The shoot ed up, and Evan could feel exhaustiole deep into his muscles.
His skin was slick with sweat, even with the air-ditioning humming in the background. Every muscle in his body reminded him that he had just spent hours moving, holding positions, and trolling his body in ways he wasn’t used to.
álvaro, looking effortlessly unbothered as usual, cpped a hand on Evan’s shoulder as they stepped out of the set.
“Good work today, pol de oro,” he said, fshing a grin. “But don’t get too fortable just yet. We eat, therain.”
Evan huffed, still catg his breath. “That’s what you said yesterday.”
álvaro ughed. “And I’ll say it again tomorrow.”
With that, the group—álvaro, Eva, and a few crew members—headed to El Mirador del Fénix for lunch.
As they walked, Evan found his thoughts drifting back to the name of álvaro’s studio.
Fénix Roja Studios.
Yesterday, álvaro had mentioned why he chose that name. Not just because of the restaurant they always ate at, but because of what the phoenix represented.
Rebirth. Transformation.
Evan g álvaro as they walked.
The guy owned a mansion, ran his own studio, and carried himself like a man who had everything figured out. But he probably hadn’t always been this way. There was something in the way he talked about his past—small hints that suggested there had been struggles before all of this.
Evan filed that detail away.
***
El Mirador del Fénix had its usual rustic charm. The group sat down, their meals, the energy buzzing with post-shoot relief.
Midway through lunch, álvaro set down his drink and stretched.
“Alright, I o be ohis afternoon,” he said. “Gotta handle a se myself.”
Isabel smirked. “Full-time actor, part-time director?”
álvaro shot her a wink. “Multi-talented, cari?o.”
Theuro Senait.
“Do me a favour, take Evan to the studio gym after coffee. Kid needs more than just weights—he needs strength.”
Senait raised an eyebrow. “You just called him pol de oro, but now he’s a kid?”
“Eh, both things be true.”
Senait turo Evan, grinning. “Alright, Evan. Looks like you’re stuck with me.”
***
Back at the studio gym, Senait stepped he weight ptes and bars, pulling off her loose T-shirt to reveal a dark green sports bra and pression leggings that hugged her toned frame.
Evan, remembering what álvaro had doerday, pulled off his own shirt, going topless.
Senait gave him an amused look. “Oh? So we’re serious today?”
Evan rolled his shoulders. “Figured I’d it.”
She smirked. “Alright, blondie. Let’s see if you keep up.”
Evan wiped his palms against his joggers. “So, what are we starting with?”
“Weightlifting.”
Evan nodded. “Cool. I’ve been lifting for years.”
Senait shook her head. “Not weightlifting. Weightlifting—as in Olympic lifts.”
Evan frowned. “Like… what, snatches and s?”
“Exactly.”
Evan scratched his head. “Never learhose. Just stuck with regur barbell lifts.”
Senait grinned. “Then today’s your lucky day.”
She grabbed a wooden training stick from the rack. “We’ll start with the power . One of the best exercises for a porn actor.”
Evan choked. “I’m sorry, what?”
Senait lifted the stick, demonstrating the motion. “Think about it. Explosive hips, core stability, grip strength. All things you need o.”
Evan cleared his throat. “…I see your point.”
At first, Eva ridiculous lifting a wooden stick.
But Senait was methodical.
She corrected his form, adjusted his stance, and made sure he ulling the bar with his legs, not his arms.
After a few rounds, she sed the wooden stick for a 7.5 kg training bar.
By the time Evan had progressed to a 20 kg bar, he started feeling the meics clito pce.
“This is actually… kind of fun,” he admitted.
Senait smirked. “Told you.”
Once he he power , she moved him onto the jerk.
“Drive the bar up, split ys, stabilise, then recover.”
Evan followed her lead.
It felt awkward at first—but it made sense.
By the time they got to the snatch, Evan was drenched i.
Senait was relentless.
“Power. Speed. Precision.”
Evan gritted his teeth, dropping into a squat, catg the bar overhead.
Evan wiped the sweat off his brow and g her. “Hey, a random question. Are you from Ethiopia?”
Senait arched an eyebrow, clearly caught off guard. “Yeah. Why?”
Evan chuckled. “Just w. Your at—it reminded me of someone I used to know.”
Senait narrowed her eyes pyfully. “What, you’ve been stalking me or something?”
Eva out a ugh. “Rex, I’m not that dedicated.” He leaned against the barbell, catg his breath. “Ba school, there was this girl in my css. She was Ethiopian too. I remember she used to teach me random Amharic phrases when we were bored in lessons.”
“Oh? And did you actually remember any?” Senait smirked.
Evan scratched the back of his head. “Uh… not really. Just that it sounded kinda cool.”
Senait scoffed. “hat a schor. And here I thought I was about to hear something profound.”
“What I say? Teenage me wasly the most cultured guy.” Evan shrugged.
She gave him a knowing look. “And now?”
“Still w on it.”
Senait hummed as if sidering his ahen rolled her shoulders. “Alright, blondie, enough stalling. Back to work.”
“You really don’t let up, do you?” Evan groaned, shaking out his arms.
“Nope. set.”
They finished off with core circuits—pnks, hanging knee raises, and rotational work.
Evan, already wiped, struggled through the st pnk.
Senait stood over him, arms crossed. “You good down there?”
Evan grunted. “Totally fine.”
Senait leaned down slightly, her grin widening. “You sure? You’re shaking a little.”
Evan huffed, barely holding on. “I hate you.”
She chuckled, stretg her arms overhead. “No, you don’t.”
Evan colpsed onto his back. “I might.”
Senait smirked, nudging his leg with her foot. “Not bad. But you’ve got a long way to go.”
Evan exhaled, staring up at the ceiling.
Training. Shooting. Training again.
This wasn’t just a job.
It was a whole lifestyle.
“Thank you, Senait,” said Evan.
“For what?”
“Everything today.” Evan expined, “You were patient with me in the shoot. The way you taught me, pushed me, kept me on toes. I like that.”
Senait’s expression softened, but only slightly.
“Well, don’t get used to it.
“Evan.”
