Chapter 6 Temptation At The Gym

• The morning light hadn’t fully crept into the room when I woke up. The sky outside the window was still gray, blurred with the remnants of nighttime mist, the sun yet to show itself, but the cool morning air was already seeping through the balcony door’s cracks, carrying the faint scent of damp earth that reminded me of the village.
• My awareness snapped back, and memories of last night hit me without mercy, Sis Elin sleeping beside me. I quickly glanced at the side of the bed, my hand brushing the empty blanket next to me, the sheets slightly crumpled but bearing no trace of her presence. She was gone. I let out a sigh of relief, my shoulders slumping as if a small weight had fallen from them like a stone finally slipping from my grip. Maybe she’d returned to her room in the middle of the night, maybe she really only needed someone to chase away her loneliness for a while. I was grateful nothing had happened, nothing I didn’t want, nothing I’d feared since she entered my room last night with cautious steps and that familiar scent of soap.
• I rose from the bed, my feet touching the glossy, cold floor, its tiles reflecting my faint silhouette. My clothes were still simple: a faded, worn-out shirt I’d brought from the village and shorts slightly torn at the hem, but I didn’t care. In this house, I felt like a guest who’d wandered into the wrong place, but these clothes were part of me, a reminder that I didn’t belong to the luxury surrounding me. I stepped onto the balcony, the glass door opening with a soft creak, craving the fresh morning air, hoping it could clear my mind of Sis Elin’s lingering shadow, her enigmatic smile.
• A gentle breeze brushed my face, carrying the scent of wet grass from the yard below, mixed with the faint smell of cool asphalt. The housing complex before me was still quiet, only the distant chirping of small birds breaking the silence. But the calm didn’t last long. A sound of rapid, slightly tired breathing snapped me out of my reverie, like a slap shattering my daydream. I squinted toward the corner of the balcony, to the small gym I’d used yesterday.
• Sis Elin was running on the treadmill, her steps rhythmic with the machine’s hum, her sneakers tapping the rubber belt in a steady beat. I froze for a moment, unable to stop myself from watching. So she’s into exercise, I thought, and suddenly I understood why her body was so stunning, slender yet curvaceous, like a sculpture carefully chiseled, every line crafted to steal your breath.
• This morning, she wore tight black athletic wear, the fabric clinging perfectly to her skin, tracing every curve of her body. The top hugged her slim waist, accentuating her full chest, and the leggings shaped her long, smooth legs, her white calves glinting whenever the morning light touched them. Her hair was tied high in a ponytail, swaying with her steps, though a few sweat-dampened strands clung to her white neck. I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry, and chose not to approach, not wanting to disturb her, or, more accurately, not wanting to disturb myself again.
• I stood near the balcony railing, my hands gripping the cold, dew-slick metal, pretending to admire the quiet complex, its grand houses looking like empty palaces, but my eyes occasionally stole glances at her.
• But Sis Elin wasn’t someone easily ignored, like a flower that draws bees even without trying. “Riko, you’re up?” she called suddenly, her voice slightly breathless but still soft, cutting through the morning silence. She didn’t slow her run, her legs still moving rhythmically, but her eyes flicked toward me, glinting in a way that jolted my heart.
• I turned, offering an awkward smile, my lips stiff as wood. “Yeah, Sis,” I replied shortly, trying to sound casual, but my voice came out hoarse as if caught in my throat. I forced my eyes to stay on her face, but her tight athletic wear was like a magnet, pulling my attention to places I shouldn’t linger.
• “Come here,” she beckoned, her hand giving a small wave while she kept running, a faint smile appearing on her face. The treadmill hummed softly, accompanying her voice, which felt too familiar for a morning just beginning.
• I hesitated, my feet heavy, but for some reason, my body moved toward her, as if pulled by an invisible string. The closer I got, the clearer her athletic wear outlined her body, tight at the waist, her chest rising and falling with each breath. My heart suddenly raced, and I felt my blood coursing faster, heating my face. From a distance, I could control myself and hide my curious eyes, but now, her running motion made her chest move in an almost hypnotic rhythm. Tiny beads of sweat trickled down her neck, shimmering in the dim morning light. I swallowed again, my throat feeling like a desert, and I knew my eyes couldn’t lie—I was staring too long, too obviously.
• “Don’t stare at me like that, or I’ll get flattered,” she said suddenly, her teasing tone light but with a mischievous glint in her eyes. She kept running, but her head tilted slightly, catching my expression with a precision that sent shivers down my spine.
• I flinched, quickly looking away to the balcony’s side, to the glass railing reflecting my blurred image, my face burning like it was on fire. “Sorry, Sis. Didn’t mean to,” I mumbled, mortified at being caught, my voice nearly gone. I cursed myself inwardly, why couldn’t I control these damn eyes?
• Sis Elin grinned widely, her white teeth gleaming. “You like working out, right? Come on, join me. Let’s exercise together,” she invited, her voice full of enthusiasm as she slowed the treadmill, her nimble fingers pressing buttons until the machine gave a soft creak and stopped. She eased her pace, her legs swinging gently.
• I couldn’t refuse. After all, exercise was my habit in the village, even with makeshift tools, cement-filled cans, running along rice field paths, or lifting firewood for my mother. Here, with dumbbells that had comfortable grips and a treadmill humming like a futuristic machine, I felt a piece of myself still intact. I nodded, my lips stiff, then grabbed a pair of 5-kilogram dumbbells from the rack beside me, the metal cold in my hands, their weight just right, as I remembered.
• I stood in front of the treadmill, trying to focus on the movements I’d make, counting reps in my head like a mantra, one, two, three. But my position was a mistake, a fatal one. Her movements, now right in front of me, made her chest sway clearly, her flat white stomach so tempting.
• I hurriedly moved behind her, hoping it was safer, hoping I could lock my gaze on the dumbbells alone. But I was wrong again, and this time it was worse. From this angle, her backside was even more visible, her hips swaying slightly as she walked slowly, her tight leggings clinging like a second skin, cruelly outlining every curve. I bit my lip inwardly, grumbling to myself for not controlling my eyes, for not controlling my body reacting like a young man just discovering the world.
• “Focus, Jericho,” I whispered in my head, but the voice was weak, drowned by the rush of blood in my ears.
• “What’s with you, Riko? Moving back and forth, when are you going to start?” Sis Elin asked suddenly, her voice half-annoyed but with a hint of amusement. She turned off the treadmill completely, her steps stopping and stepping down, her breathing still slightly labored, her chest rising and falling more slowly now, but still enough to make me look away again.
• I froze, the dumbbells still in my hands, unable to answer. She grabbed a small towel from the treadmill’s edge, the white fabric slightly damp with her sweat, and wiped her forehead and neck with casual movements, each swipe seemingly designed to draw my attention. Then she sat on the weightlifting bench right in front of me, crossing her legs gracefully, and I felt a slight relief; at least now, there was no motion tempting my gaze. I started lifting the dumbbells, focusing on my arm muscles tensing with each rep, the metal glinting in the morning light, my breathing steady like a familiar rhythm.
• But the calm didn’t last. Whether intentional or not, and I was starting to suspect it wasn’t a coincidence, Sis Elin dropped her small towel to the floor. She bent to pick it up, her back fully to me, her hips raised, her tight leggings revealing a shape I couldn’t avoid. My heart stopped for a moment, my breath catching in my throat. She did it casually, her fingers reaching for the towel with slow movements, as if unaware of the effect on me, but even a fool would know she was aware. Then she stood, glancing back briefly, her eyes catching mine in an instant, and the small smile on her face felt like a victory declaration.
• “I’m going to shower first and order breakfast,” she said lightly. She walked off the balcony, her steps graceful like a dancer’s, her tight athletic wear still hugging her body, leaving me standing alone with the dumbbells gripped tightly, my fingers stiff as if clutching something intangible.
• Relief crept into my chest, but the tension didn’t truly fade. Mornings were always tough for me, men’s bodies are most sensitive upon waking, blood flowing faster, thoughts wilder. And what I’d seen just now… I glanced down, and sure enough, my shorts were tight, the fabric strained. “Damn,” I muttered softly, my face heating up again. I set the dumbbells down with a soft clank, walked to the balcony railing, and leaned there, letting the cold metal soothe my heated skin, trying to calm myself with the brightening morning air.
• The sun finally emerged, its first rays breaking the horizon, bathing the complex below in golden hues. But my mind couldn’t escape Sis Elinher's movements seemed designed for me. I shook my head slowly, reminding myself that I was here to work, to chase the simple dream I brought from the village, not to drown in this temptation.