332. Righteous Education (1)

After enjoying a dreamlike weekend, what always returned was the busy reality.

Having only smelled sweet skin scents, it was quite a chore to smell the musty scent of sweat, but since I was also dripping with sweat, I couldn’t complain.

It was an everyday routine that wasn’t particularly different from usual, but perhaps because I flew too high yesterday, I just didn’t like this smooth, slippery floor.

Maintaining at least a forced smile, I finished one round of PT, and it also sucked that I couldn’t lift the weights I usually could on the bench press, partly to relieve stress.

“You look really tired today, Boss?”

“Shut up and spot me.”

“Yes, sir.”

I berated the trainer who looked the easiest to pick on, whipping my body, which had become strangely weak, again.

After doing all that yesterday – the screwing, lifting, fucking, and every other crazy thing – it wasn’t strange that my upper or lower body was drained, but still, not being able to lift weights I could easily handle before was a matter of pride.

I was never a perfect human, but at least in front of them, I had to pretend to be perfect.

In reality, they were just muscle masses that weren’t very useful when throwing a ball, but now, this was all I had left, so I couldn’t neglect it.

“Hoo… one, hoo… two….”

“…But, Boss. I have something I’m curious about.”

“What is it. …Ah, shit. Four…. Fiiiive-“

“Boss, what’s your relationship with that Hwang Soo-ah?”

“Kkyaaaak….”

“Whoa, fuck-“

But because this idiot was spouting stupid nonsense, I almost got crushed by the barbell and died for real.

Right, now that I think about it, this bastard saw me hanging out with Soo-ah the other day.

But, fuck, why the hell are you asking someone who’s bench pressing, you psycho bastard-

“Are you okay? Whoa, shit. That scared the hell out of me.”

“…Why the hell would you ask something like that at this timing? I almost died crushed.”

“Ah, I’m sorry. You looked like you were doing it really steadily, so I thought you’d be fine….”

“We’re not close, so mind your own business.”

If it were up to me, I would have smacked him hard on the back of the head, but my heart had skipped such a beat that I didn’t even have the energy, so I just left it for now.

Brushing down my chest, which was more startled than when I was cheating, I sat down to try and calm my flushed face, but.

“…Um, Boss.”

“What.”

“Then, what’s your relationship with Seo Jia-“

“Hey, fuck. Are you really-“

“No, no, just. I’m purely curious, that’s all.”

“What weird article did you read this time to ask that? Haven’t I told you multiple times that we’re brother-in-law and sister-in-law?”

Because this annoying guy kept poking at the sensitive spots, my face, far from calming down, became even redder.

I was already going crazy, feeling like I was walking on thin ice, and now this guy, reeking of sweat, acting like this just made me even more furious.

I should just fire him-

“Ah, it wasn’t an article. I read something somewhere too, that the Boss is living together with Seo Jia….”

“…My sister-in-law is the homeowner, and my girlfriend and I are renting a room in our sister-in-law’s house. The sister-in-law has her own place elsewhere. Okay? Do you seriously believe rumors about an idol living with a man?”

But hearing the words that followed, it didn’t seem like a story I could ignore or dismiss lightly.

…Come to think of it, it was strange it hadn’t become an issue yet.

Even if we weren’t actually living together, living in the same building was true.

Actually, I was waiting to see when this kind of controversy would erupt.

Of course, since living on different floors (upstairs/downstairs) was so obvious, I didn’t think it would be much of a problem.

At most, I figured it would end with hearing talk about speculation or extravagance.

Unless someone was stealing footage from the home CCTV.

“Ah…, that’s not it. But maybe with you, Boss, who knows, uhuhuhu.”

“What on earth do I look like in your eyes?”

“….”

“…Do you want to quit after today?”

“No, no, …I’m sorry.”

Of course, that was one thing, but firing this bastard was another matter.

It was obvious he was testing the waters, thinking he’d caught some evidence of me cheating with Soo-ah, and since I kept quiet, his curiosity got the better of him, but that’s not how it should be.

Anyway, the contract is until the end of this year, so once the year changes, I’ll have to fire him right away.

It’s always best to remove dangerous bombs like this in advance when you have the time, to avoid future trouble.

**

As I returned home, dragging my stiff body, Haeun, who was sitting on the sofa, greeted me.

Even though I was going to the sofa anyway, she jumped up and ran towards me with long strides, wearing a tank top and dolphin shorts; honestly, she was adorable.

Enough that I didn’t even miss meeting Hinami and Jia for a while.

Seeing the fatigue from a whole day of hard work completely disappear at once, it seems humans are truly simple creatures.

“Joo-hyuk, this person keeps contacting me?”

“Who is it.”

“Who is it… just look at the profile pic. Him. The trainer you use.”

“…Ignore him.”

But as if to correct those soft thoughts, Haeun, who had run to me, held out her phone in front of my eyes.

As expected, it was that trainer bastard who had been subtly trying to get close to me earlier.

I should have fired him right then, but now he was crossing the line by making advances towards Haeun.

Whether it was some baseless pride surging up from somewhere, or a threat to report me for cheating to Haeun, I couldn’t tell.

What was certain was that this bastard had crossed the line immensely.

Actually, sending a personal message to the boss’s girlfriend is borderline criminal, but unfortunately, it wasn’t quite enough to be grounds for dismissal, which was quite regrettable.

Being a boss is annoying because of things like this.

The responsibility is huge, but in reality, there’s nothing I can do freely.

“Are you sure you can just ignore him? He’s your employee. Isn’t he totally into you?”

“Anyway, once December passes, if I fire him, we’ll be strangers, so it doesn’t matter.”

“Why? You can fire him now.”

“He’s not a part-timer; you can’t just fire a properly hired person so easily. I myself had my shoulder smashed to pieces, but I still kept taking money from the club until I left.”

“Hmm….”

But perhaps Haeun wanted me to respond more decisively, she looked at me with a subtly disappointed expression.

…Honestly, I don’t want to just stay quiet either.

As I pondered for a moment how to resolve this, Haeun, who had been staring intently at me, quickly put on a smile, faced me, and plopped down onto my lap.

“…What are you thinking right now?”

“Just. Well, this and that.”

“After hearing what I said, you suddenly made a scary face. …It’s the kind of face that looks like you’re going to kill someone, right now.”

“It’s not that extreme.”

She sensed my inner thoughts, which I hadn’t even realized myself, hugged me tightly, and pressed my murderous-looking face against her chest to soothe me.

Thanks to that, I felt a bit better, but conversely, all sorts of thoughts flew away with it, leaving my plans, solutions, and everything else completely blank.

…Should I just leave it be.

Well, if Haeun ignores him, he can’t do anything anyway.

“He hasn’t hit on me yet. He could just be a good kid trying to tell you that you’re cheating?”

“A man telling a woman that her boyfriend is cheating is never a good intention.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course.”

However, no matter how much I believed he couldn’t touch her, the moment he showed signs of wanting to, I couldn’t just leave him be.

…This is really hopeless.

That Soo-ah was a good-looking girl, and she was friendly with Jia, so I could openly involve her without any problem, but I couldn’t use the same method on that bastard.

“Anyway. Don’t kill anyone. Handle it lightly, lightly.”

“If I listened to you, anyone would think I could kill one or two people whenever I felt bored.”

“No? …I almost died several times because of my Master.”

“When.”

“Every day. …You see it with those eyes every day. When night comes.”

“….”

…I wish I could just move past it as if nothing happened.

If only Haeun wasn’t constantly looking at me with those seductive eyes, begging me to punish (him/the situation).

**

…I miss the Boss.

Ah, of course, I see him every day… but not officially, privately.

I think it’s truly too much to teach ‘that’ kind of thing to a pure, innocent, and kind girl, and then abandon her like an old shoe.

…I’m taking birth control pills regularly, too.

Is this perhaps neglect play?

The kind where he never touches me unless I seduce him first-

“Soo-ah ssi.”

“…Yes?”

“Are you perhaps not busy? I have something to talk about briefly.”

“Uh…”

While I was sitting quietly fantasizing until just before closing time, a trainer who suddenly never talked to me approached, and suddenly attempted to start a conversation with a serious expression.

What the hell is this guy.

He looks somewhat familiar.

…Ah, right.

This is that person.

Was it last time when I went to buy emergency contraception with the Boss? I ran into him then-

“You’re having an affair with the Boss, aren’t you, Soo-ah ssi?”

“…What?”

“Why pretend you don’t know? You ran into me last time, remember? When you two were on a date.”

…It really is that bastard.

Sigh, I’m really pissed off.

His intention to get on top of others is so transparently visible, it makes me sick.

Does this man only think that if a man and woman walk down the street together, they must be dating?

It could be a normal, healthy relationship, you idiot.

“…No, we’re not.”

“Hey, don’t lie. I’ll keep quiet to the Boss’s girlfriend, so just be honest-“

“We’re just sex friends. …Normally.”

“….”

…A normal relationship like sex friends.

Why is this man surprised after showing his teeth first?

“…Is there a problem?”

“…Ah, no. I’m sorry.”

Get lost.

Trying to blackmail someone with something weird.

No matter how much someone like you tries to threaten me, I’m not scared.

…Compared to the Boss whose eyes roll back in his head on the bed, not at all.