episode_0083

***

– Shoot!

It was raining coolly, and the umbrella covering me and Mr. Garam reliably blocked the strong rain.

– patter patter

The sound of rain hitting a tightly opened umbrella.

The strong sound helped Mr. Garam, who gritted his teeth and suppressed his tears.

“Ugh…”

Sobs escaping between pursed lips.

The way I tried not to look weak and not break down, I could see my past self overlapping.

The meaning has faded, but didn’t someone do that?

I am youth because I am sick, and I am an adult because I am shaken.

As youth and adults, it seems inevitable that we will be hurt and shaken by the things of the world.

That’s why I can’t say anything to her.

Because I know that her pain is entirely hers, and that my sympathy will be nothing more than cheap sympathy.

All I can do is provide an umbrella.

That’s it.

“Ugh, town…”

Mr. Garam cried silently for a while.

“……”

After about 10 minutes, her breathing stabilized and no more sobbing was heard.

I had a great form, but it was actually cold because the temperature around me had dropped a lot.

“Isn’t it cold?”

Me too, but I’m worried about Mr. Garam. I was so caught in the rain that I looked like a drowned rat, so it must be very cold.

My body was already shaking, and it was obvious that I would catch a cold if I left it like this.

” Mr. Garim, aren’t you cold?”

There was no answer, so I asked one more time, and only then did he respond.

“…It’s cold.”

Mr. Garam muttered in a voice as loud as a mosquito.

“First of all, would you like to go by car? I brought that car. If you feel burdened, I will take you to the bus stop.”

I’m afraid people might misunderstand that I’m just being flirtatious, so I give them a choice. If it’s really inconvenient, I’ll take the bus.

– Shoot!

The rain gets heavier. Now the wind is blowing, and it is difficult to block the rain even with an umbrella.

Since the top-down attack method didn’t work, these guys seem to be trying to attack the side.

Sniffling, Mr. Garim wiped his nose and rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand.

Her eyes were bright red, perhaps from tears or from rubbing them with her hands.

“Then… I’m sorry… Can I get in the car?”

“Of course. Actually, sending it on a bus in this weather is a bit awkward. Your clothes were also very wet.”

So we headed to the parking lot. slowly.

Back in the cozy car, things were better than before.

The raindrops hitting the umbrella hit the roof of the car.

The sound becomes clearer.

“Etchwi!”

Garam, who was in the car, was sneezing, so I turned on the heater.

A warm breeze heated the air inside.

“……”

“……”

We continued in silence for a while.

Not only did I have nothing to say, but there were more messages that could be conveyed through silence than through words.

I followed the stream of rain covering the car window with my eyes, and Mr. Garam stared blankly ahead with wide-open eyes.

“Don’t ask?”

Breaking the long pause, Mr. Garam opened his mouth.

“What?”

“Why am I doing this? Why are you crying?”

Gulping, she wiped her nose again.

I turned my gaze to her. She looked at me, probably curious about my answer.

We had been working out in a relaxed mood until this morning, so it was a little awkward to see such a serious atmosphere formed.

“Well, I don’t think there’s any need to ask. It’s Garam’s job. The person in question doesn’t want to talk about it, but it’s strange to even ask about it.”

Her eyes widened as she was surprised by my answer.

She pursed her lips as if she wanted to say something in response, but she couldn’t seem to think of anything to say.

After taking a long time to choose her words, a voice came out of her open mouth.

“President Inho, you don’t seem like an adult.”

What do you mean, you’re like a brat?

“You’re immature, right?”

“Oh, no! That’s what I mean… I feel like I’m just talking to people of similar age. It’s a stereotype, but… Adults older than me usually say “What’s the problem?” “Tell me. I will solve it.” You said it this way.”

“Me too, I can’t say that there is probably no such part. Maybe you are not interested in others.”

Feeling embarrassed, I scratched the back of my head and looked out the window.

For some reason, Mr. Garam’s gaze seemed to be stuck in the back of my head.

“I see.”

So silence again.

I tapped my fingers on the top of the steering wheel and took aimless glances at the parking lot.

“Do you feel better now?”

Another time passed, and I spoke to her.

“Very little.”

My voice definitely seems brighter than before.

When I started the car, a soft vibration resonated through the car body.

“Where shall I take you? Home?”

“No, I don’t want to go home.”

At her firm words, I flinched for a moment.

“Okay… I’ll take you to the center. It looks like you left work.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

When I stepped on the accelerator, the car pulled out of the parking lot smoothly.

***

The lights in the hallway on the 6th floor of Myeongseong Building were still dark.

“I told them to fix it, so it will be fixed soon. Please be patient.”

When Hocheol returns from vacation.

She smiled softly and said thank you.

Mr. Garam turned the light back on in the unlit center and headed to the shower room.

I sat on the chair at the desk and waited for her, looking at the empty center.

Oh, by the way, it’s a big problem because there’s no one there.

It’s me who gets free PT, but Mr. Garam’s livelihood depends on it. Is it because there are no people like this?

Is there any way to attract more members?…

While I was worrying about the future of the fitness center, which is not my business, Mr. Garam, who had changed his clothes, returned.

The shabby look that had been hit by the rain was completely erased, and when he returned to his soft and dry state, he looked like his usual self.

– Growling

A sound came from both my and Mr. Garam’s stomach at the same time.

Well, I didn’t eat dinner either.

“Would you like something to eat?”

“Yes, well… is there chicken breast here too?”

“No, I’ll just order it today.”

“?”

Is this woman the Garam I know? Want to order something?

When I looked up at her with a blank expression, she puffed out her cheeks and puffed out.

“Do you know that I only eat chicken breast three times a day? Unless it’s competition season, I don’t work that hard either.”

That’s surprising. I thought I ate chicken breast as a snack.

She turned on the delivery app and placed a delivery order at a familiar chicken restaurant.

“Because you shouldn’t overeat. One can of beer each. And how about a chicken? Second half of the noble class.”

“Good. I have no reason to refuse.”

If you are eating out with a certified PT trainer, this is legal.

“I will buy it.”

He is reluctant to take advantage of her because she is obsessed with money.

But she didn’t seem to like what I said.

She sat down across from me and held out her arms.

“Then let’s do it like this. Arm wrestling.”

“Arm wrestling?”

“Yes, it’s fair this way. I will deal with President Inho with two fingers.”

She spoke confidently, extending her index and middle fingers.

“Uh… Anyway, I’m a guy. Just hold your wrist.”

“Really? No softness?”

“Ah, you were just fooled. Still, that strength is strong.”

I also put my arms on the table.

Her hand holds my wrist tightly.

Hmm… it’s a little strong.

“Now then, three is the start?”

“One.”

“Two.”

“Three.”

“Uggiggg!!”

With all my might, I hand her over!

“…President Inho. Don’t play around.”

Mr. Garam’s face hardened, probably because he thought I was teasing him.

Hey, I’d be embarrassed if you reacted like that…

Heat rises from my red face.

“Now, this is no joke!!”

Ugh ugh ugh. Even if I try to hold the table with my other hand, my arm won’t move as if it’s caught on something hard.

“Hey… I guess you used all your strength.”

Mr. Garam’s voice sounds low.

– Boom!

And before I knew it, my arm was gone.

In the blink of an eye, my arm went over.

“I will eat well.”

Mr. Garam narrowed his eyes and stuck out his tongue.