Chapter 54:Love is War (at the Gym)
The gym was bustling again the next day, but instead of the usual sound of weights clanking and members grunting, there was… a strange tension in the air.
Marcus was the first to notice it.(He takes a break from work and hanging out in his brother gym)
"Uh, why does it feel like I just walked into a battlefield?" he muttered, towel over his shoulder.
Across the gym floor, Alya was at the treadmill, jogging lightly. Her usual cheerful demeanor was replaced by an intense focus as she glanced—not so subtly—toward the free weights area.
There, Lisa was stretching… very deliberately.
Her movements were slow, precise, and graceful, almost like a dancer showing off.
And her eyes? Fixed on one person.
Jake.
Completely unaware of the brewing storm, Jake was busy adjusting the weights on a bench press. His muscles ached, but Alex had insisted that getting back into light training would help him recover faster.
"Careful," Alex warned with a teasing grin. "Don't overdo it. We wouldn't want our hero fainting twice in one week."
Jake glared at him. "Ha. Ha. Very funny."
As Jake lay down to lift, Alya immediately turned off her treadmill and marched over. She crouched beside him, her expression filled with concern.
"Jake, are you sure you should be training already? Your wounds aren't fully healed yet."
Before Jake could answer, Lisa appeared on his other side like a shadow.
"He'll be fine, Alya. Jake's stronger than he looks. Besides," she added with a smirk, "he likes pushing himself."
Alya narrowed her eyes. "He doesn't need to push himself right now. He just got out of the infirmary."
Lisa folded her arms. "And how would you know what he needs?"
"Because," Alya said sharply, "I care about him."
Lisa's lips curled into a cool smile. "So do I."
The two girls locked eyes, a silent battle raging between them. Sparks practically crackled in the air.
Jake, stuck between them, glanced helplessly at Alex. "Uh… help?"
Alex leaned casually against the bench and smirked. "Nah, man. This is way too entertaining."
Marcus, watching from a distance, whispered to Jacob, "I swear, this is more intense than the fight at the factory."
Jacob just nodded solemnly. "Scarier too."
---
The Rivalry Escalates
Throughout the day, the tension only grew.
During squats, Alya stood right behind Jake, carefully spotting him, her hands hovering near his waist.
"You've got this, Jake. I believe in you," she said softly, cheeks slightly pink.
Not to be outdone, Lisa immediately swooped in with a towel.
"You're sweating too much," she said firmly, dabbing at his face before he could protest.
"Can't let you get dehydrated."
"Uh, thanks?" Jake muttered, thoroughly confused.
By the time they moved to the heavy bag drills, Alya and Lisa were practically competing through Jake.
Alya would cheer extra loudly whenever Jake landed a punch, while Lisa would point out tiny corrections, leaning in close to "adjust his form."
Alex was laughing so hard he had to sit down. "Man, this is like watching a romantic comedy but with more punching."
Even Elena, who had stopped by to check on her brother, noticed the weird atmosphere. She stood beside Alex, her arms crossed.
"Is this… normal?" she asked, eyebrow raised.
"Not even close," Alex said with a grin. "But I'm loving every second of it."
---
The Final Straw
Things reached a boiling point when Alya brought in homemade protein bars for Jake during a break.
"They're full of nutrients and totally natural," Alya said sweetly, holding them out.
Before Jake could take one, Lisa appeared holding a neatly packed lunchbox.
"Homemade chicken and rice. Perfect for muscle recovery."
The two girls stared each other down, each silently daring Jake to choose.
Jake looked at the protein bar.
Then at the lunchbox.
Then at their expectant faces.
His soul left his body.
"I, uh… I'm not really hungry?" he squeaked.
Alya and Lisa both snapped, "Eat!"
Jake flinched so hard he nearly fell off the bench.
Alex finally intervened, laughing. "Alright, alright, let's call it. Clearly, you two are about to start an actual war over him."
The girls turned on him in unison. "Stay out of this!"
Alex threw up his hands. "Okay, okay! Geez, don't murder the messenger."
---
Jake's Escape
As the gym day wound down, Jake finally managed to sneak away to the locker room for a moment of peace. He sat on the bench, burying his face in his hands.
"My life… is officially a romcom," he muttered.
From the doorway, Alex leaned in casually. "Hey, at least it's never boring."
Jake groaned. "You're enjoying this way too much."
"Of course I am." Alex grinned. "It's not every day I get to watch my best friend get fought over like the last protein shake in the fridge."
Jake shot him a deadpan look. "You are so not helping."
Alex shrugged. "Hey, relax. You'll figure it out. But, uh, just a heads-up…"
Jake raised an eyebrow. "What now?"
Alex smirked. "Tomorrow, they're both planning to come early. Better set two alarms."
Jake's horrified scream echoed through the gym.