𝑩𝒂𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆, 𝑰'𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒆

[41]

Sooheon wiped the sweat from his forehead with a towel, feeling the familiar burn in his muscles from the intense workout. His boxing gloves were still heavy in his hands, and his heart rate hadn't quite settled from the rounds he'd been putting in. It was his way of clearing his head—boxing, lifting weights, running—whatever it took to focus. But today, there was something different. He felt an inexplicable buzz, an excitement that had nothing to do with the intensity of his workout.

His phone buzzed against the bench, vibrating in the quiet of the gym. The name on the screen made his heart skip a beat. Namra.

A grin slowly spread across his face as he pulled off the gloves and set them aside, wiping his hands on his workout shorts. He picked up the phone with his fingers still a bit sweaty, but he didn’t care. Namra’s text was what mattered now.

Namra: “Hey, Sooheon. I’m coming to the gym.”

He blinked at the message for a moment, his heart quickening. She was coming to the gym? What was she planning to do here?

Sooheon: "You’re coming here? Are you sure? The gym's not really your thing."

He chuckled to himself as he typed the message, picturing her face if she was to see the weight machines or the boxing ring. She’d probably roll her eyes and call him out for being all about muscles and sweat. But deep down, he knew Namra was stronger than most people realized. Even though she often kept to herself, Sooheon had seen glimpses of her strength, her resolve. It was what made her so unique. And now, she was coming to his turf, the gym he frequented to push himself harder each day.

He hit send, waiting for her response. A part of him wondered what this meant, what her sudden decision to come here meant for them. They were already close, but there was something about her presence that always made his pulse race a little faster.

Namra's reply came quickly, as if she hadn’t even thought about it too much.

Namra: "I’ll be there in 15 minutes. I’ll just observe for now."

Sooheon couldn’t help but laugh. He could picture her now—her calculating gaze, probably analyzing every piece of equipment, every move the others made. Namra wasn’t the type to just stand around; she always paid attention, always took everything in.

Sooheon: "Alright, see you soon. Don’t get intimidated by all the muscle heads."

He chuckled to himself as he stood up, moving towards the water cooler to hydrate. He had to admit, he was excited. But also curious. Why now? Why come to the gym when she usually stayed away from places like this?

Namra had always been mysterious to him, but in a way that made him want to know more. She was sharp, quiet, and always a little bit distant. But when she spoke to him, it felt different—there was something unspoken, something that made Sooheon feel like he was finally seeing past her cool exterior. Maybe that’s what made her so intriguing to him.

After a few minutes of pacing around, he noticed the gym’s front door opening. The familiar jingle of the bell above the door rang out, and Sooheon turned, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on her. Namra.

She walked in with purpose, her long hair pulled back into a neat ponytail. She was dressed in a comfortable hoodie, black leggings, and sneakers, clearly ready for a workout—or at least to watch one. Sooheon couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her. Even in casual clothes, she looked effortlessly cool, like she didn’t even have to try to be stunning.

“Hey,” she greeted him, her voice smooth as usual but with a hint of curiosity. She wasn’t exactly sure of what to expect here, but she was here, which meant something.