Sehwa walked forward, ignoring Mina's calls from behind.
There was a faint tremble in the hand that casually brushed back his hair, his eyes gleaming with a strange excitement.
Unaware of the emotions behind that tremble, Mina grabbed Sehwa.
"Where the heck are you going?"
In response to Mina's question, Sehwa glanced at a building sign with a playful look before turning back to her, letting his gaze answer for him.
"That? It's a martial arts gym, isn't it? No way you're planning to go in there… to relieve stress?"
Mina muttered the name of the gym under her breath, her pupils shaking with fear. (No way. That place is home to a monster I don't want to run into.)
(Is it Sia unnie's day off today…? Please, no.)
As Mina trembled, Sehwa strode toward the building entrance with an air of indifference. Mina hurriedly followed, trying to persuade him. She could just leave him and go home, but that felt too cowardly. A woman running away in fear in front of a man? Even if the man didn't realize it.
"Oppa—no, Sehwa, are you super stressed out today? Are you going to hit a sandbag or something? That's not a good idea, you'll get hurt… I'll give you a pillow at my place instead…"
Mina was so flustered that she mixed up her words.
Sehwa, who had been calm moments ago, now looked at the suddenly timid, rabbit-like Mina with annoyance.
"You're half right, half wrong. I said I'm good at fighting earlier…"
"That kind of fighting is different! Oh, right! What if you hurt your hand? Then what?"
Without a word, Sehwa removed his arm sleeve, unwrapped the bandage around his fingers, and held them up for Mina to see.
"It's already hurt, so it's fine, right?"
His fingers, still bearing the messy stitch marks from a recently sutured wound, caught Mina's gaze. She stammered, staring at them.
"How… how did this happen? I thought it was just a small cut or something…"
"Would I wrap it in bandages for a small cut? Follow me if you want, or go home. I'm really fine either way."
With that, Sehwa tossed the bandage aside, put his sleeve back on, and walked straight to the building entrance, standing in front of the elevator. Mina squeezed her eyes shut and hurried to his side.
"Are your fingers okay? That looks like it was stitched up recently…"
"Oh, this? It's mostly healed. I'll know once I try."
Mina, failing her final attempt to dissuade him, pouted. (What kind of guy is like this?) That kind of scar would definitely leave a mark. Honestly, how good could a guy be at fighting? And if he hurt his delicate wrists while hitting a sandbag, that'd be lucky.
(Ugh, whatever. I tried my best. If he gets hurt, it's not my fault… well, that's a bit harsh.)
While Mina agonized, Sehwa stepped into the elevator as soon as it opened, and she followed. The building was large, with many floors.
Sehwa pressed the button for the 7th floor, letting his body sway to the hum of the elevator as he thought, (I wonder what the facilities here are like. I hope they have plenty of sandbags.)
Thinking of that short-tempered teacher made his blood boil. At the same time, he felt a thrill of anticipation for the impact he hadn't felt in a while.
(Ding. 7th floor.)
"Let's go."
"…Okay."
Sehwa extended a hand to Mina as the heavy iron doors opened. Stepping out, he opened the gym's door, greeted by a familiar scene.
The faint smell of sweat hit him first.
*Thwack! Thwack!*
The sound of sandbags being struck stirred something in a man's chest.
The black-painted ceiling, dotted with small lights, gave the gym a serious atmosphere.
And there, dozens of men and women were working out in shorts and sports bras, sweating hard. It was a nice sight… or was it?
(Men and women?l
(What the hell… a guy wearing a sports bra?)
(Oh God, this is so gross I could die.)
(Even in a world like this, a guy wearing that…)
Suppressing the urge to have someone gouge his eyes out, Sehwa headed to the front desk with Mina.
A woman dressed like the others working out greeted him with sparkling eyes.
"Hello! Is this your first time here?"
"Yeah. I don't want to take classes, just use the sandbag. Is that okay?"
"It's not recommended, but it's possible. I'll help the lady next to you register and guide you."
"No, not her. I'm the one doing it."
"You're the one using the sandbag, not her…?"
The visibly shocked woman excused herself and went to a room in the corner, returning with someone.
A middle-aged woman with streaks of white in her hair. Her knuckles were rough with calluses, hinting at the life she'd lived. She scanned Sehwa briefly and asked the woman who brought her in a deep, heavy voice.
"…This is the one?"
"Yes, ma'am. What should we do?"
"Approved. Absolutely approved. Register him immediately."
The intimidating gym owner grabbed the woman's hand and whispered.
"Yejin, imagine a guy like that training here… It'd be chaos, right? Make sure he doesn't get hurt."
The owner left with a big grin, and the woman called Yejin, now fired up, immediately guided Sehwa.
"This is the locker room. Here's the workout clothes and straps…"
"I'll pass on the sports bra."
Sehwa recoiled at the so-called workout clothes.
The shorts that came down to mid-thigh were fine.
But (hell no)
(I'd rather die than work out in a bra.)
After sending Yejin away, he changed into the shorts, removed his sleeve, and wrapped his hands with straps.
When he stepped out, the stares that had been sharp before were now blazing.
Was it the clothes? The tattoos?
Ignoring them, he put on gloves. Mina, still fidgeting and looking around nervously, approached.
"Are you really okay?"
"Dunno. It's been a while, so I'm not sure."
(Seeing is believing.)
Leaving the anxious Mina behind, he walked forward slowly.
---
Meanwhile, Yejin, who had guided Sehwa, watched from a distance.
A ridiculously pretty high school boy came to hit the sandbag. If it were a girl, she'd understand probably wanting to look cool in front of a boyfriend. Despite the owner's approval and quick registration, she couldn't help but worry.
As she stared uneasily at the locker room, she froze when he stepped out.
(Why does he have so many tattoos? But damn, he's hot… Look at those pale legs. Should I flirt a little while pretending to help?)
Yejin, forgetting her duties, was admiring his figure and face when—
Sehwa finished stretching and stood in front of the sandbag.
(It's been too long. I missed you, buddy. Let's get started.)
He assumed a guard stance, lightly jabbing with his left hand before pulling it back and throwing a hook with his right. His body twisted, channeling force into a punch that slammed into the sandbag with a vicious *thwack*.
*Thwack, thwack, thwack!*
This was it.
His power might've waned, but his body moved perfectly.
(Good job, Shasha. Your athleticism is top-notch, so I'm relieving some stress today.)
Lost in the moment, he mixed in middle kicks, his body soon drenched in sweat.
At some point, he noticed the gym had gone quiet and stopped.
Looking back, he understood why.
(They're not working out, just staring at me.)
Feeling the piercing gazes of the gym members, he bent down to wipe his sweat-soaked face with his shirt, revealing toned abs. Gasps and murmurs came from the women.
"Hng! Seongsu, that's insane…"
*"Ha."*
Ignoring the faint chatter, he walked to Mina with a smile.
"How was it?"
"…Sehwa, when you said you were good at fighting, this is what you meant?"
"Don't I look the part?"
"No, I thought you meant street brawls with other guys… What even are you?"
Mina's blue eyes rippled like stormy waves in shock.
(What am I? A former pro.)
He'd been worried. He'd gauged his level briefly with Hayul, but that was short. If he was only strong enough to barely beat a fragile girl, he'd be reduced to a guy who needed protection in this world a horrifying thought.
But I'm not that weak… This body's better than I expected.
As he mentally reviewed his performance with a faint smile, Mina said seriously, "Just so you know, you absolutely can't hit the teacher. I know you're not that kind of guy, but…"
He shot a cold glare at her doll-like face, and she shut up immediately.
(That's better. If she'd just stop saying useless things, she's got a pretty face.)
Shaking his head, he started taking off his gloves to leave when an unfamiliar voice called out.
"Been doing well, Mina? Didn't you say there weren't any guys to work with? That guy earlier was pretty impressive… Why didn't you tell me?"
Mina, trembling, slowly turned her head.
(Please, please, don't let it be Sia unnie. Buddha, I'll live a good life, just this once…)
The voice was smooth yet wild.
Mina knew it well. Too well.
As she slowly turned, Sehwa watched with amusement.
(This is hilarious. I don't know who it is, but why's she so scared?)
Intrigued, Sehwa studied the woman who'd called Mina.
A small, pretty face with a cat-like charm and a mole near her right eye. Long, straight black hair. Slightly taller than Mina, with a similar but curvier figure, her strapped fists striking.
(Must be someone who trains here.)
As Mina half-turned and froze, the woman grabbed her chin, forcing her to face her.
(Damn, she's tough. Is that why Mina's scared?l
"Mina, your unnie's calling you."
"Y-Yes… Hi, unnie…"
"Who's the guy next to you?"
"He's a transfer student who came today…"
"Oh? Nice to meet you. I'm Lee Sia, 23."
The woman, Sia, introduced herself and extended a hand. Sehwa shook it.
"Ryu Sehwa, 18."
"Nice to meet you. Mind if I speak casually?"
"Whatever's comfortable."
Sia, pleased, started asking questions.
---
"You haven't been in Korea long since coming from Russia, huh?"
"Yeah."
Sia's eyebrow twitched as she kept asking about Russia. Since he didn't know much, he made up stories, smiling as if missing his homeland.
Sia, maintaining a cold expression, approached, grabbed his chin, and said, "You. Be mine."
_________________________________________
Translated by Reversalmanhwa.web.id
/ Reversalnovel.web.id