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. “Why are you hiding? Come in if you want to have a look.”
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 flip-flops 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 6’4.
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 couldn’t even make it budge one bit. Thus, she bent over and tried to lift it again.
“Don’t force yourself if you can’t do it.” He smiled in amusement as he placed his hands on his hips. She still wasn’t convinced. “I can do it.. Just wait and see.”
“I will, but you’ll hurt your muscles if you push yourself too hard. Try jogging.” 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 didn’t suit her after all. She also lost her balance in that split second as she turned off the treadmill.
“Oof!” 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.
“My parents are back. I have to leave this afternoon,” she said as she raised her head to look at him. He stared down at her. “Really?”
“Yes. I need to go home and help with cleaning the house. I’ll have to go after lunch,” she said with obvious reluctance. He didn’t want to let her go either, yet he still sighed while reassuring her, “It’s okay. You can go home first.”.
“Can we still see each other often?”Ruka asked anxiously, worried that his position wouldn’t give them the chance to meet up.
‘I’ll contact you when I have the time,” Ren reassured. Ruka knew how lucky she had been, staying in his home and getting the chance to see him all the time.
“Okay.” She nodded. She knew she couldn’t be too demanding, after all.
He continued to hold her, rubbing his chin against her hair, then kissing her forehead. Finally, she wrapped her arms around his neck and went on her tiptoes, initiating a kiss for the first time.
Her beauty, illuminated by the sunlight, made his heart race. He placed one hand around her waist and the other on her cheek, leaning down to accept her kiss.
“Ruka,” he murmured into her lips, holding her tightly with a soft look. She raised her head to meet his gaze. She could feel her world getting brighter being loved by this man was such a privilege.
Ren whispered in her ear, “My birthday is on Christmas Eve. Make sure you make plans for that day.”
Ruka blushed and teased him on purpose, “What if I forgot to get you a present?”
“If you forget about it, you’ll be the present for me to unwrap.” He emphasized the last word, making it sound wholly intimate.
