barucai

[Mini Stories] Protein Powder and Gym Glitch

Published: April 1st 2025, 7:14:02 am

Hi Hi ✨ I hope you're doing well. This are last week's mini stories. So I would just owe you a couple of stories for t4 members, which I will publish tomorrow, a long with April's calendar and schedule! Stay tuned!

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Protein Powder Mix-Up

*Monday, 4:57 PM*

*Mia:* Jake, where's your protein powder? Can't find mine and I have practice in an hour

*Monday, 5:12 PM*

*Jake:* Top shelf in pantry. Blue container.

*Mia:* Found it. Tastes different than mine. More... berry-ish?

*Jake:* WAIT DON'T DRINK THAT

*Jake:* Which container did you take?? Blue or BLUE-GREEN??

*Mia:* Uhhh blue-green I guess? Why?

*Jake:* SHIT. That's not protein powder. It's something I'm working on for my biochem project

*Mia:* WHAT? What did I just drink?? Jake I swear to god if this is one of your stupid pranks

*Jake:* It's not! It's a muscle recovery compound I'm developing. It's SUPPOSED to be safe but it's not tested yet!

*Mia:* You left an UNTESTED COMPOUND in our KITCHEN?? Mom is going to kill you!

*Jake:* How much did you take??

*Mia:* Normal scoop. Like 2 tablespoons? I feel fine though. Little warm maybe.

*Mia:* Wait.

*Mia:* My arms feel weird. Tingly.

*Jake:* Crap. Any other symptoms? Nausea? Dizziness?

*Mia:* No but... my shirt feels tight? Wtf

*Jake:* Can you take a pic?

*Monday, 5:26 PM*

*Mia:* [IMAGE: Mia flexing, looking surprised - her arms showing noticeable muscle definition that wasn't there before]

*Mia:* What the HELL Jake??? I look like I've been lifting for years! This happened in like 10 minutes!

*Jake:* This is... not the result we expected in the lab. At all.

*Mia:* I'm still feeling it. My practice jersey is getting tight across my shoulders.

*Jake:* Try to stay calm. I'm leaving class now. Be there in 20.

*Mia:* STAY CALM?? I'm GROWING MUSCLES out of nowhere! Coach is going to think I'm on steroids!

*Monday, 5:38 PM*

*Mia:* Jake it's not stopping.

*Mia:* [IMAGE: Mirror selfie showing Mia looking taller, more muscular, shirt straining across chest and shoulders]

*Mia:* I had to skip practice. Told Coach I got food poisoning. My jersey wouldn't fit anyway.

*Jake:* Holy shit. You look like you grew like 3 inches too? Is that possible?

*Mia:* YES IT'S POSSIBLE BECAUSE IT'S HAPPENING. My pants feel like capris now!

*Mia:* What was IN that stuff??

*Jake:* It's a compound designed to speed up muscle recovery but we were having trouble with the growth regulation aspect.

*Jake:* Actually meant to ask... does it feel bad? Like, does it hurt?

*Mia:* Seriously?? You're asking for your RESEARCH right now?!

*Mia:* But no, it doesn't hurt. Feels like... a good pump after lifting? But everywhere. And it's not stopping.

*Jake:* I'm almost home. Texting my professor too.

*Monday, 5:51 PM*

*Mia:* [IMAGE: Mia standing in doorway, clearly several inches taller, muscles clearly defined, looking both scared and slightly amazed]

*Mia:* I had to change into your sweats. Mine wouldn't fit my thighs anymore.

*Mia:* Jake I'm TALLER than the door frame markers from last year. I'm like 5'11" now??

*Jake:* This is insane. I'm pulling up now.

*Monday, 6:32 PM*

*Mia:* Update for your professor: Stopped growing finally. Think I'm 6'1" based on measuring against the wall.

*Mia:* You can tell him the "subject" can now do 30 pushups without breaking a sweat when yesterday I struggled to do 10.

*Jake:* He's fascinated but also terrified about potential academic consequences. Says to monitor for 24 hours.

*Mia:* Great. And what do I tell Coach? Or Mom?? "Sorry I missed practice, I was busy turning into She-Hulk thanks to Jake's science experiment!"

*Jake:* Let's just say you had a growth spurt? Technically true...

*Mia:* I'm 19! Nobody has growth spurts at 19 that add 6 inches overnight!

*Jake:* Maybe say you've been working out secretly? With a personal trainer?

*Mia:* For like a YEAR maybe! Not 2 HOURS!

*Mia:* ...though I gotta admit, now that the panic is wearing off... this is kind of amazing? I just opened that pickle jar you couldn't open last week. With two fingers.

*Jake:* So... you're not mad anymore?

*Mia:* Oh I'm FURIOUS. But also... did your professor mention if this is permanent?

*Jake:* Unclear. Probably partially permanent? Why?

*Mia:* Because tryouts for Olympic lifting team are next month and I just carried the couch upstairs by myself to test my strength.

*Mia:* You're still dead meat for using our kitchen as a lab though.

*Jake:* Fair enough. But if you make the Olympic team, I get partial credit.

*Mia:* In your dreams, little brother. Literally "little" now - I'm 5 inches taller than you!

*Jake:* Just don't drink any more blue-green stuff, okay? We have no idea what a second dose would do.

*Mia:* ...

*Jake:* MIA NO

*Mia:* Kidding! Mostly.

*Mia:* But you're buying me a whole new wardrobe. And explaining this to Mom.

*Jake:* Deal. Though Mom's going to flip when her "little girl" comes home looking like a linebacker.

*Mia:* I prefer "goddess" thank you very much.

*Jake:* Just promise you'll use your new powers for good and not for crushing my skull when I annoy you?

*Mia:* No promises 💪😈

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Gym Glitch

*Tuesday, 9:18 AM*

*Rachel:* Hi Tom! This is Rachel Wilson from yesterday - the one who booked the 6pm session at Peak Fitness? Just wanted to say thanks for showing me around all those machines! Already feeling the results!

*Tuesday, 9:30 AM*

*Tom:* Hey Rachel! Glad to hear you enjoyed your first session. Soreness is totally normal for beginners. Get plenty of protein and water today.

*Rachel:* Actually no soreness at all! Just feeling great. Quick question though - is it normal for clothes to feel tighter after just one workout? My blouse buttons are kinda straining lol

*Tom:* That's usually just temporary pump/blood flow. Should go back to normal in a few hours.

*Rachel:* Oh ok cool. That leg press machine was my favorite btw! The one with the blue padding?

*Tom:* The MaxForce 3000? That's actually pretty advanced for beginners, but glad you enjoyed it!

*Rachel:* Going to do another session tonight if that's ok? Really feel like I'm getting the hang of this fitness thing!

*Tom:* Sure, but maybe take it slower. First-timers usually need recovery days.

*Tuesday, 12:43 PM*

*Rachel:* [IMAGE: Rachel in office kitchen standing next to a refrigerator, visibly taller than yesterday, athletic build showing through her business attire]

*Rachel:* Tom!! This fitness stuff is amazing! Look at me already! My coworker just asked if I've been working out for months! I was like "nope, just started yesterday!" 😂

*Tom:* Wait... Rachel, is this picture from today?

*Rachel:* Yeah just now in the break room! Had to show my coworkers the results. They're all asking about Peak Fitness now!

*Tom:* That's... not typical progress from one session. Are you taking any supplements or medications?

*Rachel:* Nope! Just your guidance and that awesome leg press machine! Think I grew like 3 inches taller too! My work pants are showing my ankles now haha!

*Tom:* Rachel, people don't grow taller from exercise... especially adults. Maybe see a doctor?

*Rachel:* Don't be modest! It's clearly working! You should advertise these kinds of results!

*Tuesday, 3:52 PM*

*Rachel:* [IMAGE: Rachel standing beside her desk, now towering over her colleagues, business jacket visibly tight across newly broad shoulders, sleeves riding up her forearms]

*Rachel:* This is wild! Had to raid the lost & found for a bigger jacket! Think I'm around 6'2" now? All my coworkers keep staring! Your gym is magic!!

*Tom:* Rachel, please listen - this is NOT normal. There's something wrong with this situation. Adults don't grow taller from exercise. And certainly not inches in a day.

*Rachel:* Then how do you explain THIS? 💪 Never had muscles in my LIFE before yesterday!

*Tom:* I can't explain it, which is exactly why I'm concerned. Can you come to the gym now? I'd like to check that machine.

*Rachel:* Can't, swamped with work. But I'll be there at 6pm sharp! Can't wait to try that leg press again!

*Tom:* Please DON'T use that machine again until I can have it inspected.

*Tuesday, 5:17 PM*

*Tom:* Rachel? Did you get my message? Please respond.

*Tuesday, 6:42 PM*

*Tom:* The front desk says you came in and left already? Rachel, I specifically asked you to wait.

*Rachel:* Sorry sorry! Was super excited and you weren't at the front when I arrived. Just did a quick 20 min on the leg press. Feeling INCREDIBLE!

*Tom:* I was checking the maintenance logs for that machine! The manufacturer just called me back - that model was RECALLED last month for a potential electromagnetic issue!

*Rachel:* Well whatever "issue" it has is WORKING FOR ME! Look!

*Rachel:* [IMAGE: Rachel in her apartment bathroom, completely dwarfing the mirror, now around 6'5" with visibly muscular arms and shoulders stretching her casual t-shirt to its limits]

*Rachel:* Had to duck through my own doorway! Is this what being fit is like?? Why doesn't everyone do this??

*Tom:* Rachel, this is NOT NORMAL. I've been a trainer for 12 years. This is physically impossible. Please go to a hospital.

*Rachel:* Going out with friends instead! Finally feeling confident in my body! Thanks again for yesterday!

*Tom:* Rachel, please take this seriously. I'm genuinely concerned.

*Tuesday, 10:23 PM*

*Rachel:* [IMAGE: Rachel in a nightclub, standing a full head and shoulders above everyone around her, barely fitting in the frame, wearing a stretched dress that's now mid-thigh length, muscular arms and shoulders impossible to hide]

*Rachel:* Tom!! The club gave me free drinks all night because they thought I was a professional athlete or celebrity or something! This fitness stuff is AMAZING! All these guys keep asking for my number but they're so SHORT now lol! Like 7 feet tall at least??

*Tom:* Rachel, I'm sending you the address for the 24-hour urgent care near your location. Please go there immediately.

*Rachel:* Why?? Never felt better! Guys pay attention to me now! Girls asking for fitness tips! You should be happy - already got you 5 new clients tonight!

*Tom:* Rachel, please listen. That machine has been quarantined. The manufacturer just confirmed there was an experimental electromagnetic coil installed in that model. They don't know what it does. This is serious.

*Rachel:* Well whatever it does, it WORKS! Can I book another session tomorrow??

*Tom:* Absolutely not. I've reported this to health authorities. A medical team wants to examine you.

*Rachel:* Ugh fine, but only after work. Got a big presentation tomorrow. Bet they'll listen to me now that I'm basically an Amazon! 💪💃

*Tom:* I'm going to need you to sign a liability waiver too. And maybe consider a career in professional sports?

*Rachel:* Ooh good idea! Can we talk about that tomorrow? My friends can't even reach my shoulders for selfies anymore! 😂 This is the BEST WORKOUT EVER!!