A Sake? From Max?

Not so secret Santa

Checo had been ignoring him still. After that horrible weekend in Brazil, they headed to Abu Dabhi for their last media duties, so Max felt a little anxious.

He had been quiet during their stay in his Monaco apartment. Checo is usually quiet; he's told Max repeatedly that he likes to listen to him, which feels so natural for their relationship. But this silence feels different, Checo looks distant, and Max is afraid to admit that he seems sad.

So when their agendas arrive at his apartment, he reluctantly starts to review. Press conference, boring, interview with sponsors, fan greeting, he keeps browsing, secret Santa gift giving.

That's it! He had totally forgotten. The perfect chance for a romantic gesture appears. Now he has to wait. The following day, Checo tells Max he is going out for a run, which he's been doing this couple of days after their yoga stretches. Usually, Max would be worried, but the timing is perfect. He takes his phone and hopes he has enough luck to make a few calls, not 18.

Lando answers immediately.
-Hey! What up?
-Hey Lando, listen, I need a favor. This will sound strange, but did you get Checo for Secret Santa?
-Hahaha, funny. I'm not going to tell you, Max, it would ruin the surprise.
-Please, Lando, I'm on thin ice here, I'm sure you understand, and I want to surprise him.
-Aww, Maxie is trying to recover his old man; that's sweet.
-Lando, I'm being serious; tell me already.
-Hahaha, I love making you suffer. If I told you, what would I get?
-Dunno, Lando, whatever you like?
-Ah, another double date to that club; you can also see me DJ.
-Yeah yeah, whatever, tell me already.
-Mmmm, no, I didn't get him.
-Laaandoo, I'm going to injure you seriously. You fuck.
-Hahahaha, great talking to you too, Max! Still, the double date sounds fun, right?
-We'll see; before you hang up, can you ask Carlos? Please? I'm going through my list as fast as I can. This is urgent.
-Yeah, sure, give me a sec.
-Negative, negativou, he says the gift should be mindblowing, his friend deserves it.
-Okay, thanks bye.

Okay, two down, sixteen to go. Max called Gasly next without success. Yuki was next.

-Hey, Yuki san
-Hey Max
-Listen, did you get Checo as secret Santa?
-Ahh, you aren't supposed to tell. Plus, Pierre told me to make it hard for you.
-Stop it, Yuki. Tell me so I can keep searching with the rest.
-Hahaha, okay, okay. Yes, I got Checo, but I don't want to change it; I already bought him something.
-Oh, come on, Yuki, I need this. By the way, what did you get for him?
-A coupon for my new restaurant.
-You don't have a restaurant!
-Not yet, but good advertising, you know, keeping it alive in the video.
-Yuki, that's terrible.
-But I got more.
-Okay, tell me.
-I got him a couple of cup noodles soups.
-What in the hell?
-Yeah, you know Checo and me like eating, so.

Oh my god, though, Max. Checo has the worst luck in Secret Santa. He always gives so much and gets so little. Max will not allow it this year.

-Yuki, you cannot gift that to people. So please swap with me.
-Argh, but I don't want to think of another gift; I hate shopping. -Who did you get?
-I got Mick, plus I already have a super lovely gift. I can give it to you at the paddock.
-Argh, okay, okay, I'll switch. But can you give Checo the soups?
-Nooo, Yuki, come on.
-Okay, I will give them to Mick.
-Just eat them yourself. Thanks, Yuki, this means a lot.
-Yeah, hope everything goes good with Checo. If you want love tips, you can always talk to me.
-Haha, good one Yuki, bye now.

Step and the most embarrassing one, complete. Now to step two, he grabbed something from his nightstand.

After arriving at the hotel, they unsuccessfully tried to rest since they were soon ushered to the paddock for their duties. It's going to be a long day, isn't it? Max asked Checo. Yeah, I can already see their questions for the interviews. Positive thing is that it's the end of the season, and vacation next. Was Checo's answer. Yeah, have a good day. Love you. Max finished before being separated into their duties. You too, said Checo blankly.