บท 59: The Contest Begins I

Nia's POV

The sun peeked through the curtains, gently pulling me out of sleep. My eyes flickered open, and the first thing I noticed was the empty space beside me in our big, cozy bed. This morning, though, the emptiness wasn't cold or lonely; it was comforting, knowing Juan wasn't sick or gone, just up before me. I felt a small smile dance on my lips at the thought.

Getting out of bed, I gathered my tangled, sleep-mussed hair into a rough ponytail, securing it with a scrunchie. I moved quietly, almost on tip-toes, drawn by curiosity towards the gym room. There, through the slightly ajar door, I saw Juan, engulfed in his workout, muscles flexing with each lift of the bar, focused and intense.