Rude Ruby

03: New Face

Watch your thoughts, they become your words: 03 | New Face

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Cargael's POV

Napapamura na lang ako dahil sa tindi ng pananakit ng katawan ko mula sa nangyari noong nakaraang buwan.

Yeah, I'm still in pain a month later because of that dirty veteran. I could've died, honestly. Who would've thought that bastard would pull a cheap move on me on the damn racetrack?

I wasn't even sure about the duel he proposed, but he baited me with that stupid bet—my Hennessey for a shot at a sponsorship in 'the real' Racing Madness. And what did he do? He cheated because he knew I could beat him.

I didn't prepare for my car to be wrecked like that, let alone the chance of dying when it slammed into the ground. He knew how badly I needed that sponsorship and used it against me. I should've known better than to trust Damon. Now, I've lost the duel—and my pride.

The pain shooting through my muscles is a constant reminder of how I underestimated him. I can still hear the roar of the engines, the crowd's cheers turning to gasps as I ate dirt on that final straight.

Now, I can't hide the effects of that race from Chad ngayong halos gapangin ko ang pagpasok ngayong unang umaga ng Midterms.

"You okay, man? Heard you had a bad accident!" Pang iinis nito sabay abot ng kaha ng sigarilyo. "'Yan kasi, drag race pa!" dagdag pa nito. "Buti buhay kapa? Lumipad ka eh."

I tsked. He probably seen that video na nagva-viral ngayon online. Well, people might not know me but Chad knew my car and how I was crazy for races.

And speaking of how I was still alive, that woman last night. If weren't for her, I could've have die in suffucation.

"Someone saved me..." bulong ko, sabay abot sa yosi niya na may sindi na. Inilapit ko ang dulo ng sigarilyo ko sa kanya, nagdikit ang baga ng dalawang yosi at humigop ako para masindihan ang akin.

"Yeah, the paramedics. Nakita ko nga..." sagot ni Chad habang umaangat ang usok mula sa bibig niya.

"No," tumingala ako, sariwang-sariwa pa sa utak ko na parang isang pelikula ang nangyari bago dumating ang paramedics. "She came out of nowhere and pulled the stuck door for me. I swear, hindi ko alam kung paano nangyari."

Chad raised a brow and smirked. "She? Babae? Nauntog ba ulo mo? How could a girl pull a stuck door? Mabigat 'yon, saka matigas. Lasing ka ba no'n?"

"Hindi ako lasing, Chad. Alam ko ang nakita ko, her hair was long, black and lustrous." seryosong sagot ko. "And that door wasn't just stuck, dude. It was jammed hard. I even attempt to punch the windows hoping to break it from inside. But she... she just yanked it like it was nothing."

"Wait, teka." Chad exhaled slowly, narrowing his eyes. "Sinasabi mo ba na may dumating na superhero-type chick girl at hinatak yung pintuan para iligtas ka? Sounds like the head trauma's worse than I thought, dude."

I threw him a sharp glare. "I'm not joking, Chad. Hindi lang basta 'babae.' Something about her... I don't know how to explain it. Hindi normal. Parang hindi siya dapat nandun, pero nandun siya."

"Anong hitsura niya?" Chad asked, flicking the ash off his cigarette with a lazy tap.

"Hindi ko nakita," I admitted, frustration creeping into my voice. "The lights were blinding me, felt dizzy, but I saw her hair and silhouette. She was tall, slender. I know I catch her eyes and the way she looked at me... parang—parang nakakakilabot?" pagtataka ko rin habang inaalala ang naramdaman ko ng nagkatitigan kami kahit panandalian lang.