Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Cha Hee-ra
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A bench in a quiet park where I always met up with Hee-ra sis to exercise.
Sitting there, I fidgeted with my legs out of habit, waiting endlessly for Hee-ra sis to show.
Just so you know, today it was just me helping her work out.
That was because Na-young had been dragged off by the Mi-jin, Chae-yeon, and Eun-bi trio, who'd been whining that I hadn't been hanging out with them lately.
Of course, they'd tried to take me along too, eyes blazing, but I knew it'd just be exhausting and annoying.
So I'd made an excuse about how someone had to stick around to train Hee-ra sis and politely declined.
"Sorry. Am I late?"
How long had I been waiting? She finally arrived well past the time we'd agreed on.
I'd bet a hundred million yesterday, and here she was late the very next day. Not an easy feat.
"Something happen?"
At my tentative question, Hee-ra sis gave an awkward smile and shook her head.
"No... nothing."
Her voice trailed off, clearly hiding something.
I was dying to know, but I held back.
If she wanted to tell me, she would've spilled already.
"Shall we get started then?"
"Yeah...!"
Thankfully, her motivation for working out hadn't wavered.
The old Hee-ra sis—half-assing it, just going through the motions to grab the cash and head home for food—was gone. In her place was someone dead serious about losing weight.
A hundred million on the line? It'd be ridiculous if that didn't light a fire under her.
"By the way, where's Na-young?"
"She went out with her friends."
"A girl that pretty's bound to have friends... You didn't go with her?"
"How could I leave you behind, sis?"
Truth was, I just didn't want to get dragged around, so I'd used her as an excuse to bail.
"Heh. Trying to woo me?"
"You could see it that way."
"With my ugly mug and pig body, you're probably the only guy in the world who'd bother."
"Does that mean you'll be my girl right now?"
"Pfft."
A burst of laughter escaped her. She tried to hold it in, but...
"Puhahaha!"
She couldn't.
"You're hilarious and weird. What do you even like about me? You've got a gorgeous girlfriend like Na-young."
Her face was cracking up, but her eyes held a quiet loneliness.
"Haa... haa... Fine, I get it. Na-young's cool with it, and we made that bet about me becoming your girl once I slim down and get pretty... so let's talk then."
"Got it."
"Pfft... You really think I'll get pretty, huh?"
"Of course."
"Yeah, yeah. Na-young said she used to be like me, and you turned her pretty... so maybe I can hope a little too."
Her words said one thing, but she didn't look hopeful at all.
That's why she could casually talk about a one-guy-two-girls setup that'd be impossible in modern society.
She was convinced it wouldn't happen anyway.
"Anyway, don't forget that hundred million."
"No way. And don't you forget you'll be my second girl."
"I won't. I promise. And add the 'once I get pretty' condition."
"Sure, sure."
What's a hundred million anyway?
If she became my girl, I'd let her blow through a billion without batting an eye.
Hee-ra sis, oblivious to that, stared at me like I was totally insane for wanting someone like her.
"Let's work out."
I led her to the outdoor gym equipment in the park.
"Let's start with some light stretching—waist twists."
"Okay."
Hee-ra sis hauled her hefty frame onto the narrow disc.
Swish. Swish.
Her upper body stayed put while her lower half swung side to side on the disc.
"Hmm... You do this a lot? It turns pretty smoothly."
"Right? Heh."
"Then let's up the intensity today—give it a harder spin."
"What...? More from here? No way. It won't go."
Hee-ra sis yelped in horror.
"Come on, what do you mean 'won't'? If it doesn't work, you make it work."
"W-Wait... Eek?!"
She tried to hop off as I approached, but too late.
My hands gripped her thick flesh and twisted her sideways.
Her lower body swung nearly 120 degrees, and she let out a monstrous shriek.
"Hurts?"
"It huuuurts! Stop! Stooop!"
"Exercise hurts—that's how it works."
Whether strength training or light cardio, pain was part of it, just varying degrees.
"Now the other side."
"Eeeeeek?!"
This time, the opposite way.
After a few rounds, her thick legs trembled like they couldn't hold her up anymore.
"Take a break?"
"Haaa..."
The second I suggested it, she hopped off and collapsed onto the bench.
"Good job."
"Too painful. Can't we just do my usual routine?"
She clutched her side, still hurting, and pleaded.
"Nope."
In my book, once exercise felt easy, it was time to crank up the intensity or reps.
That way, you could proudly say you were working out.
By the way.
"Sis, where'd you roll around?"
"Huh...? W-Why do you ask...?"
Her tone and tremor screamed "How did you know?"
"Sand grains in your hair, sis. And your back—looks like you took a fall."
"......"
Hee-ra sis clamped her mouth shut and slowly shrugged off her uniform.
"Tripped on a rock on the way here. Ha, haha."
A rock? Then why were there shoe prints on her back?
Looked like the bullying was still ongoing.
I wanted to help, but had no clue how.
Throwing money at it covertly wasn't ideal.
If I helped, better to do it right in front of them—for maximum drama and to make her fall hard for me.
'Hmm... Just leave it.'
Thinking it over, since I couldn't be by her side 24/7, stepping in now would just stir up trouble.
Best to let the new-and-improved pretty Hee-ra handle it herself.
"Be more careful. Clumsy."
I pretended not to notice and brushed the sand from her hair.
"All good. Back to working out... Sis?"
"U-Uh?"
"Your face is beet red. You okay?"
"I-I'm fine...!"
Her face was unnaturally flushed.
Her voice shook nonstop—something was off, or was it my imagination?
"Tell me if it's too much. We can go easy or rest."
"No... I'm f-fine... Let's keep going..."
"Alright then. Up you go."
"Yeah..."
I offered my hand.
She stared blankly, hesitating, then took it and stood.
"Hmm... Actually, let's just chill. I'm feeling lazy today."
"Huh?"
"If it's about the deadline, I'll give you two extra days, including today and tomorrow. That work?"
Not a bad deal from her perspective.
She could use it to push harder and lose more weight, but since I wasn't in it to win the bet, whatever.
"Be honest—we've met up and just drilled workouts non-stop since day one. Let's take this chance to get to know each other."
"Jeez... It's been almost a month already."
"A bit late, sure, but you're gonna be mine anyway, right? We can start now."
"Heehee."
Laughter slipped out unbidden.
She seemed more expressive than when we first met—nice to see.
Of course, inwardly nice. Her outer appearance was still nowhere near "fine."
She was the type who'd say anyone was ugly without hesitation.
"You're such an idiot."
She smiled bitterly and continued.
"Go see an eye doctor later. Your vision's gotta be messed up."
"If you insist that hard, maybe I will."
I held out my hand gently.
"Since we're at it, let's make it a date."
"A date... Yeah... Sure."
Her chubby hand clasped mine.
Her fingers were nearly twice the size—shocking, but I pictured her shedding it all soon, blossoming into beauty.
"Where to? Anywhere you wanna go?"
"Anywhere."
"You know 'anywhere' is the hardest choice, right?"
"Then somewhere you take Na-young a lot?"
"Hmm... Good idea."
Places I took Na-young often? Different story.
I racked my brain, listing spots we'd hit once.
Arcade—restaurant—café—restaurant—PC bang—restaurant—karaoke—bowling—restaurant—escape room café—restaurant.
Weird. Why did restaurants keep popping up?
No wonder I'd put on a bit of weight.
I pinched my belly softly.
A slight grab of flesh—not a great feeling.
"Decided?"
"Hmm... Karaoke?"
"Sounds good."
Simple reason: Hee-ra sis's looks drew too much attention.
Walking downtown with her? Unwanted stares guaranteed.
I'd shrug it off, knowing she'd be the prettiest soon, smirking at the clueless fools.
But for her, it'd hit hard—maybe push her to diet viciously or hole up at home worst-case.
So, somewhere away from prying eyes.
"You sing well?"
"Dunno. Never been."
"I bet you do."
"Talking like you've heard me."
"Maybe I have."
In the future, Hee-ra sis loved singing and hung with famous idols.
She even joined them on stage sometimes—for the right price, of course.
"There's probably a ton I know about you better than you do."
"Pfft... You're fun, you know that?"
"Already hooked before I even seal the deal? Oh dear."
"Not even close."
It was just teasing, but she shut it down coldly.
Didn't seem forced. Guess total loners like her really kill conversations—textbook asocial.
In the end, silence hung between us for a while.