Chapter 83
Chapter 83
Ch. 83 .｡.:✧ You Look Like a Man to Me - 1 ✧:.｡.
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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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– Hana: Oppa, are you free?
– Me: No. What do you want?
– Hana: …Are you still mad?
‘Cut the innocent act.’
– Hana: It’s been a while since we last talked, hasn’t it?
– Hana: I think there’s been a misunderstanding. How about we talk it over dinner at that restaurant we went to before?
– Hana: My treat this time.
‘Seriously?’
I was trying to figure out how to respond to this ridiculous message when she called.
Should I answer? Or not?
She clearly wanted something.
If I ignored her, she would probably keep pestering me.
I swiped to answer.
I put the phone to my ear and waited.
[Hello?]
It was the first time I had heard Hana’s voice.
Objectively, it was a pleasant voice.
Though, it was probably fake.
“…Why did you call?”
[Oppa, are you still mad?]
“I asked why you called. I’m not interested in having dinner with you.”
[We’re not going to end things like this, are we? I think we should meet and clear up this misunderstanding.]
I had been looking forward to a relaxing evening after a good workout, but this woman was really pushing my buttons.
“Misunderstanding? What misunderstanding?”
[Well…]
“I’m not going to marry you. I won’t bother you anymore. Let’s just end it here.”
[Oppa, just listen.]
“Listen to what? I just lifted weights over fifty times today. I’m not listening to anything else.”
[What are you talking about?]
“Look, I know you’re not interested in an old guy like me. I won’t pester you anymore, so let’s just move on.”
[Oppa! Is this all we are?]
“Of course, this is all we are. You were just being nice to me for the coins and sponsorship. Let’s not kid ourselves.”
[Did you find another woman?]
“Another woman? No. I’m just done with this whole charade. I’m hanging up now. Don’t contact me again.”
[Oppa? Oppa!]
I pulled the phone away from my ear and was about to press the “end call” button when I heard her desperate plea.
I ignored her and ended the call.
Ping-!
“Ugh…”
My head throbbed, and my vision went dark.
Dizzy.
I felt a wave of vertigo and bent over.
This wasn’t unusual.
It had been happening every few days since I possessed this body.
If I hadn’t started working out, I probably would have died by now.
Well, that was probably why I ended up here in the first place.
The exercise had been helping, but this sudden relapse was a warning sign.
“I need to avoid Hana.”
Just thinking about what she had done to the previous owner made my blood boil.
“Damn it, she ruined my mood.”
I arrived home, feeling frustrated.
The apartment felt even larger and emptier than usual.
Some people might appreciate the spaciousness, but the vast, empty living room filled me with a sense of unease.
Little things that I normally ignored suddenly bothered me.
It was all Hana’s fault.
“I can’t let her get to me like this.”
I knew myself.
When I was in a bad mood, I craved comfort food.
More specifically, delicious comfort food.
Which usually meant opening a food delivery app.
Ordering takeout would temporarily lift my spirits, but I knew I would regret it the next day.
Ga-ram would somehow know what I had eaten and make me pay for it.
‘Ga-ram, what should I do when I get home and crave something unhealthy?’
‘Eat it and then work out extra hard?’
‘ …That doesn’t seem like a good solution.’
‘Then try going for a walk. You’re probably not physically hungry, but emotionally hungry. A calming walk can help you manage those cravings.’
“Right, a walk. I’ve been cooped up in the apartment and the gym. I need some fresh air.”
They said it might rain, so let’s grab an umbrella.
Today, let’s go a bit farther.
A walk along the Han River sounds nice.
Perfect.
Let’s take the car and head to the Han River.
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The sky was overcast.
Yesterday had felt like the best day ever.
Today was shaping up to be the worst.
The past two weeks had been blissful.
In-ho was much kinder than I had anticipated, and he was a dedicated gym member.
Unlike the others who would show up for a few days and then disappear.
I had pushed him a bit harder because of that.
It must have been difficult for a man his age, but he had kept up.
The gym was usually empty.
Just me, cleaning and maintaining the equipment, alone with my thoughts.
The loneliness that comes with it.
The constant worry over the dwindling members.
The anxieties that constantly plagued me seemed to disappear whenever In-ho was around.
I had forgotten, for a while, how miserable my life actually was.
When I returned to the gym, In-ho was gone.
I worked out alone in the empty space.
The heavier the weights, the clearer my mind became.
I started with 40kg and gradually worked my way up to 200kg.
“Haah…”
I positioned the barbell on my shoulders, bracing my core.
I slowly lowered myself, the weight surprisingly manageable.
Lighter than my worries.
A pleasant tension filled my muscles.
I pushed back up, using my legs and glutes, avoiding any momentum.
Ten reps.
Clang!
“…I think that’s enough for today.”
No one else was coming.
I might as well close up shop.
But I didn’t want to go home yet.
The thought of returning to my tiny apartment felt suffocating.
I had finished early, so I decided to go for a long walk.
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[Loan Due Date Reminder]
A single text message had plunged me into the depths of despair.
I walked along the Han River, with my eyes glued to my phone.
Staring at it wouldn’t change anything, but I couldn’t help myself.
Money.
It was always about money.
It had been a constant source of stress throughout my life.
My mother’s gambling debts.
My father working himself to the bone to pay them off.
He had owned a small gym, but the mounting interest had forced him to take on other jobs.
My foolish, hardworking father.
He had worn himself out trying to keep us afloat, leaving me too soon.
All that was left was the gym and the debt.
What if I had refused the inheritance?
Had I made the right decision, taking on my father’s legacy and his burden?
I have been asking myself that question a lot lately.
Pitter-patter~
Raindrops began to fall.
Had the forecast mentioned rain?
I hadn’t brought an umbrella.
Haha.
This day just kept getting worse.
The early autumn rain was cold.
The gentle drizzle quickly turned into a downpour.
I kept walking, the rain pelting my skin.
I had nowhere else to go.
Everyone else must have seen the forecast.
The park was deserted.
Sigh!
I was always the last to know.
I wished I could just dissolve into the rain and disappear.
I trudged on, my hair soaked, the rain blurring my vision.
How was I going to get home like this?
Could I even get on a bus in this state?
Thump, thump!
The drumming of the rain against the pavement was replaced by a dull thud.
The rain stopped hitting me.
“Huh?”
A shadow fell over me.
Was that… an umbrella?
“Huh?”
A large figure stood before me, blocking my path.
He looked down at me and said,
“Ga-ram, what are you doing here?”
It was In-ho.
“I, uh…”
He stepped closer.
I turned away, not wanting him to see me crying.
I didn’t want him to see how pathetic I was.
But he just stood there, watching me.
The silence was unbearable.
“I… I should go…”
“It’s okay to cry. Cry under the umbrella. The rain won’t wash away your tears.”
He gently patted my shoulder.
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