NHI04

Jake, a once cheerful class clown hiding deep emotional scars, finds himself homeless after years of failure and rejection—banished by his family, haunted by a past love, and unsure of his worth. Sleeping at bus stops and eating cheap meals, Jake’s path crosses with Alex, a silent, muscular gym owner carrying wounds of his own.

Alex offers Jake more than just a roof—he gives him purpose.

As they clean up the dusty gym and begin rebuilding their lives, the unlikely friendship blossoms into something powerful. Jake uses humor and heart to promote the gym, while Alex becomes the mentor Jake never had. Together, they begin healing from their pasts—until a passionate baker named Alya enters their world with dreams of sweetness and success.

In a quiet corner of the city, through barbells, buttercream, and broken hearts, three people discover that sometimes, the recipe for healing starts with a little laughter, a few reps… and a whole lot of cake.

A Taste of Healing

It was just after closing time when Jake noticed something was off.

Alex stood by the window, arms crossed, staring out into the quiet street. His expression wasn't angry. Just… thoughtful. And strangely soft.

Jake tilted his head. "Hey, coach. You planning to fight the moon, or…?"

Alex blinked, then chuckled weakly. "No. Just thinking."

Jake walked over, leaned against the counter, and crossed his arms to match him. "You good?"

Alex hesitated, then slowly nodded. "I am. It's just… weird. A lot of people are showing up lately. People actually coming here. Staying. Laughing. Getting stronger."

He looked down at his calloused hands.

"I don't know how to say it but… I feel grateful. Happy, even. I want to do something for them. But I don't know what."

Jake lit up like a firework. "Say no more—I got you."

Jake grinned wide. "We hold a NEWCOMER DAY—an event for everyone at the gym! Like a celebration-slash-get-together. You know, sitting in a circle, sharing stories, talking about what brought them here. Everyone's got something."

Alex looked surprised. "You think people would go for that?"

Jake nodded. "You'd be shocked how many folks want someone to just listen to them."

Jake kept going, the idea building in real time. "We do three days. Day one, everyone gets to bond—maybe we cook something simple, like barbecue or sandwiches. Day two, we go outside, maybe hiking, or team games. Something fun. Day three, back at the gym: everyone sets new goals, maybe even small challenges."

Alex looked stunned. "That's… actually genius."

Jake gave a little bow. "Thank you, thank you. My brain occasionally works."

Alex chuckled, then blinked. "Wait. What about the gym? We can't leave it closed for three days."

Jake smirked. "That's the best part. While everyone's out, we renovate. A fresh coat of paint, fix the broken fans, maybe add a new pull-up bar. With the money we've been making, we can upgrade a lot."

Alex raised an eyebrow. "You want to renovate the gym… while running an event?"

Jake nodded, a spark in his eyes. "At night. While everyone's sleeping from too much hiking and social bonding."

Alex laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "So you want us to do all of it? You know I don't trust hiring strangers."

Jake shrugged. "Good. Me neither. We're the dream team, right?"

There was a moment of silence. Then Alex broke into a wide grin.

"You're a genius," he said. "Still can't figure out how you flunked your exams."

Jake smirked. "Too much Red Bull. Melted my brain. Now I'm legally dumb, emotionally unstable, and a full-time idea machine."

They both laughed, the kind that echoed through the gym like warm thunder.

Alex clapped Jake on the back. "Let's do it, partner."

And just like that, the plan for Newcomer Day was born—built from gratitude, hope, and a stubborn desire to make broken people feel whole again.

The Dumbest Genius