As I spent my very first time in the Formula 1 paddock with Seb, it was quite an experience. Initially, I felt nervous about meeting him. However, it turned out that he is a really nice German man. He is kind-hearted and also has a great sense of humor. He graciously showed me around the paddock, much like a father guiding his daughter through his workplace for the first time. I also took some photographs of the buildings, paddock, and other facilities.
"So, the last stop is our drivers' garages," he added as he led me to the pit lane. Stepping onto the pit lane, we could see groups of workers busy in their respective garages.
"Wow," I exclaimed in amazement as I observed how engrossed they were in their tasks.
"Surprised or caught off guard?" Seb asked with a chuckle. I turned swiftly towards him, meeting his gaze.
"To be honest, I never realized they were so focused and busy," I confessed, glancing back at the pit lane. "I always assumed they were just driving their racing cars," I added, eliciting a hearty laugh from Seb.
"Trust me, Jennifer, they'll be even more serious once the race starts," he remarked, taking strides towards the garages. "Come on," he gestured for me to follow, and I swiftly joined him. As we walked past several garages, Seb discussed racing, while I examined the garages and noticed driver portraits with their names, each representing a team garage.
"This is Aston Martin, my last team before I retired," Seb added, stopping in front of the garages adorned with a green theme.
"Why did you decide to retire?" I inquired softly. He turned towards me, his soft smile evident as he heard my question.
"I just felt it was time... time to make room for new drivers. And I wanted to prioritize my family and kids," he explained. "I have three kids," he said, holding up three fingers, eliciting a small chuckle from me. "What about you?" he asked as we continued walking. "Do you have a family or a boyfriend?" he added. I paused briefly before formulating my response.
"Um, actually, I also have a daughter who is 5 years old. Her father passed away when she was just 5 months old, so I've been taking care of her by myself," I answered with a small smile, my gaze avoiding Seb's momentarily.
"Oh, I'm really sorry to hear that, Jen," Seb swiftly added, his tone softened as he processed my words. I shook my head gently in objection.
"It's okay, it doesn't really bother me anymore," I reassured him with another small smile, trying to convey that I was okay with discussing it. He returned the gesture with a soft smile of his own before attempting to steer the conversation elsewhere. However, our exchange was interrupted by a sudden call of his name from behind us, prompting both of us to turn around to face the speaker. It was Daniel.
"Hey Seb!" Daniel called out, running towards us. However, his brisk approach came to a halt as soon as he laid eyes on me. "Jennifer? Is that you?" he asked, his expression filled with disbelief. I couldn't help but let out a small giggle at his reaction.
"Well, absolutely," I replied, noting the huge smile that spread across Daniel's face.
"You guys already know each other," Seb added as Daniel approached us. Without saying anything, I simply smiled and nodded in confirmation. "Yeah, we all already know her," Daniel chimed in, giving Seb a hug with gentle pats on his back.
"How you doing, mate?" Seb inquired.
"Well, just doing my best," Daniel replied, and they engaged in a brief conversation about themselves until Daniel shifted his attention towards me. "It's been a long time since we've seen each other, right Jennifer?" he said, opening his arms for a hug, which I gladly reciprocated.
"Yeah, it really has been a while," I added as we broke our embrace.
"So, what brings you here, and why are you guys together?" Daniel asked, turning his gaze between me and Seb. We exchanged a glance before responding.
"Well, it is..." I began to respond, but before I could, Seb interjected, "It's going to be a long story to tell. In short, she's going to be my coworker," he paused, placing a hand on Daniel's shoulder. "Get used to it," he added with a chuckle, and we all joined in with laughter.
As we continued our conversation, another voice interrupted from behind me. I turned to see a man wearing a deep blue team shirt with the Red Bull logo on it. It was Max, with his ocean blue eyes. He quickly embraced Seb, just as Daniel had done, but his expression changed as his gaze fell upon me.
"Jen?" he asked, his brow furrowing as he took a few steps back to get a better look.
"Hi, Max," I greeted him with a small wave and smile.
"Oh my god, I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you... you look totally different, Jen," he remarked, causing a slight frown to form on my face.
"What do you mean I look totally different?" I asked him, tilting my head in confusion.
"No, I mean... you look totally gorgeous now," he swiftly replied, causing butterflies to flutter in my stomach. "Anyway, what are you doing here?" he asked again.
Before I could respond, Daniel jumped in, speaking for both Seb and me. "She's here with Seb, and they said they're going to be coworkers," he explained.
"Oh, really?" Max turned his attention towards us, and we both nodded in agreement. "So, you'll be in the paddock more often from now on?" he asked suddenly, catching me off guard for a moment before I composed myself to answer.
"It depends on..." I began slowly, flashing a small smile to ease the tension. "And also, I need to excuse myself for a moment, if you guys don't mind," I added swiftly.
"Yeah, sure you can," the three of them instantly replied in sync. I offered them a small smile and wave before walking out of the pit lane towards the lounge room, intending to use the restroom. Along the way, I couldn't help but notice the contrast between myself and the other people in the paddock, especially the girls who were dressed to impress. They exuded confidence with their beauty, stunning outfits, and model-like figures while I am the only one who looks like a Old Painting. Despite this, a small smile crossed my face as I entertained my own thoughts.
Just as I was about to enter the lounge room, a waitress suddenly emerged from around the corner, not noticing me, and collided with me while carrying a tray of coffee cups. All of the coffee splashed onto my tank top and jeans.
"Oh my god, I am so sorry, Miss," she exclaimed, quickly setting down her tray and grabbing a towel from her apron to help me wipe away the coffee. "I'm really sorry," she repeated apologetically as she tried to clean my clothes.
"It's okay," I reassured her, softly holding her wrist. Thankfully, the coffee had cooled down, and I wasn't burned. "I'm fine... how about you?" I asked, checking to make sure she was okay. She shook her head quickly.
"I'm really, really sorry, Miss," she apologized again. I gently squeezed her arm.
"It's okay. I'm just glad neither of us got hurt," I replied, offering her a small smile. She seemed taken aback by the sudden accident, her eyes wide with disbelief and confusion until I redirected the conversation.
"Could you please tell me where the restroom is?" I asked.
"Oh, it's right down there, then turn left," she pointed in the direction.
"Thank you," I said, swiftly adding before stepping into the lounge room. Before entering, I helped her pick up some cups from the floor. Then, I made my way towards the restroom. However, as I walked, someone called out my name from a distance.
"Jennifer Alison?" the voice called out, instantly sparking familiarity within me, reminiscent of years past. Before I could turn in its direction, it called out again. "Jennifer, right?" It was a man's voice, calling my name. I knew exactly who it was, even before I turned to face him.
As I pivoted towards the source, I beheld a tall man wearing glasses, a white shirt with a jacket while he was pulling a camera around his neck, and a pair of jeans. Though he appeared vastly different from the person I once knew, I recognized him instantly, just as he recognized me. He halted his steps a few paces in front of me, meeting my gaze directly.
"Jennifer," he called out in a whisper, to which I responded in kind.
"Christopher," I echoed back.