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. 179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1oFRMoY5D
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmRzMGvkm0
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfyPqvxjQL
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDnMPtJQ5N
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBO4FRb9v9b
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IS6AoZUOM
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rFnV4O9KY
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUedeS1E3T0
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?179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMhrLYZ3TZ
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIw5tPxRmF5
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJTwYb89fK
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4hUgHj2T6
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6isHORzlZ
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90RFq0L1IH
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNKXrpkUWE
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMddZZsmB2c
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2PRW4Izri
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbELoMX8JQp
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYObQH4MsC4
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmUuzVRfBQ
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCAdO4qGu3
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvZdJfbDBX
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLetqYZ2JhM
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDk9mVUxRD
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bwgATjGi6
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cHBSopsLz
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo86DHJP3XW
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1FCt5Z9R4
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3qYzSwgYE
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtizRWgtOjh
[Transition]179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQJbg8GZsl
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqkd0CyzKA
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYn6lY5dJE
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvX4FfmcrsW
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikKKCH6K1i
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcn5H5HLvHt
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX501zs5tTy
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtL9bZoZ5D
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7p25NTmUn
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpk1WSIGUDX
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlRmnLC8E0
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcl5nZz04if
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1HSCrmgzI
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6UCfMRPjY
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?179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqPLXrptCV
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQFKJx0caW
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKn4p8nJBBg
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLppdv0M0iZ
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXULxL1Hg1
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcuuuDRc33
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTo6x8JBz9
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqliciWbSn8
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9AhUNxxSe
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYODKnQaWOZ
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeU2Mg8VT45
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDDzDfdvSU
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAahoAEvx5o
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxA0ZRAFUr
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgcdfoGCWL
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudlgfzTFCo
[Transition]179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1jOqT1RPI
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUr7xn0UTKv
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iWkVMqsv2
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWXL1WWzGe
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvfAbdtIYj
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJsNR6HoVN
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsYOZJGcCt
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBrn2PY0C1
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?)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1X29mQ1wT
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAfP5ZKGDQ
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrwgVx0T9t
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmeE9Magbz
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJmZODK8E7
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvi53ldGo1
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfF7t4WY3iV
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIieF0hEu6L
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.)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3u4YCiFxBh
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dKSe9v5kL
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAlIRtS1TP
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPyYBN9qj6
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?)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIc7t6R19g
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkb4ur7Xhb
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzISFYogbNP
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HD89iy3UE
[Transition]179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtOhp2BWUO
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9LD4N3ste
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0HOPMZYKe
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpeKa4WA7v
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhmr2NCTim
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WhiftpRHE
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcH1Jubby6J
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOWAcH3QUH
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIrQg3vnjm
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoBjkOzPjv
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQec9onjd1f
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcZEPzmplH
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZPFIEU0hY
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbmAqPutzg
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnnZizKxUX
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiZY4feyhL
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FM6fWbPGq
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8D8zpq2D0W
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXfUt7TMxI
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkxMwUzVD9
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWSjNJKbox
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZZc10sBsp
Shin-woo: Need some help?179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodQ5XY5sPp
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5HSTTAG8X
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmMmAoBItt
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOV4Y6uBN3D
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdMd5sDqW6
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LWtxkBLfh
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYX6gtxcfN
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VeocdCikH
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2t1xpXtN2j
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35LKuzK71q
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9umsXVIXX
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAY0h1c6ZQ
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4g6KwTXxng
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvkwWRoq1S
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxwW3WJAXc
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8U5Bop6sVv
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNDeoI85y7
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMZyMh9u7c
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1REvrvrG5
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnsPZValgr
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4VmghjLrU
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKH1VUmz9h
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.)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn37eYUrKEh
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5rFsooDUa
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAumr8QrvAQ
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOgXnzJW0K
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuZSEAsO0U
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhdmHhGdJj
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. 179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHR4i0tCgrC
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHrG1BFBJX
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0O83DcJVQ
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FTaut8VpZ
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbSemPjGnp
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTSrNVeA1v
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDutijxayq
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdn4vcIr5tl
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZN2HqA46a
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsIcM19MW2
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWjqQ2bdwf
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNbLT2r1CF
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HInGdFNcF
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ALzUoPg5i
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdVdsmUxXQ
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirGrMmB2zU
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNjAhOO070
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoxzz1vmHi
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rKDPlIGTf
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrekHoZjlHZ
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLEvRA6S4p
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvZv7I0JKl
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zFmGLMhuW
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhiqcg9JrK
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDIWBCNHg6
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4NQJIKDre
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8pnowi6Fy
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0PsKpBsL8
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfyn5yVBZQ
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKT6fNlmoo
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcbp4jHU8Q
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoqh2WqycB
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLG6CovEHLx
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLkZj3ETWr
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURxAxluth6
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElPSeVCNPy
[Transition]179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BEbxzqcYe
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ohdRE4ful
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCHT4nE4Ve
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50XD39v70F
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRP9q5KFF2Y
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyEFqigOPB
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.)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmxAOs0SBt
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpYmD4F91p
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡim8ajX8XQC
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8VjbxGSgg
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SNIEmhvFG
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhd41ZBmEu
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.)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWUwXJ7OKL
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYunyuKYFRO
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1nqGJUjMq
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqrmURDTHq
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWr8cfywpVE
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSV99RHj7R
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4Jdx0dlgh
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj438HXmZQJ
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6M5UTB1Reg
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xOV13BbAF
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]179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiWu9Dqu74
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEScfVxJvz
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. 179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XlKHgwpEq
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuO7Dlg5oj5
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXoNb5E24w
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprQeWI8Uzl
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEms3hazBM
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEX0zFGamAv
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. 179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HGYQmVv6l
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lqnkfHtUs
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjITND7DxJ
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfni1hYVYT
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaekSfNybHc
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVbAhu7ryZ
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.)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksW2MEPLIb
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJT8GpiTIvG
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwbO5SJE8L
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoz1HG15g8
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzZNPgTQso
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNnsxmEufV
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtQaVf46ja
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGY0m3u7Vk
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThDRlK2aJC
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXo4BSR3YH
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8wncTNQuF
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOV1aV6ULMP
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZV6jH2YlT
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupqWueBgP6
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZZ9sNzmry
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9a0d4Uwie0
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevGlcjRyfm
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeisNMnuhbD
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLM5xxOngf
Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9Tmla4Qjz
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2JOWxOIqZ
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. 179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXk1bJFnVh
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxUyVZhDo1
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.)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGWR65Dnzh
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ji7t0l4FD
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0pWqZfTgg
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkb4bOsKWI
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLs1zjHTZj9
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqbkUwIzvY
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcqbs6m8dK
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPznUwCL1c
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUpxwSNPvf
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1L8jOMF0zq
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTUwpEk6y0
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rCjvrPOFu
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2YGW6EOvZ
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXCBAfWWK5
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGSZBT3BtL
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Tj023v9pN
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxI50wEuCyw
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sKDaTurqi
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.179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmGvH0oYqV
179Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVbGzaqaLq
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
