Early morning.
After finishing a quick stretch in my room, I changed into my workout clothes.
Passing through the dimly lit living room, I stepped out through the front door.
The first thing I do after waking up in the morning?
Running.
I jog along Han River Park before the sun rises.
The morning dew is cool.
The route is about 7 km.
It takes roughly 40 to 50 minutes.
A perfect distance to loosen up my body in the morning.
"Hey! Hey, you!"
As I ran against the riverside wind, I heard someone calling out.
Assuming it wasn't directed at me, I kept going.
"Hello!"
But the person caught up right beside me and greeted me.
A young woman in athletic wear.
A stranger.
"Huh? Me?"
I kept running as I answered.
"Yeah. You must always work out around this time. I think I saw you before."
"Oh, yeah."
Before?
I didn't remember.
But the woman kept pace with me, continuing the conversation.
"Don't you remember? Last time, my dog ran up to you over there."
"Ah. The dog. I remember now."
Truthfully, I remembered the dog, but not its owner.
The dog was of a small breed.
"I'm sorry about that. My Shumi suddenly ran toward you."
As she spoke while running, her breathing grew heavier.
"No, it's fine."
The dog had been leashed.
But whether the owner lost grip or not, the little thing had bolted toward me.
If it had been a big dog, it might've been a problem, but it was just a small pup, and all it did was act cute.
The owner had already apologized back then, so there was no need to chase me down for another apology.
"You work out really early. Do you live nearby? I'm in the Sinnam Apartments up ahead."
"Uh, sorry. I have to hurry."
Honestly, I was uncomfortable.
Though I'd improved a lot, my social aversion hadn't completely disappeared.
The only people I could comfortably face and talk to were family and close acquaintances.
With strangers, no matter how kind they were, I still felt stressed.
"Ah, okay. Sorry for holding you up. Have a good workout."
She seemed disappointed, slowing down to fall behind.
I nodded slightly and apologized again.
"Oh my! Young man, working hard so early in the morning!"
As I kept running, another person ahead called out to me.
Again, a stranger.
An older woman this time.
"Hello."
When I greeted her, she beamed and said:
"Here, take this and keep going! Stay strong!!"
"Ah, thanks."
Still running, I caught the yogurt she tossed at me.
Did she think I was an athlete?
Baffled by the random encouragement, I kept moving.
The woman looked like she had more to say, but I quickly left her behind.
Once conversations like that started, they never ended.
"Hah… hah…"
Worried someone else might stop me, I picked up the pace.
Lately, strangers had been approaching me more often.
Maybe I should wake up even earlier to run… but I'm already tired.
"Phew…"
Finally back home after my jog.
I peeled off my sweat-soaked workout shirt and tossed it into the laundry basket.
Shirtless, I headed into the fitness room.
My favorite equipment there was the pull-up bar.
I slipped on my gloves and gripped the bar.
"Hup…!"
Engaging my back muscles, I pulled myself up.
One...
Two...
Three...
…Pull-ups.
They might look easy, but doing them properly is surprisingly hard.
Back in middle school, I couldn't do a single one.
But through effort, I managed 10 in high school.
And now? I could do 20.
…Eighteen...
Nineteen...
Twenty...!
Barely hitting the mark, I dropped to the floor.
"Hah… hah… hah…"
My arms and back trembled violently.
Sweat poured down like rain.
Maybe because I pushed myself harder during the morning run?
It felt more exhausting than usual.
Could I just… skip squats today?
"...Just 30. That's it."
***
After showering, I sat down for breakfast.
When Mom was home, she cooked. Otherwise, the housekeeper, Auntie, prepared the meals.
"Thanks for the food."
Today's menu was standard Korean fare...
Doenjang stew, fried eggs, kimchi, seaweed, and sausages.
When I was little, Mom once asked me what my favorite food was.
I answered, "Sausages."
Ever since, our fridge was never without them.
I should've said something more expensive.
Back then, I just thought sausages were the tastiest thing in the world.
Mom's meal, unlike mine, was simple oatmeal.
But she just held her spoon, watching me eat intently.
"? Mom, what?"
"Nothing."
She just smiled.
Mom seemed happy just watching me eat.
As I finished and got up, she spoke.
"Woojin, sweetheart! I'll do the dishes, so before you leave, can you wake Mia up? She doesn't seem like she wants to get up."
"Yeah. Thanks for the meal."
I placed the empty bowl in the sink and headed to Mia's room.
"Mia. I'm coming in."