Chapter 59: A Dangerous Kind of Attraction

Sabrina slowly lifted her head from Jason’s chest.

The tension that had filled the gym moments earlier was finally beginning to fade. Brandon and Derek were gone, the crowd had started returning to their workouts, and the sharp edge of fear in Sabrina’s eyes had softened.

She looked up at Jason.

For a moment, she simply stared.

Her eyes were bright with admiration, and there was something warmer hiding behind them now—something she was trying very hard not to reveal.

"I’m okay," she finally said, her voice soft.

Then a small smile appeared.

"But seriously... how are you this good?"

She gave him an incredulous look.

"You completely shocked me."

Jason chuckled.

"I guess I’m full of surprises."

Sabrina shook her head.

"That’s an understatement."

She had always thought of Jason as a young, slightly mischievous guy who liked teasing her.

He looked harmless.

Polite, even.

But watching him drop Brandon with a single punch had completely changed that image.

More than anything, though, it was the way he had stepped between her and danger without hesitation that stayed with her.

He hadn’t stopped to think about whether he might get hurt.

He had simply protected her.

For the first time in a long while, Sabrina had felt completely safe beside someone.

Ding!

[Sabrina’s favorability toward the host has increased by 5.]

[Current favorability: 80.]

Jason’s eyes flickered slightly at the notification.

He quickly hid his reaction.

Sabrina had no idea that her feelings were being measured by a mysterious system.

Jason smiled.

"I taught myself."

He couldn’t exactly tell her that the system had given him abilities far beyond anything he had trained for.

So that was the simplest answer.

Sabrina raised an eyebrow.

"Seriously?"

"Seriously."

She studied him suspiciously.

"You expect me to believe you taught yourself how to fight like that?"

Jason shrugged.

"Why not?"

Sabrina laughed under her breath.

"You really are full of surprises."

She was still standing close to him.

Perhaps a little too close.

Her fingers idly brushed against the front of his shirt as she looked up at him.

Then, almost as if the thought had escaped before she could stop it, she asked,

"So..."

Her voice became teasing.

"If you’re so talented, why do you keep coming to the gym?"

Jason looked at her.

Sabrina’s lips curved into a playful smile.

"Don’t tell me you’re secretly in love with me."

The moment the words left her mouth, she immediately regretted saying them.

Her cheeks warmed.

She lowered her eyes for half a second before looking back at him.

She was joking.

At least, that was what she wanted him to believe.

But deep down, she genuinely wanted to hear his answer.

What if he really did like her?

She knew there was a significant age gap between them. She was thirty, while Jason was only nineteen.

It was the kind of difference that should have made the idea impossible.

She knew that.

She had told herself that several times already.

And yet...

What if?

The question refused to disappear.

Jason noticed the anticipation hiding behind her teasing expression.

A mischievous smile slowly spread across his face.

"No."

Sabrina’s smile froze.

Jason continued innocently,

"Who said I’m secretly in love with you?"

The brightness in Sabrina’s eyes disappeared almost instantly.

Her heart sank.

For a brief second, she felt foolish for even asking.

Of course.

She looked away.

What was I thinking?

She was thirty.

He was nineteen.

How could someone like him seriously be interested in her?

She forced a small smile, trying to hide the disappointment that had suddenly settled over her.

Then Jason stepped closer.

"I’m openly in love with you."

Sabrina’s eyes snapped back to him.

"What?"

Before she could process his words, Jason gently lifted her chin.

Their eyes met.

The teasing smile on his face made her realize he’d deliberately let her misunderstand him.

"You..."

Sabrina’s cheeks turned bright red.

"You did that on purpose!"

Jason laughed softly.

"Maybe."

For a moment, neither of them moved.

They were close enough that Sabrina could feel the warmth of his breath.

Her heartbeat suddenly became impossible to ignore.

She could hear it pounding in her ears.

Jason’s gaze remained on hers.

The playful expression on his face softened.

Sabrina’s breath caught.

The distance between them seemed to disappear inch by inch.

Then, just as their faces drew close enough for the moment to become unmistakable, Sabrina suddenly snapped back to reality.

She quickly stepped away.

Her face was burning.

"You smooth-talking troublemaker!"

She lightly punched his chest.

"You just wanted to make me blush!"

Jason grinned.

"Did it work?"

Sabrina glared at him, though there was no real anger in her expression.

"Don’t push your luck."

She turned away quickly, trying to hide her smile.

"Come on. We’re here to train."

She walked toward the equipment area, her steps noticeably quicker than before.

Jason followed.

Behind her confident expression, Sabrina’s heart was still racing.

She couldn’t remember the last time someone had made her feel this nervous.

Ding!

[Sabrina’s favorability toward the host has increased by 10.]

[Current favorability: 90.]

[Mission Complete!]

[Mission: Build a strong relationship with your personal trainer, Sabrina Cole, and reach 90 favorability.]

[Reward: Hero Card ×1, Constitution +5.]

Jason’s eyes brightened.

Hero Card.

Now that was interesting.

The system’s explanation appeared immediately.

[Hero Card: The host may designate one member of the opposite sex as the "Evil Dragon."]

[When the host, designated as the Hero, deals damage to the Evil Dragon, the attack has a 100% critical-hit rate.]

[Critical hits have an increased chance of raising the target’s favorability.]

[Each critical hit will also provide the host with a corresponding monetary reward.]

Jason’s eyebrows rose.

That’s actually pretty useful.

The only question was who he should use it on.

At the same time, another notification appeared.

[Constitution +5.]

[Current Constitution: 83.]

A powerful sensation immediately spread through Jason’s body.

His muscles felt tighter.

His movements felt lighter.

Even his breathing seemed more controlled.

He flexed his fingers.

There was a strange sense of power in them now.

Jason couldn’t help imagining what would happen if he grabbed a heavy steel bar and squeezed with all his strength.

I might actually be able to bend it.

Before he could think about it any further—

Ding!

Another system notification appeared.

[As a devoted romantic, you are only one step away from completely winning a woman’s heart.]

[Take that final step, and a whole new world will open before you.]

Jason’s expression changed.

[Mission: Build a strong relationship with your personal trainer, Sabrina Cole, and reach 100 favorability.]

[Reward: $500,000, Charm +5.]

Then came one final notification.

[Important: When an individual’s favorability toward the host reaches 100, it will be permanently locked.]

[The individual will never betray the host.]

Jason’s eyes widened slightly.

Locked at 100?

A slow grin appeared on his face.

Now that was a powerful ability.

With something like this, he wouldn’t have to constantly worry about someone changing their mind or turning against him.

The system had essentially given him absolute loyalty once he reached the maximum favorability.

That’s definitely useful.

Jason was still thinking about the implications when a voice pulled him back to reality.

"Jason!"

He looked up.

Sabrina was standing several feet away, waving at him.

Her cheeks still had a faint blush.

"What are you spacing out for?" she asked. "Come over here."

Jason smiled.

"Coming."

He walked toward her.

They moved deeper into the gym, where rows of machines filled the training area. The air smelled faintly of rubber flooring and disinfectant, while the steady clatter of weights created a constant background rhythm.

Sabrina stopped beside an adductor machine.

She tapped the equipment.

"This is where we’re starting."

Jason looked at it.

The machine had a padded seat, adjustable leg supports, and a weight stack connected to the resistance mechanism.

Sabrina slipped into instructor mode.

"The first exercise I’m teaching you today is a classic."

She adjusted the machine carefully.

"It’s beginner-friendly, but don’t underestimate it. Done properly, it targets the inner thigh muscles and helps build strength and control."

Jason nodded.

Then he noticed her serious expression.

She was genuinely determined to train him properly.

After everything that had happened, Sabrina seemed even more invested in helping him.

"This is one of the exercises I want you to master," she added.

Jason smiled.

"One of the must-learn exercises?"

"Exactly."

"For men?"

Sabrina rolled her eyes.

"You always have to make everything into a joke, don’t you?"

Jason laughed.

"What? I’m just asking."

Sabrina shook her head.

"Fine. Come here."

She sat down on the machine and adjusted the settings.

"Watch carefully."

She placed her feet against the padded supports and slowly brought her legs inward against the resistance.

Her movements were controlled and deliberate.

"Don’t rush it," she explained. "Control the movement both ways. The goal isn’t to move the weight as fast as possible. It’s to make the muscles do the work."

Jason watched attentively.

Sabrina continued demonstrating the movement, occasionally pausing to explain the proper posture and breathing.

Under the bright gym lights, the instructor who had seemed so playful moments earlier was completely focused.

Professional.

Confident.

And determined to make sure Jason learned properly.

She finished the demonstration and looked over at him.

"Well?"

Jason smiled.

"I think I can handle it."

Sabrina narrowed her eyes.

"That confidence of yours is going to get you in trouble."

Jason stepped toward the machine.

"Only one way to find out."

Sabrina laughed.

"That’s the attitude. Now sit down and let’s see what you’ve got."

For the first time since the fight, the tension in the gym seemed to disappear completely.

The confrontation was over.

But for Jason and Sabrina, something else had just begun.