They tapped their gym cards on the scanner at the front desk, exchanging nods with the receptionist, and headed straight to the lockers. The gym was alive with energy— grunts of effort, the steady rhythm of people running in monotonous tempo on treadmills, weights clinking in syncopated rhythm like some mechanical orchestra.
"Back day, right?" Jake said, tossing his hoodie into his locker and pulling out a shaker bottle.
"Yeah," Selucas replied, lacing up his shoes. "You promised you'd show me how to do proper deadlifts today."
Jake smirked. "Only if you promise not to round your back like a scared cat this time."
Selucas rolled his eyes but grinned. "No promises. My back's got a mind of its own."
They walked out to the lifting area, where rubber mats lined the floor and squat racks stood like sentinels against the mirrored walls. Jake grabbed a barbell and began loading it up to 80-kilogram in weight plates.
"Alright, warm-up set," he said, gripping the bar and demonstrating slow, clean reps.
Selucas watched closely, nodding as he mimicked the stance beside him. "So, it's chest up, hinge at the hips, and not bend the knees too much, right?"
"Exactly. Use your glutes, not your lower back. And lock out with control— not like you're trying to catapult the bar into space."
Selucas laughed. "Got it. No catapulting."
They took turns with the bar, gradually adding weight. Jake moved with practiced fluidity— every lift crisp, deliberate. His breathing was steady, focused.
Selucas, in contrast, was still mastering the rhythm. His movements were slightly jerky, but each rep improved on the last. Jake offered small tips as they went, correcting hand placement or stance when he felt it to be necessary.
Between sets, they leaned on the barbell, sweat already forming on their brows.
When Selucas did his last set of 90-kilograms, he needed Jake's support. Willingly Jake came to his assistance. ''Oh god, thank you, I almost fainted under the pressure!'' Selucas panted heavily, his body already immersed in a flood of sweat.
Jake gave him a friendly tap on the shoulder and said: ''You did it! 90-kilograms— dude I am so proud of you!''
Selucas said: ''Well, still not 110-kilograms like you—''
Jake interrupted him, his glance was stern when he said: ''Let that insecure talk be, that was an amazing display of improvement and willpower my friend, you shouldn't measure yourself against me, mind your own game, your own personal development, that is what counts!'' Then, after that wise encouragement, adding wittily with a blithe wink: ''And, of course, I know I am sexy and strong and stuff.... and I understand my beautiful abbs make you crazy—''
''You really look so good,'' Selucas said enthusiastically in an innocent and pure voice. ''Just now when you lifted up your shirt to wipe of the sweat on your forehead— well those abs really do makes one envious, so tight and well-shaped they are!''
Jake blushed up in embarrassment by the sincere - and so cute! - compliments coming to him so suddenly, from a friend he just met three months ago.
''Guess all those planks.... lifts and squads and stuff like that.... finally paid off,'' he muffled in stutter while laughing shyly with a red turned face, his right hand rubbing his hair roughly in uncontrolled manner, avoiding Selucas' eyes at all costs. He is so good at making me uncomfortable!
Jake stared at the wall slightly to the left of that pure-hearted blond-haired Labrador, as it was impossible for him to watch into those light blue eyes that were looking at him with such strong intensity of admiration, a powerful glance that seemed to cast a beam of maximum radiation; a laser that pierces though everything, even the soul of a tough guy like him.
Jake's thoughts were racing wild out of track.
He really comes from the stars! How can a person be so honest and straightforward in his admiration? How can someone be so bright and illuminous in the way he looks and in the way he behaves?! He's.... just so kind.... so cute— unbelievable that I am thinking this, come one Jake, he is a fellow male, right? Seriously.... he is cuter than most girls are!
He almost sunk into the ground from embarrassment. Taking well-meant compliments from a male companion was réééally not something he was good at, and processing it took its time....
''I do planks and squats too, and all I get is lower back pain and emotional damage,'' Selucas joked, while smiling in eye-burning brightness.
''Sounds like you're doing the sad version,'' Jake said, trying to joke his embarrassment away, while adding: ''But seriously, Selucas you look good too, dude.... maybe even better than me, and definitely yummier! You know? Like, you are.... like a sweet, uhm.... fluffy cupcake?''
What the fuck am I saying?! With each extension of words added, it's just getting worse and worse! Man.... I'm out of my mind, like seriously out of my mind!
Selucas laughed loudly and just said: ''What are you saying, man?''
Jake's face now turned into a shade of red that could rival a stop sign, creeping up from his neck to his ears like a slow-moving sunburn. He scratched the back of his head, and he was suddenly very interested in the floor....
A nervous laugh slipped out of his dry mouth— awkward, too loud, and immediately followed by him clearing his throat like he could erase it. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his hands now stuffed nonchalantly in his pockets in a dire effort to restore a little bit of swagger and coolness.
You could almost hear the internal screaming behind his tight smile— like a guy at his own root canal; so unduly forced that it hurt the corners of his mouth.
Only now did Selucas discover Jake's embarrassment (it could no longer be overlooked because his head was now so red as if he were a volcano about to erupt) and he tried to console his mind and soul - this now two-sided and two-times stacked-up awkward situation - by quickly saying: ''Well, most people think I am cute. My mother and uhm.... grandmother say it all the time. It can't be helped, like.... you know.... I have blond hair and blue eyes, so I generally look younger for my age.''
''Yes, yes, that must be it,'' Jake quickly reacted, ''that must be the reason why I called you delicious, because you still look so young and fresh.''
Suddenly Selucas busted out in loud laughter. ''What are we even talking about, we are so stupid!''
''Yeah, like really....'' Jake muttered. ''Well, mostly it me who is bullshitting....''
''Yeah, you're really good at talking shit.''
''Well, you began shit talking, with that overly sweet talk of yours, like commenting so seriously on my abs, that really took me off guard you know! Don't do that again!''
''Does stating the facts make you uncomfortable? Because as far as I know, I only stated the obvious,'' Selucas said with a cheeky grin. ''But if my objective comments of well-thought deduction do make you feel embarrassed like an insecure twelve-year-old girl, I shall grant your wish and abstain from it, though it pains me that I cannot admire you openly anymore, for you are my great helper and patient mentor; I think that you not allowing me to compliment you is quite a cruel affair. But I will try my best....''
He put his face into a theatrical, sad grimace while narrowing his eyes, as if he were to cry at any moment.
Oh my god! He looks like puppy! Jake thought shocked. Selucas is really cute....
''Okey, okey.... you are allowed to compliment me, but only once a day okey?! So, for today you have used your limit.... And if you're going to compliment me again, then.... then.... then don't do it with a straight face! And don't shine so much! And.... and don't look at me when you compliment me! Okey?!''
''Alright, I think that should be possible,'' Selucas said teasingly in a playful voice.
Wait a second, Jake thought shocked. Maybe he does it on purpose, to toy with me. That cheeky bastard! So, that blond starchild really has a scabby side after all....
Well, Selucas looked like an elf, and in some legend's, elves were deceitful, mischievous and teasingly playful. So, from that angle it made sense....
''Let's move on, you blond-haired seducer! We did not come here to talk and to caress each other with the flattery of sweet jasmine! We came here to wreck this place! So, let's move on!'' Jake commanded. It's about time that sack of lazybones is going to feel the pressure.... the pain of weights again!
''Okey, alright,'' the 'slacker' responded.
They now moved from deadlifts to bent-over rows, then to lat pulldowns and seated cable rows. Each exercise had its rhythm, and they fell into an easy routine: one lifts, the other spots or counts reps.
Jake sat on a bench, towel draped over his shoulder, sipping water between sets. Before him, Lucas moved through his workout with a quiet intensity that drew Jake's eye.
Lucas was mid-set, his lean frame lithe and purposeful. Each motion he set forward was precise, almost graceful, like a dancer in a routine he knew by heart. The definition in his shoulders and arms flexed under the gym lights, every line of muscle clear beneath his fitted tank.
Selucas really has a nice body, very well-measured and flexible. Like seriously.... I'm not even half as flexible as him; compared to him I am a rigid giant, and he is a daintily cat; no way I could catch him in a cat and mouse game!
Jake found himself watching— not in a way he meant to, just… noticing. There was something magnetic about Selucas' focus, the way he moved with confidence but never showboated.
It wasn't just strength, it was control, elegance.
Jake smiled to himself, a quiet flicker of admiration warming his chest.
Selucas caught his eye, gave a nod and a grin, and Jake returned it, a little flustered but genuinely glad to be there to watch his body shifting in such a beautiful display of graceful movement.
He said to me that he just started going to the gym less than one year ago, and only two times a week, but looking at how skilled and controlled he already in most exercises is, it looks like he went to the gym straight from the cradle on.... Selucas really is bright and astute when it comes to learning and catching up at things. Like, I have to explain just some small things here and there, but that's it.
Selucas' main weak point was his laziness sometimes; he doesn't really challenge himself— Jake really has to pressure and encourage him a lot, before that lazycat is willing to take on the challenge.
Before meeting Jake he had never done deadlifts, because he found it too bothersome and heavy!
''Well, well Jake, did I just saw you admiring me? All good, but let me remind you that you have reached your limit for today.''
''Pfff.... You could not call that admiring.... I was just happy for you!''
''Oh well, thank you for being happy for me then.'' Lucas said dryly in deadpan voice.