Chapter 31
Julie:
Kamusta conference niyo? 😊
Me:
Boring. I almost slept. I miss you, baby. 😔
Julie:
Grabe ka ha? Magkasama lang tayo kagabi. You even went home at 2am! 😂
Me:
But I miss you na talaga. Di mo ko namimiss? Sucks... 😭
Julie:
Syempre namiss. Kawawa ka naman pag sinabi kong hindi. Hahahaha. 😂😂😂
"The guy's in deep shit, man." I heard Jax said. I looked at them and they were just looking at me as if I'm an animal inside a cage.
"What?" I asked, curiously.
"Wala." Exel said and went back to playing with the Xbox they rented.
We just finished the conference and are now back at the hotel room. Exel and Jax are busy playing while Brent is busy with the Chinese take-out we ordered.
Me:
Napilitan ka ba? Haha. Have you had lunch, baby? ☺️
Julie:
Medyo napilitan. Haha. Jk! 😁 Nagluluto pa lang kami ni Maq. Kumain ka na ha.
"Dude, stop smiling. You're creeping us out." Brent told me.
"What did I do now?!" I asked.
"Tangina. Bakit ba kasi ngiti ka nang ngiti?" Jax asked.
"Wala!" I said.
"Baka kasi katext si Julie." Exel told them.
Umiling na lang silang tatlo and went back to what they're doing.
"Ang nakakatawa kay Elmo, he hates texting before. Tapos ngayon, hindi na malubayan ang phone because of that. Wow dude. In love na in love ha?" asar ni Brent.
"Di ka pa kasi naiinlove kaya ganyan ka." I said.
"Hahaha. Ang sabihin mo dude, Julie's got you bad na talaga. You're under her spell, man." sabi ni Exel.
"Yeah. I guess I am. And I'm happy with that." I told them.
"Lovestruck asshole." Brent said as he takes a bite of his food. "But you looked really pissed kahapon."
"Haha. Oo nga. What happened sa track? Bigla kayong umalis ni Julie right after training eh." Exel added.
"That Joaquin happened."
"Boom. Third party bro?" tanong naman ni Jax.
"He's flirting with my girl. Ang kapal ng apog! Doesn't mean na sila ang may-ari ng team natin eh he will have Julie na din. Argh! I wanted to run him over with my car."
"Hahaha. Chill dude. Alam mo namang ganun ugali nun. Kaya nga we're all trying to keep the girls out the track dahil alam naming magbabalak yung Guerrero na yun na kunin sila." Exel said. Brent and Jax nodded in agreement and I just heaved a deep sigh.
"Well, he can't get my Julie. What's mine is mine only." I said.
"But be careful pa din bro." Brent said.
The day went by so fast and the next thing we knew, it's already our race day. The racers were all lined up at the starting line as we wait at the bleachers for the light to turn green. Three members of our team will compete today and another three for tonight. I'm one of the drivers later this evening. The first three will be Brent, Jax and Exel.
"Okay lang if we don't win this morning. Basta yung mamayang gabi, dapat manalo tayo." Dunn told us.
"But I trust the three stooges. Magagaling din sila." Macoy said, pertaining to my friends. We heard the loud cheer of the crowd and soon, the race started. Cars started speeding their way for the 10-lap race. Brent is already taking the lead.
"Nice Rivera!" we all yelled. Jax is in third while Exel's in fourth place. Okay lang. As long as one of them will stay in the lead, panalo pa rin ang team.
Naunahan si Brent on the 8th lap kaya medyo kinabahan kami. Magaling din naman kasi yung kalaban.
"I should be the one driving. Tignan ko lang kung maunahan pa ko." we heard Quin said.
"Shut up, Joaquin. Walang mararating yang kayabangan mo." Dunn told him. Umirap na lang si Quin and sat on the bleachers.
"9th lap na. Kailangan maunahan na ni Rivera tong si Hizon. Or else, talo tayo." Brian said.
"Tiwala lang. He can do it." Giant said.
We were all nervous as the last lap approaches. Brent and George Hizon are neck and neck already. Konti na lang at matatapos na ang race. Last 2 turns and it's done.
"Fuck! Pantay na pantay!" Brian panicked.
The two took their last turn and was about to approach the finish line. And it's done. We heard the gun shot and everyone was quiet. Sino ang nanalo? They were beside each other when they crossed the finish line.
"Winner by 1:37:45 is Brent Donovan Rivera of the Guerrero Race Team!!!"
The crowd cheered as Brent went out of his car. Nagpalakpakan na rin kami and we all rushed to his side to congratulate him.
"Damn, man! You did it!" Giant and I said in unison.
"Galing mo bro!" Brian said and even ruffled his hair. Brent was just laughing as he walks towards the stage.
"You did it dude!" Exel and Jax said when they got out of their cars. Brent was given the trophy, medal and the certificate and everyone in the venue were cheering for him. George even shook his hand.
"Nice one team. Balik muna tayo sa hotel so we could have lunch. Mamayang gabi, it will be Elmo, Brian and Giant's race." Dunn said. Tumango na kami and went back to the hotel.
I flopped down the bed saka chineck ang phone ko. I wasn't able to check it earlier dahil sobrang tutok ako sa race. I saw a couple of messages from Julie and I looked at them immediately.
Julie:
Hey, good luck sa race mo! Bring home the bacon! 😊
Lunch na, Moe. Eat up okay? You need a lot of energy for your race. Ingat kayo diyan! ☺️
"Ayun. Nangingiti nanaman ang gago." Jax said sabay bato ng unan saken.
"Come on man! Give this moment to me naman!" Brent said.
"Hahaha. Dude, kapag nga kasi in love, every hour eh parang nanalo na." Exel teased. Binato ko sila ng unan and they all just laughed their asses off.
"Fuck you!" I said. "Wag kayong magulo okay? I'm gonna call Julie."
I dialled Julie's number and waited for her to pick it up. She did on the third ring.
"Uy! Sorry matagal. Nasa puno kami ni Maqui eh. Namimitas kami ng santol. Hahahaha." she said.
"Hello to you too, gorgeous." I greeted.
"Fuck! Keso mo gago!" the three dumbass said.
"Sinong kasama mo diyan?" Julie asked, laughing.
"Sino pa edi yung tatlong ugok." I said.
"Hi, Julie!" the three said in unison.
"Si Elmo nambababae!" Jax yelled saka pa humalakhak.
"Gago!" sigaw ko.
"Hahaha. Nambababae ka? Edi wow, Moe." Julie said.
"Hey, hindi ah. Wag mo nga paniwalaan tong mga to. Anyway. You were up on a tree?" I asked.
"Yeah. Namimitas nga kasi kami ng santol ni Maqui." she said.
"At medyo umeepal ka na Magalona. Grabe!" I heard Maqui yelling from the other line.
"Hahaha. Tell Maqui na namimiss na kasi kita. Di ako nakareply sa texts mo kanina eh." I said.
"Haha. Okay lang yun. Kamusta yung race?" she asked.
"It's good. Nanalo si Brent. Later, ako na yung lalaban."
"Galingan mo ha? Tsaka mag-ingat ka sa pagddrive." she said.
"Of course, baby. I will. Ikaw din. Wag kang akyat nang akyat sa puno. You're not a monkey." I teased her.
"Hahaha. Minsan lang naman to Moe. Kumain ka na ba?" she asked.
"We're waiting for the room service. Ikaw?"
"Yes. Kakatapos lang namin ni Maq tsaka kumakain kami ng santol with toyo ngayon. Hahaha."
"You and your weird food combinations. Namimiss tuloy lalo kita."
"Haha. I miss you too. Walang maasar si Maqui dito eh. Haha."
"Elmo! Bawasan mo naman pagkaclingy mo! Namo din eh!" I heard Maqui yelled again.
"Wow ha. Tell her na kailangan niya magpahinga from teasing me." I laughed. "And I'm not clingy, baby. I mean, di masyado. Hahahaha."
"I will. Sige na, Moe. Magpahinga ka muna okay? I'll see you on Tuesday. Good luck sa race mo later!"
"Alright. Enjoy Pampanga, baby. I love you."
We went back to the track an hour before the race. Kinakabahan na ko because we will be competing against foreign racers. Magagaling sila. We've watched their past races and boy are they damn good. Kaya siguro I have a right to feel nervous.
"Good luck saten, bro." Giant said as he pats my back.
"Yeah. We need a lot of that." I said and heaved a deep sigh. "First time mo ba sila makalaban?" I asked him.
"Oo eh. The last race they had was two years ago pa ata. Sina Dunn ang kalaban nila nun." sabi niya.
"Anong nangyari?" he shrugged his shoulders. I get it. Natalo ang GRT against them. God help us.
"Guys, assemble na kayo." Macoy said as he claps his hands. Naglakad na kami nila Giant pababa sa track when Jax yelled.
"Dude! Phone's ringing! Girlfriend mo!"
I looked at him and he was smilling sheepishly as he waves my phone. I ran up the bleachers and grabbed my phone.
"Hello?"
"Uy. May ginagawa ka?" Julie asked.
"Uhm... Magstart na yung race in 10 minutes. Why?"
"Wala lang... Uhm..."
"Baby, are you okay?" I asked.
"Yeah. I just wanna say good luck, Moe. Alam kong kaya mo yan. Tsaka pag nanalo ka ano... Pag nanalo ka..."
"What is it?"
"Pag nanalo ka may prize ka saken. Ingat ka ha? Good luck!" she said and ended the call.