"Dahan dahan naman!"
I looked at Luke.
Seriously? Ni wala pa ako sa 100 and kinakabahan siya?
"What? Ang bilis mo magpatakbo! Hindi ikaw nagbabayad ng gas ko. Mamaw na to"
And he went on how pricey fuel is now. Pati world market naikwento na din nya and kung gaano daw tataas na naman ang prices ng ibang gamit. Hanggang sa kung gaano daw 'kabobo' ang government.
I suddenly stepped on the brakes. His face kissed the dash.
"Tangna naman Century! Sino ba nagbigay ng license mo?!"
I shrugged. Tinuro ko na lang 'yong batang tumatawid. Wala siya sa pedestrian pero... oh well. Kung nasa edad na to malamang sinagasaan ko na lang.
"Hoy! Bilisan mong mag-cross!" sigaw ni Luke sa bata.
The kid gave him the finger and that made me smirk.
"Hayop na 'to, papakyuhin pa 'ko." He then looked at me. "At ikaw, pwede ba magdahandahan ka sa brake. Last time na ikaw nagdrive, sumubsob na naman ako dahil may injured na aso sa daan."
'Wat's wrong w/ u? Highblood ka na naman'
"Hina-highblood mo ko eh!"
I smacked his head. "Aray!"
Hindi lang siya nagsasabi pero alam kong puyat na naman siya kaya he's grumpy. Ilang beses ko siyang nahuling tumatakas sa gabi. Who knows kung anong ginagawa. I have a strong feeling na may kinalaman sa race tho.
I didn't mind him and focused on my driving. We're late for class.
Luke's POV
"So? May service ka na nga, late ka pa?" asked Danny.
"Shuddup. Kasalanan nung pipi. Ang bagal niya mag-drive"
In the corner of my eye, I saw Cent rolled her eyes.
"Eh bat hindi na lang ikaw nagdrive?"
"Oo nga. Practice mo na din" dagdag ni Gabby.
I leaned back. "Anong practice dun? Ang traffic, letse"
Race will be tomorrow night. I've been on my driving game lately and I guess mukhang okay naman. One thing na hindi ako at ease will be sa kung anong surprise ang ilalabas ng nag-organize sa race.
Hayop din si Gabby dahil wala pa din kaming idea kung paano ang takbo ng race. Ni hindi dumating 'yong 'further details' na inaantay namin.
Gawd, mukhang mapapahamak pa ako dahil lang kinagat ni Gabby ang prize money. Sabagay, malaki din 'yon. Sakaling manalo ako, saan kaya pwede gamitin 'yong pera? Hmm.
Don nudged my arm. "You ready for tomorrow?"
I took a deep breath. Am I?
Gabby poked my nose. "Ano ka ba?! Madali lang 'yon. Drive lang naman gagawin mo habang sinisigurado mong hindi ka mamamatay. Pero alam natin masamang damo ka kaya relaaax. Matagal pa due date mo"
Binatukan ko siya ng notebook. "Kapag ako namatay, magrosaryo ka dahil isasama ko 'yang kaluluwa mong animal ka!"
"What's the noise all about?!"
Tumingin kaming lahat sa teacher. "Get out!"
Danny scoffed. "Bakit ba lagi mo kaming pinapalabas? Gusto mong palabasin din kita sa school na 'to?"
"H-how dare you"
Danny beamed. "Joke lang. Lalabas na kami"
They said bye to Century before leaving. I just followed them.
Century's POV
'so hnd pa siya nakasali ng race?'
Big Shaq nod. "Wala kaming nahanap na record. Pero naging passenger siya ni Danny twice."
'sa race?'
"Yup."
I remember na-mention din ni Luke na nangangarera si Danny. Oh gawd. So next na ba si Don na sasali sa race? Pfft. What's with those guys.
'may balita ka na kung paano setting ng race?'
"Wala pa. Kaya may nagback-out na din."
'pwedeng magback-out?'
Whoa. That's a first. Sa lahat ng sinalihan ko, wala pa nagback-out.
"Surprisingly, yes. Okay na din, less competitor"
If that's the case, gusto kong magback-out si Luke. Hell, I don't even know kung bakit pa siya sumali. It's a dirty race with unknown events, baka hindi niya kaya.
'i want Luke out of this'
Big Shaq raised an eyebrow. "Okay? Well... he's kinda into this so mahihirapan kang iconvince siya na magback-out. Besides, magtataka siya pag sinabi mong wag na siyang sumali. And teka nga, ang alam nila, hindi mo alam na nakiki-racing sila di ba?"
I nod. 'gusto ko pa din siyang magback-out'
"Alam ko kung saan sila nagpapractice gabi gabi"
We reached an abandoned land. May off-road sa left and concrete sa right. And yep, dito sila nagpapractice. Them all.
Sa naabutan namin, nakiki racing sila sa isa't isa. I know Luke's using Gabby's car so I watched him intently. He's leading at malayo ang agwat nila sa nakasunod na sasakyan. I'm guessing si Danny ang nakasunod.
"He's actually pretty good"
I agree. Pati off-road easy lang sa kanya.
"Think he can make it?"
Hindi pa rin ako kampante na makaka survive siya sa actual race. For now, mga barkada niya ang katapat niya pero paano kapag sa actual na? Hindi lang apat ang sasali and hindi lahat, mabait. Some cheat. At kung may magkakampi sa race, baka pagtulungan ka pa. That's where experience comes in. He doesn't have that.
'maybe'
We're about to leave when a familiar car joined them. San galing 'yon?
In a blink, nakiki agaw siya sa second position. Whoah, this bitch. Danny didn't let him pass though.
"What's he doing here? Sasali din ba 'yan sa race bukas?"
Hinintay namin na matapos sila and I smirked when he didn't even pass by Danny. He ended up third. Gabby fourth. Don last. Ni hindi ko alam kung nag-eexert ng effort sin Don na manalo dahil mukhang bored lang siya. I guess this is not his thing?
Luke's POV
I got out. May unexpected kaming kasama.
I can see Gabby getting irritated. "Bakit ka ba nakikisali? Hindi ka naman welcome dito!"
He smirked. "Why? Galit ka ba dahil natalo kita this time?"
Gabby throw a punch pero hindi umabot dahil hinila siya ni Don.
"Nakiki-race lang naman ako. Relax."
I scratched my nape. "Anong ginagawa mo dito?"
Nic smiled. "Balak ko din sumali bukas kasi. Nakipractice lang ako dito. I didn't know you're the one driving Gab's car. Ang galing mo" he clapped while flashing his teeth. Kainis din to minsan. Hindi ko alam kung nang-aasar o ano.
I smirked. "Ni hindi mo nalampasan si Danny. So hindi ko ibabalik ang papuri mo"
He crumpled his face. "It's okay"
"Umalis ka na" Gabby said.
"Bakit ba pinapa-alis mo ako eh hindi lang naman ako bumisita sa inyo." Nic beamed. "Andito si Century" he pointed behind me.
We all looked at the dark. Hindi namin napansin agad pero may naka park na kotse sa di kalayuan.
"Century?"