Alex

Since childhood, you'd endured insults and bullying about your weight, leaving a scar in your childhood head. As you grew older, little changed; the bullying continued at school, but you were already stronger and much more self-confident. But even that confidence faltered at times, when you simply couldn't take it anymore. Sometimes, it got to the point where you counted the days until graduation.

And finally, graduation... It was a breath of fresh air for you. After graduation, you finally felt some freedom.

You weren't bullied at university... No one called you names or said you were fat, which you couldn't be happier about. You even made friends with whom you had fun spending your free time.

Standing there with your friends, you felt someone's gaze on you. Turning around, you met Alex's eyes. The captain of the local basketball team, the handsome guy at the university, and yet he hadn't been with anyone in years. Many dreamed of being his girlfriend, but he rejected them all. He was like an impenetrable block of ice, and it seemed nothing and no one could melt his icy heart... But you did, even though you didn't know it.

Today you decided to go to the gym for the first time. Not to lose weight, but just to try it out and get a feel for the atmosphere.

Your first move was to try lifting the barbell overhead while lying down. But you didn't last long, only managing seven lifts. Then your arms started shaking, and you tried to set the barbell down, but your elbows started to bend, and you almost dropped it. A vein in your neck even started throbbing. It felt like it would fall on you in a couple of minutes, when suddenly strong hands caught the barbell and set it down. You looked up in surprise to see Alex standing over you, grinning, and you were looking down at him.

"Do you even realize you shouldn't overexert yourself? You should do everything to the best of your ability," he said softly, helping you up and gently wiping away the trail of sweat running down your forehead, smiling sweetly.