Racing Rivals, Racing Hearts ☆ [Diego Brando x Reader]

Impulsive Decisions (11)

The sun cast its golden rays across the racing grounds, bathing the track in a warm glow. It was race day, and anticipation crackled in the air. As you arrived with your father, he made his way to his designated spot in the stands while you headed towards the track, Lady Luck by your side.

Just as you were about to immerse yourself in preparing for the race, a familiar voice called out to you. Diego, wearing a playful grin, approached with a flirty tone in his voice. "Well, well, look who's here. Ignoring a fellow competitor now, are we?" he teased.

Ignoring him, you tightened your grip on Lady Luck's reins and guided her away, fully aware of Diego trailing behind you. He continued to make remarks, attempting to grab your attention, "Heh, seems like your family has a common gene of ignoring people," Diego quipped, recalling a time when he had praised your father, only to be met with his silence.

But you remained focused on your task, keeping your eyes fixed on the race ahead. Diego was determined to engage you in conversation. "Come on, Y/N, don't be so cold. It's rude to ignore a fellow competitor," he called out, his tone laced with a mix of playfulness and frustration.

Glancing towards the stands, you caught a glimpse of your father observing the interaction. Diego followed your gaze and took notice of you looking at you father, he looked back at you and threw his hands up in defeat as he walked away.

The race was then called, and you lined up with Lady Luck at the starting point. Diego positioned himself next to you, still attempting to engage in conversation. "What's with this cold shoulder? I'm not a fan." he spoke as he rolled his eyes. Ignoring his words once again, you focused your energy on the soon-to-start race, blocking out his attempts at distraction.

As the race commenced, adrenaline coursed through your veins. You propelled Lady Luck forward, but Diego matched your pace, riding his horse alongside you. He couldn't resist continuing his banter, even as you glanced towards the stands, catching your father's watchful gaze.

"Oh, I get it," Diego sneered. "Your old man doesn't want you talking to me, huh?" He reveled in his assumption, aiming to provoke a reaction as he rode alongside you. Determined to stay focused, you sighed and ignored him, keeping your eyes fixed on the track before you. Diego chuckled.

Neck and neck, you and Diego raced towards the finish line. But in a calculated move, you lightly nudged Lady Luck to the left, causing Diego to swerve off and collide his horse to a barricade, sending him off his horse and tumbling to the ground. With a clear path ahead, you maintained your lead and crossed the finish line in first place, leaving the other racers trailing behind.

Disheveled and furious, Diego picked himself up and remounted his horse, crossing the finish line in last place. As you dismounted and removed your helmet, Diego stormed towards you, with intense anger. He aggressively grabbed your collar and pulled you up to his face, his words seething with frustration.

"That was a cheap trick," he spat. "Don't let this win boost your ego. If you didn't pull that, I would've easily beaten you." His grip tightened, and he continued, oblivious to the onlookers. "I won't fall for that again, you tramp"

Unfazed by his outburst, you maintained your composure, glancing over to the crowd, only to realize that your father had disappeared. Diego's grip tightened in which you warned him, "You better get your hands off me before my father sees you."

"These hands have already been inside you." He sneered softly to you.

Diego's demeanor, however, quickly shifted as he noticed your father approaching. He released his grip and took a step back, switching to a facade of charm, "Wow, that was a nice trick you pulled there, Y/N! I didn't see it coming. Fair win," he praised, congratulating you with false enthusiasm.

In that moment, your father approached, catching the tail end of the exchange. He beamed with pride, impressed by what he believed was Diego's good sportsmanship. Content to believe in the camaraderie of the racing world, your father greeted Diego and shook his hand.

Your reaction, however, was one of skepticism, rolling your eyes at Diego's sudden change in behavior. Diego then bid a hasty farewell and left with a frustrated look etched on his face. You exchanged a glance with Lady Luck, silently acknowledging the underlying tension between you and your rival.

Turning towards you, your father's smile widened. "That was a good trick you pulled there, my dear," he commended. "Your training has paid off. You finally managed to beat Diego Brando." His words held a note of genuine satisfaction.

Nodding in response, you mustered a faint smile, focusing your attention on your faithful steed, Lady Luck. It was a bittersweet victory, tainted by the deceptive game you had played, but you knew that in the realm of competitive racing, sometimes you have to make impulsive decisions.

Although you had finally beat Diego Brando in a local race, you didn't have a feeling of satisfaction as you had hope you would. Deep down you knew if you didn't pull that move, Diego would've paced past you.

———

You made your way to the women's restroom after the race to wash up a bit. As you washed your hands, you glanced up into the mirror and came face to face with a familiar figure—Diego Brando. His presence in the women's restroom caught you off guard, but you maintained your composure. Meeting his gaze through the reflection, you looked at him nonchalantly before returning your attention to the sink.

Diego, clearly upset, stood with his arms crossed, his eyes fixed on you. He couldn't resist the opportunity to engage in conversation, his voice filled with frustration. "Still going to give me the cold shoulder despite me walking into the women's restroom?" he questioned, his tone laced with annoyance.

Letting out a weary sigh, you continued to ignore him, as you then moved on to drying your hands. His persistent attempts to provoke a response only served to reinforce your decision to distance yourself from him. The words of your father echoed in your mind, reminding you of the consequences that awaited should you disobey his orders.

Diego then grabbed you by the wrists and pinned you up to the wall, your face pressed against it as he whispers into your ear. "How long are you going to keep this up? Ignoring me won't change the fact that we share a history, a rivalry," he said, his voice tinged with a mix of bitterness and longing.

Though his words held some truth, you remained steadfast in your resolve. Ignoring him had become your shield against the complications and entanglements that came with his presence. But this position made you feel belittled.

You grunted out as you attempted to pull your wrists from his grasp, but no luck. Diego scoffed as he applied his body pressure on you making you truly unable to get away.

He continued to whisper in your ear, "Ill make you talk."

☆☆☆