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.

Chapter 40: One Last Year, One Full Heart


The doctor's words echoed in Jake's mind long after the door closed behind them.


> "Make this year the best for him… it might be his last."


Instead, he clenched his fists gently, looked up, and whispered to himself,


The ride home from the hospital was quiet, but filled with a new kind of warmth.


Jake's father sat beside his wife in the back seat, resting his head on her shoulder. Marcus was driving, and Elena sat beside Jake in the passenger seat, humming along to an old song playing softly on the radio.


Jake looked out the window, sunlight spilling in like gold.


For the first time in years, the car felt full. His family felt whole.


Back at their home, laughter returned like an old friend.


Jake helped his dad into his favorite chair, the one that creaked too much but no one ever dared throw out. His mother brought out some tea and homemade curry puffs, and Elena helped set the table while Marcus joked about her nearly burning the kitchen last week.


Jake sat across from them, just watching. Memorizing their faces. Their voices. Their joy.


It was messy, loud, imperfect—and beautiful.


"Why are you staring like I'm gonna disappear?"


Jake laughed. "Because you're too handsome, old man."


Everyone laughed. Even his father, coughing a bit as he did.


Later that night, as the sky turned orange with dusk, Jake cleared his throat.


"Hey… I want to invite all of you to visit my gym. Where I work. Where I've… kinda built a life."


Jake scratched his cheek. "I mean… yeah."


"Alright then," Marcus smirked. "Make it worth my time. I only get a few holidays, you know."


Elena leaned in, smiling. "I want to meet your friends. Especially the ones who helped you become this new Jake."


"A-alright. But don't expect anything crazy."


"We're proud of you, Jake. Let us see where your heart lives now."


And for the first time in a long time, he wasn't walking forward alone.


Chapter 42 - One Last Year, One Full Heart