Chapter 9: How to identify a person(1)

[Exercise? Me?]

Ji-bin’s ignorance was natural.

Because Ji-bin had never said that kind of thing to me while drinking.

When I was a little drunk, I did briefly talk about exercise.

I think I said that my body shape got better after doing personal training for a long time…

Why did I say that in front of Ji-bin…?

I think I said something random when I was drunk.

Now that I think about it, it’s a little embarrassing.

[Hey. What if you forget about it after you say it? When I mentioned exercise, you said you wanted to do it with me.]

[I really did that?]

I could feel his bewilderment even from the other side of the screen.

There was no way.

Ji-bin had a skinny body for a reason.

He was a hikikomori who hated exercising.

…No matter how much he drank, there was no way he would have asked me to exercise with him.

But since he had already said it, I had to push through.

[I said so? Why would I lie to you about something like this?]

[No… that’s true…]

He’s probably just sitting in his room, squeezing out memories he doesn’t have.

Normally, such a far-fetched lie wouldn’t work.

But Ji-bin, who doesn’t even remember how I got to the motel with him, would likely fall for this far-fetched lie.

[I’m sorry. As I said earlier, I don’t really remember. I only remember a little bit when we started drinking.]

Okay…?

I felt a strange sense of accomplishment when he said he didn’t remember well.

It seemed like he didn’t suspect me of lying in the first place.

It didn’t feel bad because the trust between us was that thick.

Then, all that was left was one thing.

To corner him so he can’t completely escape.

[I already told the gym I go to. A new guy is coming for a one-day experience.]

[What? Already?]

[I did all this… You’re not going to come because it’s annoying, are you?]

The chat window became quiet for a moment.

There must be countless battles going on in Ji-bin’s mind.

The self that was annoyed and the responsible self that had to keep their word.

I felt a little bit clever.

I knew Ji-bin better than anyone.

When it came to this, Ji-bin was absolutely not the type of person who would reject me.

I knew that and planned the build-up from the beginning.

Like a spider that laid a web and waited for its prey.

[Anyway, I’m going next Tuesday. Make sure you have some time that day. Okay?]

A message popped up in the chat room that had been quiet at my earnest request.

[Is it okay if I just go for a day?]

The message already reeked of annoyance.

Ji-bin’s will to leave a way out was blatantly visible.

…But in times like this, you shouldn’t pressure him too hard.

[Yeah. After that, what? You do whatever you want.]

Ji-bin is the type who would resist if you pushed him in a situation like this.

I had to tighten the leash again after letting him feel free once.

Anyway, I just had to make him come once…

As with everyone, the first time was hard, but the second time was much easier.

And that was homework that I had to solve on the first day.

[Then let’s go.]

[Then I thought he was coming? Even if it’s not morning, he has to wake up at lunchtime? Got it?]

[Yeah, yeah. Got it.]

Ji-bin’s usual sleeping pattern was much later.

As far as I know, he wakes up late in the afternoon or evening.

However, he had to wake up at lunchtime to match my exercise time.

That’s why I insisted on it.

“…Is this too vulgar? Is this?”

I felt a little guilty even as I typed that in the chat.

It felt like I was making up a story and forcing him to do something he didn’t want to do.

But without an excuse like this, it wasn’t easy to meet Ji-bin face to face.

Maybe when I was in school.

I didn’t have many opportunities to be with him regularly, and there was a limit to how often I could call him out on something.

If I called him out too often, he would see through me.

I told him to pretend it never happened, but I knew Ji-bin would feel as guilty as I did.

That’s why now was the time.

When he couldn’t just refuse my request, I had to solidify the situation like this.

“I’m sorry… Ji-bin… but please forgive me for being so mean…”

For the sake of our future.

I looked at Ji-bin’s profile picture on my phone.

That’s how I asked him for forgiveness.

***

Exercise.

Isn’t this one of the activities that every man wants to try at least once?

Broad shoulders that stimulate masculinity.

Macho back muscles and colorful arms.

If you’ve ever seen men who make you feel healthy and intimidated just by passing by, that’s it.

Of course, I’ve been like that too.

I’ve seen a man on a fitness flyer or something and thought, “Wow. He’s so cool?”

So I’ve thought about quitting the gym a few times.

But I gave up because of my lazy nature.

First of all, I don’t even go out of the house, so what do you call working out?

…..I didn’t know it would end up like this.

Really.

What’s cool is cool.

What I don’t want to do is what I don’t want to do.

I used to hate working out.

Ever since I was little, I would shiver during physical education classes, and because I was extremely physically weak, I liked sitting in the stands and chatting with the kids.

I could see the 2nd floor gym in the distance.

And there was a girl standing blankly below that building, staring at me….

I’m crazy.

What did I say to her after drinking?

I made some weird promise and ended up going to the gym with Nayuah, which wasn’t even on the schedule.

I walked slowly and arrived in front of her, and immediately got scolded.

“Late. Yoon Ji-bin, you’re 5 minutes late.”

“Five minutes is fine. The original promise was plus or minus 10 minutes.”

“Who the hell decided that?”

“Who would it be? Me.”

It’s Ji-bin’s law in Ji-bin’s country.

You idiot.

When I shamelessly showed up, Yu-ah said to me as if she was annoyed.

“Since you’re late, I’ll buy you a drink after work today.”

“What? What the hell are you talking about? As soon as you get here.”

“Then why don’t you drink it late? Hehe.”

Do you really have to rip off a poor college student?

You have a lot of money.

You make 300 million won a month with Rikyuel.

I only ate triangle kimbap and ramen yesterday because I was buying you cheese…

For a moment, I felt resentful that this guy knew how I felt, but then I thought it was a little better.

In fact, if you think of it as giving real money to Rikyuel, it might not be such a bad thing.

“Okay, okay. I’ll buy it for you. I’ll buy as much as you want.”

“Oh? What? It was just a comment, but why are you so cool? Yoon Ji-bin?”

“You don’t have to know. Hey, honey.”

There’s something you don’t know.

Anyway, there is.

I shook my head and looked up at the gym above.

“Over there?”

“Yeah. Let’s go up now. Slowly. Did you bring a change of clothes?”

When I asked while looking at the gym, Yu-ah nodded.

Then she pointed to her gym bag, a black duffel bag, and asked me.

She was carrying a duffel bag with her training clothes, and she really looked like a woman who works out.

I didn’t notice it the last time I saw her.

Her body lines definitely improved…

Even though she was wearing baggy clothes, I could see the body lines that only people who work out have.

“Uh…well. Just about.”

I glanced at her body and showed her my shabby eco-bag.

Yu-ah burst into laughter when she saw my bag.

“Pfft. Is that really it?”

“What’s so funny? I was going to bring the paper bag they give out at the mart, but I held back.”

There is a large paper bag that is sold for 100 won at large marts.

It is yellow and very conspicuous.

“Hahaha. Don’t you have a bag at home? Why are you carrying something like that?”

“Do you want to go after me? Shut up unless I buy you a bag.”

“Okay. Okay. Don’t get mad. Let’s go.”

I thought to myself as I watched her laughing out loud, wondering what was so funny.

‘…But it’s still nice to see her laughing.’

I honestly don’t know if working out with my best friend for the first time will be fun.

***

Yesterday, when I asked her what I should prepare when I go to the gym, she answered like this.

‘Just wear something like a workout outfit for the first time.’

‘I don’t know if I’ll continue working out, but it’s a waste to buy workout clothes, and the shared workout clothes at the gym are uncomfortable.’

I listened to Yu-ah’s words and prepared light workout pants and a T-shirt.

Following her instructions, I changed my clothes in the locker room and waited in front of the locker room we had agreed on.

It was Tuesday afternoon, and maybe because it was a weekday, there were no people.

Even on the exercise equipment visible through the glass window, there were only a few people lightly jogging on the treadmill.

There were practically no people coming and going from the locker room.

…How did she find such an uninviting place?

As I was admiring her alone, the door to the women’s locker room opened and Yu-ah appeared with her hair tied up.

Yu-ah’s hair usually had slightly curled hair that fell slightly below her shoulders.

But now, her hair was tied up tightly, revealing her pure white nape.

“Oh. You’re out early?”

She greeted me as she closed the door and turned her body toward me.

And that was when I was shocked for the first time.

…What is that?

What is that fancy outfit?

Black leggings that are tight like tights.

And a bra top that reveals her stomach, collarbone, and shoulders.

And a jersey that was slightly open in the front.

It was all blatantly revealing Yu-ah’s thin but firm body.

I averted my eyes without realizing it because of the intense stimulation I felt for a moment.

Then.

“…What is that? Why are you avoiding my eyes?”

“Have you seen anything you shouldn’t have seen?”

Yu-ah asked me with a slightly trembling voice.

I couldn’t look at her directly, so I glanced at her and said.

“Hey. It’s Yu-ah.”

“What?”

“…Is the gym usually a place to pick up men?”

“What the hell are you talking about! You crazy bastard!”

Yu-ah blushed and shouted at my gaze and words….

Coming to the gym for the first time was a shock in itself for me.