Friday Morning – January 27th, Brooklyn University Athletic Hall
Elena Grey didn't frequent the gym.
It wasn't her aesthetic. Sweat, grunts, ego-lifting—none of it ever felt worth her time.
But today, she sat alone on a bench tucked near the far corner of the hall—disguised behind a baseball cap and a neutral-toned hoodie. The morning crowd hadn't even fully arrived yet. And still… she was here.
Because he was here.
Ethan Vale.
Third-year. Barely social. Arrogantly silent.
A man who'd refused co-authoring a paper with Professor Denz, in front of Denz and two senior faculty members. A proposal that would've catapulted him into academic spotlight. National recognition. University-wide prestige.
And he just said, "No. I don't do limelight experiments."
Like he was above the system.
Like he had his own.
Now, he stood in the middle of the university's exercises' zone—surrounded by empty air and padded flooring—shirt discarded, black training pants slung low around his V-cut hips.
He was built like function carved into form. Not swollen. Not a show-off.
No noise, no playlist. Just his body… performing.
He moved from pseudo planche pushups to explosive tuck jumps, then right into a clean muscle-up on the horizontal bar. Every movement was measured—quiet but violent in its intent. The kind of discipline no one taught in classes.
Elena swallowed hard.
She had hugged him days ago. Clumsily. Her lips had betrayed her: "Be my boyfriend." She still replayed how awkward it sounded. But his rejection hadn't humiliated her.
It had disarmed her.
He didn't laugh. He didn't judge. He just said a few words. Just enough.
And walked away—cool, unreadable, untouchable.
That alone should've made her drop him from her mental list. But here she was.
Her eyes scanned him again.
Every repetition, every breath—precise. He wasn't here to be seen.
He was here to forge. Something inside him. Something hidden.
From the corner, John—the red-haired, slightly grumpy friend she'd seen Ethan with before—walked by holding two burgers and a soda cup, stopping mid-step.
"Bro... you serious right now?" John muttered, watching as Ethan hung upside down in a dragon flag hold, muscles tense like coiled steel.
Ethan didn't respond.
John sat down a few feet away, stuffing fries into his mouth, eyes wide. "I swear,in last years you were just a silent guy with a bookshelf addiction. Now look at you. You're built like a quiet prison break."
Still no response.
Elena smirked quietly.
Even his best friend didn't get him. That was… hypnotizing.
"Who are you?" she whispered under her breath, not realizing her voice had formed the words aloud.
"Looks like someone's finally worth watching, huh?"
A soft voice spoke beside her—Vivienne Smith, student council president and her closest ally. She hadn't noticed her walk in.
Vivienne's eyes stayed on Ethan. Calm. Analytical. But something flickered behind them.
Elena nodded slowly. "…He doesn't train like the others."
"No. He doesn't exist like the others."
They both fell into silence.
Across the gym, Ethan dropped into a squat, arms forward, movement flawless. He paused halfway down—holding it for 30 seconds. Barely blinking. Heartbeat controlled. Like time bent around him.
Elena's fists tightened inside her hoodie sleeves.
She was Victor Grey's daughter. The university's heir, if such a thing existed.
She wasn't used to curiosity. She was used to control.
But watching Ethan now…
For the first time in years, Elena Grey had no idea what to do with herself.