FITDSLR | Chapter 3

The narrator’s cue arrived at just the right moment, announcing the start of the game. As the contestants dispersed with disappointed murmurs, Gyeol naturally turned away and slipped out of focus.

His heart was pounding violently.

He clasped his trembling hands together, rubbing them as he used the brief pause to look out at the sea.

Noticing his unusual state, Yoon Isu approached him.

“Gyeol-ssi, are you okay? Are you feeling unwell?”

“Oh—no, I’m fine. I’m just nervous since the game is about to start…”

He forced a smile, loosening his hands as if shaking off tension.

Isu nodded in understanding and lightly bounced on her feet.

“Ugh, I’m not even aiming for first place. I just hope I don’t come in last. I’m really bad at physical stuff.”

“Really? You don’t look like it.”

“Not at all. My agency told me to be careful not to end up as a viral fail clip.”

She cupped her hands around her mouth and whispered theatrically, then giggled. The more Gyeol observed her, the more he felt she was genuinely easygoing and pleasant.

“Let’s line up over here, Gyeol-ssi.”

Thanks to her, his anxiety eased slightly. Still, it was impossible to ignore Seo Yohan standing behind the cameras.

—

The Alpha group match began.

The Alphas, already warmed up and pumped from push-ups and stretching, lined up at the starting line. Each of them had overwhelmingly superior physiques, yet each body carried a different kind of presence.

“Wow… Choi Sun-ssi, seeing you in person is insane.”

Choi Sun, a former national swimming athlete, had broad, angular shoulders and a sharply tapered waist—a perfect inverted triangle.

“And Tommy-ssi is even more impressive than I expected.”

Tommy, a mukbang YouTuber who also produced fitness content, looked like a literal grizzly bear. His gentle face contrasted sharply with his massive frame and thick muscles.

“And Juno-ssi…”

At Isu’s whisper, Gyeol barely managed to keep his expression neutral.

Shin Juno’s upper body—so familiar from the past—had clearly been shaped by relentless discipline. His physique was noticeably more built than before, especially his sharply defined abs.

Gyeol suddenly remembered a YouTube short algorithm had once forced onto him: *“Top Idol Abs Ranking.”* It had been Shin Juno performing on stage, lifting his shirt mid-dance to reveal his abs and chest. Even the sharply defined iliac lines stood out.

So this was what it looked like in real life.

He really could have gone his whole life without seeing it.

“Woo-seok-ssi is a bit underwhelming by comparison.”

“Yeah. He’s not bad, but everyone else is just on another level.”

By contrast, Woo Seok had a leaner build overall—clearly a model-type physique. In this environment of extreme physical competition, he inevitably looked less imposing.

—BEEP!

—START!

The first game was a race through multiple obstacle zones.

From the very beginning, the Alphas exploded forward. Shin Juno and Choi Sun quickly pulled ahead.

Juno was agile, while Sun had superior endurance. The two of them traded first place repeatedly as they cleared obstacle after obstacle.

“Wow… this is insane.”

The decisive moment came at the sixth obstacle zone.

Shin Juno began to show fatigue, while Choi Sun pushed through with steady stamina, breaking past obstacles without hesitation.

In the final sprint across the sandy stretch, Juno managed to close the gap slightly, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the distance already created.

—Alpha group match winner: Choi Sun.

“Good work.”

“You were amazing.”

Juno, who finished second, exchanged a high-five with Choi Sun. Despite the loss, both men showed sportsmanship.

—The winner, Choi Sun-ssi, has earned a brunch date ticket. Tomorrow morning, he may select one Omega for a date.

Juno unscrewed a bottle of water and poured it over his head, frustration evident in his expression.

For Gyeol, this outcome was actually favorable. Fewer variables meant fewer risks.

—Next: Omega group match.

Finally, it was their turn. He had to start strong.

*I can do this.*

He had trained for this moment—running, grip strength, obstacle training, balance exercises.

Moreover, Gyeol was 180 cm tall—considerably tall for an Omega. The other Omegas were at least 5 cm shorter on average. Height would be an advantage in physical challenges.

—Prepare yourselves. The start signal will sound three times.

Beep—

Gyeol clenched his fist tightly.

—Beep—

The first course: semi-climbing.

A 2.5-meter inclined slope. Everyone would rush the center. Gyeol planned to take the edge.

—Beep!

—Start!

The Omegas sprinted forward.

And the first to reach the slope was Gyeol.

His judgment had been correct. While the others collided in the center, he climbed the edge cleanly and quickly.

“Wow, Gyeol-ssi is really fast!”

The Alphas reacted in admiration.

Without hesitation, he crossed the next obstacle—a slippery sponge bridge floating above the pool—and moved on smoothly.

By the time he reached the fourth obstacle, he was already far ahead of the others.

Rolling, jumping, clearing obstacles with ease, he hit the sand and immediately sprinted.

“He’s so fast!”

“He’s definitely winning first place!”

But just as victory seemed certain—

A scream rang out behind him.

Gyeol instinctively turned.

Yoon Isu had fallen far back, sitting on the ground and clutching her ankle.

She had likely twisted it.

*What do I do?*

The finish line was right ahead.

For a split second, his speed dropped as he looked back at her.

The other Omegas were closing in.

There was no time to hesitate.

Then her earlier words flashed through his mind:

*“I just hope I don’t come in last.”*

“Damn it.”

He changed direction.

And ran back.

“What—?!”

Gasps erupted from the Alphas. Even the other Omegas looked stunned as Gyeol reversed course.

*Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not doing this for anyone else.*

This is image management.

Helping her would ultimately create a better narrative for him.

…That was what he told himself as he reached Isu.

“Isu-ssi, are you okay?”

“Gyeol-ssi… you came back because of me?”

“Can you stand?”

“This is my fault… you were going to win first place…”

“Don’t worry about it. Just stand up.”

He pulled her arm over his shoulder and carefully lifted her.

Slowly, they began walking toward the finish line together.

Only after they crossed did the announcement come:

—Omega group match winner: Kang Heejoon.

Heejoon jumped in celebration, while Isu looked flustered and apologetic.

Gyeol shook his head and lightly patted her shoulder.

“It’s fine. I wanted to do it.”

“Gyeol-ssi…”

“Really. I just said it was for image anyway.”

At his reassurance, Isu looked deeply moved.

Losing victory at the very last moment stung, but Gyeol didn’t regret it.

Even if he told himself it was for appearances, deep down—he knew he would make the same choice again.

—

After the game, the contestants showered and changed before gathering in the outdoor kitchen-lounge for dinner.

“Choi Sun-ssi, have you decided on your brunch date?”

“Still thinking about it.”

“Guess you’re the cautious type.”

“It’s a precious opportunity.”

Listening in casually, Gyeol kept himself busy, moving around naturally. Shin Juno’s presence was slightly distracting, but the absence of Seo Yohan—who had been looming behind the cameras earlier—made him feel oddly relieved.

“Gyeol-ssi, your knife skills are insane.”

“Huh? Oh—it’s nothing.”

His hands paused mid-motion as he finely chopped green onions.

He had picked up the skill from years of working part-time jobs while raising a child.

Maybe he was showing off too much. But at this point, he might as well do things properly.

“Wow, this is so good!”

Gyeol cooked efficiently—egg rolls, cabbage stir-fried pork, simple but hearty dishes.

He ended up feeding not only the Omegas, who were too busy for cooking, but also the Alphas.

*Hmm. Not bad.*

A meal shouldn’t be skipped.

Satisfied with his cooking, Gyeol smiled faintly.

—

When it was time to check the first-choice mailboxes, Gyeol froze.

There were four Alphas, so receiving two cards would already be a strong start—anything more would be excellent.

But his mailbox was overflowing.

For a moment, he doubted his eyes and lightly bumped his forehead against the box—for the cameras.

Then, carefully regaining composure, he began pulling the cards out one by one.

One… two…

All four Alphas had chosen him.

But—

That wasn’t all.

He pulled out the final card.

“Why are there five?”

Five cards.

Not four.

One more than the number of Alphas.