Chapter 2
Amanda stepped out of Senzo’s car, feeling a strange mix of vulnerability and relief. She had avoided looking him directly in the eyes during the drive, but when he handed her his phone to get her number, she couldn't bring herself to refuse. It felt like a challenge, and for reasons she couldn't quite explain, she gave it to him.
The walk to the shop seemed longer than usual as her thoughts circled back to that moment in the car. Was he just being polite? Or was there something more to that smile? She couldn't tell, but one thing was clear—she hadn't expected him to ask for her number.
Over the next few days, Amanda was surprised at how often she found herself looking at her phone, checking for new messages from Senzo. It started off innocently enough—just casual hellos, jokes, and updates on each other's days. But the texts kept coming, and soon it felt like she was always waiting for the next one.
One afternoon, while taking a break at the shop, Amanda found herself chuckling at a message from Senzo.
Senzo: “Every time I see you at the gym, you look like you're about to lift a car. When do I get to see that in action?”
It was playful, flirtatious, and a little charming in its own way. Amanda smiled, not expecting it to have such an effect on her, but it felt... nice. No pressure, just simple fun.
Their conversations became a regular part of her day. Sometimes, they joked about random things, other times they talked about their daily lives. She never really opened up about anything personal, and neither did he. They kept things light. It was easy, stress-free, and Amanda liked that.
Though she told herself it was just a bit of harmless flirting, something about Senzo kept drawing her in. His texts, his jokes, the way he seemed to make even the mundane parts of her day seem a little more interesting. She wasn’t looking for anything serious, just some distraction from the heaviness of her life.
At her Father's shop, as Amanda was behind the counter, Luyanda walked in. It had been a while since they had hung out, so it didn’t take long for Luyanda to notice that Amanda was a little distracted.
“What’s up with you? You’ve been glued to that phone all day,” Luyanda said, her voice teasing.
Amanda looked up from her phone and rolled her eyes. “It’s nothing. Just some guy from the gym texting me.”
Luyanda raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Some guy from the gym? Uh-huh. What’s his name again?”
“Senzo,” Amanda replied casually, trying to downplay it. “We just talk sometimes. No big deal.”
Luyanda smirked. “Right, no big deal. You two texting all day sounds pretty serious to me.”
Amanda shrugged, but there was a small smile tugging at her lips. “Honestly, it’s just harmless. We talk about random stuff, nothing deep.”
Luyanda leaned in, clearly not convinced. “Uh-huh, sure. So what’s this about him making fun of you lifting a car? Sounds like he’s into you.”
Amanda laughed lightly. “He’s just joking around. I’m not into him, and he’s not into me. We’re just having fun.”
Luyanda chuckled, clearly skeptical. “Uh-huh, sure. Just remember what I said when you end up with a crush on him.”
Amanda rolled her eyes again, trying to brush off Luyanda’s teasing. “I’m serious, it’s nothing. Just fun.”
Luyanda leaned back, still smirking. “Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you. I’ll be here when it all goes sideways.”
Amanda shook her head, but she couldn’t completely shake off the thought of Senzo. It wasn’t that she was looking for anything serious, but his constant attention made her feel... seen, in a way she hadn’t felt in a long time. Even though she wasn’t sure where things were headed, she couldn’t help but feel drawn to him.
As the day went on, Amanda glanced at her phone every now and then, waiting for Senzo's next message. She wasn’t sure what was going on, but part of her, despite everything she told herself, wanted to see where this could go.
Life was at its usual grind-Amanda and Luyanda still hit the gym every day, both of them impressed by how their bodies were shaping up. Amanda had been hitting the weights hard, pushing herself to new limits. She was starting to see the difference, feeling stronger, and more confident in herself. Luyanda, of course, was always full of energy, teasing Amanda about how much muscle she was packing on.
"You're seriously going to start outlifting me soon," Luyanda said, laughing as they finished their set of squats. "I can't keep up with you!"
Amanda smiled, wiping sweat from her forehead. "No way. I'm just getting started. You'll catch up."
It was strange how different she felt these days. The gym, the progress, even the way she saw herself-it was all changing. Her insecurities were still there, lurking, but they felt smaller somehow, easier to ignore. She felt stronger, more capable.
And then there was Senzo. He had continued texting her every day. Their chats had become more playful, more flirtatious. It was like something had shifted between them.
One night, after a long day at the gym, Senzo sent her a message that caught her off guard.
Senzo: "You know, you're looking pretty good lately. I mean, seriously. I bet you've got an amazing body under all those clothes."
Amanda stared at the message, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. She felt the familiar rush of vulnerability, but she pushed it down. She had worked hard for this body. Maybe it wasn't perfect, but it was hers, and she was proud of what she had achieved. She typed back.
Amanda: "Haha, thanks. I've been working hard at the gym. You should see the progress."
Senzo: "Oh, I bet I could. I mean, I'd like to see all of it. You know, up close."
Amanda paused. She knew what he was getting at. It wasn't the first time he had flirted this way, but this time it felt different. She didn't know what it was about Senzo, but for some reason, she didn't feel as uncomfortable as she thought she would. There was something about him-something that made her feel seen, not just as a body but as someone who had more to offer. But even as she felt this pull toward him, a voice in the back of her head told her to be careful. She ignored it.
Amanda: "You really think I'm that hot, huh?"
Senzo: "I wouldn't say it if I didn't think so. Honestly, you've got this vibe... I can't get enough of it."
Amanda chuckled to herself. It was fun, she thought. Maybe a little risky, but fun. She was getting used to the flirting, even starting to enjoy it.
Senzo: "You know what? I bet you could make even a selfie look hotter. How about sending me one? A little preview of that progress."
Amanda felt her cheeks heat up as she read his message. The idea of sending him a picture made her stomach flip. She had never done something like that before, but she also knew that her body had changed. She was no longer that girl who was ashamed of her appearance, or at least not as much. She had put in the work, and the results were showing.
She looked at herself in the mirror. She had always been self-conscious about her thighs, about her stomach, but today? Today, she didn't hate what she saw. She could work the angles. She had learned how to make her body look good in photos, how to highlight the parts she was most proud of-the muscle definition on her legs, the curves that had come from her consistent training.
Amanda: "Fine, but you better not be playing me."
Senzo: "I wouldn't dream of it. Just send me whatever you feel comfortable with."
Amanda chewed on her lip, her mind racing. She could do this. She could make it work. She wasn't perfect, but she knew how to use the camera to her advantage. With a quick sigh, she picked up her phone and carefully set up the shot. She angled the camera just right, making sure her thighs looked toned, her stomach wasn't visible, and she had that seductive yet confident look in her eyes.
After a few moments of adjusting, she snapped the picture. It wasn't much-just a shot of her from the waist down, her legs looking strong and defined in a way that made her smile. She sent it off before she could second-guess herself.
Amanda: "There. Happy now?"
Senzo: "Damn. That's... wow. You're looking incredible, Amanda. Seriously."
Amanda felt a strange mixture of pride and unease. It was strange to think of herself in that way, to have someone see her like that. But at the same time, it felt good. She had worked hard for that body, and she deserved to feel confident about it.
Senzo: "You've got something special, Amanda. I'm telling you."
Amanda: "Thanks, I guess."
It was hard to ignore the flutter in her chest. She wasn't used to compliments like this, especially ones that made her feel seen in a way that wasn't about her being "pretty" or "cute." This was different.
The next few days went by, and things between her and Senzo seemed to shift even further. They kept up their playful banter, and every now and then, he would compliment her body again, always making sure she knew how much he appreciated the progress she'd made and how beautiful she actually is, or atleast that's what he wanted her to know.
But as much as she enjoyed the attention, there was still a part of her that wasn't sure about all of it. She had sent the photo, yes, but was she really okay with it? Was she okay with Senzo seeing her like that? The lines between flirting and something more were starting to blur, and Amanda wasn't sure how she felt about it.
One morning, while she was at the spares shop, Amanda couldn't help but think about it. She hadn't talked to Zendaya about it yet, and the more she thought about it, the more she felt like maybe she should. But what would Zendaya think? Would she understand, or would she think she was making the same mistake she had made with Morris?
Her phone buzzed, breaking her thoughts. It was a message from Senzo.
Senzo: "You're not going to believe this, but I can't stop thinking about you. Like, seriously. You've got me hooked."
Amanda felt her heart race. She didn't know what to say. Was she really ready for this? She'd only just started feeling good about herself, about her progress in the gym, not to mention getting over her Ex Morris and now this?
Still, she replied, trying to keep things light, trying to convince herself it was nothing too serious.
Amanda: "Haha, you're the one who asked for a picture. You can't act all surprised now."
Senzo: "I'm not surprised. I'm just saying you've got me wanting more."
Amanda stared at the message for a long time. She had enjoyed the flirting, the attention, but now she wasn't so sure. Maybe this wasn't just fun anymore. Maybe she was in deeper than she had realized.
