High Stakes: Between Rivals and Lovers

Pilot

100... 125... 140... 160...

Focus.

180... 200... 240...

That's more like it.

On the race track, Engfa Ayutthaya's mind is one with her body. Her expert hands manipulate the wheel and gear shift with precision to control her vehicle and ensure safety before speed. As one of the first few female racers in Thailand, she was determined to make the win for this year's Grand Prix.

After another lap, her coach calls her over the lapel, "That's enough for today, Fa. It's 5 pm, you should get some rest."

Engfa gives him a quick affirmation and slows down her car, parking it by the side of the pit. She exits it and her team takes over taking her helmet and congratulating her on today's job well done. She thanks them and heads to her personal quarters, gathering her things and composing herself. Even if it was just practice the high she got from being on the racetrack made her heart beat extremely fast.

The preliminary race was next month. This weekend there was the Grand Prix Exhibition race where pro-racers were invited to showcase their talents. As a fan favorite, she was invited by popular demand alongside nine other racers to participate in the event. Although one of the objectives of the exhibition race was to gain a bigger fanbase, Engfa was driven to show her skills and promote the Grand Prix in general.

A knock on her door jolts her from her thoughts after her whole day of training. She'd realized she'd been on the track for five hours straight. "Yeah?" Engfa calls out.

"It's me." A familiar voice calls from behind the door. It's Meena Suwannarat, one of the pit crew who handled Engfa's social media. "P'Sun asked me to check in on you. Are you going to head to the gym?"

Engfa gets up and changes into her casual clothes. She was supposed to go to the gym but decided to work double time tomorrow. "I'm just getting dressed. I kinda want to get street food instead." She tells her.

"Oh," Is all Meena says. "Did you even have lunch today?"

"Nah. I'm starving."

When the racer exits her room, she asks her social media manager about her day's engagement. "How was it? Post any good videos today?" Engfa did not just know Meena professionally, but also personally as she'd introduced her to her younger sister Aoom three years ago when Engfa was a rookie racer.

"Oh yes," Meena says. Even after two years of dating Aoom, the younger woman was still formal towards her. "I went on Live earlier and it reached 13,000 total views, P'Fa." Meena reports. Then again, Meena had a stoic demeanor which only went down when she was with Aoom. The older woman had noticed this before they told her they were dating but patiently waited until both of them were ready to tell her instead.

Engfa smiles at that and she asks Meena if she wants to get a meal after the work day. Meena agrees and tells her she's meeting Aoom as well.

"Oh, tell her to meet us at the night market," Engfa says to Meena's shock.

"The night market? But P'Fa will get mobbed by fans and paparazzi."

Engfa smiles, "I'm not that popular, nong." She says, underestimating her renown. "Besides, it's a quick meal before heading home. My neck is so sore." Meena smiles at Engfa's term of endearment while at work. But it doesn't count since she's clocking out anyway.

"Should I ask P'Sun to book your physiotherapist tonight?" Meena asks, ever the professional. Engfa considers this, but she honestly wants to be alone tonight. "You should wear a hat." The younger woman suggests. Engfa nods, knowing she has her lucky cap somewhere in her car.