Invisible string F.C

24.A race to remember

"You're amazing, you know that?" he murmured against her ear, his words laced with affection.

Angelys laughed softly, pulling away to look at him. "I think I'm starting to believe that."

————

The day flew by in a blur of excitement, the noise and adrenaline of the race unfolding in front of them as the cars zoomed around the track. The São Paulo Grand Prix was always an event filled with anticipation, the energy electric as fans filled the stands, all eyes on the drivers. Franco's team had been preparing for this moment for months, and Angelys couldn't help but feel the tension in the air as the race grew nearer.

She was seated in the VIP section, her heart racing for entirely different reasons than the race itself. It wasn't the engines or the roar of the crowd that had her attention—it was Franco, just beyond the barriers, his focus intense as he adjusted to the pre-race chaos.

She had been by his side during the brief moments of calm before the race began, listening to him share some of his hopes and fears, his frustrations, and dreams. He had opened up to her in ways he hadn't before, letting her see the man behind the driver, the person who carried so much more than just his career on his shoulders.

Now, as the cars lined up on the grid, her heart swelled with a deep sense of pride. Franco was about to face one of the most challenging races of his career, but in this moment, all she could think about was how far they had come, how much they had grown, and how deeply she had fallen for him.

As the lights on the track flickered, signaling the start of the race, Angelys took a deep breath. There was a nervousness in her chest, but it wasn't for the race—it was for what lay beyond it. She knew this was just the beginning, that things were far from perfect. But for the first time in a long while, she was ready to face whatever came next, side by side with him.

The roar of the engines filled the air as the race began, and for the first time in a long time, Angelys knew she was where she was supposed to be.

———-

The cars thundered around the track, their engines roaring in a harmonious blend of power and speed. Angelys watched intently, her heart pounding with each lap. Her eyes were locked on Franco, his car weaving through the chaos of the race. Every move he made on the track felt like it was a reflection of how much he had given to this sport, how much it meant to him.

But as the laps continued, she could see the tension mounting on his face. The brief moments where his concentration slipped, the flicker of frustration in his eyes. And then, just as the excitement of the race hit its peak, it happened.

Franco's car jerked slightly, a sudden misfire in the engine that forced him to slow down. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, but it was clear something was wrong. The radio crackled, and his engineer's voice came through, filled with concern.

"Franco, we've lost power. It's over, we need to pull in."

The words hit him like a punch to the gut. He pulled off the track, his car limping into the pit lane with a sickening silence hanging over the radio.

Angelys felt her stomach drop as she watched him pull into the pit, the disappointment in his posture evident. She stood up quickly from her seat in the VIP section, her mind racing. She needed to get to him. She needed to be there.

——-

By the time she reached the pit area, Franco had already removed his helmet, his face tight with frustration. His shoulders were slumped, and there was a coldness in his expression that made her heart ache. She approached him carefully, knowing the sting of a DNF was a tough one to swallow, especially in front of thousands of fans and his team.

"Franco," she called softly, her voice cutting through the noise of the pit crew still scrambling to prepare for the next lap.

He looked up at her, his gaze softening just a little, but the frustration lingered. "It's over," he muttered, shaking his head. "I had it. Everything was going well, and then... this."

Angelys stopped in front of him, reaching out to place her hands gently on his arms. "It's not over," she said, her voice firm but filled with warmth. "You've worked so hard to get here, and one race doesn't define you. You're still one of the best drivers out there."

Franco let out a heavy breath, the weight of his disappointment sinking in. "It feels like it does right now," he said quietly. "All that effort for nothing."

She took a step closer, her presence a quiet but steady comfort. "It's not nothing. You pushed yourself. You gave everything. You did your best, and that's all anyone can ask for."

He looked down at her, his eyes tired but searching. "But it's not enough, Angelys. Not today."

"Franco," she said softly, lifting his chin with her finger, "sometimes it's the hardest days that teach us the most. You can't control everything, but you can control how you react to it. This is just one race. There will be more."

His eyes softened as he looked at her, a small flicker of gratitude shining through his exhaustion. "You're right. I just... I wanted this one to be different."

Angelys gave him a small smile, the same one he had seen two weeks ago when they first met up again. "I know. But that's what makes you who you are—your drive. And no matter what happens, that doesn't change."

She stepped closer, wrapping her arms around him in a quiet embrace. Franco hesitated for a moment before returning the hug, holding her tightly as if her presence could ease the sting of the race's outcome.

"I'll be okay," he murmured into her hair. "But having you here makes it a little easier."

Angelys pulled back slightly to look at him, her fingers brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. "I'm always here, Franco. You don't have to do this alone."

He nodded, his expression softer now, the frustration still there but slowly being replaced by a sense of peace. "Thank you. For everything. For being here."

"Always," she whispered, her smile widening. "You'll bounce back from this, I know it."

As they stood there, in the midst of the pit, the noise of the crowd distant now, Angelys realized that sometimes it wasn't the victories that defined a person, but their resilience in the face of failure. And Franco, in that moment, was showing that resilience in the quietest, most beautiful way.

———

As the race continued without him, Angelys stayed close to Franco, offering comfort and quiet support. The day had been full of highs and lows, but she knew that this moment—this connection with him—was the real victory.

Later, when the noise of the race had finally settled, Franco took her hand and looked into her eyes. "No matter what happened today, I'm glad you were here with me," he said, his voice steady once more.

Angelys squeezed his hand in return, her heart full with the understanding that the real race was never about winning on the track. It was about finding the strength to face the challenges together. And in that moment, she knew they had already won.