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. 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAaOUDuoAP
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELYUXmwHHK
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vc8gJ91bt
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXB1YNBHU0n
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvW5pil5Tk
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7EuA5wRSB
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWSwi6tzMh
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LDFISTMl6
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?275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CfeYjYjRf
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OslL24EoC
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfSGbmHJCY
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEddSCoTH67
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SjQ1piZuv
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrM9MZWs28
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeO3QZaeuy
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfANsD7HHG
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8o0NLbKwd
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaE2PhVALK
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFnixEzf7A
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8YokuQLu1
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXQDTvUpWy
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugczi5Uz8X
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZ3DKHMaKO
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwZbL2J3TZ
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyO3hkXjpo
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5y30pflah6
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrLwVTgNaY
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7Dk817L7w
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsRyoEjJwI
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9va2u3vvy
[Transition]275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmBVFi9iCr
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0kDmL3M5F
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXV2pacj1H
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHr1Nlcr4AX
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniaX68mN3C
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKM1zrwnBGs
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nGEYHL6WS
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1X4g7rXLzq
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATVbkNtANJ
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYqn0dcV3T
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TYR4W4wAy
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWQW4CUd0l
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrRRUmAxtw
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhKZF2D8wN
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?275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zwW9H4Kvy
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLL8b1LF2a7
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGSdjena7r
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNhWBhwB0l
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPr9ulc3S9
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4UlXIEmoP
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZpR0s9Tt8
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4u0OQJ1xs9
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk160ZEHzcS
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41dLJvSlyS
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MhEXZECtQ
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7kvWDpmqs
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsSKvIrAv6
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMga27dNHJY
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dLdEnFv2s
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBrhUSySJA
[Transition]275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8vyEkGlqB
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PDOV8tM7l
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZnhmXU1qN
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVq8m4NmiS
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaKZtnWtUd
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXzEzJlFLk
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKNvq4BOl3
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOG5vVhQE9u
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?)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KHOYwloD2
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziqmsU9esA
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6FjK8rWBZ
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWj8wct0UG
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXEOMvZVxk
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zEKwG36Wh
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RpSoAhTcC
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPRDDxqokD
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.)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOXeyukSsG
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1dWyc1RyI
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9I70g5ifs
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobEC12fkfy
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?)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLa2oUtJ5N
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvVLLdrt7h
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ587VIGODPT
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdlAoYlq3A
[Transition]275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCFVAgKzcs
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Uds4l8haY
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7NVjlSG2I
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNe40OACJJ
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYOWl9sZlM
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1FH5VUpPR
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpw4Rlce7Xi
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVLoPCfcxD
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQ8oUnYraS
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnY4Cxwghx
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnT8MH1vHHX
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuCaShNwEE
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgAORtjwVd
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNytY710U1H
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1xVXIflpt
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ83rAGDYXW
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcMo4Wxv75
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ339Sz2qIzt
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHnSsMwyEP
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBK5sWmtEn
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00OfP3Msfz
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxW72JuuDF
Shin-woo: Need some help?275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhZuXWmz7V
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuF6v5jkdF
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKffKInKhw8
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMplt1BMy8J
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInTSJidU8C
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5p0SXubRM
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PjWrWHbjk
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSyXa41YUu
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTf7vK9NFk9
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6x3wokVfJ
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKYNqzjlgt
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWQ4ZKiT1n
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJikAkAmXgR
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsMolVbw7M
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OLfPYulUJ
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVlEU0aINS
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWP6h6Xtzi
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3XTlA6NQV
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7YNXQIB8y
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYob5AFfZq
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfZq7jrGz9
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJ2TwptdCp
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.)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrElrQaIYMx
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjiF9hRR08
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLktVfUcFCz
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhCODfM9Hf
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6DthAi3vI
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBb9XAsDXyM
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. 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEuqWvJfpy
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkkqTjjv8P
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWo4WtKEpr
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9kGWwDvnO
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxb8BHQf0h
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2agVVrxuB7
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQkNTK81Yy
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMkUNwKjAp
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeYIKcdvrD
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZjAjsR399
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8POdSFLge
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkGb6YdoxG
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRhPZIcyu7
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7H04zWqcmw
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnIJWLPrt8
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy65dmxeMjP
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAeioe8VwM
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyz9M5GASL
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0o7JZsTFL
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuEyLow66V
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLhStoaRap
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphmTKvyCG8
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yCRR0yyW9
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqltQyFogz7
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUvu4MxCSk
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4F78b2OvAU
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbT0lrNycc
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEVTINMy2P
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeJVXwYWlz
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfJPRbCeLN
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKiUPWiJEp
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgyZtnVfyn
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOanwCehd2
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7GnYnaNhQ
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbL189VSRui
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlKW8koZfn
[Transition]275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36VtP0rp7X
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwY2Hiv4Mm
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ843hfJ7W1Z
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgtIcG58ka
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVFPcWBQ1N
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIA1BPpPZQ
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.)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKtzz2PRR1
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXQlovvId1
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Klq77QYeZ
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YhtUsqztJ
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYN2J3UE59
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjBHh7iMbY
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.)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxxsteR4YO
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9TSxjcGaS
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbdri5IrzG
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpN73pvW6Al
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrXTOksSQh
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5p5pH9PDZ
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVOvhaMUMe
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24AgafxPG8
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IuaaXAAwi
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tlKc04pK7
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]275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghwtf60Up7
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ986489UxBk
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. 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDL6UoD8SMo
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Pvw4Lpb8k
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqu5JopRjPc
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEk7NVjxMe
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8bw6RP1k1
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1R8MiI7YK
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. 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUsYCPsHzG
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqq1xWpWCr
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzdHf2mzUv
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDstqLxRpzm
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeI4hbeyAav
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeyO7l5zhL
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.)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VmfXmQUgL
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CTi7TSmfz
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68jAv7ho6i
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CHgxEzIax
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5Lf7SUOU9
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZAAWpg6hV
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhh2BhyaS3W
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjEBYkmKr4
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSdbV56cKp
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqlp0N52i7
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULvqBJM2nN
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdy7lD26jtl
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveucDJO6Mr
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlasZBKQYqv
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiU2OLA9DJ
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLaTM275TG
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUC63e4vv6L
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4z4VyQkJW
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrecbAbsUKD
Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8073C9oWy
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2IoPGdo6C
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. 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsJtznCtJn
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSu2TmTRrei
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.)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgykw4ktACh
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWSUDmqHmx
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspZ7oCq4Vb
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1snHbY5LXm
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWlXrKnGss
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJo76fNRcfm
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31a8VYvBxY
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1x1ebFpDo
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fccUVEVpT
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcVwpptyNw
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvP6AkzZ5f
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcWCtQu982
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF95trXP32p
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTssDEmeRda
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡru9wwXGPiD
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hRLu88haW
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡns56ZBe7s8
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6KzR0xjjq
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.275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIfklocS50
275Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdhgxo4UOR
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
