Stamina Matters for Studying Too
April arrived, and the winter chill that had lingered through March finally vanished.
Temperatures in the high teens to low twenties, occasionally mid-twenties. This warm yet refreshing weather was exactly what spring should feel like.
With that thought, I glanced at the mirror.
The reflection staring back looked no different from before. But I could feel it. I could definitely feel it.
"…I've put on some weight."
I had gained weight.
It was unavoidable, really. The military was a strange place—miserable in many ways—but it was also incredibly good at keeping you healthy.
Three square meals a day, practically force-fed; strictly regulated sleep with guaranteed hours; daily workouts and grueling manual labor on top of it all.
It was a structure that made it impossible not to get healthy.
I'd never been one to pack on fat easily, and during my service, I'd even built up solid muscle.
But now? The muscle was barely visible, replaced by a softer, plumper feel.
Wondering if it was just my imagination, I headed to my sister's room and knocked.
Knock knock knock
Whoosh
"Pardon the intrusion~"
I said it out of habit, but my sister was already gone. Our freelance designer Seong Lee had an important meeting today, after all.
The reason I'd come to her room was simple. Not to clean up after this pigsty we called home, but...
"There it is."
I was certain the digital scale she'd bought for her diets would be here.
Our old analog bathroom scale at home wasn't precise enough, so I'd use this one.
I'd definitely been 81kg when I was in the army...
...but now it read 86kg.
This wouldn't do. Absolutely not. How had I packed on 5kg right after discharge?
Thinking back, all I'd done was lounge around and eat. At best, I'd gone to Na-eun's house to tutor her. No other real activity.
"No wonder I gained weight."
Honestly, it wasn't that bad yet. Overweight, sure, but with some muscle still hanging on, it didn't feel like a huge gain.
Still, I could already see some flab, and if I kept rolling around the house, I'd turn into a full-on porker. Exercise was non-negotiable.
If I became a pig too? Mom would be stuck raising two: one Seong Lee pig and one Seonwoo Lee pig.
I couldn't be that unfilial. So I returned the scale to Seong's room, dug out my workout clothes from some corner of mine, and tried them on.
They fit okay. Still wearable, at least.
But they felt tighter than before. Definitely fatter.
I've gotta lose it fast, I thought. Starting that day, I began jogging every morning.
Just like in the army—no more, no less—exactly 3km. Precisely 3km.
It took less than 15 minutes, but that was plenty. Anything more? No thanks. And this would be enough to shed the pounds.
About three days of that, and the weekend rolled around.
My jogging routine held steady even on weekends. I had to be at Na-eun's by 9 a.m., so I'd wake at 7, knock out a quick jog, shower, and head over.
But I overslept a bit... so after jogging, I only rinsed off hastily and rushed to Na-eun's.
"Na-eun-ah... hi..."
"Ah, h-hello..."
I stumbled in, panting a little, and Na-eun stared at me, looking flustered.
Then she asked cautiously,
"Um... oppa, is something wrong?"
"Wrong? What do you mean...?"
"You look exhausted..."
"Oh... yeah, I did some... exercise... on the way... huff..."
"Exercise...? At this hour...?"
This hour being 9 a.m.—plenty of time for a jog.
"I've started morning jogs lately... Ah, do I smell sweaty?"
"......No, not really."
Na-eun shook her head vigorously, insisting there was no sweat smell.
What a relief. If she had, I'd have asked for an hour, dashed home for a proper shower, and come back.
Since it was fine, no need.
I slipped on my usual house slippers and entered Na-eun's room.
She'd apparently been studying hard since morning—her desk had an open textbook. One I didn't tutor her in.
I only covered Korean, math, and English. She'd need to study the rest on her own.
Such a diligent student. My Na-eun.
Though she loved playing just as much.
"Oppa, why the sudden exercise?"
She slipped right into chit-chat mode, just like that.
I set down my bag and gave her the casual rundown.
"Put on a little weight."
"Weight? You?"
"Yeah, more than when I was in the army."
"Doesn't look like it..."
"Nah, I have."
Na-eun poked my arm as if to check, like she was arguing back.
Poke poke
"This isn't fat—it's muscle."
"True, but I've got some fat too. Like marbling in meat—fat and muscle mixed."
"Pfft... What even is that? You're such an idiot."
The word "marbling" must've hit funny; she burst out laughing.
"...Is the workout okay?"
"Totally. Just 15 minutes of running."
"Fifteen minutes?"
"Yeah, about 3km. Light stuff."
"...Does not sound light."
"Eh? Feels light to me."
3km is light if you're used to it, tough if not.
But for me, who'd run it daily just months ago? Light as a feather.
"Exercise... Stamina helps with studying, right?"
"You bet."
Obvious truth.
Studies even suggest one reason top scorers skew male: stamina.
Sitting and studying takes endurance, and guys have the edge there.
I didn't think it was far-fetched. Quite convincing, actually.
I was nodding vigorously when...
"Then... oppa, if it's okay... could I join you for jogs on weekends?"
...Na-eun dropped a curveball.
"You too?"
"Yeah! I need stamina too!"
She flexed her arm proudly, but her slim, soft limb had zero muscle. Just a bit of pudge.
"Na-eun-ah, you good at sports?"
"...No."
"Thought so."
"Yeah..."
"...I do 3km in 15 minutes."
"Fifteen...?"
"Think you can keep up?"
She looked intimidated at first, but shook her head and replied firmly.
"...I can. I will."
I'd tossed it out as a joke, but seeing her so serious—almost desperate—threw me off.
More than that, though, I was grateful.
Nothing kills motivation like exercising alone.
"......Alright, Na-eun-ah. Starting next week, we jog together. Got it?"
"Yes! Awesome!"
She nodded big, grinning ear to ear, like joining me was the highlight of her life.
Not that I'd say this to her face, but...
Truth was, Na-eun didn't need stamina-building exercise.
Why sitting and studying demands stamina? Focus duration varies with endurance. But Na-eun's concentration was insane when she studied.
That was her talent. The gift of focus, maybe?
With that, she had no real need for workouts.
So why'd I okay it? Simple.
I wanted her to.
That said, if it hurt her studies, I'd shut it down immediately.
I was dragging her in to cure my solo boredom, using "stamina" as an excuse. If jogging messed with her academics, stopping her would be the right call.
Truth be told, I don't love exercise. My body's flexible enough, but separate from that, I'm really bad at it.
If I had to pick, I'd say gymnastics is okay—but everything else? Hopeless.
Still, my reason for wanting to jog with Seonwoo oppa is simple.
I want to see him sweaty, face glistening, mid-workout.
That's why... and to get even closer to him... I asked to join.
Studying matters. But Seonwoo oppa matters more.
So yeah, I want to exercise together.
Plus, it'll be the perfect chance to seduce him.
Knowing that, I grabbed my phone to shop for clothes.
Sporty ones that'd naturally tempt Seonwoo oppa during workouts.