The memory of yesterday with Jia lingered in my mind, replaying over and over. I couldn't tell if it was entirely good or bad, but one thing was certain: my resolve to win her heart had only grown stronger.
I turned on the faucet and rinsed my mouth with cold water. After putting my toothbrush back, I stared at myself in the mirror, noticing my skinny frame.
I lifted my shirt, revealing a slightly protruding belly. Thankfully, the teenagers yesterday hadn't pressured me to show off my abs—if they had, I would've been embarrassed in front of Jia, with nothing to be proud of.
"W-what are you doing?!"
Mina's scream startled me. She was pointing at my body, her face flushed, eyes half-shut as if witnessing something shameful. I quickly pulled my shirt down.
"Ah, sorry. I forgot I live with a woman now."
"You're so annoying," she muttered, crossing past me into the bathroom. I stepped out, but only a few steps in, Mina stopped me.
"What is it?" I asked, turning to face her.
She frowned, scrutinizing me. "Where did you get that cut on your lip? Hey, hey, first date and you're already this rough?"
I touched my lip, exhaling deeply. "There was a criminal on the train. I tried to protect Jia."
"Really? Did you punch the guy?"
"I mostly dodged. Luckily, the weapon he used to threaten people was under a passenger seat, giving me time to react. I kept my eyes on him the whole time. When he reached for it, I grabbed his collar and pushed him away as far as I could."
"And then?" Mina asked, eyes sparkling with excitement.
"When he charged at me, I ducked and shoved him. We rolled across the train floor."
Mina listened, enthralled. "And?"
"When he tried to get up, I pulled his collar hard, making him fall face-down. I sat on top of him, holding him until the train reached the station."
"So… you didn't attack at all?"
"Of course not. I was shaking the whole time. But the observation techniques you taught me really helped."
Mina smiled, satisfied. "Exactly. Even if you're strong enough to throw someone down, you'll still lose if you don't understand your opponent's moves."
My gaze drifted, letting my mind sink into the tension of that day. "In that moment, I realized how weak I am. I wasn't strong enough to protect Jia. That's why I'm determined to fulfill our agreement. I'll do whatever it takes to get stronger. Please… help me, Mina."
She studied my face intently. "You really like Jia, don't you?"
Before I could answer, Mina spoke again. "All right. I'll train you until you're strong." She pointed at me sharply, eyes piercing. "But remember, you said you'd do anything. Don't take back your word, no matter how hard it gets. I hate men who complain or give up easily."
I nodded firmly. "I understand."
"Good." She grinned slightly. "Then let's start training."
I froze, staring at her. "Now? You really want us to train right now?"
"Yes. What's the problem? You want to get stronger, right? Then there's no time to waste. Besides, you've delayed our training several times already." Mina crossed her arms, her tone like a teacher scolding a student. "First, you were late, so we canceled. Second, you skipped training to go on a date with Jia, I tolerated that. Third, I've been dealing with my own issues, so I couldn't train you."
I snorted. "Honestly, the biggest fault isn't mine. You're the one messing up our schedule."
"What do you mean?"
"First," I said calmly, "I admit I was late, but that doesn't mean I never showed up. Second, we never set a clear schedule. Third, I waited for my coach to finish his own matters with her boyfriend. So technically, I was only late once. Meanwhile, you've left our training unfinished multiple times."
"What did you say?!" Mina glared, and I immediately felt wary, wondering if I'd be punished for my boldness.
"I-I'm just trying to clarify," I said softly, courage shrinking.
"If you truly want to be my student, you'll follow every instruction without questioning or defying me. Understand?"
I nodded slowly, realizing I had no choice. "Understood."
She exhaled deeply, her tension easing slightly. "Ugh, you ruin my mood. Forget today's training." She headed toward the sink, adding, "Tomorrow, come to the pavilion. You'll train with the other students."
I simply nodded, stepping out of the bathroom and closing the door. Then I went to the kitchen for breakfast. Sitting at the table, I let myself sink into a brief silence. The only sound was the trickle of water from the bathroom next door—the only one in Grandma's house.
The sound faded as the bathroom door opened. Soon, Mina emerged, wearing the same clothes as before. I felt relieved; at least she wasn't wrapped in a towel like the first time we met.
She glanced at me as she passed through the kitchen, her expression unreadable. I returned my focus to breakfast, enjoying the quiet. After finishing, I washed the dishes and headed back to my room.
My steps halted when I accidentally crossed paths with Mina leaving her room. This time, she wore different clothes. I wondered, she no longer had an excuse to dress up, especially after her breakup.
"Where are you going?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.
"Getting some fresh air," she replied shortly. She paused, glancing at me with a blank expression before continuing, "I'll be home late, so you can have dinner without waiting for me. Oh, and don't forget to come to the pavilion tomorrow. I'm leaving!"
Mina gave no room for further questions and disappeared from view.
I remained frozen for a while, pondering Mina's mysterious life. She was busy, often absent from the house.
A flicker of curiosity arose, but I quickly dismissed it. Mina's life wasn't my concern. We had no relationship that required me to pry, and I knew boundaries had to remain.
As I prepared to leave for campus, my gaze instinctively went to my phone. As expected, no message from Jia awaited me.
But a notification caught my eye. A message from Soojin. Short, yet enough to seize my attention: she wanted to meet.
I chose to ignore it. After our last conversation, disappointment still clouded my heart. Soojin wanted me to give up, but I refused. She had no right to interfere, in the end, I would bear the consequences myself.
Yet fate seemed to test me. Arriving on campus, I ran straight into Soojin. Her eyes locked onto me before I could turn away. With determined steps, she approached, gripping my wrist tightly, leaving no room for escape.
Soojin led me to the campus equipment storage room. Once the door closed, she locked it and stood before me, challenging.
"Why did you bring me here?" I asked.
"Because I need to teach you a lesson," Soojin replied.
"What did I do to deserve a lesson from you?"
Soojin squinted. "Still asking?"
She turned on her phone, then showed me a photo. "Isn't this you? The hero on the train who went viral overnight for saving the passengers?"
I immediately grabbed Soojin's phone, examining the photo. It was undeniably me. The caption below read The Train Hero Who Hid His Abs. That was enough to tell me who had posted it online.
"I already warned them," I said irritably.
"So… it really is you, isn't it?!" Soojin exclaimed, anger flashing in her eyes as she stared sharply at me.