Hugo wiped the sweat off his brow, his focus now split between maintaining his yoga poses and devising a master plan to get Luna's attention.
He recalled Sanchez's so-called "expert" advice about impressing won:
"Be subtle but irresistible. Show confidence, but don't overdo it. Basically, make her feel like the sun rises and sets because of you—but casually."
'Casually,' Hugo thought. 'Right. How do I do that while balancing on one foot like a flamingo?'
Luna had been weaving through the studio, adjusting poses and complinting people's efforts.
But despite Hugo's nurous attempts—like holding Warrior Pose just a little longer than everyone else or pretending to ditate deeply during Child's Pose—she hadn't spared him a second glance.
'Why is she ignoring ? I'm sweating buckets over here! Maybe I'm too subtle. Yeah, that's it.'
"Now," Luna announced, her lodic voice cutting through the room, "we're going to transition into Tree Pose. Stand up, balance on one leg, and rest the other foot against your inner thigh or calf. Rember, yoga is about finding your centre."
Hugo stood up, determined to impress her this ti. 'Alright, Hugo, this is your chance. Balance, elegance, and maybe a little smoulder. Let's do this.'
He raised one leg, wobbling slightly, and positioned his hands in a prayer gesture. To his left, Daphne was already swaying like a leaf in a storm.
"Steady, steady," he muttered to himself, his eyes flicking to Luna, who was demonstrating the pose flawlessly at the front. 'Look at those legs. She's like a gazelle. Focus, Hugo, focus.'
But just as he was starting to feel confident, a sudden thump beside him broke his concentration.
"Whoa!" Daphne yelped, her arms flailing as her leg buckled.
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"Daphne, no!" Hugo whispered harshly, but it was too late. She toppled like a sack of potatoes—straight into him.
Hugo tried to brace himself, but Daphne's weight knocked him off balance. He stumbled backwards and crashed into the petite old lady behind him.
"Good heavens!" the woman shrieked as she fell into the guy next to her.
And just like that, the studio turned into a giant ga of human dominoes.
'Oh no. Oh no no no!' Hugo thought as he hit the floor, pinned under Daphne's considerable weight.
The chain reaction continued, with people tumbling over each other in slow-motion horror. Mats slid, limbs flailed, and soone shouted, "My knee!"
By the ti the dust settled, half the class was sprawled on the floor, groaning in various states of discomfort.
Hugo lay sprawled on the mat, staring at the ceiling. He felt like he'd just survived an earthquake caused by human dominoes, with Daphne being the epicentre.
People around him groaned as they slowly untangled themselves from the pile of limbs.
An old man mumbled sothing about his hip, while the guy next to him complained about losing his water bottle in the chaos.
Sowhere in the corner, soone was yelling, "Who stepped on my face?"
Hugo, anwhile, was pinned under Daphne, who was still sitting on his legs, looking blissfully unaware of the destruction she'd caused.
"Oops," she said cheerfully. "My bad!"
'Your bad? I'm one fall away from needing a chiropractor!' Hugo thought, but he forced a polite smile.
Just then, Luna ca rushing over, her face filled with concern. She knelt beside Hugo, her curly hair bouncing as she looked him over.
"Is everyone alright?" Luna asked, her voice as smooth as honey.
Hugo's heart skipped a beat. This was it. His chance to turn this disaster into destiny. He activated Aura of Alpha, letting his voice drop into a deep, confident tone.
"Well," he said, locking eyes with her, "I think I've fallen for soone here... but not quite how I imagined."
Luna blinked, then smiled softly, a faint blush colouring her cheeks.
'Yes! Nailed it! Sanchez, you glorious genius!' Hugo thought triumphantly.
But before he could bask in his victory, Daphne piped up loudly.
"Hugo, are you okay? I didn't an to fall on you!"
He gritted his teeth. "I noticed."
"Oh, Hugo's just the sweetest!" Daphne turned to Luna, beaming. "I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Daphne, and I'm Hugo's date today!"
Hugo felt his soul leave his body.
'Daphne, why? WHY?! Why do you want to beco a villain!!'
Luna's polite smile flickered for a mont. "Oh... I see," she said, stepping back slightly.
Inside, Hugo was in full panic mode. 'Date?! What is she talking about? This isn't a date! It's a hostage situation with yoga mats! I'm a free man!'
He forced a stiff smile, trying to salvage the mont. "Daphne, you don't have to—"
"Oh, Hugo's been so supportive of trying yoga!" Daphne interrupted, patting his shoulder like he was so kind of emotional support animal.
Luna's expression turned even more distant. "Well, as long as no one's hurt," she said politely. "Let's continue with the class."
She walked off, her long legs carrying her gracefully to the front of the room, leaving Hugo in the wreckage of his ruined plan.
As the class resud, Hugo sat cross-legged, fuming internally.
'This isn't over. I don't care how many Daphnes or yoga disasters get in my way. Luna, you will notice . You will talk to . And by the end of this class, you'll know I'm not just so random guy tangled in a yoga pile-up!'
Daphne leaned closer, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"Hugo, you're so red! Are you okay?" she asked, looking genuinely concerned.
"I'm fine," he said flatly.
But inside, he was far from fine. He was a man on a mission. This wasn't just about yoga anymore.
This was war. Luna didn't know it yet, but she was about to experience the full force of Hugo's determination.
Nothing—not Daphne's ddling, not falling dominoes, not even a yoga class full of witnesses—would stop him now.
_____
Power stone Goal!
50 PS - 1 Bonus chapter
100 PS - 2 Bonus chapter
200 PS (Quite an achievent as of now) - 3 Bonus chapters.
Castle - 20 Bonus Chapters!
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