Follow the journey of Haneul, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, as she battles not only her opponents in the quest for victory but also the conflicting emotions of a budding romance with her fellow athlete, Sung-Bin. Amidst the adrenaline-fueled rac...
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WORTHY ════ ⋆★⋆ ════
"The second group of contestants for the Physical: 100 pre-quest mission will begin now," the eye echoed through the room, rousing a chorus of applause and excitement. Some contestants began jumping up and down, a playful warm-up for their muscles, while others kept their eyes fixed on the slowly descending structure. The atmosphere was electric, with a mix of nervous tension and unbridled enthusiasm. Cheers and words of encouragement filled the air.
As the clock started its countdown from 10, Haneul remained poised and focused, determined not to waste any precious energy. She waited until the last few seconds to leap and hoist herself up. Her strategy involved using both arms as a resting point, a position she believed she could maintain long time, without much of a struggle. Looking around, she noticed that many contestants had adopted a similar approach, conserving their strength.
Strategically placed cameras from the film crew ensured that contestants faced different directions to capture their expressions and pain as time went on, meaning Haneul was faced opposite to most of her peers. This arrangement irked her as it invited more scrutiny from those watching, but she promptly closed her eyes and zeroed in on the task at hand, tuning out the world despite the occasional splashes below, signifying someone had let go and plummeted into the water.
Has time went on, the splashes became more frequent and unbeknownst to Haneul, there was a growing buzz below, noting that she and Euddeum were the only females left in the competition.
The two had discussed and confided in each other about the importance of blocking out distractions and showcasing that women were equally strong mentally and physically. Haneul's intense focus prevented her from noticing when Sung-bin, her friend, had fallen. And most likely if she had known of this she would have seen how upset he was with himself, which would have made her lose focus and most likely fall too.
It was around the ten-minute mark when Haneul felt her physical limits approaching. Her body trembled, and pushing further could risk injury, potentially ending her competition prematurely. With a mental agreement to herself that she had given her all, she let go, allowing herself to fall gracefully into the water, the shock of the cold water serving as a jolt to her muscles, waking her up. As she emerged from the water, she pushed her wet hair aside and wiped her eyes, allowing her to see the contestants clapping and cheering for her achievement of lasting so long.
"How did you do that? That was amazing!" one of them exclaimed as she beamed at her peers, proud of her achievement, even though she hadn't won. She caught Euddeum's wave and waded over to her, and the two hugged in acknowledgement of their solid performances.
The quest continued for another 8 minutes, those who had fallen began to shiver from the cold. Haneul submerged her body underwater, covering her shoulders with the liquid to stave off the chill, all the while keeping an eye on the pool. She noticed Sung-bin further down, his distant gaze expressing his disappointment in himself.
Excusing herself from Euddeum's knowing gaze, which she chose to ignore, Haneul made her way over to Sung-bin. He seemed unimpressed with his own performance, and Haneul had a hunch that he needed some encouragement.
"You did well," he commented as he draped an arm around her shoulder.
"So did you," she replied, flashing a warm smile.
"Not as well as I should have," he grumbled, clearly disappointed in himself for not performing better.
"These quests are designed to challenge every aspect of your physique. It wouldn't be fair if you breezed through them," Haneul reassured him.
"I suppose not... I do need to at least give you a chance to win." He winked at her before looking back up at the structure.
"And he's back," Haneul grinned, also turning her attention to the remaining contestants who clung to the structure for dear life, her friend's arm remaining draped over her shoulder.
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Haneul lounged at home, scrolling through the diet plan that her trainer had just sent her. She couldn't help but groan as she realized it was the same old routine: plain, unseasoned food. It felt like her taste buds had been on a never-ending vacation. With a sigh, she left the dining room and headed to the bathroom. Her bath had been calling her name for a while now, a well-deserved soak to ease her fatigued muscles. The tub was still filled with warm water infused with soothing Epsom salts.
Peeling off her clothes, she dipped a toe into the water to test the temperature. It was practically like dipping her toe into molten lava. Satisfied, she eased herself into the scalding water, the heat instantly enveloping her, making her muscles sigh in relief. She lay back, allowing her body to sink into the depths of the bath, feeling the tension melt away.
As she lay in the warm embrace of the bath, her mind began to drift to the events of the day. Even if she didn't secure the victory, she couldn't help but feel proud of her performance. Plus, the day had brought new friendships. Bo-kyeong, who had competed in the first group, had done well and managed to secure a spot in the 30s. They had exchanged texts once they were both back home, sharing their updates and experiences.
She must have been in the bath for at least half an hour, and she only decided to get out when her phone chimed, signalling an incoming message. Reluctantly, she climbed out of the bath and wrapped herself in a fluffy towel, going through her usual post-bath routine. When that was done, she settled under the covers in her bedroom, her phone waiting for her.
Her gaze wandered to the wall above the TV, where her two gold medals were elegantly framed. There was enough space for a third, but she hadn't left room for a fourth. Lately, thoughts of leaving the competitive arena had crept into her mind. She couldn't help but wonder if it was time to move on to new horizons. However, she was waiting for a sign, something to tell her that leaving was the right decision. So far, that sign had eluded her. She remained nestled in her bed, pondering her future and what might lie ahead.
The sound of her phone chiming once again reminded her of the message she had received earlier.
Iron Man
Iron Man: Hows the muscles? 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼
Haneul: 🪦💀! Any longer and I think I would have dislocated something.
Iron Man: Your trainer would kill you if that happened
Haneul: Probably. How are yours?
Iron Man: Not in enough pain.
Haneul: Don't be hard on yourself. I'm proud of you
