"That was you?!"
Luke gave Gabby a nod. "The one and only"
At the moment, Luke and his boys are in my room. After we talked about my racing thing, he called them over. Not that Im against it. I actually feel better now that they know about it.
"Wow" I can feel Gabby's admiration.
"That was why that car seems familiar" Danny said.
"You bought it?"
I shook my head. "It's from my dad passed on to me"
"So when did you start racing?" asked Don.
"When I was 15 Big Shaq got me into it. He doesn't allow me to join pero sumali ako without him knowing. Nalaman na lang niya after the race. I won my first race then"
"You and Big Shaq... I thought he's just an acquintance?" Gabby murmured.
I gave an unsure look. "He's actually a family. Sorry guys. He was the one who taught me how to drive. My dad's bestfriend"
They nodded in sync. I'm amazed.
Gabby clapped. "For a mute, you really hide things well" he shuffled my hair.
I then proceeded to tell them my racing history and my... credentials. Hey I'm proud of my achievements.
"Maaaan, I cant wait to see your car" Danny pulled me up.
"Later. I need to shower hey. And think of some lies to get Luke out of the house tonight"
Luke will join the race too and hindi pa sila nakakaisip ng excuse para payagan siyang lumabas for tonight. Leave it to them to think. I'm confident naman na papayagan ako.
They groaned. "Dating gawa na lang Luke... takas ka na lang"
I rolled my eyes and entered my bathroom.
I thought of how things will work. Wala pa din kaming idea kung saan ang venue and kung ano ang final count ng kasali. I heard may nagback out. Im hoping panigan ako ng pagkakataon but more than that I pray for Luke's safety.
"Nothing yet?"
Big Shaq shook his head. Wala pa siyang natatanggap na text or tawag or email about the race. We know matutuloy tho kasi may confirmation of the date kahapon.
"Luke?"
I shrugged. "They're on their way maybe"
Big Shaq already know my secret's out. Pero kahit alam na nila Luke, we agreed na hindi muna nila sasabihin sa parents niya. I'm still earning my courage to tell them personally.
I tied my boots and zipped my leather jacket. Malakas ang ulan ngayon and the wind's not a help sakali dahil mas malakas pa siya sa ulan. And it's dark too. Lampas 9pm na. I got a feeling na mas lalakas pa ang ulan mamaya.
"May typhoon?"
Big Shaq nodded. "Bukas ng umaga ang landfall niya"
Dang it
"Don't worry, your car will protect you. It's all geared up great. Your tires too"
I glanced at my tires. They're new and spiky. I'm not worried at all. It's Luke's car I'm doubting.
Sana hindi sya makalabas ng bahay. And I hope mahuli siyang tumatakas sakaling tatakas nga---
"What's up Big Shaq!"
Shit
"Hey guys"
I looked at them like they doubled in heads. Seriously? Hindi ba talaga nahuhuli mga to? Danny and Luke were coming out of Gabby's racing car.
"Pinayagan kayo?" I scribbled
They gave me those shitty smirks. "Oh yeah"
Okaay? Well that's a first. Ano naman kaya sinabi nila.
I looked at Don and Gabby. Gamit nila sasakyan ni Luke. I raised an eyebrow.
"They sort of used you..." Don murmured.
I glared.
Danny raised his hands, palms out. "Chill. Sinabi lang namin na may nakalimutan kang kunin para sa project mo and that you asked for us"
That's a total bullshit. Hindi naman ako tinawagan nina Uncle Jin to confirm.
"We kinda edit some text message na mukhang galing sayo and..." Danny crumpled his face. "bakit ba? Hayaan mo na. Hindi ka naman nagmukhang masama" mabilis niyang sabi sabay alis sa harap ko para puntahan sina Gabby na nasa loob na ng sasakyan ko.
Ugh!
I was about to pull them out when Big Shaq stopped me. "Info" he said raising his phone. "Catch"
I caught his phone before it landed on my face. Sure enough details about the race was sent to him. The location, time and some password were the only thing that was in it tho.
I gave Big Shaq a questioning look. He shrugged.
"Get ready"
I gave him his phone back. He looked at the boys. Don's already working on his computer, I didn't even notice he brought one. He also got some devices Im not familiar with. Danny's fixing something inside Gabby's car. Yun ung gagamitin ni Luke to race.
I caught Luke's eyes.
"Hnd ka na talaga aatras?"
He snorted. "Course not"
He seems confident enough. Smug
Race will start 11pm. We still have an hour to get to the location. Big Shaq said it's a twenty minute drive from here tho.
I slid inside my car and brought it to life. Satisfying purr echoed inside the garage. Big Shaq handed me my ear piece.
"You know the drill"
I beamed.
"I'll be with the team later. We'll work on the map and the terrain. Don't lose your cool out there, kid"
"Sureee. See u after the race"
Luke got his car beside me. Danny, his shotgun.
"Sasama ka sa race?"
Danny shook his head. "Lipat ako kina Gabby mamaya. Hatid lang namin si Luke sa location"
I'll feel better pag kasama ni Luke si Danny but I didn't tell them that. I just hope Luke knows what's he's doing.
I got my windows up and wiper working then speed out of the garage. I followed the GPS to get to the location. Luke's hot behind my trail.
Luke's POV
"Feeling mo mananalo ka kay Century?" Pang aalaska ni Danny.
Tapon ko kaya to sa ulan?
"Pfft easy"
Danny laughed an irritating laugh. I lit my smoke.
"She's actually really good and experienced"
That's for sure. I sighed. "She is. It doesnt matter kung hindi man ako manalo as long as she wins"
"Hindi maganda weather ngayon, utang na loob kahit basag basag yang kalansay mo mamaya basta lumabas kang buhay after ng race"
"Awww. Nanay kita?"
Danny pulled my ear. "Pag may nangyari sayo yari tayong lahat sa nanay mo"
My heart beats fast. Naiimagine ko pa lang mukha ng mama ko habang sinisinghalan kami parang maiihi na ko. My dad I can deal with pero si mama... I shook my head. Nah, I'll live after this.
We then reached the location. It's a sky dome. It's pretty wide and decent. I expected some abandoned building pero mukhang may budget ang organizer.
I tossed my cigarette. We're nearing the entrance. Century's ahead of me. May sinusundan din siyang pila ng sasakyan and I kind of had the feeling na parang pila lang ng parking to. Meh
Finally it's Century's turn. Nakapasok na kami ng dome kaya hindi ko na naririnig ang ulan. Loud music's playing tho. A guy approaced Century and asked for something. He then stamped Cent's wrist. Then her car's gone. Pumasok na siya loob and I can't even see what's inside dahil nagsara agad yong gate.
Same guy signaled me to move and I stepped on the gas slightly hanggang sa matapat ako sa kanya.
"Password?"
"R2145-zone"
Maybe it's just a random password since parang walang importance other than password lang talaga.
He stamped my wrist too and asked me to get inside. Napansin kong nakasunod din sina Gabby and Don. I'm amazed na hindi na sila tinanong nung guy and mukhang alam niya na hindi sila kasali sa race.
I held my breath when we got inside. Mukhang lumiit yong chance kong manalo dahil despite the late notice and the bad weather, marami ang kasali.
So much for a five hundred thousand prize.