Saturday (1)
Saturday (1)
Last Saturday, after returning to my studio apartment with a bundle of side dishes from my parents' home, a week had already flown by.
If you ask if anything special happened during that time, well.
I witnessed in real time the jealousy-inducing antics of a classmate, fought with the upstairs neighbor in the canyon while inquiring about the health of our enemies' parents, and enjoyed some minor embezzlement... no, squandering, by buying snacks with the club budget alongside a concept-obsessed department head.
Anyway, it means I played around well like a good-for-nothing.
The classroom scenery was still the same. However, lately, Park Hyun-woo's appearance has noticeably deteriorated, which bothers me a bit.
His under-eyes are hollow, his cheeks are sunken, but strangely, his build like shoulders and back seems bigger.
'Did his growth spurt return after turning 20?'
On the other hand, his girlfriends have honey-like glow radiating from their skin day by day, and smiles never leave their faces.
...I don't know.
I should mind my own business about others' love lives. I wasn't that interested anyway. It seems that's the typical ecosystem of male university students in this world.
From the side, it literally looks like his energy is being sucked out, which is a bit pitiful.
The problem is Shin Ga-young, who's stuck to the seat next to me like a piece of gum.
What's so good for her that lately, her smile is so wide it's stuck on her cheekbones and won't come down all day.
She giggles to herself even though the professor's jokes aren't funny, and twists her body like a pretzel while staring intently at her phone screen.
It's so distracting that even I, watching from the side, feel disturbed.
'What is it?'
I was curious for a moment, but soon ignored it. I'm not the type to be interested in others anyway.
Anyway, Saturday has come again.
I woke up at a time I couldn't normally imagine on a weekend.
[ 09:00 ]
Waking up at 9 AM on a weekend morning. Normally, I'd be lazing in bed until the sun is high in the sky, but today is an exception.
The reason is simple.
Because today's schedule is packed. In the morning, attending the gym which I've been putting off, and at 2 PM, a movie appointment.
Why did I cram all my plans into this golden weekend?
That's because tomorrow's schedule is 'doing nothing.'
Sunday must be fully spent in oneness with the bed.
In order to secure a good-for-nothing day of just breathing and watching Netplus, it means I have to move diligently today and clear all the quests.
"Ugh... I'm stiff."
I stretched and picked up my smartphone.
I ran the jiu-jitsu gym's dedicated attendance app, [Jiu-jitsu Mania].
Usually, through this app, you can find out in advance how many people are attending today's training.
'Director Im Chae-yang...'
She even let me register for free, but I haven't shown my face in months, so she might be shuddering just at the sight of my name. Or maybe she's already given up.
Sometimes when I lurk out of boredom, there are almost no people during the weekend morning slot. At most 1 to 3 people? It's the perfect timing for me, who hates crowded places.
'I should go today.'
Without hesitation, I pressed the [Attendance Reservation] button.
Weekend morning, 9:40 AM.
Inside the silent gym, Im Chae-yang was warming up alone.
Her gaze, as she lightly worked up a sweat with shadow drills, swept across the empty mat.
[ Attendance Reservation: 'Im Ye-na' nim ]
"Today... only Ye-na is coming..."
It was to be expected since it's a weekend morning, but looking at the empty gym, a name suddenly crossed her mind.
Seol Jin-hyuk.
When that man first registered at the gym, it was chaos.
As soon as the rumor spread that a 'male member' had joined, members who never usually showed up came in droves, making the gym overcrowded for weeks.
The memory of that day was still vivid.
The day Jin-hyuk-ssi agreed to relay sparring. The members blushed and fussed like girls who had just attended an idol fan meeting.
"Director-nim... I've fully woken up today. You see, a man held me tightly?"
They described the grip used for techniques as 'hugging,' and they bragged endlessly to those who couldn't come. Saying his chest was broad, his sweat smell was like pheromone perfume...
But... well, I can't really say anything. Honestly, it was the first time in my life that even I had hugged a man like that so closely, with full body contact.
That night. I too was soaked in uncontrollable heat, and I put an innocent pillow between my legs... ahem.
But that hot enthusiasm was short-lived.
When he didn't show his face again even after two or three weeks, the members one by one realized the cold reality.
'Ah, as expected, he's not coming again...'
Thanks to that, the gym has returned to its former quiet state.
'What does it matter... Everyone knows it's hard to see men...'
Im Chae-yang finished her stretching with a bitter smile.
'Did I ask too recklessly... Is he really only coming once a year...'
Registering him for free was my greed. It's ugly to hold onto the hope that he'll come someday. I'll stop now...
Ding—!
Breaking the silence, a cheerful notification sound rang from her phone. It's a reservation notification.
'Oh! Is one more person coming today?'
Who else could be coming at this hour? She wiped her sweat and casually checked her phone screen.
And.
'......Huh?'
She doubted her own eyes.
[ Attendance Reservation: 'Seol Jin-hyuk' nim ]
"......?!"
What...?
Is he coming today?
For a moment, her brain stopped.
Could he have pressed it by mistake? Or is he going to reserve and then immediately cancel?
All sorts of thoughts ran through her mind, but she quickly shook her head.
'Let's calm down first... Whether he comes or not... I should act normal...'
Let's not get excited prematurely. I must maintain the dignity of the director.
She hurriedly looked in the mirror, fixed her messy hair, and controlled her expression with a deep breath.
Ding-dong-
The gym door opened with a cheerful bell sound. Im Chae-yang flinched and reflexively looked toward the entrance.
"Hello!"
Bounding in energetically was Im Ye-na, carrying a sports bag.
"Ah... Ye-na, you're here?"
"Yes! But am I the only person today?"
Ye-na asked, looking around the empty gym. Should I tell her or not? Im Chae-yang hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Uh... no... one more person will come. Probably."
"Aww... I thought since there's no one today, I could get one-on-one coaching from the director-nim..."
Ye-na clicked her tongue as if genuinely disappointed. Huh, really. Is she trying to make my business fail?
'Well... at least it means she has a strong desire to improve.'
It's not a bad thing. As her skills improve, I'll get a good sparring partner.
Then Ye-na asked casually.
"Who's coming? Yuri eonni?"
"Ah... well..."
If I say it's 'that man,' would she faint? No, before that, I don't even know if he'll really come, so I shouldn't count my chickens before they hatch.
"I'm not sure if he'll actually come... You'll know when he gets here."
"What? Who is it?"
"There are things like that. Go change into your clothes quickly."
"Tsk, being all secretive. Fine."
Ye-na hummed a tune and slipped into the changing room. As the door closed, Im Chae-yang checked her phone again.
[ Reservation Confirmed ]
There was still no cancellation notification. She swallowed dryly and stared intently at the gym entrance.
The moment the clock hand exactly pointed to 9:50.
Ding-dong-
A small, timid bell rang.
"Hello..."
The door opened, and a familiar yet unfamiliar man entered hesitantly.
Seol Jin-hyuk.
It's Jin-hyuk-ssi. He really came.
"Oh, welcome... It's been a long time."
After saying it, she realized her mistake. In her excitement, her voice unconsciously became sharp.
'Ah... Does this sound like I'm making a snide remark...'
Im Chae-yang was flustered inside, but outwardly she maintained a calm smile.
"Ahaha..."
Jin-hyuk scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"I'm sorry... I had school stuff and was a bit busy..."
"It's fine. College students get busy, it happens. I understand."
Let's act casually. Like usual, coolly.
Then Jin-hyuk looked around and asked carefully.
"Um, Director-nim, do you happen to have a spare jiu-jitsu gi I could borrow? I don't have one..."
"Ah, a gi?"
Come to think of it, that was true. He had only registered and never returned, so he never had a chance to receive a gi.
"Just a moment."
Im Chae-yang headed to the storage room.
Among the dusty boxes, she pulled out a brand-new white gi box that she had carefully kept at the innermost spot.
'I really went to get this one...'
It was the day after he registered.
Worried there might be no right size, she drove all the way to a distant offline store and bought it at a fairly expensive price.
Would the size fit, would he like the design. She waited with a fluttering heart, thinking he would come someday and she'd give it to him right away...
But he never came after that, so how many tears of blood did she shed every time she saw this box.
'It's finally found its owner.'
She dusted off the box and handed it to Jin-hyuk.
"Here. It's a gift. Just wear it."
"Uh... Isn't this new? Can I just take it?"
Jin-hyuk asked back with surprised eyes.
"Yes. Think of it as a registration gift, as promised before."
Im Chae-yang added, pretending to be nonchalant.
"In return, come to practice more often. So the gi isn't wasted."
"Ah..."
"......"
This was sincere. It was a desperate plea from the director for him to please come.
"I've been busy lately... But from now on, I'll definitely come when I have time."
"I'd appreciate that... Don't feel too pressured, just come comfortably."
She said that, but inside she was praying, 'Come three times a week, please.'
Just then.
Bang!
The changing room door burst open, and Ye-na, fully dressed in her gi, jumped out. It seemed she had heard the conversation from inside.
"Oh, hello!!"
Ye-na's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
She greeted Jin-hyuk happily, then turned her head and stared intently at the director, herself.
'Wow... Director-nim, is this a surprise?!'
It was a sparkling, meaningful look as if asking that...
'I didn't know either...'
She could only respond with a bewildered look.