That night…
I barely slept.
I kept calling Sarah.
Again.
And again.
She didn't pick up.
Not once.
It felt… lonely.
More than it ever had before.
Even my room didn't feel like mine anymore.
At some point, I cried.
Quietly.
Like I didn't even have the energy to care anymore.
I don't remember when I fell asleep.
I just know I woke up on the floor.
The door opened.
"Get up," the maid said softly.
I pushed myself up slowly.
My body felt heavy.
"You have someone waiting for you."
"Who?" I asked.
She hesitated.
"Madam said I shouldn't say more than that."
That didn't help.
At all.
She helped me get dressed.
I didn't argue.
I just stood there.
Letting it happen.
When I got downstairs…
I froze.
My mom was standing there.
Next to a man.
He was tall.
At least six feet.
He didn't smile.
Didn't greet me.
He just looked at me…
like he was measuring something.
"This is your instructor," my mom said.
I didn't respond.
"He'll be working with you.
The man nodded once.
"Follow me."
I hesitated.
"Andrew."
I swallowed… then followed.
We walked down a quiet hallway.
Then stopped in front of a door.
My mom opened it.
"This will be your lesson room."
Lesson room
It didn't feel like a room.
Too empty.
Too controlled.
"The lesson begins now," he said.
I frowned.
"What lesson?"
He ignored that.
"Stand straight."
"I just got here," I muttered.
"Stand. Straight."
I sighed… but did it.
He walked around me slowly.
"Posture is weak."
"It's not."
"It is."
He adjusted my shoulders.
"Back."
I fixed it.
"Walk."
I walked.
"Again."
I stopped.
"What's wrong with how I walk?"
"Too soft..
"That doesn't even make sense."
"It does."
Pause.
"Again."
I didn't move for a second.
Then I walked again anyway.
After a while, he stepped back.
Then reached to the side.
He picked up a long strap.
My eyes followed it immediately.
"This is for correction," he said calmly.
I froze.
"I'm not doing that," I said quickly.
"You won't need to," he replied.
Pause.
"Unless you refuse to listen."
My chest tightened.
"Stand straight."
I hesitated.
Just for a second.
He lifted the strap slightly.
Not hitting.
Just enough.
My body reacted before I could think.
I straightened.
I hated that.
"Good," he said.
We continued.
Walking.
Stopping.
Fixing everything.
At some point, I crossed my arms.
Without thinking
.
"Don't do that."
"Do what?"
"That."
I dropped my arms quickly.
It felt… embarrassing.
Like I didn't even know how to stand anymore.
After a while, he finally stepped back.
"That's enough for today."
I didn't respond.
I just nodded slightly.
My mom looked at me.
"Take a break," she said.
I didn't argue.
I just left the room.
For the first time since morning…
I could breathe a little.
But it didn't last long.
"Come downstairs," my mom called later.
I almost didn't go.
But I did.
Another man was there.
Different.
Less cold.
But still serious.
"This is your physique trainer," my mom said.
He nodded at me.
"Alright," he said casually.
"Let's see what we're working with."
I frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"Relax," he said.
"We'll build you up."
"Take off the hoodie."
I froze?"
"So I can see properly.
I hesitated… then slowly took it off.
He looked at me.
Longer than the first trainer did.
Then nodded.
"Good," he said.
"You're slim. That helps."
I didn't respond.
"We'll work on your chest and shoulders," he continued.
"Make it more defined."
My chest tightened.
"Don't worry," he added casually.
"It's already pretty flat for a guy."
I froze.
For a guy.
My face got hot instantly.
He kept talking.
"Once you build muscle here, your shirts will sit better."
I crossed my arms slightly.
"Don't cover," he said quickly.
"Get used to it."
I dropped my arms again.
It felt worse.
"Down," he said.
"What?"
"Push-ups."
I stared at him.
"You're serious."
"Yes."
I got down slowly.
"Start."
One.
Two.
"Agai
n.
My arms started shaking.
"I'm tired," I said.
"Again."
"I said I'm tired."
"You'll get used to it."
That word again.
After a while, he stopped.
"That's enough."
I stayed on the floor for a second.
Breathing slowly.
Everything felt heavy.
When he left…
it was quiet again.
But not for long.
My mom walked in.
Holding something.
The tape.
My chest tightened immediately.
And I already knew…
this wasn't over.