ou
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqnfeai6so
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVBbgxdoMM
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQ5LZMtLWK
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhQC7d76bZ
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZy9p7JAEFE
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaAOnMBMDg
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFA5k1vHmF9
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?86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2OlUDe8cD
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnCVFESQSn
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5tb3dlpzO
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8al8IK4TL
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaSgINuf4i
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTp3vWTfuP
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGFkkl429X
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrlpUONx27
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhNWQdxJcg
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwAzubuVJ5
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxdK9uMLG1
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡis6uxQYkee
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wK6YCLNjX
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSIgndLliP
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYK0QNItv6
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfHjxpX95g
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJebVCxz44J
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8HgGGk1bx
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQXYbzrtgw
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvB2WRqvRm
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7RC5Jea4E
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ozd575PcX
[Transition]86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95xVtBnvWE
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpsNoua1YI
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RyNl3gki4
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6Ditf0Ndr
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGkeFSDpRM
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbEM5UbJSV
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2hymvMGda
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oMC1cpfnc
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolqnoQbqVM
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpopDmnOXqU
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4P8EMjKaE
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QO2XkMBej
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dbJpcgpAh
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiERD9009VH
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?86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bFXWTT2ZU
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYm4CnFbR2
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkMv9x4o5r
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp32U4cJWGG
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJxQitkBYW
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRwZDE1OpP
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolYd0xuxeL
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pKZDNU2v6
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfX52uWe07m
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJEv1ZZ5Xt
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UFmJMcdwX
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWggBInOQff
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgk83B9KRl4
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hK0R37WBl
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnQMwJgwOn
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8z3BGf5C0
[Transition]86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNJjDURYWO
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡleeMG5WFd8
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAEw4qMiTt
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu99RjH480N
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzz9gurKMN
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBRotkTACs
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJFyUotWeu
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohE6sBLRdU
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?)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuxCyQbMN0
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWC0JzP8RmA
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkkVolaNsy
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm07qlsePGY
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiymQrOdze
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LFeSWErfZ
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoNDc1iWh2
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyCmDFxGpR
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.)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0r8VvKLmW
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7W5iDkI1b
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJDJ0djhxX
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIPToYk2Kp
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?)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDERcfUZms2
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6rA0mpOlK
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMlNtrEVxT
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsTd1mHvZY
[Transition]86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3yIYi9Pa9
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOw2RGpWyC
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NkDaqkBbE
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhFfEVxLJa
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTg6434AS4
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotnZWu5cJW
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPVjNiCc8E
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5Toc8OuN6
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88m68KzpoK
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdTj6E0ws4
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGhxViWG7X
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dBz5PtKj7
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ocXyOJyvX
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMdjVHuiLA
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlvbncly5Y
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFnoy4LTAP
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkVhRhnGgS
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQhO4Zf6bX
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zuMIT9YVl
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUXcM8qq61
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8hwDqMSMB
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTmqymiey5
Shin-woo: Need some help?86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqpiv2nDwr
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFaAONrgKV
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8M6KlgdcY
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfSOserepx
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OgYgiylqv
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvs1TcDytTe
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCZwjrwZF2
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSCrKDth4f
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1371EsZUH
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXUPvegfwZ
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHfglMApuT
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq00ak5ZtTT
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbH1jr15lle
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKX5cFrYuB
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzKs7pUGKw
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdtcqynyo2
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcae7YVQ1z7
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirx2qw40nt
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmxqOFnO1d
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrwu1tPXVo
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9rZHeRVkY
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBrIaDU4Ij
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.)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDDQaTYwz8
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡae3kpozcvy
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73AToYsLFi
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLp0fSnfWI
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aDO9jE69a
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRsUNgsrEl
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. 86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPp4G90wGK
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrpg384MVR
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hjtt9ivfI
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQ0B1smQEs
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48q9DqU2Ur
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiwojSCadn
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLl854j2BVM
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCfKCkBGHN
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzO80Z63Bhm
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVL7ZH61mAk
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5ApTRAhTy
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6L6e1jCUqW
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Rr5CVZt3Q
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmznWhMwJu
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtCMvPEahn
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUOtmN9yze
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyC1avrzJH
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAAifKcBPm
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaToplNmVQH
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2xRdhmhUj
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCgtnTXLPD
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWyhTwKkkg
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwBaxwPnvu
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPqAWJxjDC
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAw7EKVCudB
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEC0xqpT7f
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjsN0J4ZhX
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpXroqFlDF
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Kcq9f2e4v
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3URr5OCBTN
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaxX6lIqOU
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSFkTGyrdh
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwt7AUXA8NG
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuk7KBJnsZL
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhpdE3CW0z
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19MsF57IAh
[Transition]86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BQKAkeFvS
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfnDallg7I
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMdGEXhGiy
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIFyekZxUS
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnpegvLsXZ
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58hYjXbvwz
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.)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAVLfqMxzy
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEHPU06xFa
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSqh5MUKBr
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EFGgL73Xg
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMznm7XhjKx
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJBoiY6XAH
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.)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqosH5VVmNt
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2BpADSI0B
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVfpzLvXb5
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7HlzLcrcF
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqdrXIlglv
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSj17Bqvdwc
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOSU3kgx77
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvA5n6DBhv
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzRdqac734
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZJ0h68NvM
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]86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sZ0dYQmVW
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCi1coydER
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. 86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AN0aNps9U
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNH0ToPg6L
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIubtDAzydb
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTeEtK93DB
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5t4EUOETtx
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjsl9K4Y08
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. 86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEe5ns0DR4K
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuE96nfvRbC
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkmf9kFCYY
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7VEwzPrRo
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnoSwewgpB
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSemnqkjTBy
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.)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zJPsv3JXI
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViFj2hYMnz
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3LMHB2Da3
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4fn5LB7ut
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Fw8h2eOHc
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4jBCsfUfF
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hmnoswttN
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgNQUVVuO7
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnn00qpbuu
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxS6T4p4VoQ
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDNZTlXN7m
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwq163SBAux
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQkkMv0RGW
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sxeuBVyVy
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSKozuO6UW
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEDUan7pfy
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeMtxWtuVw
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPLpUI7NSz
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGHmV1wMMZ
Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnBEwKtKim
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9yXnHR2RZ
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. 86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuNBXXSRwO
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT26eEpsZDh
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.)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3KKnbI4Nw
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡixauHBkTsN
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDl2xuuCFK
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZUrzaG2hW
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheERQ3oywT
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFL45szVo8
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ocL2uQ4Ec
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbsWgeZQV9
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5o7C4Mnqm
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnVA55TYxX
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXO4VLCTea
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrOlj9zD8S
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHf682fptxT
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaZplaInRj
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4RCAWQBLg
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7fwy3mpY6
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKLlMcH3P4
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuW8ZTQvAM
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.86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CPRQsmDqw
86Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKMY6CeJHg
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
