"Can you please pin this at the top?" asked Aria, extending the flyer to Holo.
Holo took the flyer from Aria, examining it for a moment. The flyer featured the Nebula waterfall and several pictures of the trek leading to it. In addition to sentences about trekking and hiking, there was a central date mentioned: 27 August 2016, which was just under a month away from the current date. "Do you enjoy trekking?" Holo inquired, looking back at Aria.
"I'm a professional trekker," replied Aria with a smile, pointing to the bottom right-hand corner of the flyer. "Here. It's my name, phone number, and professional trekker license number." She glanced at Holo and added, "You can contact me via WhatsApp using the provided number if you want to join the upcoming trek to the Nebula falls."
"I want to participate," said Holo eagerly.
Due to Holo's quick response, Aria chuckled uncomfortably and said, "I will need 500 Merurian Dollars (MD) to confirm your participation. This covers the bus ticket and is non-refundable."
"Wait a minute," said Holo, pulling out his purse from the back pocket of his pants. He then fetched a 500 MD bill and handed it to Aria. "Here. Please confirm my participation."
Aria took the money hesitantly and said, "Okay."
She stored the money in her backpack, retrieving a notebook and a pen. "Can you please provide me with your full name?" she asked.
"Holo Ferriera."
"Your phone number please."
"954-673-4215."
Aria finished writing and packed the notebook and pen back into her backpack, carrying it on her back. "Feel free to call me if you have any questions," she offered.
"Definitely," answered Holo with a grin.
In the meantime, Aria wrinkled her nose and exclaimed, "Ugh! What's that smell?" Slowly turning to identify the source, she spotted DJ standing nearby in his sweat-soaked tank top.
Witnessing Aria's reaction, all the confidence drained from DJ's face, replaced by nervousness. Upon catching Aria's eyes and her disgusted expression, he stammered, "Excuse me," and hastily turned, heading back towards the weightlifting area.
Meanwhile, Holo resumed his conversation with Aria. "So, if I remember correctly, there are no classes today."
"Yeah. I was just passing by. Never thought I would find people in the gym at this time," Aria replied.
"I see," said Holo. "By the way, sorry for last night. I should have been more patient."
"That's alright," responded Aria with a reassuring smile.
Holo smiled back. "Well, if that's the case, can I take you to dinner?"
Upon hearing this, the genuine smile on Aria's face slowly shifted into an awkward one. "Can we talk some other time? I'm already late for work," she said as politely as she could.
The smirk faded from Holo's face as he replied, "Sure. No worries."
Aria turned around and rushed to the door, but before she could leave, Holo inquired, "Where do you work?"
"Happy Burgers," Aria answered without looking back.
After a moment of Aria's departure, Holo rejoined his friends with a disappointed expression. As soon as he joined them, DJ mocked, "That has to be one of the most brutal rejections I've ever seen."
"Dude, you didn't need to be rejected. You simply eliminated yourself," responded Holo with a smirk.
"Believe me, dude, your magic is not gonna work on her," said DJ. "I think she's into men, and not into boys," he mocked, bouncing his pectoral muscles.
"Ha Ha Ha," laughed Holo sarcastically, clapping slowly. "That might be the funniest joke you've ever told."
However, another person chimed in. "Both of you," said a man.
When the three friends looked towards the source of the interruption, they saw the young gym trainer standing with a smug look on his face. He was in his late twenties, and his well-defined muscles were evident through his tight-fitting shirt and pants. "Her name is Aria Waverly if you are wondering, and she works at Happy Burgers. She's a tough nut to crack."
"Did you just read that on the flyer?" asked Holo suspiciously.
"Nope," replied the trainer confidently. "So, I was saying, she's a tough nut to crack."
To this, DJ responded, "I want to crack this nut."
"Then let me impart some wisdom passed down from great love gurus," said the trainer.
The trio were instantly captivated by the gym trainer's aura, except for Holo. He was definitely surprised by the trainer's new transformation, much like DJ and Joe. Meanwhile, the trainer continued as he walked closer to the trio, "There is a pyramid framework to identify the type of girls and devise a strategy on how to approach them. The pyramid consists of four levels, and the higher you go, the more challenging it becomes to win the girl over. Let me break it down for you."
"Level 1," continued the trainer, "is at the bottom of the Pyramid. The girls here are called 'The Dogs'. If you just give them some emotional attention, they are bound to fall for you. To approach these girls, you need to show them that you genuinely love and care for them. Most of the girls in this world fall under this category. Even my girlfriend falls into this category."
Holo couldn't help but smirk at the trainer's candidness, but he stayed silent, absorbing the information.
"Level 2," the trainer went on, "hosts the 'The Cats'. These girls have their 'dog' under control, but they cannot resist luxury. In other words, they're also known as 'Gold Diggers'. They will always lean toward luxury more than mere emotional attachment. To approach these girls, you need to make more money than other players in the game. Remember, the moment when you have less money, the girl may move on to the next wealthy player. However, in a tie between two players, they'll choose their partner based on their dog instincts."
DJ, Joe, and Holo were taking mental notes, though Holo maintained a slightly skeptical look.
"Level 3," the trainer elucidated, "is where you find 'The Snakes'. These girls have their 'dog' and 'cat' under control. They are independent and can take care of their monetary needs themselves. But, when searching for a partner, they look for someone attractive and on par with them, monetarily. To approach these girls, firstly, you need to have a good job at the least. Secondly, get fit and be well-dressed. However, among these girls, the breakup rate is high, so always be prepared for potential heartbreak."
"And finally, Level 4," the trainer concluded, "is the peak of the Pyramid. Very few girls fall into this category, called 'The Lions'. They have their 'dog', 'cat', and 'snake' under control, signifying they cannot be easily influenced by simple emotions or wealth. They can take care of themselves and are always focused. They look for someone who not only loves them but also values the things that mean a lot to them, like their family or ambitions."
He paused for a moment, allowing the information to sink in.
"Woah! That was some knowledge you cannot find in books," exclaimed Joe, reflecting the group's shared sentiment.
Meanwhile, DJ asked, "And in what category does Aria fall?"
The trainer smirked and replied, "From what I have observed so far, I think she is a... Lion." Joe gulped upon hearing that, while DJ said, "There's always a solution to even the hardest puzzle. I just need to find the missing piece."
"I just gave you a way to approach," said the trainer.
"Love always happens at the heart. All other senses are just deceptive," said DJ with a poetic flow.
The trainer sighed. "Fine. If you really want to try. Then I suggest going after her friend Cherry first. She works at Happy Burgers as well, and I think she is a dog. You can learn a lot about Aria by befriending Cherry," said the trainer.
"Alright then. From today onwards, Happy Burger is my new favorite destination, until I prove that girls are attracted to strong guys," said DJ as he looked at Holo challengingly.