002. Reunion (2)

The most important thing when picking a fight is to know your limits.

If you cross the line with a man, it’s just a signal that you want to fight, but if you cross the line with a woman, you’ll get stuck with troublesome labels like ‘stalker’ or whatnot.

“⋯Tsk.”

That woman, who had been running on the treadmill, swinging her ponytail for about 30 minutes, packed her things after glaring sharply at me while sweating profusely. Seeing how easily she reacted even to a slight provocation, I thought she was more pathetic prey than I expected. Of course, her body isn’t pathetic at all.

“⋯Seriously, this is annoying.”

Her perpetually complaining attitude was definitely annoying, but looking at her figure, that thought melts away. Breasts? At least they’re the biggest among the women I’ve met in person. Butt? They might not be as big as her breasts, but seeing how they cling to her leggings, they’re perfectly plump for spanking. Thighs? They’re sturdy, looking like they’d bulge out if she wore fishnets, but her ankles and calves are thin. It’s not like I lack experience, but I’ve barely even met anyone like her, let alone slept with them. Even the celebrities who sometimes come to throw the first pitch are all skinny twigs; there were few glamorous ones. Moreover, the more I saw her rebellious attitude, the more her good points, which weren’t overshadowed by malice, started flooding my mind one by one. It was the same when I was at the club, but her unchanged, striking long, beige hair. A sharp gaze, as if asking if I could take her down. The beauty mark under her left eye matched her rebellious eyes and was quite my type. Furthermore, I liked her mindset too. In a gym mostly filled with men, wearing just a white tank top and black leggings, she knows she looks hot seeing her sweat profusely while working out. Women who are too guarded are difficult to persuade. A woman who dyes her hair nicely and works hard on her figure communicates much better. Body language.

“⋯Can I reel her in?”

Swoosh.

Not long after that woman left, I too finished my workout and headed to the shower room. As the water sprayed over me, recalling my instincts from my playing days, I pondered deeply on a method to hunt my prey. The downside is that I don’t know much about her. All I know about her personal details is that she’s the same age as me and joined in ’16? Ah, and on top of that, I overheard that she’s Director Seo’s daughter and that her younger sister is an idol. I know she’s damn pretty and popular; she’s so famous in the first place that it’s impossible not to know. I didn’t even think about digging for more information, nor did I want to know. I don’t even know if she graduated high school or college. Well…, if I calculate her age, she’s probably a high school graduate. Of course, what kind of life she’s lived and what situation she’s in is none of my business. However, there was just one thing I hoped for.

“W-what is it…. What did I…”

I hope that trembling gaze I saw earlier is her true self. I don’t hate women with a fiery temper, but women with a fiery temper even at night are hard to persuade. Whether boiled or grilled, the meat needs to be tender to make cooking easy; that’s a self-evident fact. Someone with strong principles and a strong mentality is not easy to exploit. But based on my experience, people who usually act like that are usually soft on the inside. If they were solid inside, they wouldn’t need to put up thorns. If I can just get them to clap hands with me, I can control them. So please, just show up. Getting close physically isn’t difficult, but getting close emotionally is not difficult at all.

March 2nd, the next day.

The Gym.

The only difference from yesterday is… I touched up my hair slightly. That’s about it.

“Hello, Seo Haeun-ssi.”

“⋯Hello.”

The same woman was still drinking water at the same time; nothing had changed. I shamelessly greeted her with an unabashed face, and looking incredulous, she scrunched up her face but still accepted my greeting. It seems she’s a woman with a stronger ego than I expected. I thought she’d completely ignore me.

“You came today too. I thought you wouldn’t come.”

“Hey. Why are you acting friendly…”

“We were colleagues back in the day. Can’t I act friendly? You’re being really cold just because I retired.”

“⋯I… you know I hate you. Stop talking to me.”

“I hate you too. But even after saying you hate me, you keep coming at this time, so I can’t help but talk to you.”

If someone else saw it, it would look like childish banter. While thoroughly provoking her, I try to impose this ridiculous frame of ‘running away means defeat’. Ultimately, what matters is mood. Nobody likes having their life disrupted because of someone they hate.

“Haa…. If you came to the gym, just work out, Kang Joo-hyuk-ssi?”

“I’ll handle that without you worrying. I was just stretching and got bored, so I started talking.”

“Ha, seriously… This is annoying…”

“If it’s annoying, you don’t have to come at this time. I’ve been coming here longer than you, so you leave.”

“It’s not like I’m a child… This is a gym I paid for myself, why should I leave?”

“If you don’t want to leave, you can just work out while talking to me like this. Honestly, I’m a little uncomfortable too, but I want to work out in a cool, air-conditioned place during broad daylight, so I’ll endure it a bit. You endure it a bit too.”

“Haa…”

Her face, glaring sharply at me with eyes full of annoyance, didn’t even need analysis. I could feel immense malice towards me, but similarly, the anger of not wanting to lose could also be easily read. At least that woman won’t run away every time I provoke her; she’ll keep fighting back. Until I’m pushed back in the argument and cry uncle.

“How’s the club these days? I haven’t been back since I retired.”

“Hey. Stop acting friendly, it’s annoying, so stop talking…”

“Seeing you working out with me at this time makes it seem like you have a lot of free time. Isn’t the season starting soon?”

“It has nothing to do with you, Kang Joo-hyuk-ssi.”

“Why wouldn’t it? That’s the team I was with for about 6 years. Seeing an employee slacking off like this, wouldn’t even my vanished loyalty come back?”

“⋯I quit, so I don’t know.”

“Ah, I see.”

As I continued the conversation slyly, I learned things I didn’t know at all, one by one. For one thing, until I was released, this woman was definitely at the club. Well, there’s nothing more painful than continuing to do something you hate, so I don’t think it’s strange that she quit. I don’t know how she was treated afterwards, but judging by the rumors about me, she probably didn’t live like a princess. If she had been treated well, she wouldn’t have quit and wouldn’t be working out in broad daylight. Even if I’m not sure, seeing her smooth skin, she doesn’t seem to work nights, so she’s probably unemployed. A comrade, a comrade.

“You quit your job and moved here?”

“⋯Yes.”

“This place is expensive, you must have a lot of money.”

“It has nothing to do with you.”

“You quit your job, why did you move to Mokdong? I could understand if you were still working for the club…”

“It has nothing to do with you. Stop talking and do your own thing.”

However, if that’s the case, a question arose. An unemployed person who quit a stable job moving to expensive Mokdong clearly implies something. Even if I lived here originally, she quit her job in Mokdong but still moved to Mokdong. How could a woman who worked for at most 3 years possibly have the money? Normally, it would be parents buying it for her, but she quit the club job her father got her, so it doesn’t add up. And yet, thinking she works a precarious job? She’s rich, why would she? If I remove the unnecessary parts and think, what’s left is…

“So you live in the apartments over there? They built new buildings there…”

“Where I live is none of your business. Haa… I’ve tolerated you enough. Please just leave. How long are you planning to stretch?”

“You’re supposed to warm up for a long time. Besides, I’m not exactly in perfect shape.”

“Hey, Kang Joo-hyuk-ssi. What are you plotting against me…”

“I told you there’s nothing like that. I’m just talking because I’m bored.”

“⋯Don’t you have any sense?”

“Of course I do. I’m talking to you because I have it. If I get friendly with Seo Haeun-ssi, I might get some perks.”

“⋯Perks?”

“No, well. If you get friendly with a celebrity’s family, you can get autographs and stuff. I’m already a fan of your sister.”

Could it be that woman’s younger sister? Seo Jia. If I know her name and even her songs, it means she’s made quite a bit of money. Judging by appearances, she looks like an older sister leeching off her celebrity sibling, which is shabby, but it’s not that strange. Rather, I desperately hope this woman looks shabby.

“⋯So you approached me because of that?”

“It’s not only because of that, but that too isn’t entirely baseless, right?”

“Just leave, please. Stop saying unpleasant things.”

“What’s unpleasant? I said I’m a fan of your sister.”

Look. As soon as her sister’s name came up, she scowled. That’s not just a face you make because you hate me. It’s a wound caused by scratching her pride. Living off a successful sibling, what could be more confidence-crushing? From what I heard, the sisters went on an audition show together, but only the younger sister was scouted by an agency. If it were me, I’d be furious and end up on the streets; even with a sibling, I wouldn’t ask for help. Of course, this woman…

“Haa…. Hey, Kang Joo-hyuk-ssi. You have no intention of listening to me, do you?”

“Yes.”

“⋯I’ll give you Jia’s autograph, so if I ask you not to talk to me, won’t you stop?”

“Huh?”

“I’ll give you the autograph as you wish, so just get lost. From my side.”

“Ah, well…. If you’re giving it to me, I’ll gratefully accept it and get lost.”

“When I have time, I’ll get it and give it to you, so please, don’t talk to me from now on. I’m asking you.”

She seems to be doing pretty well, subtly. Her sister’s hand.