Chapter 28: I Am Home
After enjoying life on the island, Jack finally headed home safely.
Before he left, Helena stopped him.
"Don't you dare call me… or message me," she said coldly, giving him a sharp glare. Then, after a pause, she added, "And I don't care… but go home safely."
Jack smiled softly.
Those were the motherly words I wanted from the beginning.
Without saying anything else, he turned and left.
Helena slowly removed her glasses, a faint smile appearing on her lips as she watched him go—just like a mother watching her little boy grow up and walk away on his own.
The moment Jack stepped inside the house, he asked the maid,
"Where is everyone?"
She gave him an address and said, "They were waiting for you there."
After freshening up, Jack rushed to the location.
But what place could it be?
Of course… the training hall.
He reached the door and pushed it open slowly—dramatically, like in a movie.
His eyes lifted.
And then… he froze.
Everyone was training intensely. Sweat dripped from their bodies, hitting the ground like a waterfall. On a side table, there was even a fish bowl—one small fish had jumped out and landed on the floor… but thanks to the "waterfall" of sweat, it was still alive.
Jack walked closer, mouth slightly open, observing each of them.
No one acknowledged him.
Then—
From upstairs…
A man stepped into view.
Slowly.
Barefoot against the cold floor.
White shorts resting low on his waist, a band tied across his forehead. His chest rose and fell with heavy breaths, each inhale deep, each exhale controlled. Sweat clung to his skin before slipping down—one drop at a time—tracing the sharp lines of his body like it had a purpose.
It slid down his neck…
Across his collarbone…
Lower… slowly… deliberately…
Jack's eyes followed without permission.
Step by step, the man descended, his presence alone enough to make the entire room feel smaller.
Closer.
Closer.
The sound of his breathing filled the silence.
Jack forgot where he was.
"HEY!! Why are you standing there?!"
The voice hit him out of nowhere.
Jack flinched.
The tension snapped instantly.
Smith.
Jack blinked rapidly, trying to recover—
But before he could even process it—
Another figure appeared from above.
This time…
It felt worse.
Red shorts.
Wet hair falling over his face, droplets slipping from the strands and falling onto his already drenched skin. His hand moved up, brushing his hair back slightly—revealing eyes sharp, calm… and dangerous.
His body glistened under the light, every muscle tense, every breath uneven—like he had just finished something far too intense.
Sweat rolled down from his temple…
Slid across his jaw…
Dropped onto his chest…
And continued its slow journey downward.
Jack's throat went dry.
"What are you looking at?"
A cold voice.
Sharp.
Direct.
Leo.
And just like that…
Jack's brain stopped working again.
Jack just stood there, covering his mouth, staring at them.
Then suddenly—
"Wait… what were you two doing upstairs while everyone is down here?"
He stepped back dramatically, shaking his head.
"Oh no… no way… boss, I can't believe this."
"W-what do you mean?" Smith asked, confused.
Leo simply stared at him.
Jhosan finally stopped his push-ups and spoke calmly,
"He means… it's okay. It's not a crime, you know. It's a trend these days. It's all about choice."
He casually placed his hand on Smith's shoulder and smiled sweetly.
Leo and Smith exchanged confused looks.
Meanwhile, Natasha and Nick were trying their absolute best not to burst out laughing.
Finally, Leo frowned.
"What are you talking about? What crime?"
Nick walked in, wiping his neck with a towel, trying to act serious.
"They mean…" he started, "when two opposite genders come out of the same room, sweating and breathing hard—it's normal."
He paused.
"But when two same gender people come out like that…" he pointed at Jack, "…it becomes a little hard to believe."
Jack and Jhosan nodded like they were speaking in secret code.
Nick, now too comfortable, said it directly.
Silence.
Then—
Leo and Smith's expressions darkened instantly.
Death stares.
Jack and Jhosan ran for their lives.
Nick… wasn't that lucky.
He got caught by Smith.
Leo casually brushed his shoulder as if cleaning dust.
"Come. I'll show you what two same-gender people do in a room… with a third one."
That somehow sounded even worse.
Natasha completely lost it—bursting into laughter and rolling on the floor.
Nick silently prayed for survival.
Finally, Leo spoke coldly,
"Each of you… three more hours of training."
Natasha immediately protested,
"But I didn't do anything!"
Smith glanced at her and said,
"You laughed. And you're still lying on the floor. That's enough."
And without wasting another second…
Everyone went back to training.