* * *
I mimicked drawing the Chinese character for “king (王)” on my belly with my finger.
“Well, I don’t show them to anyone.”
“So, you do have them.”
“I’ve been working out for a long time.”
“Since when did you start working out? Back in high school, you didn’t…”
I stopped mid-sentence, realizing my mistake.
I bowed my head and shut my eyes tight, then opened them again.
I lightly slapped my lips.
After making such a fuss about not wanting to remember the past because of him, I was the one who brought it up.
It was an unconscious slip.
“Hyunoh.”
I slowly lifted my head to look at Chanyi.
He seemed unfazed, as if he hadn’t heard anything.
“Do you have a change of clothes?”
Then, naturally, he changed the subject.
I breathed a sigh of relief inside.
“Uh… No. I planned to sleep at the store and go home to change at lunch.”
“Then I’ll lend you my clothes again.”
“What about underwear?”
“I bought one while we got the ice cream. I had a feeling you wouldn’t have brought any.”
We continued chatting about trivial matters while eating the ice cream.
It seemed like a peaceful time on the surface.
But I couldn’t let my guard down.
Maintaining some level of alertness was wise.
I had already slipped up once.
And since Chanyi confessed he liked me since high school, I shouldn’t let my guard down too much.
Stay sharp. Please.
Chanyi said,
“We’re done. You go wash up first, Hyunoh.”
“What about you?”
“I’m going to work out a bit before bed anyway.”
“Didn’t you work out today?”
“No. I did this morning.”
“But you’re working out again?”
“I ate earlier, so I have to.”
“You didn’t even eat that much today.”
Chanyi usually ordered two servings of meat, but today was different.
After whispering with the owner, he only ate one bowl of cold noodles.
Knowing Chanyi’s eating habits recently, ordering two servings of meat had always been an overindulgence.
It must have been awkward for him to take up a table with just one serving.
“But if I skip a workout, I’ll quickly lose my shape.”
“You’re really strict about it.”
I shook my head and went into the bathroom.
After a slow shower, I came out to find Chanyi still doing abdominal exercises in the living room.
I absentmindedly touched my own stomach.
It used to be quite firm.
I used to enjoy playing soccer and basketball with the kids.
When did I start disliking exercise?
Now, all my muscles were gone.
I was just thin, with no firmness in my skin.
“Hey, Hyunoh. You finished your shower?”
Chan, focused on his workout, finally noticed me.
He took a deep breath and got up from the mat.
“I’ve set up the bedding in the small room. But it’s not bedtime yet, right? Do you want to watch TV? Or should I lend you my laptop?”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll just lie down and use my phone. Just give me the Wi-Fi password.”
“Got it.”
“When do you sleep?”
“I’m going to do a bit more exercise, then shower and go to bed right away.”
“More exercise? You’re crazy….”
As I was astonished, Chanyi laughed and approached me.
He looked like a bookworm but was crazy about exercise.
Although he didn’t have a bulky build, upon closer inspection, his entire body seemed packed with muscle.
Chanyi came closer to tell me the Wi-Fi password.
I flinched reflexively, and Chanyi stepped back with wide eyes.
“Sorry. Do I smell sweaty?”
“No, you don’t.”
“That’s impossible.”
I was sincere. I’d never noticed any unpleasant smell from Chanyi.
He moved further away, told me the password, and returned to the mat.
I hesitated for a moment.
Was that it?
Should I just go to the room now?
“…Alright then, have a good workout.”
“Yeah. Goodnight, Hyunoh. It’s hot, so keep the door open. That way, the air conditioning will reach you.”
“Okay.”
I quickly went into the room.
It seemed to be used as a study.
I sat on the unfolded bedding in the middle and absentmindedly rubbed my hair with a towel.
There was nothing significant enough to make me tense.
Our conversation was straightforward, and Chanyi’s behavior was too.
It felt like we were just normal friends.
Once my hair was somewhat dry, I lay down on the bedding.
Something hard touched my back. I pulled it out and found a heat pack.
It must have been placed there by Chanyi. He told me not to worry about it.
I frowned slightly, turned on the heat pack, and put it on my shoulder.
The tight muscles gradually softened.
No particular sounds came from beyond the open door.
A click, the sound of the refrigerator door opening.
The sound of water being poured.
The sound of drinking and putting the cup down.
The sound of the shower.
That was it.
After a while, the light in the living room went off.
Chanyi must have gone to bed too.
I perked up my ears under the blanket, wondering if Chanyi might talk to me or come to this room, but nothing happened.
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