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. 111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhT3YCYp467
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You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRbM9tlw8I
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyK3nAGO6N8
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlHszW29H1
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MncrLeuog
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfj639ECqP
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs993TxFLBP
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?111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8i5IlgRyE9
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvoka9VGeW
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNy9VyxwdY
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As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYBxU7wTjw
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zOJLDo4tC
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVK7FSlKfb
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQyB2KAgYd
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNx5tLsYWs
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAP0uMOQ1C7
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDxRNzLqYg
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qy0S5gnzT
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOc1YLLsGe
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukoHPIKTWd
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMmliAdLuC
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDpxYHa7NR
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRhwj0XjRN
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlMQ2tzXL6
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWj8xAJRQE
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eKcnYe15i
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKIFcFpYLZ
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[Transition]111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElC5Wn6GH0
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8pUhLWOsO
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkouOiGOaP1
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4F9DiLrM5
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeTUCMofT2
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexTnRny57l
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDTkc3o9Cu
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQgd9HAnCN
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotS585NYuO
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexqqyFXsiW
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwNUVwRMKV
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXUspBhfYh
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMuuPEnxCf
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?111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKR5YcN8BP
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9plqwnrWXe
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVfZhCN3Ul
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxkVrdJkBc
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZinKi3h8t6
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLAJwf1z0D
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjYmtNqIQi
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIzzhXcK72
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhTNiN051g
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswaZDiPYuf
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6ihy3cdyQ
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPL5BbBirmy
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49UmpAyMQp
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiEcZRuUIj
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRO35YOSOt
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[Transition]111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPCD0CD5DF
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfYdmGJeLz
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5gwnSHANS
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pgytA0Tip
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6H5dfKPiWN
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAC95taWFmA
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9lGCwAw0G
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?)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIJlAcrxY1
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2ywlbXeZ9
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4c6YF7qArl
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGtS48DpDp
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgG70P2hpuI
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWYe7rRbcP
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAgPGu8odA
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69ixdiufJa
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.)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD10qTZvFPH
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuOuy1MuCA
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgRRFEYW9C
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?)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26JjgH1WZa
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmLJXfPZBF
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXMZbamUty
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[Transition]111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlScPbUit8
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIK0orxqbH
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Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Wr41y6ET9
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMKWCxStjf
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv49N4ymIqf
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Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2zzmj9QRX
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmieIJJi9QE
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmZIGkdTlY
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Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGNwdvPUO1
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoCZkqA06B
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLRCqugEEi
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1LGTm5WBH
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8DS8uN6Bi
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzogor5W0EW
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You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmiQozcHK2
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Shin-woo: Need some help?111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJbqjFrEH5
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Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1od08L2Ck
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Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lHKPi6IKe
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkMS6SkWSN
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2WiYhAJ6B
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVZA43m2sS
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVmwo6rsRG
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IpRF6xLER
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBUrXGtNHL
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmNih5EA14
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡne28OMAKvQ
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFL3yLs2sI
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGGDQsoFa5
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOqVBnshxJ
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yAGqnd32o
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbI3x0FSbQk
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCW4oqIUda
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytXLacJoRm
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.)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOtN6ZO26n
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnQNNJn9VF
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQsjWZeUjD
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDPi41Qrav
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknZNXtPKzI
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMTZ66VNKn
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. 111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWcQfRlNQF
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVt5L9QnwDL
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhfRhsx9Aw
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PaAuHX96e
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKOFO5f3rE
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You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxi36eq5LZ
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Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KthJS8YNf
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiq5FRyPkG
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5ChcOoY9o
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlACFr8ng7V
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxkXWwujhW
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZPiZJ3YhR
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKIYib2P5r
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Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhEeIYHf91
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Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzcq3E0WmF
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Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRVTfd7PFQ
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDWwob5He1
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc72Enatr7x
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs152hCZ7wM
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4sqn2700RM
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMTQSXc3zJ
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdRj3SLykh
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUibNqvZAX2
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZw2zhslvVv
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Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9Cnso3eFi
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIoznxyLLC
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjXmp6si67
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOJJjkLf5p
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[Transition]111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLnNucI72v
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaxXUkHhZ7
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0PFYi8guM
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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.)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvJwqAOvzO
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxjJ4Yfq2l
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcAKoesGuM
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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.)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8Y1s0MdDC
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUv3Zg7jon
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwePYf0ycBs
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Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAX3UGyZEz
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03J5WD6Qpy
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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]111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2V4B1wJ7d
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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. 111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJdOWfyLOd
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Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiR2Qw4eLD
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsv6sn9Qiz
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerkpJLbZSP
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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. 111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuwjL8LwSQ
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Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5HmTs29mH
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLP6yoXOluE
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYgKzEkm4Z
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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.)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbqWMvCBLo
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJK6O8jmG5r
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Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoYEbhRC8L
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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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCxmiRWTKa
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His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iHFnyOBcm
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAEHMtok0z
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You hand him the towel first, watching as he wipes the sweat from his forehead and neck, his movements precise and calculated. There's an intensity to his actions, a focus that he carries from the court to even the simplest tasks.
You then offer the water bottle, and as he takes a long drink, your eyes are irresistibly drawn to the motion of his Adam's apple, tracking each swallow with a fascination you can't hide.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1uCFfRgTU
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Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhL9aMwwXw
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A droplet of water escapes, tracing a line down from the corner of his mouth to his neck. Your gaze follows the path of the water, lingering a moment too long.
Unconsciously, your tongue flicks out, wetting your own lips as if you could taste the salty sweetness of his effort from across the air between you.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUV4UZgh1C
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He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpczGrU9xg
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Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9omxBDv9i9
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTlhD7xyG7
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. 111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGhFY7UwXm
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Shin-woo: (Focus. He’s just a guy. Just a guy who happens to throw my world off its axis every time he looks at me.)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gIgqrqmPr
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5A3lhjR8BV
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRAnTR7UHf
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8btBm0ERV
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePOG4krHo2
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He returns to the game without another word, leaving you to ponder the brief encounter, your heart pounding a little too loudly in your chest.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHrJSbA1W2
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The game resumes with its usual fervor, the crowd’s energy palpable as the players dart back and forth across the court. You watch, half-lost in the ebb and flow of the match, your nerves tight each time In-woo handles the ball.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EaSee8yMr
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Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNlOWUrCPm
111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjSX15Mg8W
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.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEwX91EB31
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Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpmtEP9PVR
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Today, Dylan's antagonism is more palpable than ever. His taunts seem louder, aimed not just to unnerve In-woo but to draw a reaction from you as well.
However, In-woo, ever the stoic, ignores him, focused solely on the game. This only seems to infuriate Dylan further.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpq457TdP7
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As the tension on the court builds, a sudden movement catches your eye—a deliberate, aggressive shove from Dylan. In-woo, caught off-guard, stumbles backward, his balance lost.
The world seems to slow down as In-woo's head makes a sickening thud against the metal basketball post. He crumples to the floor, motionless.111Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLF6bZDs4K
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Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
