Our Heart (Rewritten)

Racing Hearts

"P'Stop?"

The male in question smirks, shaking off his helmet hair. It's apparent he feels cool in his attire and the fact that he's in an underground type of circuit race. But that brings him to his question, "What are you doing here?" He asks Noeul who looks like he has no business being there.

But with Stop's last prank still fresh in Noeul's mind, the boy isn't in the mood to chitchat. "None of your business."

Stop bellows a laugh, then tells him, "You're still mad about last time? T'was a joke."

"It wasn't funny." Noeul claps back. Stop may not know this but he almost died! If Boss hadn't come for him, who knows what would've happened.

Oh, right! Noeul remembers Boss is waiting for him and makes a move to leave again. "I don't have time for this." He mutters.

But Stop grabs his wrist, almost holding his hand. "Wait, wait."

"What do you think you're doing?" Noeul resists to no avail.

"You've gotten feisty, haven't ya?" Stop remarks, a mischievous grin on his face. The man obviously doesn't understand the meaning of 'no' and just continues chattering. "Hey, wanna see me race? I'm the best rookie around he-"

But they're interrupted when someone snatches Noeul's hand away from Stop and stands protectively in between them. When the latter's eyes flick up to see who dare to do such a thing, he ends up chuckling in disbelief.

"Wow. Really, Boss?"

"Leave Noeul alone." Boss warns, his fierce eyes showing he isn't playing around. But Stop doesn't back down so easily either. He looks Boss up and down then scoffs, "What? You're a mechanic here?" He cackles and make people turn their heads toward them as he does.

Then, Stop's gaze turns cold and he pokes a finger on Boss' shoulder repeatedly as he states, "Who do you think you are, huh? You're just a lowly mechanic...like your father."

That's it. Boss grabs his hand, twisting it and making the other yelp in pain and jump back. "Why you!" Stop growls, charging at Boss with his arm winded back as if to throw a punch.

But they're apprehended at this point by the men in suits who, Noeul's assuming, are the event's security. "Hey! Stop it, you two!"

P'Aon appears as well along with his client and an intimidating looking man who then asks, "What's going on here?"

Stop quickly answers by pointing at Boss. "Since when did you hire amateur mechanics, P'Chai? I don't want idiots like him working in this circuit!"

The man called P'Chai turns his attention to Boss who's still shielding Noeul with his body. He can't really blame the boy; P'Chai's general vibe definitely spells big boss of some deep illegal dealings.

"I've never seen either of you here before? Did you sneak in?" He asks in all seriousness. But P'Aon's client who apparently happens to be P'Chai's right hand man cuts in, "Uh, no, sir. Those boys are with P'Aon and..." He moves closer to inform his boss, "...that boy is the one who fixed your bike."

The glint in the man's eyes visibly shifts from threatening to amused. "Is that so?" He says, quirking a brow at Boss. "You have quite the talent, young man."

"What?" Stop exclaims but he's ignored.

"Have you ever raced before?" P'Chai inquires to which Boss steadies himself—not letting the other intimidate him—and replies, "No, sir. But I'm confident in the work I've done with your bike."

P'Chai smirks, looking over to his assistant and P'Aon with a finger pointed at Boss. "I like him." He remarks but then he turns to Boss once more and tells him, "But you know what? You can't become a competent mechanic of racing vehicles unless you can get on one. Because only then will you truly get a feel of whether you did a good job. You following me?'

At this, Boss inwardly sighs and nods his head. He knows what the man is saying; if he wants to be a real mechanic for racing machines, he should be more committed and ride one himself. But he only snuck out to be here tonight so he's wondering if he'll even get to do that.

"Good." P'Chai states, clapping Boss' arm. And as he's leaving and making it known that he's an important person given how the crowd splits in half as he comes through, he waves a hand over his head and says, "I expect you to work on my bike again for the next race, young man. Don't let me down."

The crowd erupts in gasps and they murmur amongst themselves while glancing at the young mechanic who was just bestowed the honor. But no one is more surprised than Boss himself and, well, Stop is a close second.

He's still reeling from the fact that P'Chai favored Boss, practically a stranger to the circuit, more than him. And his rage makes him fling his helmet at a short distance, causing those standing there to quickly disperse while cursing him under their breaths.

Meanwhile, Boss glances at Noeul, making sure he's okay then brings him back to the fenced area near the racetracks where it's safe. Everyone pretty much goes back to whatever they were doing, most of them fixating on the next race that's starting again.

"Boss," P'Aon calls in hush tones. "I'll bring out the truck. We should go before your dad gets home. I'll text you once I'm outside."

Boss nods, still somewhat out of it. Once it was just them, Noeul gently touches Boss' arm and asks him, "Are you okay?"

And if he wasn't before then, he is now. He smiles albeit weakly and assures Noeul, "I'm fine. I just..." He turns to the race tracks where bikes get on their marks, waiting for the signal.

"You want to work for him? P'Chai, was it?" Noeul finishes his sentence yet again and it never ceases to amaze Boss. He directs an adoring gaze at the boy and confirms, "Mm, I think I do. I can see myself doing that and...I think I can be good at it too."

Noeul agrees, he does. But something's holding him back from expressing full support and Boss can feel that. He meets the boy's uncertain gaze and asks softly, "What is it, Eul? Something's bothering you, tell me."

Noeul chews on his lip before finally asking, "Do you really have to get on one, a racing bike?"

Boss smiles, realizing then what the other's concern is—his safety. "You heard him. I need to...if I want to be a good mechanic." He reasons out to which Noeul slightly pouts. "I think I can understand Peat now, when I do dangerous stuff and he gets worried sick about me."

Boss chuckles at this but he knows Noeul is genuinely scared and he makes sure to put him at ease. He takes Noeul's hands in his and brings their faces closer as he speaks to make sure Noeul hears him over the noise of the engines. "I promise I'll be careful. I wouldn't let anything happen to me...'cause I don't want you to worry. Do you trust me, Eul?"

Noeul looks into his eyes and almost sees a bit of himself, stubborn but with a burning passion that shouldn't be dulled. Finally, he breaks into a pretty smile and nods his head. "I trust you...and I'll support you, Chaikamon."

Boss flashes a happy smile, eyes practically twinkling. Then he brings his hands up to Noeul's face, running his thumbs on the boy's smooth jaw. They're so close and once he can't take it anymore, he closes the barely inches distance between their lips, planting a short, soft and almost unsure kiss.

When he pulls away, his eyes flick up to Noeul's glazed ones and this time, Noeul meets him halfway, locking their lips together in a deep kiss with streaks of lights from bikes zipping by in the background like a scene from a movie.

It couldn't have been more perfect.

Except watching them from a distance is Stop who girts his teeth and clenches his gloved fists.

~~~

Author's Note:

And there you go, a short but sweeeeet chapter to close off this week's updates. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. See you on my next updates which hopefully won't be late this time! 🩵🩵🩵

Xoxo

P'Perry