Chapter 20: I’m trying to fix my form. Can you help me?

"Are you using this rack for much longer?"

The woman asked.

Lucian looked at the rack.

Then at the three empty racks beside them.

What the...

And he frowned.

Why not use the other three?

He wondered, but then he shook his head.

It didn’t matter, it must be her lucky rack or something, he was done anyways.

"No."

He shook his head as he moved away.

"Oh. Great."

She smiled, but she didn’t move to the rack straight away, instead, she glanced at the plates.

"That was... impressive."

That was when Lucian finally realized what was happening and he...

He grinned.

"It really was, huh..."

The woman raised her eyebrows at those words.

"I expected a more humble response."

"Trust me, I am in shock."

"Are you now?"

She chuckled.

"I am."

Lucian nodded.

"I’m Rachel."

"Lucian."

"Do you train here often?"

She questioned.

Lucian stared at her for a second, then he laughed.

Three years.

He had trained here for three whole years.

"I am one of the regulars, yes."

"No way! Stop lying."

She raised her voice.

"There’s no way you are a regular, I would remember if I had seen you before."

"Again, trust me, you wouldn’t."

Lucian answered.

He knew because it was the truth, he had seen her almost every single week, their eyes had met a few times too, she just did not remember him enough to recognize him.

Rachel blinked at the odd answer.

Lucian just chuckled and stepped away from the rack.

"It’s all yours."

"Maybe you can check my squat form?"

She asked.

Lucian looked at her, then at her build.

"Your form is already good, perfect even."

"When did you see it?"

She raised her eyebrows.

"I told you before, didn’t I? I am one of the regulars."

"That means you have been watching me, huh?"

Rachel’s smile turned more playful. Lucian looked at her and his purple eyes glowed. His mind was clearer now, but that didn’t mean he was a saint.

With how boldly Rachel was moving, there was no way he would back down.

"Are you kidding me?"

He laughed.

"Have you seen yourself? You would notice you."

"Haha~ I’ll take that as a compliment."

She chuckled sheepishly.

"It was a compliment, and I don’t compliment people."

"That’s a lie, you seem like you do it very often."

Rachel smiled.

Lucian raised his hand.

"I am still learning.

My... glow up was quite recent, after all."

"Is that so...?"

"Mhm."

He nodded.

Then, he looked at the squat rack and—

"Do you want my help with the weights?"

He asked.

"If that means I get to talk to you more, then sure."

Lucian chuckled.

He re-racked the weights as he talked to Rachel, then, he excused himself. As much as he was enjoying their talk, he was here to test his new strength, that was more important.

After Squats, it was time for deadlifts.

Yes, he was getting rid of the most exhausting ones first.

He loaded the bar slowly. His old deadlift was 45 kg for 3 reps, but that number no longer meant anything.

He warmed up with 100 kg.

Then 180 kg.

230 kg.

250 kg.

Then finally, he loaded 270 kg.

By then, several people were watching openly. One of the trainers stood near the desk, looking at Lucian with a frown on his face.

Lucian noticed it all, he just didn’t care. His focus was on the bar.

He took a breath, gripped the bar and pulled.

The bar rose from the floor smoothly.

One.

Two.

Three.

All the way to eight.

When Lucian placed the bar back, his head felt heavy from strain. For a moment, he sat down on a nearby bench and closed his eyes.

270 kg. 8 reps.

He thought about it for a good moment, then, a smile appeared on his face.

After a while, he stood up and walked towards the dumbbells.

"Hey."

But before he could, another woman stepped into his path.

He recognized her too, one of the women Rachel used to hang out with. She looked slightly older, she had short black hair, strong legs and a confident posture.

*Picture*

"Hey."

Lucian smiled.

"I’m trying to fix my curl form. Can you help me?"

Lucian looked at her.

Again, this was a woman who used to hang out with Rachel, their group’s form was near perfect, but at this point, he was starting to understand this game.

But even then—

"Your curl form?"

He raised his eyebrows.

"Yes."

The woman nodded.

"You sure?"

"Why? Do I look hopeless?"

She tilted her head.

"No. You look like you know exactly how to curl."

Lucian’s grin widened.

That made her smile freeze for half a second, then she laughed.

"Do I...?"

"You do."

Lucian nodded.

"Vanessa."

She introduced herself.

"Lucian."

"I know."

She replied and that made him pause.

"I mean, Rachel told me."

She added.

"Ah."

Vanessa looked at him for a moment.

"Alright then, Vanessa.

Let’s work on your form."

"Oh? You are coming?"

Vanessa blinked in surprise.

"Do you not want me to?"

"O-Oh, of course not!"

She quickly shook her head and grinned inwardly. Rachel had told her all about their interaction, she also mentioned how he didn’t stay to ’look at her form’ but with her, it was different.

He was coming with her.

That was a good start.

She followed Lucian, then, Lucian looked around and picked up a 40 kg dumbbell.

"For curls?"

Vanessa’s eyes widened.

"Apparently."

Lucian muttered.

He stood in front of the mirror and... curled it.

One, clean rep—no swinging, no false momentum, steady elbow, still shoulders, controlled wrist—that focused just on his biceps.

Then another, and another, and another.

Ten reps, with perfect form.

By the tenth rep, his bicep was burning, but he didn’t let that affect his form, he forced himself to move.

Then, he switched arms.

Ten reps again.

"That is insane."

Vanessa stared with wide eyes.

"Good insane or something is definitely off with this guy insane?"

"Maybe both."

"Fair."

He nodded.

She laughed, then, she stepped closer.

"Can you actually teach me now?"

Lucian looked at her, his nose smelled her scent, that warm, sweet smell mixed with her sweat, and along with it was that same strange sweet scent that came from Rachel.

It made him frown because... no two scents were exactly the same, at least, he hadn’t smelled any till now. Even the scent of two flowers of the same type was different.

Then...

Was it not her scent but... something else?

Was it... something related to his transformation?

When he thought of it that way, it became more important, so he started thinking even more.

What did both Rachel and Vanessa have in common?

They loved gym, they worked out, but many here did, he didn’t feel that scent from anyone else.

Then was it...

Desire...?