Gym (1)
A week or so later, I finally made it to the gym that Seo-ah had told me about.
Honestly, I could've come sooner, but... having a place that blocked the cold wind and free internet made it way too easy to stay cooped up inside. I'd always sworn I'd hit the gym someday, but I'd just end up procrastinating. In the end, after all that empty resolve, I dragged myself out of my seat and got here.
Seo-ah said she'd talked to a trainer she knew, so I headed straight inside and slowly looked around.
"Welcome... you're a guy, right?"
"Huh? Yeah."
As I stepped in, another woman asked if I was a man, and I nodded with a short reply.
"What brings a guy here?"
"I'm here to sign up."
"For real?!"
She grinned at my answer and led me to a seat. Since it was my first time at a gym ever, I had no clue what to do.
Sitting there, the woman in front of me—who looked like a trainer—stared right at me. Was I just supposed to sit still like this? I waited, but even after three minutes, she kept eye contact. It was fucking intense. Not just staring—her eyes were sparkling like a kid spotting a beggar and thinking, What's that guy's deal? That made it even more awkward...
Did she have nothing else to say? I wondered.
"Um... are we done?"
"Huh? Oh... oh, sorry!"
I asked just in case, and she snapped out of it, startled, and apologized. I figured she must've just found my face hilarious or something. Fair enough—sometimes I look in the mirror and instantly get why that comedy show flopped.
She regrouped and asked, "So... what's your name?"
"Oh Seonghun. Han Seo-ah told me to come see you."
"Ah... you're the guy Seo-ah mentioned? You actually came."
"Pardon?"
You actually came? What was I supposed to say to that? I'd said I'd come and then delayed a week, but did she think I was gonna ghost? That'd make me feel like shit. Telling her I was just lazy wouldn't fly either—she'd been waiting on Seo-ah's word. I stared at her, wondering if I should apologize, when...
"Guys usually never come to places like the gym—they say it smells like sweat and all. So when Seo-ah said a guy was coming, I thought it was half bullshit."
"Ah... I see."
I nodded with a short sigh of relief. At least it wasn't my fault.
After that, we chatted briefly, and I signed up for six months. Was every perk in this world just handed to men on a platter? The men's rate slashed the 200,000 won fee in half. They offered free PT sessions, but I'm not the type to follow instructions for workouts anyway. I figured I'd take it easy and headed into the gym.
Now that I was in... what the hell was I supposed to do first? I wasn't a regular, and I had no idea, so maybe I'd bail today and come back tomorrow? But I'd come here resolved to work out, so I headed for an empty treadmill. Cardio first, right?
"Whoa... this is fucking wild."
The only treadmill I knew was that basic running machine in the park. This one had a goddamn TV on it—high-tech as hell. First, I needed to figure out how to turn it on...
"Shit, what do I press?"
I fumbled for the start button, trying random shit.
"Need a hand?"
"Yeah, please."
A woman nearby must've pitied my fumbling and offered to help. Yeah, I looked pretty pathetic. With her guidance, I learned the controls. I started walking, gradually picking up speed to a jog, repeating until I started sweating.
"Oh. Hey, since we met like this, what's your name?"
"Me? Oh Seonghun."
The woman who'd helped me out greeted me. She'd taught me the machine, and going solo at a gym sucked anyway—might as well make a workout buddy. I returned the greeting.
"Here by yourself?"
"Huh? Yeah, first time working out today."
"Ah... that explains why you were..."
"Pardon?"
We chatted a bit. Seemed like I'd made a gym friend—working out might not suck after all.
"Ah... nope, can't do this."
"Huh?"
She stopped dead and bolted. Had I said something wrong? It was just normal chit-chat...
A bit uneasy, I wondered if I should leave too, but I'd paid good money—might as well do more. I headed to the dumbbells and grabbed two 3kg ones, lifting slowly.
Hmm... this really showed how much of a weak-ass I'd been. Struggling with 6kg total? Signing up was the right call.
"What the fuck?"
Was I imagining it? Focused on the dumbbells, maybe, but the gym chatter that was there before had gone dead silent. I glanced around cautiously.
"Ah... nah."
Just my imagination? Everyone was working out fine. I chalked it up to getting too immersed and dove back in.
"Hey there."
"Oh... hi, hi."
Another woman approached and greeted me. Just a hello? Or was she gonna ask for my number too? I braced.
"Total newbie to working out?"
"Huh?"
"Your form doesn't look like you've trained before."
"Ah... yeah, first proper workout."
"I see... this is driving me insane."
"Pardon?"
"No, nothing."
Fuck? Nothing my ass—I heard that clear as day. 'Driving me insane'? What'd I do wrong?
"Ah... your form's off a bit. Mind if I help?"
"Oh, sure, if you're offering..."
She grabbed my hands gently, adjusting my posture. Was that why it was so hard? Felt way easier now.
"Better?"
"Yeah, tons—thanks a lot."
"Ugh... why are you doing this to me? I'm losing it."
"Doing what?"
Good vibes, then suddenly this shit? She'd just asked if it was better, I answered—how was that insane?
"Ah... yeah, I can't. Pass."
"Huh?"
She bailed too. What the hell? Pass on what? Was this some new bullying I didn't know about? Gym tradition? Doubt and fear crept in—maybe I should just go.
"Um... want some help?"
"...Nah, I'll manage."
Another woman offered, but I declined. No clue what was happening—I just wanted to finish and GTFO.
"No, I'll help."
"Huh?"
Ignoring me, she dragged me to another machine. Screw working out—I just wanted home. Why were they all swarming me like this?
She upped the dumbbell weight a bit and helped me lift. Now I've gone and let her help—fuck.
Workout over, drenched in sweat... time to shower and head home. Then...
"...Hey."
"Yeah?"
The last helper approached cautiously, whispering in my ear.
"Be careful out there."
"Huh? Careful?"
Her words clicked the puzzle pieces together. No way... all these women helped because they worried I'd hurt myself alone? And stuck around to guard against dangerous ones? If so, I'd misjudged them—they were just genuinely helping, and I'd thought they were weirdos. I owed them an apology.
"Um... you right now."
"Yeah."
"You smell super horny."
"What?"
Fuck? What'd she say? Horny smell? From me? Every puzzle shattered. Wrong pieces from the start.
Her words hit: Run. This place was dangerous.