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. 42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Q7eOT6JzW
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBuW7af10b
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrggdfwqvA
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtivt6uDSq6
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxzgn47sKu
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeyHVgv3Io
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHDhxZoStR
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03xpk7qY9D
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?42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsjOIAi1Ms
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvk2B4AeV26
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCuAiZstga
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09Q2CeKnTg
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLfBFqIVgM
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrnybwL5nU
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0zLq86HJh
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQzieJtAfU
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0R69XdvEo3
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIChdkGHPaK
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBFU3klgV6
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vaQkRp0SL
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8esDzjIGJ
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEVEPwVjb9
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmIfqNkqcX
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4YNuGlemK
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMGGe7jDHF
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MD6PwuWzE
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBWIFCPLvC
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2geVTWqw4Y
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEaMW1FvaT
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5VhReeLcZ
[Transition]42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuTVue2fzy
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkU7JWoEgR
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKEl6kp4i6
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bZxorWLVo
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGta16NkGN
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzM7Z8xmvK
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsUUQ72Oo2
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbYPPvoQZn
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfC6btKojK
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sTpfMQd57
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjY2tOpBUBf
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaSbQaVUAz
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLpRVJWzCf
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDUWcrocaK
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?42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoO4Wl6TNL5
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacRzXZPPCh
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iexGyz6d9
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1hG1tVwCF
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgFFWdQqMN
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8BPQvbv0M
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVyrkgar9o
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEfLhLcHbS
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vJypL2zxU
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5rXUaeCHH
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIuzH0ygBR
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡut1ayRkdE7
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGogjF7eete
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wK2MACWrj
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmbfKooPKR
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyW4DYGxto
[Transition]42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotJUIOImMl
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0y6FrayoNR
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSmQU1Nfus
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NkM8WT5DE
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM23z5edVaf
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqq4tiVi9k
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98loA5dpnC
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjw2hMjlYVE
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?)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzGrsfvpBG
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8TIJy1J8E
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEs4NrNY8aQ
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfabvMPpQm
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXhX3d789h
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGD65inti1q
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6K2wORMaa
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkmdBKIaql
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.)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjX5yuOzyv
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ifh2HMVMJ
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWq6pAgNUVv
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgd4wDVMU2
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?)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hUR5ZrRQ8
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIzyVCijpo
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllBV4Kz6Y9
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJj5ckas9IA
[Transition]42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOzqqeuYVR
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9U8ywPBMw
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yEaH3m4aU
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLzbg5s4ZU
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCIh40bLRW
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXX5xMcc9D
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sgmixLQst
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QNOgCuaJi
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4OkRucZas
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZ7Lzra8by
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0Jg7ravE5
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftnP40uEFm
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvt4evD1BUi
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyRTQWG04T
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Q4lMtGqHS
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFEAlJEPS9
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrjhE53J3u
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZnWuHIIVs
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡau2EDSUfqW
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJfUffXsYg
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaCcvfO6o3
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuaTuBTxQz
Shin-woo: Need some help?42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dC1STZSSJ
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOD9WaeLHY
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyvD1pmmFJ
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWr6khFpup
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQB7bjoxoMz
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyOwWquTbq
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iMxaX1wTJ
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbgPZVahgw
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5pnc3FtKj
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQS3qn1eXR
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xiFtyYBwO
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXyPWqd24C
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIg6quwxaiO
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUj8kY95vR0
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2nCrDmqSh
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSSiWk8vYS
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbc5dKSVqcV
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB57CXZw9lU
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7fqMwblgx
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUssfs0UrY
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSm8l7gJjRU
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwuJ08WWCi
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.)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPb011a5WFV
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPyHgdPBxJ
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYiDdF1tWZ
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEfONa7ncW
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0wwfP7As9
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINnSK22bY4
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. 42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEBvRW3hjG
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujW542IXb9
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7d6wKziows
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVafIkMU2M
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEY2dtaJiy
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOycgOYccdz
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsp4Thex4c1
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05qRRCaJFY
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIQEUpo792
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuhf7dDHu4
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTJmx14tY0
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSOVrWVyzk
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpYeZc8OTS
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDlUgF2qxL
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IX0awvgFE
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPUkrS4ZiG
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BKS3m0Zc2
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeY0bb6kYij
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnD9ulGlni
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HuUqoTVUe
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkr3vrMjqYn
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUkGrf9d2I
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcfu009hvX
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7njdQlJNTk
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXy4B60JI1
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdBVk0Pf0T
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgO2E8oiNNJ
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEh3KlsNf0
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2W9YPPJKm8
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTcUkuSpeL
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2y0ZZOgEq2
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUHe7INicr
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamnbVqWE1Y
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxDbmHbcSO
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDDoUYTCje
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsbGvo9VdH
[Transition]42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tjdVzEGef
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpLBbK1E2S
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXr8mGBagtQ
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9iaLtymCR
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wOwoAle0a
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmVriPzxOx
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.)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4ztefUz9E
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXvNTorqqT
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfrLgetCRF
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0K35NZeFQr
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lFPeZbh9a
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguMpsgtZzX
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.)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONGSQuwbVx
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8P5eDzInAJ
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0YiTNzUDg
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gEnwBH6NC
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpD0THtMuef
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrmgaKlJdV
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvpPS3bKi9
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBUGun4Ycd
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCNNEYu9IK
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0Do3DdlNl
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]42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KPunRsl90
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFU6GVUpMrp
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. 42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzhzhRBeMy
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1Gc0FcRG2
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmIOyIlmvb
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88TWFvNTxd
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptw7SdWFOR
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrxnunH26S
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. 42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbayYK68P1N
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69NXWLjhpS
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBChKTWYCAi
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdBeTFRANC
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5iYm24Cnj
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuzMaPmOeM
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.)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFr8L1Vj9GW
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOT0h9rJvOS
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabxFAaXOIe
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGvaDyT8FH
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVw5XQ9jSS
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjet8s6kqjA
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1t2f4BRuQ
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPY57Avehsu
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzF4COMudfZ
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNf3gVAtOuP
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYCwYc6c1Z
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorTMrskJko
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIdJGuf3UA
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcaNAY0lZq
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Y3kfuQqiB
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Y77nbUgkq
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScrusB31Dy
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOmZFGrHOn
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mQygagQrY
Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uqTMKLfFa
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXIKIGpMJ1
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. 42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwidYciL5L
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMTcJ8FCg5
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.)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qp6u1liPP
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxXkyEgnVa
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03DSvLa06n
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6jzQ6hrQo
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDoqYIkA2k
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdM44Aims5U
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnpdjG1TCc
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mwlOLjuWu
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuo9oT6EmUc
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRHQgB8P2n
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDh10dPIyH
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOCCgTNfa4
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzsVrJoPau
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaoraL8jVo
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWRVqVtElB
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4jZZw2foM
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKV68BvMVu
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGf5N0m71X
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.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgckKgpQcem
42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NTUgdljRX
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
