Just Friends

Twenty Eight

I checked my watch and rolled my eyes. Some people have no respect for time, I thought. Oh well, I'm still paid.

I had little patience these days but I was trying to give myself a break for feeling like crap. It wasn't everyday that you feel like your heart was being ripped out of your chest. While I tried to still be respectful, I was quite tough with work matters lately.

And TRX and pilates instructions were part of that.

Since no scripts interested me and there was still some time before I started shooting for the next drama I committed to, I decided to stay away from the city and teach some private classes. I didn't want to put my license to waste after all.

It was a good distraction for me and I liked the focus it gave me, to allow myself to take care of my body again after I let go the week after that terrible talk with Bin.

Bin.

I never was able to get my things from his place. The pain was still too fresh.

Shaking my head, I refused to be distracted by that and start crying for the nth time so I played the music and started stretching.

I rolled my eyes when I heard the door bang open with my student saying, "I'm sorry I'm late."

"That's alright but we cannot extend –"

My jaw dropped to see Bin in front of me.

Regaining my composure, thanks to years and years of acting, I squared my shoulders and looked him straight. "There are lockers behind that wall. You can keep your bag there. Come back here and stretch before we start the session."

He seemed a little disoriented with the formality but nodded and followed as I said.

You can do this, Jin. You can do this, I mentally chanted.

I felt his eyes on me the whole time he was stretching, while I was checking the suspension equipment to be used. I was still hurting and quite mad at him but as an instructor I did not wish him to be injured. "Are you done? If you feel like you're ready, we could begin."

He walked over to where I stood.

"You've had TRX training before. Do you need me to walk you through the basics again?"

"Yes, it's been awhile since I trained with these," he replied.

We spent a couple minutes reacquainting him with the straps and the things he needed to look out for, then started with some warm ups on the straps. "Core engaged. Watch your posture. Elbows tight."

As the difficulty increased, Bin started sweating and I noticed his posture was quite loose. "Hey! I said watch that. You're going to injure yourself."

"Sorry," he said, but continued with the exercise, pushing his body to the limit.

"Okay stop," I commanded a few minutes later. Handing him a water bottle, I asked, "You're about to pass out. Have you eaten sufficient breakfast?"

"No. I woke up late."

"We should end here. Anything more and you're going to collapse. Next time, remember to nourish yourself as well. There's still a few minutes to your class. Just ask the reception for a refund." I turned my back and started walking away.

"Jin, wait." I looked back. He was still on the floor. "Can we talk?"

"I'm sorry. I still have another class."

That afternoon, I was informed of my schedule. "Your remaining classes are booked!" The hotel manager, who was a childhood friend, informed me.  "One of the VIP guests enjoyed his training and asked to book the rest of your sessions this week."

Why did I have a suspicion as to who this VIP was? However, I committed these classes to my friend and I always kept my word.

As I watched the sky from my window that night, I wondered, Were the fates playing with me? What does this mean?

The talk was painful but I soon realized that Bin was confused with how things were going so I stayed away. We would talk, but not yet. He posed some good leading questions. What were my plans?

I loved my job and I loved him. Was there truly no compromise?

How could he break up with me instead of talking it out? Wasn't that our promise? That no matter how difficult the topic was, the first thing we would do was talk?

Still, I made room for the possibility that a future was not in store for us because priorities may be different so I left, took this opportunity for something that Bin was not involved in to see what a future without him would be like.

But then, he enrolls in my class, I thought rolling my eyes at the heavens.

I knew that the hotel did not disclose who the instructor was since I had requested it, so there was no way he chose the class because of me. Besides, he hadn't taken TRX in a long time! Why now?

He even had the gall to look like Min Tae Gu, his character from our movie and the most handsome antagonist the world had ever seen.

I sighed. I needed to rest. Those questions would have to wait.

The following morning, Bin was already in the gym when I arrived 10 minutes before our class. "Good morning, Instructor Son," he greeted then continued with his stretch.

"Good morning. I trust you ate properly this time? I truly do not wish to cause a scandal to this hotel by having the famous actor collapse during a workout," I said.

He smiled. "I made sure I ate sufficiently. I also did not eat too close to the workout schedule to avoid internal problems."

I nodded. "Very good. Shall we begin?"

Seeing that he remembered a lot of his previous training, I suggested a more intense program. For some of the workouts, I did it alongside him so that he could see the form that we were targeting. "Tighten your core!" I would remind once in a while. When we were done, I reminded him to stretch his muscles out. "Give it a few minutes before you rest completely."

"Thank you. I'll see you tomorrow."

"So you did book all my classes," I said, matter-of-factly.

"I need the training."

I rolled my eyes. "For such a good actor, you're a terrible liar."

He looked down but I could see his dimple appear.

"See you tomorrow."

"Jin, wait."

I turned back.

"Do you think... we could grab a coffee once all my classes with you are done?"

My heart was pounding in my chest. I knew we needed to do this but still it was scary. "If you could complete the next sessions without passing out."

"Deal."

"And beat me in golf on Friday."

He crossed his arms across his chest. "Done."

My knees barely held me up as I walked away. Heading quickly to the nearest changing room, I willed my heart to calm down.

You can do this, Jin. You can do this.

Hyo Jin's words entered my thoughts, "If he makes you cry again, break that perfect nose of his."