High Stakes: Between Rivals and Lovers

To Have Someone

During the post-Exhibition Race briefing, Engfa couldn't help her yawn and slump back against the wall. If she didn't have anyone else on the bench next to her she would have put up her feet so she could take a short nap. Everyone else was tired too, but the team needed to discuss the particulars not just of the race but what it meant for her, their team, and the entire trajectory of the campaign moving forward.

Next to her, Meena was also dozing off, sleepily responding to messages from her girlfriend. Engfa rests her head on Meena's shoulders trying to stay awake.

That's when Meena remembered how Charlotte acted in the lifted area during the race.

"Hey, I have something to tell you." The younger woman tells the racer, suddenly awake. The older woman just raises her eyebrows at her, wanting her to say it immediately.

"But maybe later." Meena teases her, bringing Fa up to sit straight in her seat.

They're dismissed fifteen minutes earlier, discussing Engfa's schedule for workouts, track time, and press events but she paid less attention than she was before Meena said she had to tell her something. Everyone got up, again congratulated Engfa, and gave her hugs and warm gestures. Coach set up a celebratory dinner, but since Engfa had a doctor's appointment in the morning, she couldn't come to celebrate with all of them.

"I'll celebrate when I win the Grand Prix na," Engfa says graciously. "But for now my schedule needs me to sleep so I will be well for the doctor's tomorrow. I'll see you all on Monday when we train again." The team acknowledges her and they go off to prepare for the dinner.

She takes to her racer's quarters and changes into casual clothes, a black top under a dry-fit jacket, and casual jeans. She takes off her makeup so all she has to do at home is rest. She internalizes all of the day's work, the team and Coach's suggestions for improvement, and most of all, the validation she received from winning second place. It was no easy feat being a woman in this profession, but day by day, it added to her confidence and certainty that she was on the right track.

Before heading out, Engfa heads to the common room to look for Meena. The younger woman was just heading out as well.

"Ah, P'Fa." Meena greets her. "I was about to go talk to you." She says suggestively, her smile teasing. Engfa just knows it had something to do with Charlotte.

"Well? I'm waiting." Engfa says, crossing her arms. She had her handbag in tow, too. Meena laughs at her teasing.

"It's not really a big deal na. But I think that girl you met yesterday is more a fan of you than her team's." Meena begins. Fa walks them out so the other crew members don't hear. The younger one couldn't help her smile as she knew how the racer was very attracted to her.

"Oh, is that it? I thought we had problems with our social media." Fa says coolly. Meena raises an eyebrow at her.

"No, nothing like that. I filmed your Live on the lifted section. She was there too. But halfway she was calling out for you." Meena says, gauging Fa's reaction.

"And Eng-fa and Mew do not sound the same at all." She adds and Engfa shakes her head, walking away.

"Oy, P'Fa!" Meena walks after her, afraid of her reaction, but Engfa just smiles at her, still walking to the parking area.

"Have to go. I have an early day tomorrow. Thank you for your hard work today, nong." She says, leaving Meena alone confused.

–

Walking to her personal car, Engfa clutched the lucky trinket Charlotte had given her. Once inside, she hangs the trinket on her rearview mirror and touches the golden circle dangling on the end. She smiles at how such a small gesture from a stranger fills her heart. It's not that she wasn't used to this. Her personal quarters were filled with stuffed animals, bouquets, and other trinkets her fans had sent her. But this trinket was well-thought-out.