Ruka headed toward the gym. It was a winter morning, yet it felt warm and sunny, greatly affecting her mood. She peered into the gym from the other side of the glass to see Ren doing pushups, hands pressed against the floor and body taut with strength. His workout shorts revealed his perfectly muscled thighs, and she could probably see the veins all over his body from how hard he was working out.
She suddenly felt breathless for no reason and looked away. Her mouth felt parched as her eyes wandered back, unable to stop herself from admiring him.
Finally, he got to his feet and turned toward the doorway with a smile. âWhy are you hiding? Come in if you want to have a look.â
Ruka froze at once. How had Ren known she was there? She had been discovered anyway, so she walked determinedly into the gym.
She felt tiny in her flipâflops as she stood before him. Since the top of her head only reached his chin, she had to look up at him. He probably was around 6â4.
Suddenly she felt the urge to prove her stamina, so she glanced at the dumbbells and walked toward them. She tried to lift one, but it refused to yield and stayed where it was. She felt slightly skeptical that she couldnât even make it budge one bit. Thus, she bent over and tried to lift it again.
âDonât force yourself if you canât do it.â He smiled in amusement as he placed his hands on his hips.
She still wasnât convinced. âI can do it. Just wait and see.â
âI will, but youâll hurt your muscles if you push yourself too hard. Try jogging.â He looked at her dotingly.
Left with no choice, she moved on to the treadmill while Ren watched on the side. Soon, she was a little out of breath. It seemed that working out didnât suit her after all. She also lost her balance in that split second as she turned off the treadmill.
âOof!â She fell right into his arms, and he wrapped them around her waist in a tight embrace. She could smell his sweat, yet she found the scent attractive.
âMy parents are back. I have to leave this afternoon,â she said as she raised her head to look at him.
He stared down at her. âReally?â
âYes. I need to go home and help with cleaning the house. Iâll have to go after lunch,â she said with obvious reluctance.
He didnât want to let her go either, yet he still sighed while reassuring her, âItâs okay. You can go home first.â