Direct And Linear Relationships

Chapter 37: Happy Ending?

My foot slips off the hold below. I know it’s there, otherwise I’d be falling. But I can’t see anything at all. If I turn my head too far then I lose my balance and drop. Already the adrenaline is coursing through my body unchecked, urging me to do what I cannot. Sure, my muscles are stronger than before and I’m more awake that I’ve ever been but this is also the highest I’ve ever been. My entire body starts to tremble as I cling desperately for support, refusing to give up. Muscles start to fatigue as I use all my energy and strength to keep myself up here. I feel the burn in my right arm and the cramping in my left. I’ve gotten pretty good climbing at this route yet somehow I always manage to make it hard on myself. I felt the sweat accumulating on my forehead and hands loosening my grip on the holds that I had been saving me from falling.

But this is my last climb of the day and I need to make it count regardless of the precarious position I put myself in. In my 3 months of working here I’ve learned a few things. Patience and perseverance always seem to prevail. Stay determined and creative. Brute strength alone wasn’t the answer. So I took a deep breath and steadied my nerves, releasing one hand from the wall to the bag of chalk in hopes that it would soak up the sweat from hands.

“You got this babe!” Mina's voice floated to my ears almost giving a new burst of energy to my body.

“Yeah Hyun, you’re almost there. You can do this!” Followed Jisoo and soon I found myself refocused.

I stared at the puzzle before me and like a GPS began to find an alternate route. All climbing is, is a set of steps from Point A to Point B. A piece of art that has been dissembled and reassembled, a path that I invent as I climb. And so when the situation isn’t going like a I planned, the route I take allows me to control what happens, to create new paths. I then retrace my steps; giving myself a different perspective to open up to the new possibitlites in completely the climb. My feet find the holds below and with one final push I catapult myself to the top and ring the bell signaling that I had finished.

The cheers from below eased the little hits my ego took. I blinked away the sweat that rolled into my eyes and used the last of my strength to take off the harness once my feet hit the floor. My forearms are stiff, my legs quiver, and I can’t feel the tips of my fingers. But damn it…that shit was worth it.

“Great job. You’re getting better and better.” Jisoo's reassuring smile helped. Her beautiful skin was the hue of korean oak in spring rains, and her brown eyes shined with warmth. She is so fucking beautiful. Over the last few months Jisoo and I have become increasingly close. Sometimes when we would open the gym together I’d sneak a quick peak through the stall, catching glimpses of her changing into her workout clothes, her lithe, paled body.

“Thanks. Learning from the best.” I wiped my face with one of towels from the rack and tossed it at her playfully. She caught it with ease and threw it back, hitting me square in my face.

“So you mean me?” Taehyung chimed in. His heavy, paled, muscular arms wrapped around me, almost taking to the ground with my strength lacking.

“Come on. Obviously she’s, talking about me.” Mina started, “After all, I was one that trained her.” The confidence was streaming off her, enough to hear Taehyung scoff behind me. Swiftly he made his way around me and they started playing around. Mina and Taehyung practiced Mauy Thai together and began to spar lightly with each other. Jisoo rolled her eyes, slid over to me so our shoulders were touching. Her hand came up and gripped the inside of my arm as she led me to the front desk.

“You really are getting good. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone pick up techniques as quick as you.” She began to rummage through a drawer and I couldn’t help but take notice of her paled arms flex under the movement.