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. 322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sHKLYtBvd
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyDEUlEb2o
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnKUXullCV
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkaFpQCmKl
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz12zztTAqn
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6qycs1wxa
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iOUe8M3Cj
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYbL95gIQn
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?322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JeRFVd1HG
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqqxXl8mvg
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4VZLhCGPV
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8eo8uTkcL
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTHe4pBeP1
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bFRKIvbdj
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD24wBAVS4Z
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0xH2a8Upa
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzNNj1srZn
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiB8VmsPs06
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV17sMDRRlu
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0liwc4ngk
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSGQz0eWBi
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtgbjLqXTd
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5migoVj95
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KPj0XVHXf
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvNZZiEF8O
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSwhoTQpY3
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gpvzrSrsJ
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWxtwXtZgJ
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXgXEB3dzJ
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXODpBFyQg
[Transition]322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXP8DSMG3e
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpktM9JJDG
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmvvy41lR7
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZIFAKuBcH
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tDIAToec4
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUccHolwXl
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJxSd0obmo
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NxOUHVHpx
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDivtlJdoII
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6blr9cAJC5
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvcqzLD9pR
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGfVy9Nrba
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkTz8y0aUc
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjWqO69m4s
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?322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTllS0GUH3
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfCGPCvn2i
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVuUR1yny7
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDXsJ4u0VD
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxGu5KVFji
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcTYkRmAHw
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYCfm9gjsw
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2c2R4cQRG
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEixDGsye5
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxJBbg2tvn
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiadHfVlF8g
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpajsPk5twf
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIEvSUZZ7R
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuq3WuYmfk
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtktBRryEn0
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CnWUlGIMs
[Transition]322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvx6XN0yLCt
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbNX4wjG4l
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEquUSGRoz
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsyo3Moxft
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRqlzyV9wF
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhj0Hvnt7yy
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ402RUUWcJY
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQZZFrqNBi
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?)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbjsvvihyw
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYuYg4BRz1
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazF8bcuj8k
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdpoaFgUbY
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qNdutCSzE
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjvGMkYe2a
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeOat5Ck3N
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewqv4YYZMw
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.)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcsyu567Q2
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIXdxAKbZ1
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXguTYlWY7n
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uv2AGsCz3
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?)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIMGOItqpD
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36kgOolcPA
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCl3TWBfBu0
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWoC9k5LQg
[Transition]322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWjg2foXVW
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnazlK3YiK
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1LdE6SrkC
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD33IAs7t86
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhgmLpQAzn
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbKmz1NdRy
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uqVa3ffAx
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEnXN3J2Lt
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxYgZN0fVr
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNWLYNdSvz
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBLTBQgzbk
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYjp0K3svu
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMgVmlbq9H
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRr4oaNfEa8
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZO5L6lk3s
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsRK5wW0sb
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaubVpkImJF
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXehiMP5sgZ
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PFFzz8QJZ
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIj2B3e4QXQ
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSLADsOXtZ
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1H11UgZvrZ
Shin-woo: Need some help?322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7toPZ1QNt
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMI0YmRwG95
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpyhENtrgb
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEziFEGwT9
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEWHRUVXFY
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl96NJELWA5
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JizMuYA2f
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyHMVvHCJr
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshzOfVUBT7
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwRMm7Son6
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOKr1y5rlA
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXf8MmmILp
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xxVbCEnii
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84QwFAOKTP
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHoGpyGmJS
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uWw7QGtDm
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpcmarGVfj
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIa4WBuA9w
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lUll6hwDO
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0qhAmVcUK
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJdUKszR60
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡog8RQ4FCGo
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.)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyh8AgIkco
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotrwaSjzzB
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHzjsCnqIL
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9usdaKHuTA
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZI327vMdT
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUV9RVtWez
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. 322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxASVkILEe
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71d4er0A4J
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBpP7BGPgA
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHpuaA0cwg
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXeJSrikuy
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxf4z7S3Nd
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrYJr5GC7T
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqCkok06Fk
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4V7oLNHNje
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAVNOcpDt2
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe02qnV2Q4G
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9NnBvxIKe
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLa0ujaC75d
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpwo9W22eg
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3nCjjY0Ge
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbdUR5vk8K
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlSmX961Ma
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6CS4dzKET
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoAcvv2hZS
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fmiTE2rvS
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANkrKdZ6Uv
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ682Y5TnUOJ
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmt2h2G7yr
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShtRHkF4RD
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAegX6jzInr
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cbaLHXCNQ
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsnpjBU6QH
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SuKyhv5BJ
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIK2viRP41O
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSWhgY2Pcv
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpesLyGtYn
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6QpnNrgYQ
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmV4EOsUjG
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrxmgNEIKM
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTb1D3CHYj2
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXyHvXgUuf
[Transition]322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXb64ub8KcG
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtVB7WGbVS
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomJ9ehYn1v
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHveAXGYdd
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtCByxYHUK
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKw3YpwcTf8
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.)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHayDCBoreR
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrWi8xed72
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCoB3rG07q
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47xx8iPygA
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DXWkT4bQG
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeeHbA2AaC
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.)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0leTxxhS6N
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFYgjwXOgZ
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5r2hPP9aqP
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ42oMcibhP
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcagzeYcFTr
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm42HB2wSAg
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uENxGzP56
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6x1HQ0j0i
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXKaMh5YfM
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKNnZ8HbZb
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]322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfJWTF6zOR
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlYVneQHYe
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. 322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKx4vJKTHO6
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wPtXPFR1u
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcATuuDR2S7
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1hY1cRFCU
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnfMcs8h9t
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bf19Q2ovz
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. 322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiIEfDNBJd
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmJUlosnfP
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDn4UJhC0lu
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGyxPxejwl
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgmTTT5Rln
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdObgkWJpI
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.)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuNM4I1nGO
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxDuXnceXv
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsIL2L5qWK
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJSwxmHlQi
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHrsaAy2zp
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiVrBHuhDo
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBLkE3cI7X
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIvXXZYTo1
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEp5lVhnux
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNBbzqy9qs
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPpZp75a1F
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BpwnEUGI8
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6lq3NXYgU
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BcpmXNI4Y
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VQtlZICx5
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPscLUEgJPo
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrLnY3m2JO
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwDdrMdCxV
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8UCdAR9lo
Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGEzXPRsg7
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeI8GxnETTt
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. 322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IT1Jc0wAH
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKg9DCbAOv
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.)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlR58zdHJ6T
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfg9QWXnej
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqyonrW5Nv
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFvaI9WIUe
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2LgjJSn2C
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0S7b2pL9C
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQFGHwVpxc
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvW93Q9QCg
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jt1lIfhPc
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVxmmK0QhR
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RHRg3uuz3
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsmo1ct3y9
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakh2yVfYJT
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ByvUDNAP3
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeFKGiJQ9C
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkd7jISBOD
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2uIETzn80
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dXL221FKW
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.322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17Iqqy3pbP
322Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgJqrFTZOr
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)
and then Add to home screen.