A Real Superhuman
My night-long, fierce solo battle against a real superhuman had finally come to an end. Im Nana's arms, squeezing with enough force to crush my ribs, finally loosened only after the sun climbed high in the sky.
"Urgh..." I hauled my stiff, aching body upright. Glancing beside me, Im Nana was already up and packing our gear. But the vibe felt... off. Normally, she'd hit me with a "Sleep well?" right away, or still be groggy and half-dreaming. Her head seemed clear enough, but she was weirdly quiet. And one more thing. I looked over at Im Nana. The second she noticed my gaze, she whipped her head away to stare at the distant mountains. And there she was, idly kicking at snowballs with her toes.
"N-Nice weather out... haha..."
Looks like she remembers. The drunken snowball fight where she hurled those killer snowballs. And burrowing into my sleeping bag against the cold, wrapping around me like an anaconda.
Embarrassed, obviously. Sure, booze can make anyone a little wild, but why so awkward? Then it hit me—flashes of my own past memories.
'Kyaaah!'
'Just reach out and grab a handful...'
'Let's run. Not just out of the country—overseas.'
Hmm... Yeah, plenty to be ashamed of. No room for me to talk. As a black history generator, I'm top-tier confident I could hold my own anywhere. Sympathy kicking in from shared suffering, I decided to play dumb and let it slide.
"Nana, all packed up?"
"Y-Yeah... done."
Im Nana mumbled, shrinking a bit.
"But... no breakfast?"
"Gonna grab it down the mountain. The site owner runs a baekban joint. Pets welcome too."
"Oh? Awesome!"
Her face lit up at the word "food." She hustled to stuff everything into the backpacks. Maximus snuggled right into his dedicated crossbag, poking his head out.
"Ang!"
The little guy seemed hungry too, whining like hurry up already.
We stepped out of the shelter and I glanced back one last time. Our sturdy white-snow home. A masterpiece born from Im Nana's superhuman strength and my skills.
"Wanna snap a pic for the memories?"
"Yeah! Perfect!"
We took a commemorative shot with the shelter as backdrop. After all that work, leaving it behind felt refreshingly bittersweet.
A rundown diner sat at the mountain's base. The sign was so weathered the letters had faded, but the aroma wafting from the door cracks was killer. Hearty doenjang scent mixed with spicy pork stir-fry. The smell of a true hidden gem.
We pushed open the door, and the owner lady greeted us warmly.
"Welcome~ You can keep the pup in the bag, no problem."
As we'd confirmed ahead, I kept Maximus tucked in the bag and we grabbed seats. Im Nana scanned the dingy interior.
"Whoa... Feels like my first time in a spot like this. Straight out of one of those quirky TV adventure shows..."
"Bet it's a secret foodie haven, right?"
I skimmed the menu. Bulgogi set, pork stir-fry set, grilled mackerel set. And fitting for Gangwon-do, buckwheat noodles too.
Hmm... What to get?
Two sets for us, plus one noodles to sample? Can't visit Gangwon without trying the local soba.
I was about to order when Im Nana shot her hand up.
"Boss!"
"Yes~ Ready to order?"
"One each of bulgogi, pork, mackerel—and two buckwheat noodles!"
"......"
The owner froze mid-note. So did I.
"...For you two?"
"Yep! That's us!"
Im Nana beamed innocently. The owner tilted her head and headed to the kitchen. I eyed Im Nana. So convenient. Three menu items, two people. Most folks would agonize over choices. But traveling with her? No sweat.
Just try everything, duh?
Definitely hassle-free for trips—no menu debates. But...
"You sure you're good? You demolished a ton of meat last night..."
She'd wiped out most of that 3kg pork belly slab for dinner. And now this for breakfast...
When we first met, she ate big, but not this big. Was she stressed or something? I started worrying.
"Totally! I'm starving to death here."
She casually set the tableware. If she's fine, great—but the concern lingered.
"Didn't you say big eats are just once-a-month cheat days? Okay to go ham two days straight?"
From what I recalled, she was strict about dieting normally. But yesterday and today? This was full throttle, seals shattered.
As she poured water, she brushed it off casually. "Oh, that? I quit."
"...?"
"No more diet. Realized it's fine to just eat big. Kinda shifted mindset starting that sub-channel."
"What do you...?"
Couldn't wrap my head around it. Mukbang channel or not, health and figure management seemed essential, right?
Im Nana propped her chin, reminiscing like it was ancient history.
"Areum, you ever see pics of me working out?"
"Nah? Volleyball days?"
"Yeah. Back then, I was ripped. Weighed a solid 20kg more than now."
Hard to picture. The Im Nana before me looked petite and slim. Delicate limbs, face small as a fist. Her all toned and bulky?
"But weirdly, quit sports and the weight dropped. Eating the same amount."
"Ooh, that's wild. Usually, you balloon up after stopping exercise."
Yo-yo effect and all. Less activity, same intake—natural law says gain weight. But she slimmed down?
Im Nana narrowed her eyes at me. "You... skip my recent vids?"
"...Whoo~ Whoo~"
I whistled innocently, dodging.
Her glare sharpened.
"For real, just the latest ones! I binged everything else, swear!"
"Tch... Anyway, went to the hospital for a full body scan. Checkup combo."
"Ooh, wanna try that sometime. Curious just how trash my body's gotten."
"Pfft... Wanna know the results?"
"Spill it."
Ugh, just say it. The suspense is killing me.
She took a sip of water and continued. "Said I can eat as much as I want."
"Huh? The hospital?"
Doctors live for nagging: "Eat moderately," "less salt," "cut booze." But green light to gorge?
"Didn't tell 'em your intake? Like 80 sushi plates?"
"Obviously! Even showed the vid!"
"And still?"
"Yup. Doc glanced at the chart and goes, 'Just eat.'"
Isn't that negligence? Should care about health at least.
Im Nana held up her index finger. "My basal metabolic rate... it's like ten times a normal person's."
"......"
"And muscle fiber density over three times a woman's."
"...Holy."
My jaw dropped. BMR tenfold? Means she burns as many calories just breathing as a normal person running a marathon. Her body's a massive furnace.
Mystery solved. That black-hole stomach. The insane strength from such a slender frame.
I'd seen her grip strength vid on YouTube. Over 60kg. Freaked me out—even as a guy, I couldn't hit that, and she did it laughing.
All makes sense now.
"What can ya do? Born this way."
She shrugged.
"Exercise packs on muscle way too fast, bulks me up. Rest up, can't sustain it—muscle melts away, I slim down."
"Whoa..."
This was straight comic-book material. Superhuman. No other word fit.
"Doc said forcing small meals would actually hurt my health. Just eat whenever hungry."
Fuel. Perfect metaphor. Like a supercar with crap mileage—her hyper body guzzles massive fuel to run.
Hyper body, even. "So I just eat carefree now. Been at it over a month—no issues, feeling better, weight steady."
Right on cue, food started arriving. Bulgogi, pork stir-fry, grilled mackerel. Two bowls of icy buckwheat noodles. Our four-person table was packed.
Im Nana's eyes sparkled.
"Let's dig in!"
No hesitation—she grabbed a heap of pork, shoved it in, chased with noodle broth.
"Mmm~! So good!"
Her blissful face. Watching stirred envy... and a twinge of pity.
Eats like that and no gain—jealous. But always hungry, right? Calories torching non-stop, endless pit. Food bills must suck.
...Gonna need to make bank.
I quietly slid my noodle bowl her way.
"...Have mine too. Mackerel and rice fills me up."
"Yay! Thanks, Areum!"
She snatched it without a second thought. Slurp, smack.
I stared blankly at her devouring it.
Today, I glimpsed one secret building this world. Im Nana herself was the fantasy.