Chapter 13
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: A Day When Nothing Happened
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Early morning.
After finishing a quick stretch in my room, I changed into my training clothes.
I passed through the dim living room and stepped out the front door.
The first thing I do every morning after waking up.
Jogging.
I ran through Han River Park before the sun had risen.
The morning dew felt cool.
The course was about 7 km.
It took roughly 40 to 50 minutes.
Just the right distance to loosen up my body in the morning.
"Hey! Over there!"
While running into the river breeze, I heard someone calling out.
I figured it had nothing to do with me and kept going.
"Hello!"
But the person came right up beside me and greeted me.
A young woman in workout clothes.
A stranger.
"Me?"
I replied without breaking stride.
"Yes. You always work out at this time, right? I saw you last time too."
"Oh, yeah."
Last time?
I didn't remember.
But she matched my pace and kept the conversation going.
"Don't you remember me? Last time, our dog came running at you from over there."
"Oh. The dog. Yeah, I remember."
The dog I remembered, but not the owner.
It was a little Maltese.
"Sorry about that. Our Shumi just bolted over out of nowhere."
Her breathing grew heavier as we talked while running.
"No, it was fine."
She'd had a leash on it.
But she must have lost her grip, because the dog came charging my way.
It would've been trouble if it was a big dog, but it was small and just playful when it reached me.
She'd already apologized back then, so no need to track me down again.
"You start your workouts so early. Do you live nearby? I live in the Sinnam Apartments just up ahead."
"Sorry, I have to hurry."
Honestly, it made me uncomfortable.
Social anxiety had improved a lot, but it hadn't vanished completely.
I could only handle face-to-face chats with family or close acquaintances.
Even kind strangers stressed me out.
"Oh, sorry for holding you up. Keep it up."
She slowed down, looking disappointed, and fell behind.
I nodded and mouthed another sorry.
"Wow! Young man. You're at it bright and early."
Another runner ahead called out to me.
Another stranger.
An older lady this time.
"Hello."
I greeted her, and she beamed.
"Here, have one of these. Keep going! Fighting!"
"Oh, thanks."
I caught the yogurt she tossed my way mid-stride.
Maybe she thought I was some kind of athlete.
With that odd encouragement, I kept running.
She looked like she had more to say, but I hurried past.
Once you start chatting like that, there's no end to it.
"Haa, haa."
I picked up the pace a bit, wary of anyone else stopping me.
Lately, strangers had been approaching me more often.
Maybe I needed to wake up even earlier...
I was tired enough as it was.
"Phew..."
I finally made it home after my jog.
I peeled off my sweat-soaked training shirt and tossed it in the laundry basket.
Shirtless, I headed to the fitness room.
My go-to equipment in there was the pull-up bar.
I slipped on the prepared gloves and hung from it.
"Hup...!"
I pulled myself up, engaging my back muscles.
One—
Two—
Three—...
Pull-ups.
They look easy at a glance, but doing them right is surprisingly tough.
I couldn't do a single one back in middle school.
But with hard work, I hit 10 by high school.
And now I could do 20.
...Eighteen—
Nineteen—
Twenty!
I barely hit 20 and collapsed to the floor.
"Huff, huff, huff..."
My arms and back trembled.
Sweat poured down like rain.
Maybe because I'd pushed the jog hard?
It felt tougher than usual.
Just skip squats today...?
"...Just 30."
I did squats: 30 reps, three sets.
After showering, I sat down for breakfast.
Mom cooked if she was home; otherwise, the housekeeper auntie came by.
"I'll eat well."
Today's menu was standard Korean fare: miso soup, fried egg, kimchi, seaweed, and sausage.
When I was little, Mom asked what my favorite food was.
I said "sausage," and ever since, our fridge never ran out.
Should've picked something pricier.
Innocent kid me thought sausage was the best thing ever.
Mom's meal was simple oatmeal.
But she just sat there with her spoon, staring at me eat.
"? Mom, what?"
"Nothing."
She just smiled.
Mom seemed happy just watching me eat.
As I finished and stood up, Mom spoke.
"Sun-hu, I'll handle the dishes. Before you go, could you wake Mi-so? She won't get up."
"Sure. Thanks for the meal."
I set my bowl in the sink and headed to Mi-so's room.
"Mi-so. Coming in."
No answer to my knock, so I opened the door.
Mi-so was wrapped up in her blanket like a caterpillar.
"Jin Mi-so. The sun's high. Get up."
"Ugh~. Carry me~."
I patted the blanket, and she stuck out a hand.
I pulled her up by it.
The blanket fell away, revealing her in just white underwear.
And then she threw herself into my arms.
"Morning hug."
"...Okay. But then get up."
"Hehe. Deal. I'll get up."
Mi-so wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged tight.
I hugged her back just as firmly.
Her body was so warm, it lifted my mood.
But no time to linger today.
"...Good? One minute."
"One more minute~♡"
"No. Brush your teeth and go. I'll do it after school."
"Aang~♡"
I pried off the clinging Mi-so and left the room.
She acted spoiled with me, but she was responsible.
I'd woken her; she'd get up when it was time.
"I'm off."
"Take care."
I kissed Mom's cheek at the door and headed out.
University day today.
I headed for the elevator, but when the doors opened, it was occupied.
A girl about four and her mom.
Elevators were risky for me.
Tight spaces made me anxious, worse with others aboard.
And if they talked to me? Disaster.
"Student. Hop in."
"Oh, yes."
Thought about waiting for the next one, but her urging made my body move on autopilot.
Doors closed, and we descended.
The girl, holding her mom's hand, stared up at my face.
"Seo-young. Say 'Oppa, hello.'"
"Oppa. Hewwo."
"Hi. Hello."
I hid my anxiety and smiled back at the kid.
My heart was starting to squeeze.
"College student, huh? Our Seo-young's off to daycare."
"Oh, yeah."
"What's your daycare called, Seo-young?"
"Hanbit Daycare!"
"That's right~ Our Seo-young's so smart~."
The kid wouldn't hurt me.
Neither would the mom.
She was just teaching her to socialize.
Logically, sure—but the anxiety wouldn't quit.
The pair kept up their pointless chatter.
None of it stuck in my head.
I nodded along vaguely, waiting for it to stop.
Finally, basement parking.
"Seo-young. Say bye to oppa."
"Oppa bye-bye."
"Good girl~."
I returned the greeting to the smiling mother and daughter.
Was my smile even right?
Only once I was out did I breathe properly.
School was actually easier.
No cramped spaces, hardly anyone talked to me.
Lectures kept my mind too busy for anything else.
I'm not the sharpest; I had to work twice as hard to keep up.
Morning classes ended; lunch time.
Breakfast was Korean, so Western for lunch.
I ordered cream spaghetti at the student cafeteria.
Food came quick; I found an empty table.
Right as I went for a bite, a girl with a tray approached.
"Sorry, mind if I sit here?"
"No, go ahead."
Four-seater table; sharing was normal.
I scooted my chair over to make space.
Then three more girls piled into the remaining seats.
"Thanks."
The one next to me smiled and greeted.
I nodded back and resumed eating.
Just having strangers nearby piled on the stress.
Paranoia crept in—they were staring at me.
I swallowed the uneasy pounding and focused on my food.
Had to adapt for real social life.
After eating, I grabbed water from the vending machine.
Twisted the cap, about to sip—another voice from the side.
"Um, excuse me."
"...Yes."
Almost choked, but swallowed and answered.
School wasn't usually this chatty; weird day.
Not like they were helping me adjust to society.
The girl in front of me hesitated, then spoke haltingly.
"Um, if it's okay, could you... ?!"
She'd barely opened her mouth when a group of other girls appeared out of nowhere and physically silenced her.
"Ah~ Sorry. She's still a freshman, doesn't know better."
"Sorry, sorry. Sorry, seniors."
"We'll handle it. Sorry, sorry."
The sudden arrivals bowed repeatedly to me, then apologized to everyone around.
The silenced girl went wide-eyed as they dragged her off.
I was just as baffled by the bizarre scene.
...Was that okay?
Girls among themselves, probably friends.
Too busy surviving myself to care.
No one else approached after that.
I made it through afternoon classes unscathed.
"I'm home."
"Welcome back, Sun-hu."
Mom came to greet me at the door.
The only place I could fully relax.
The only person.
Having a home to return to and someone to welcome me—didn't that make me happy?
"Nothing happen at school?"
"Nope."
Stuff did, but the minutiae would never end if I started.
I hugged Mom as I answered.
"Oh."
She startled at my sudden move but happily stroked my head.
The day's stress melted away.
"Nothing happened."