Romance Anthologies

The Bet

"Tuloy tayo?"

He let out a mischievous grin, "Yeah."

"Nice," Bongbong clicked his tongue while inhaling the shit out of his tobacco. "Who's coming?"

Martin tried to recall things on his mind, "Robin will be there. Pati din ata si Migz tsaka si Vic...and a newbie from the opposition coveted by Jinggoy."

"And here I thought all of them are saints," he cackled. "Looks like someone's McLaren will be showed off tonight."

"Seriously? You're bringing that?" his cousin almost spilled his beer. "It's not even a high race."

"First impression lasts. Tignan lang natin kung mauungusan niya ako," he leaned his back on the chair.

Martin continued retaliating, "Pwede naman kasing yung Acura na lang. Bagong bili mo pa lang nung F1 GTR ah."

"It's about time for people to see that. Mag-iisang buwan na siyang nakatambak sa customs simula nung dumating 'yon," Bongbong smirked in confidence.

Napaismid na lang ang pinsan nito at napatingin sa malayo, "Well, it's your race car. Do whatever you want with it." 

Before leaving their private space at that particular bar in Katipunan, Bongbong finished two more sticks of cigarettes while he waited for Martin to finish his grande malt beer. Only then did the two of them leave the establishment together. Both of them proceeded to the Bureau of Customs receiving facility located close to Mandaluyong as quickly as possible. They arrived after a few minutes of the former senator's driving through the streets of Manila. Upon arrival, they quickly parked their car in a hurried manner, and then stepped out of the vehicle. Agad silang binati ng mga gwardiya at isang tingin lang ay alam na nila ang pakay nito.

Agad na lumabas sa kanyang lungga ang deputy commissioner na nakatoka sa paglilibot sa lugar at nang makita si Bongbong ay nagtawag agad ito ng mga alipores at binati ang dating senador. A few conversation exchanges more and they went straight to the point with their agenda as well as the teeny tiny underground money was given to the said officer. Malawak ang mga ngiti nitong pinagsilbihan si Bongbong pati na rin ang mga kasama nitong lalake kaya't agad na binuksan ang kanyang pinapatagong sasakyan sa container van.

The first words that came out from Martin the moment he saw the shining yellow GTR were, "Holy shit."

"My badass hot chick," Bongbong mumbled in fascination.

He gave himself a smile on the inside before taking a few steps closer to the automobile and immediately opening the door. He made himself comfortable in the driver's seat, feeling a pang of melancholy as he ran his fingertips over the intricate features of her airbag, all the way down to the clutches and buttons, as well as the one-of-a-kind internal design of the mobile device in question. Even though he had jumped into and ridden in a great number of luxury customer race cars before, this one seemed to be the one that was most ideally suited to him.

They were all temporarily unable to see because of the dazzling flash of the headlights when he started sticking his sensor keys into the keyhole of the automobile. The design was so unusual that it felt so criminal to just look at it and admire it from afar. After making a cautious beginning, Bongbong squeezed the accelerator to force the vehicle completely out of the container van. He then completed a series of brief drifts, twists, and turns before arriving back at the location where Martin was waiting.

He rolled down his windows and looked at him, "See you there?"

"Fine by me," he replied and smiled at his cousin.

"Thanks for the ride and the drink," Bongbong blinked before closing the car window from the passenger's seat, kicking his ass off that port, leaving Martin who's planning to go and get the usual car that he brings every time from home.