Annyeongz One-shots

62. Rep

The bass of the gym’s speaker system thudded low and steady, blending with the metallic rhythm of plates clinking and treadmills humming. The place smelled like rubber mats, cold air conditioning, and that sharp, clean scent of disinfectant. Morning light spilled through the glass walls, reflecting off chrome machines and polished floors — the kind of luxury gym where everything looked expensive, even the water dispensers.

Yujin barely noticed any of it.

His focus was locked in.

Sweat ran down his neck as he finished his last set on the cable row, jaw tight, muscles pulling clean and controlled. He wasn’t just working out — he trained like he had something to prove every time. People stared sometimes, but he was used to it. Being the owner’s son meant everyone knew him. Being good-looking didn’t help either.

He exhaled, stood, and rolled his shoulders back—

That’s when he saw her.

Near the entrance of the free-weight section. Standing still. Looking small in a place that felt too big.

She wore simple workout clothes — nothing flashy — but somehow she stood out more than anyone else there. Her fingers twisted lightly around her water bottle as her eyes moved from machine to machine, uncertain. Like she’d walked into the wrong classroom on the first day of school.

Yujin’s gaze lingered without him realizing.

She doesn’t know where to start.

Before he could think more about it, someone else noticed too.

“Yo, haven’t seen her before,” Minjae muttered beside him, already grinning in that way Yujin knew too well. Trouble grin.

“Don’t,” Yujin warned.

Too late.

Minjae was already walking over, wiping his hands on his towel like he was about to charm his way into a movie scene.

Yujin watched.

He saw the way Minjae leaned one arm against the machine beside her. The way he smiled. The way she gave a polite smile back — but her shoulders tightened. Her eyes flicked around, searching for an exit.

That was enough.

Yujin dropped the towel on the bench and strode over.

He didn’t say anything at first — just came up behind Minjae and smacked him hard on the back of the head.

THWACK.

“—OW?!” Minjae spun around.

Yujin shoved him aside slightly, placing himself between him and the girl. “Stop flirting with random girls, dummy.”

“I was joking!” Minjae protested, rubbing his head.

“Go joke somewhere else.”

Minjae raised his hands in surrender but still grinned. “Scary, scary.”

Yujin ignored him and turned to her, voice immediately softer. “You okay?”

She blinked, surprised, then nodded quickly. “Y-Yes.”

Up close, her eyes were even bigger. Nervous, but bright.

“You new here?”

She nodded again. “It’s my first time.”

“Thought so.” He gave a small, reassuring smile. “I’m Yujin. That idiot is Minjae, and the other loud ones over there are my friends.”

Minjae waved dramatically. “Welcome to the chaos.”