FUEL | Completed

Lap 43

THIRD PERSON

"GO, KAIRO! GO KAIRO!" Pagchi-cheer ng mga tao sa loob ng school stadium. They are cheering for Kairo Rosales who was racing against other racers in the Philippine Racing Cup. Hindi na halos marinig 'yong pinanood nila dahil sa sigawan nilang pangmalakasan. As if he can hear them.

"Impressive! Number 18 managed to pass Number 21 putting him in the 100th position," the host announced making the crowd roar more louder. The 3rd lap finished fast. More laps to go.

"Mamaw talaga si Kai sa loob ng racing field, hindi ba Sam?" Tanong ni Eunice sa katabi. Samantha just gave him a nod as if she had no energy to speak. Well, she was impressed by their classmate's skills. He's becoming stronger and stronger than before.

"Indeed, a monster..." She whispered. Hindi n'ya suot akalaing ganyan pala kagaling ang taong nagsabi sa kanya ng 'patay-gutom.'

Lumabas sa screen ang kuha sa loob ng sasakyan ni Kairo, the crowd made a loud noise. Magulo man ang kuha, she can clearly see his eyes driven by his ambition to win.

Bigla n'ya tuloy naalala ang dahilan bakit s'ya pumasok sa Raceworth. I was inspired by the racers I see on our television. Kahanga-hanga kasi sila. And the spark in their eyes... gusto kong makita 'rin sa sarili kong mata.

In short, inggitera ako.

"Natulala ka na, oy! Naga-gwapuhan ka naman sa kanya 'no?" Nahinto s'ya sa pagmumuni ng asarin ng nasa kaliwa n'ya- si Beatrice. Wala na talagang nagawang tama ang mga kaibigan ko kundi asarin ako sa kanya! Mga bwisit.

Mapakla itong ngumisi, "Alam mo, Bea? Tumigil ka na sa pagbabasa ng romantic novels. Kaya kung sinu-sino na lang binibigyan mo ng malisya, kalbuhin kita e!"

She bursted into laughter then whispered something I couldn't understand. "Pa-simple ka pa, may gusto ka 'rin naman sa kanya."

"Ano sabi mo?" Kunot-noo nitong tanong. But the latter stuck out her tongue. Samantha was about to speak when the boys interrupted.

"Guys!" It was VJ.

"Oh?" The girls replied.

"We thought of an amazing idea!" It was Paul whose grinning widely. Ano naman kaya ang iniisip ng mga buang na 'to?

"Ano?" Curious n'yang tanong.

"Ganito..." Jerson started. "If ever Kairo win the race, magbabakasyon tayo sa vacation house namin sa Masbate!"

The girls eyes glistened. Balita ko maganda ang vacation house nila doon! I also saw it in their I.G post last summer!

"Emz! True ba?" Eunice asked.

"Totoo nga, pero di ka kasama," sagot ni Paul making her pout; exposing her thick red lips. "Ang sama mo talaga sa akin, huhuhu!"

The latter laughed. "Malamang kasama ka, buang! Ano g ba?"

If that so, then...

"He must win!" Sabay-sabay nilang sagot.

Samantha took her gaze on the screen. May kutos ka sa akin kapag natalo ka...

&•&

KAIRO ROSALES

The 4th lap ended in an instant, I drove my car toward the pit lane and stopped in our pit box. The crew entered and started repairing my car. My vehicle always needed to be in condition. Kung may isang mali sa aking sasakyan, malamang ito ang magiging dahilan ng pagkatalo ko; unless, solved right away.