Street Racer || Yang Jungwon

°•♡•° / 8

—— Jungwon

We settled back into my car, the engine humming with a quiet intensity. "Time to head home," I announced, the night air cool as we embarked on the journey back. Seori merely nodded, her eyes reflecting a blend of contentment and the weariness that comes after a satisfying meal.

As I drove, the rhythmic hum of the engine seemed to lull Seori into a gentle slumber. Her head rested against the window, the city lights casting a soft glow on her peaceful expression. I couldn't help but steal glances, appreciating the tranquility that had replaced her earlier excitement.

Arriving at her house, I gently parked the car. Turning to her, I murmured, "We're here," but she remained in a peaceful slumber. A small smile played on my lips as I reached for my phone, capturing a candid moment with the sleeping Ramen Queen.

Just as the camera clicked, Seori jolted awake, her eyes wide with confusion. "What's happening?" she mumbled, still in the haze of sleep. I didn't show her the photo, deciding to keep the spontaneous snapshot to myself. "Time to wake up," I said, offering her a cheeky grin.

Seori, now fully awake, adjusted herself in the seat and prepared to exit the car. With a light chuckle, I couldn't resist teasing her. "Remember, no tripping this time when you get out," I said, a playful smirk on my face, referencing the incident from the first time I brought her home.

She shot me a mock glare, feigning offense. "I did not trip! That was a perfectly graceful stumble," she retorted, the hint of a smile betraying her attempt to look indignant.

As she gracefully stepped out of the car, I followed suit, locking the vehicle. The night air wrapped around us as Seori stood on the pavement, looking up at me. "Well, thanks for the adventure," she said, a genuine smile spreading across her face.

I mirrored her expression. "Anytime, Ramen Queen. Until the weekend," I replied, a promise lingering in the air. As she walked towards her front door, I couldn't help but watch, wondering how this unexpected tale would unfold in the chapters yet to come.

Entering the racing house, the familiar hum of laughter and the clattering of game controllers filled the air. My friends-Heeseung, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, and Niki-looked up as I walked in, curious expressions on their faces.

Slipping off my shoes and shedding my jacket, I joined the gaming and eating session. They wasted no time in bombarding me with questions. "So, how was your date with Seori?" Heeseung asked, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

I rolled my eyes, shooting down the assumption. "It wasn't a date," I clarified, emphasizing each word. "She's just a 16-year-old kid to me. She asked me to pick her up after school, and we went to a ramen shop. That's it."

My friends exchanged glances, some smirking, others raising an eyebrow in skepticism. Jay, ever the instigator, chimed in, "Sounds like a date to me."

I scoffed, grabbing a controller and joining the gaming chaos. "Believe what you want. It was just a random night out. Now, who's up for a race?" The conversation shifted to virtual tracks and adrenaline-fueled competition, leaving behind the unexpected adventure with the Ramen Queen.

ﾟ.+:｡Time skip.+:｡

A couple of days passed, and Thursday evening found us all lounging in the racing house. I settled into a comfortable bean bag, casually munching on a snack as the chatter of my friends filled the room.

Between bites, I glanced around the room and posed a question to the group, "So, when's the next street racing event?" The anticipation lingered in the air as I needed to coordinate the timing for the promised midnight drive with Seori.