No Way She'd Like an Old Guy Like This
"No way she'd fall for a guy like me, right?"
………… I stepped into the gym locker room and stripped off my suit. Before changing into workout clothes, I stood in front of the mirror.
"Hmm."
As I'd noticed during training, it was seriously impressive. The man in the mirror had a body that made his mid-forties age seem like a joke. Broad shoulders, thick forearms. His pecs were thick and developed, and his abs were sharply defined. Not quite bodybuilder-low body fat, but not too lean either—just right for the eye. Not self-praise; it was genuine.
Han Kang was a special hire after leaving the Navy SEALs, after all.
Eighteen years of uninterrupted high-intensity training, plus regular doses of augmentation serum. That's why even with his destructive habit of downing two bottles of soju every night, his body stayed this good. On drugs? Hey, only the strong survive them. Even bodybuilders on far weaker steroids than augmentation serum drop dead in their thirties.
If he cut back on the booze even a little, it'd improve for sure.
I changed clothes and opened the locker room door. Lee Jin-ah hadn't come out yet. I figured I'd stretch and wait—
……Gasp.
The women's locker room door opened, and out came Lee Jin-ah. In skin-tight black leggings and a crop top.
Damn...
The thought hit me instantly. The leggings hugged the firm lines of her thighs perfectly. Her ass was the same—softly jiggling with each step, yet full of bounce. Below the crop top, her taut abs were on display like a brag. Slender but defined arms, just the right muscle under her collarbones, the deep curve of her waist.
……Huh.
Impressive all around, sure. But was this really a beginner's body? No way she'd neglected it. This was the result of consistent, dedicated maintenance. She'd said it herself: she'd only recently joined the gym and had no idea what to do alone. But through Han Kang's near-pro athlete eyes, it was clear. Lee Jin-ah's body wasn't that of a newbie.
No need to pry, though.
Just personal curiosity in the end. An old guy like me asking sensitive questions directly would cross into harassment territory. I just had to teach her workouts as requested. That was it.
"Senior, have you been waiting?"
"Nah, just came out."
"Phew, good! Then—"
Lee Jin-ah reached out. Her hand naturally took mine.
"Shall we get started?"
…………
Led by Lee Jin-ah's hand, I headed deeper into the gym. It was Friday, but early afternoon right after lunch, so it wasn't crowded.
"Senior, I want to learn squats."
She stood in front of the squat rack.
"Squats?"
"Yeah! The king of weight training, right?"
True enough. Squats were the foundation and core of lower-body work. Done right, the gains were insane; done wrong, you wrecked your knees or back.
"Alright. Form's crucial, so let's do it properly. I'll show you."
"Thank you!"
Lee Jin-ah positioned herself at the barbell. Empty bar to start—20 kilos.
"First, basic stance. Feet shoulder-width."
"Got it."
"Keep your knees from going past your toes. Push your hips back as you sit."
"Like this?"
Lee Jin-ah lowered slowly.
"Good, just like that."
She stood, then squatted again.
Not a beginner after all.
But I didn't let on.
"Good. But arch your back more. Rounding it risks injury."
"Oh, gotcha. Could you hold my waist from behind, Senior?"
"……Pardon?"
"It's the surest way to correct form. Makes me feel secure too."
She smiled at me through the mirror. Looked so innocent.
Is this... okay?
I hesitated a bit. Holding her waist from behind meant getting real close. To a junior in leggings.
She asked first, so it should be fine?
Yeah. She requested it. I wasn't being creepy. No problem.
"Okay."
I stepped behind her and placed my hands on her waist. The pale, soft bare skin below her crop top met my palms. Slim and springy.
……Ugh.
I'd expected it, but doing it for real was awkward.
"Alright, try again?"
"Yes!"
Lee Jin-ah lowered into the squat. Her hips pushed back—toward me. Her ass brushed my groin.
Stay calm. It's just training. Training.
I focused. "Ahem. Back's good, but knee angle a bit more—"
"Senior."
"Yeah?"
"Grip tighter. This light touch feels unstable."
"……Right."
I gripped her waist firmly. She squatted and rose again.
"Hmm... still kinda shaky. Could you hold lower?"
"Lower?"
"Yeah. Below the waist. That's where the power comes from, right?"
I slid my hands down a bit. Basically her hips now.
"Here?"
"Perfect!"
She squatted again. The feel under my hands was starting to get dangerous.
"Good! But Senior, it'd be better if you held more securely."
"More than this?"
"You could support under my thighs. Or cup under my armpits for my chest."
Lee Jin-ah said it casually. Her tone sounded dead serious about the workout. But—
I'm not okay with that.
Honestly, no way. Hands under her thighs? Under her armpits grabbing her chest? I could picture exactly where that'd land. This was no joke. Anyone watching, and I'd have no defense.
"Lee Jin-ah."
"Yes?"
"That's... a bit much."
"Is it? It's for safety."
She tilted her head.
This girl's... sneakier than I thought.
I was sure now. She was messing with me.
…………
I somehow brushed off Lee Jin-ah's teasing and barely finished the squat lesson.
That was close.
We were in public; if anyone called me out, I'd have nothing to say. Standing right behind a female junior's ass, hands on her hips. I'd turned down the thighs and chest, obviously. But even calling it coaching felt excessive. Lucky no one was around the rack, or it'd have been trouble.
"Senior, I'll grab some water quick."
"Sure."
Lee Jin-ah headed to the dispenser.
"Whew..."
A brief moment of relief. I was sweating—not just from the workout, but mostly from the tension with her.
"Hello!"
A voice suddenly from the side. I turned to see a woman in gym staff uniform. Mid-to-late twenties, fit build.
"First time here?"
"Yeah."
"Ah, I see. Your body's amazing, though. How many years you been training?"
"Over twenty."
"Whoa, knew it!"
The trainer approached excitedly, closing the distance. A bit too close, subtly.
"Instead of solo, how about a PT session? Your basics are solid; a pro program could take you to the next level."
Textbook PT sales pitch.
Han Kang's experience was easily triple hers. Training together, she'd be the one paying me. But hey, life's tough. She was just hustling for a living. Buff older guy, probably decent cash, sweet-talk him into twenty 60k sessions—nice commission. Confident-looking female trainer? Easy mark.
Of course, PT was the last thing on my mind.
How to politely decline.
No need to be rude. Just firm no—
"Ah, oppa!"
A voice cut in.
……Huh?
Not calling me, right? I turned; Lee Jin-ah was striding over fast. She grabbed my arm.
"Oppa, come on!"
"Uh..."
"Bench press time, right?"
She dragged me by the arm. The trainer was left behind. Lee Jin-ah pulled me to the other side of the gym before letting go.
"What was that?"
"Those types always pitch to guy members. Gotta shake 'em off like that."
Her voice and tone were ice-cold. Nothing like usual.
"Not that—'oppa'?"
"Gotta sound super close. Can't give that woman an opening."
That woman?
Harsh words. But whatever, better than wasting cash on sales. She was looking out for me, in her way.
"Thanks. Handled it smooth."
"Right? So, about that."
Lee Jin-ah smiled.
"Outside work, can I call you oppa? Han Kang oppa."
This girl's gonna get me fired.
I flinched involuntarily. A mid-twenties female junior telling her mid-forties boss "call you oppa off-duty"? Disaster. Front-page internet scandal, community roasts, SNS memes, disciplinary action, pink slip—vivid as day.
"......Nah, that's a no-go. Look at our age gap."
Firm rejection. Her face darkened for a split second. Smile gone, eyes dim.
Too harsh?
Felt a twinge of guilt.
"Don't take it bad. Not that I dislike you or anything. But—"
"I see."
Lee Jin-ah cut me off. Her face brightened, lips curving up again.
"Got it, Senior. Teach me something else then."
Like nothing happened.
......Just my imagination?
I'd worried my cold tone upset her, but she seemed fine. Good.