Sin City

09: Almost

Kahit hangover ay bumangon pa rin ako. Rouqil has a race today and he asked us to be there. When I turned around, agad kami na nagtawanan ni Ruth nang makita ang isa't isa, our mascaras smeared on our faces. She slept over because we were so fucked up last night.

"That acid took us out," I laughed at napamasahe nalamang sa noo ko.

"Girl, I was high as a kite last night," tumatawa din nitong sabi at hinilamos ang mga kamay niya sa mukha niya.

After the underground rave, we would sometimes smoke or take pills whenever we'd go out. It was just more fun and more exciting, nawawala kasi ang mga problema ko when I'm high. But I always make sure to be responsible about it.

Excited kaming dumating sa race track to support Rouqil despite the scorching hot weather and the dusty desert. Namangha na naman ako sa mga magagarang sasakyan na nakaparada sa labas ng track. Balang araw talaga, magkaka sports car na pula din ako.

"Go, Rouqil!!" Ruth, Yohan, and I screamed nang pumarada ang itim sa sasakyan for racing ni Rouqil.

He looked around the bleachers and as soon as he spotted us, kumaway agad ito sa amin. Halatang malaki ang ngiti nito sa loob ng helmet niya. We waved back at him and blew him kisses.

Naghiyawan agad ang lahat nang magsimula na ang karera. There were only three of them racing, Rouqil's black car was in the middle. Nasa pinaka huli si Rouqil. He tried to overtake but he couldn't because the red car in front of him kept blocking him.

"Rouqil, tangina ayusin mo!" naiinis kong sigaw, my hands clasped together. Tila nagpapatintero si Rouqil at ang pulang sasakyan na nasa harap nito, it made me more furious.

"Yes!" I happily screamed when Rouqil went over the grass side when they reached the curved track para malampasan niya ang sasakyan sa harap niya. His car perfectly drifted.

Masayang naghiyawan agad kami ni Yohan at napatalon talon pa sa saya, proud of Rouqil for finally perfecting a smooth drift. "Go, Roux! You got this!"

"I'm calling it now, he's gonna be first," Ruthie confidently said, ang laki pa ng ngiti sa labi niya.

"Two more laps, baby!" Yohan exclaimed nang lampasan ulit kami ng mga sasakyan.

Sa puting sasakyan na nauna na naman mukhang nakikipagpatintero si Rouqil. They were both swerving on the track. Napakagat nalamang ako sa labi ko nang lagpasan na naman kami ng mga sasakyan. One more lap. Ang bilis na ng tibok ng puso ko.

"Rouqil, sasakalin talaga kita pag hindi ka mananalo!" I yelled out of frustration at para din mawala ang kaba sa dibdib ko.

"Oh my god!" Ruthie screamed at the top of her lungs when both cars were beside each other habang ako'y tila nalagutan na ng hininga. Sumasakit ang ulo ko dahil sa stress. Both cars were zoomin habang magkatabi ito.

"Gas that shit up!" Yohan yelled out of frustration, too.

Napasigaw agad kaming tatlo sa saya when Rouqil revved his car, mas bumilis ito at nilagpasan ang puting sasakyan na nasa tabi niya. Rouqil accelerated faster, leaving tire marks on track. "He did it!" masaya kong sigaw kay Ruth at Yohan.

I immediately ran downstairs when he reached the finish line first. "You made it! You made it!" I happily told Rouqil nang makalabas siya ng sasakyan niya. He took his helmet off and smiled at me. Agad akong tumakbo papalapit sa kanya at niyakap siya ng napakahigpit, burying my head on his neck. We both giggled when he lifted me up and turned me around.