Chapter 55: Battle for the Heart (Gym Games Edition)
The sun hadn't even fully risen when Jake stumbled into the gym, rubbing his eyes and yawning.
He was hoping for a calm morning workout before the place filled up.
What he got instead was… chaos.
Banners hung from the ceiling reading:
"FRIENDLY FITNESS CHALLENGE!"
Colorful cones and mats were spread across the floor, making the gym look more like a sports festival than a training space.
And right at the center of it all were Alya and Lisa — standing face to face like two rival generals before battle.
Jake froze. "...What fresh nightmare is this?"
Alex appeared behind him, looking far too amused for this early in the morning. "Oh, this? Totally normal. Just your average 'fight for Jake's heart through athletic domination' kind of day."
Jake turned to him, horrified. "Please tell me you're joking."
Alex grinned. "Does it look like I'm joking?"
Jake scanned the room again. Alya had brought a tray of freshly baked snacks labeled Victory Treats, while Lisa had a neatly folded towel embroidered with Jake's initials.
"Oh no," Jake muttered, dragging a hand down his face. "This is real."
---
The Rules (a.k.a. There Are None)
Marcus, now unofficial referee, blew a whistle.
"Alright, listen up! Today's competition is simple: five events, winner takes… uh…" He paused, glancing awkwardly at Alya and Lisa.
Both girls answered at once, their voices sharp.
"Jake's affection!"
Jake nearly choked on air. "WHAT?!"
Alex laughed so hard he had to lean against a weight rack. "Oh man, this is gonna be good."
Lisa smiled sweetly at Jake. "Don't worry. I'll win fair and square."
Alya folded her arms, glaring. "We'll see about that."
Marcus sighed. "Okay, okay. First event — treadmill sprint. Fastest time wins."
Jake buried his face in his hands. Please let me wake up from this dream…
---
Event 1: Treadmill Sprint
The treadmills roared to life. Alya and Lisa hopped on side-by-side, determination blazing in their eyes.
"Ready, set—go!"
The girls sprinted like their lives depended on it, the machines rattling under the sheer speed.
Jake could only watch in awe… and slight terror.
"They're not running," Alex observed, "they're dueling."
Alya glanced at Lisa mid-sprint. "You're slowing down."
Lisa smirked. "You wish."
They crossed the finish at nearly the exact same time, both panting and glaring at each other.
Marcus squinted at the results screen. "Uh… tie?"
"Impossible!" Alya and Lisa shouted in unison.
Jake groaned. "Great. This is going to be a long day."
---
Event 2: Weightlifting Showdown
Lisa confidently lifted a barbell loaded with heavy plates, her form perfect.
"Wow," Jacob whispered to Marcus. "She's really strong."
"Yeah," Marcus agreed, impressed.
Then Alya stepped up. She wasn't as muscular, but sheer determination burned in her eyes.
She hoisted the barbell with a fierce cry, nearly wobbling — but she didn't drop it.
The room erupted in cheers.
Alex whistled. "Damn, she's feisty."
Lisa narrowed her eyes. "You're trying too hard."
Alya shot back, "Better than not trying at all."
Jake nervously clapped. "Uh… great job, both of you?"
Lisa and Alya both turned and snapped, "Stay out of this, Jake!"
Jake flinched. I'm the prize, not the referee…
---
Event 3: Sparring Chaos
The third event was supposed to be light sparring practice.
It quickly turned into something closer to a martial arts tournament.
Alya and Lisa faced each other on the mat, gloves on, tension so thick you could cut it with a knife.
"Remember," Marcus said nervously, "just light taps. No actual—"
BAM!
Lisa's jab nearly took Alya's head off.
"LIGHT TAPS!" Marcus screamed.
Alya growled, retaliating with a sharp kick. "You trying to hurt me?!"
Lisa smirked. "You started it."
The two went back and forth, punches and kicks flying while the spectators winced.
Alex leaned toward Jake. "So… still think they're fighting over you in a cute way?"
Jake buried his face in his hands. "This is a disaster."
When Marcus finally blew the whistle, both girls were breathing hard, glaring daggers.
Another tie.
---
Event 4: The Cook-Off Curveball
"Wait," Jake said, standing up. "Why is there a table full of food?"
Alya beamed. "Surprise bonus round! Cooking competition!"
Lisa's eye twitched. "This is a gym, not a kitchen."
"Cake can be fuel too," Alya said sweetly.
Jake was dragged to the table as the sole judge. Alya presented a beautifully decorated mini cake, while Lisa had made a carefully portioned meal.
Jake took a bite of Alya's cake and smiled nervously. "Uh… really good."
Then he tasted Lisa's dish and nodded. "This is… also really good."
The girls stared at him expectantly.
Jake panicked. "I—I can't choose!"
Alex cackled from the sidelines. "Classic move, man. Bold strategy."
---
Event 5: Tug of War
The final event was supposed to decide everything: a tug-of-war match, two teams pulling on opposite ends of a rope.
Except… both Alya and Lisa refused teammates.
They each grabbed an end of the rope, glaring at each other like mortal enemies.
"This is for Jake!" Alya shouted.
"No," Lisa hissed, muscles flexing, "this is for OUR future!"
Jake nearly fainted. "WHAT FUTURE?!"
Marcus gave up. "Uh… go?"
The rope whipped back and forth, neither girl giving an inch. Sweat dripped, teeth gritted, the crowd held its breath.
Finally, with a mighty pull, the rope snapped in the middle.
Both girls fell backward, landing in a heap — right at Jake's feet.
---
Aftermath
As the dust settled, Jake stood frozen, unsure what to say.
Alex clapped him on the shoulder, laughing so hard he had tears in his eyes.
"Congrats, man. You survived the first annual Battle for the Heart."
Jake glared at him. "This isn't funny!"
"Are you kidding? This is hilarious!" Alex wiped his eyes. "But seriously, you've gotta make a move soon. Or this gym's gonna turn into a reality show."
Jake looked down at Alya and Lisa, both glaring at each other even while panting on the floor.
He sighed deeply.
"My life… was so much simpler when I was just unemployed."