No Warm-Up Spar
Should we skip the warm-up and go straight at it?
I woke up sharp at 6:50 a.m., before my alarm even blared. I got right up, did about ten minutes of full-body stretching, splashed some water on my face, tugged on a cap, and headed out.
"Ssssh."
The dawn air tickled my nose, and the dew-kissed leaves whispered of yesterday's weather.
"Hoo, let's go."
Beep! Right on cue with the alarm, my interval running kicked off. This had been my routine ever since deciding to prep for the boxing tournament.
Even with all this talent I've got, I need the mindset to match it every damn day.
[Sims - The Real Life] was a cheat code, sure. But I couldn't just lie under a persimmon tree waiting for fruit to drop forever. I had to keep grinding out that rotten mentality with steady effort.
Huff huff. Step by step. Every ragged breath brought back memories of my past life as I ran.
I pushed this hard back then too.
Back when staying cooped up at home felt unbearable. When being alone was too much to handle. Even bumping into people creeped me out. I remembered hiding my whole body and running every single day.
Maybe that's why I could run this well now.
Glamorizing the past a bit, I finished my run, showered, scarfed down breakfast, lounged at home, then started my post-meal stroll.
"...When did they even hang this up?"
Sinbit Middle's Pride! 10-Million Actor Kim Donghu!
The new banner caught my eye the moment I headed toward school. Winter break wasn't even over yet.
They're straight-up using me as the school's poster boy, huh.
It didn't piss me off. If anything, it felt weirdly good—something I'd never experienced before.
Ahem.
After taking in the fresh "social murder" scene at the school gate, I resumed my chill routine.
Golden Bell's in March, boxing tourney in May.
Late January now, so about a month of wiggle room.
And Ilsik is blowing up, so they've got a fan meet planned too.
MNC had dangled all sorts of promises if it topped 40%. They really wanted to smash that barrier.
We got this.
The script had pegged Ilsik at A-grade. From what I'd seen, B was 30%, A was 40% for dramas.
Movies? A is ten million, B... dunno yet.
Never seen a commercial flick at B, so hard to gauge. But Hero, a short at B, swept four awards for mise-en-scène. An A short could go global.
Might blow up on OTT later.
Lost in thought, my phone buzzed.
Why did our gym owner turn into a totally different person over KakaoTalk? Looked like a shark in real life—no one dared approach.
"..."
I was still weirded out by the online-offline gap when—
My manager? What the hell?
Time flew, and the day before the scheduled spar arrived. Kim Donghu's sparring partner, Kim Sansu, lightly warmed up at the gym.
Thwack, thwack, thwack-thwack, thud!
Lightning reactions—fists hitting mitts the instant they appeared. Proving why he was called a prospect.
Kim Sansu threw punches with a relaxed grin.
Ding!
Round end bell. He caught his breath easily and finally spoke.
"That Kim Donghu punk—how should I wreck him tomorrow?"
"Sparring ain't about wrecking. You ain't thinking weird shit, are ya?"
"C'mon, what weird thoughts in sparring?"
His personality was the exact inverse of his skills.
"Just wanna scratch up that pretty face he thinks lets him strut."
"Give it a rest. Don't you know his fandom? Pull that, you're dead."
"Dead? Pfft, those fans can't even talk to me IRL."
"Kid's got no fear. You know Ilsik's ratings?"
"Don't watch, so nah."
"36%. Everyone's tuned in. Watch yourself."
"But they hooked up the spar nice."
Only 'cause you'd cause a scene otherwise.
The coach frowned, regretting the whole thing suddenly.
Shouldn't have suggested it.
Sparring was good steady, not too frequent. Real fight sense only came from experience.
Objectively, Kim Sansu and Kim Donghu were ideal matchup.
Similar skill, size matches.
That's why he'd asked Coach Baek Sangha to set it up.
But hiding this thug vibe? He'd shown punk tendencies, but not this bad.
Wanna cancel, but last minute's lame.
If shit hit the fan mid-spar, he'd step in. No biggie.
But while the coach thought pure, Kim Sansu's head swam with jealousy.
A guy he'd have bullied silent and shaken down in school, now strutting on luck.
And.
Daring to touch my junior? Time to show how small the world is.
Not just rage—personal grudge.
Park Seokgu, Sinbit Middle's top dog who'd puked after Kim Donghu's punch. Forgotten by most.
Payback for hitting his obedient junior.
See you tomorrow.
Smashing Kim Donghu tomorrow? He couldn't wait.
"Ya-hoo, Donghu!"
Whoa!
Sudden voice, scorching back hug. I knew who it was, but still froze.
"...You actually came?"
"Duh, why wouldn't I? Fake me show up? I'm your manager now!"
"Didn't think you'd really... never crossed my mind."
"You gave location and everything?"
"No reason to say no..."
But sorry, can we loosen the back hug?
I couldn't say it. Something soft and squishy pressed clear against me. Pubescent boy heart vetoed hard.
"I'm joining your agency anyway. This much is fine, right? We'll see each other tons."
Even school together!
"Oh, school too."
Right, Yerim was coming to Daejong High.
So next year, Yerim, Sujin... Jaerin all at same school?
Why did that feel doomed? Like disaster if they all met.
Worries paused.
"Oh, everyone's here. Ready to roll?"
Coach Baek Sangha pulled up.
Our gym lacked cage or ring, so off to theirs.
We hopped in quick, zipped to the spar spot.
"Quick intros, then Donghu warm up. Gotta chat."
"Got it."
The gym felt alien—first time. Early morning spar left it empty, pure sparring vibe.
"Whoa, TV star in the flesh. Welcome. Coach Geum Jin."
"Hi, Kim Donghu."
"Kim Donghu's manager, Shin Yerim. Nice to meet you!"
"Manager already? Actors got it made."
Haha.
Playful banter done, intros over. I headed to the heavy bag.
Then, like he'd waited—
"You Kim Donghu?"
"Yes?"
"I'm your spar today, Kim Sansu."
"Ah... nice to meet you."
Cocky tone, splayed legs, looking down despite height letting him. Obvious provocation.
But weirdly familiar.
When'd I deal with this?
Why did Kim Sansu feel known?
"Sparring and you bring a chick? Embarrassed when you lose?"
"Hey, rude for first meet, no?"
"Shut it, bitch. Wanna die?"
Tossing my people like trash.
"Manager, right? Nah, this?"
Kim Sansu gestured crude: fist with thumb between index/middle, wiggling.
Blatant. Yerim froze.
Bullying weaklings 'cause he's strong.
Oh, got it.
Park whatever. Same type.
Memory cleared my head. Normally, trash talk bugs me.
But seeing Park clone? Solution hit instant.
"Should we skip warm-up and go right now?"
Planned light. Spar or not, knew my talent—respect opponent, go easy.
But Park type? No mercy needed.
Body itching lately anyway.
Perfect.
Nice outlet. [Sims - The Real Life]'s will?
"Now? No warm-up?"
Kim Sansu faltered.
Magic words time.
"Yeah, or scared? Take more time."
"Do it now, asshole."
Works every time.