High Stakes: Between Rivals and Lovers

Risks

The week passes by like a blur and before anyone realizes, it's the day before the Pride Parade. Engfa had been busy with her mental and physical training, and of course at the track behind the wheel. Charlotte on the other hand, busied herself preparing for her graduation on the weekend.

Charlotte arranges a post-celebratory lunch with her friends and family and is conflicted if she'd invite Mew. It would be weird if she didn't, considering that Mew is her boyfriend in the public eye.

She sits by her window, the morning sun filtering through the curtains, casting a warm glow over her apartment. She's thinking and feeling too deeply but is occasionally disturbed by an energetic puppy and a calm rabbit. She picks up her phone to call and invite him and after he confirms, they chat about other things.

When Charlotte is silent on the other line, Mew says, "So the Pride Parade's tomorrow..."

Startled, Charlotte grips her phone tight. She wants to go, but the thought of being in such a public setting, surrounded by so many people, not to mention the media, makes her nervous. Instead, she asks Mew if he wants to go, knowing how he truly feels.

"Did you want to go?" Charlotte asks, hoping he'd say yes.

Charlotte could almost feel his delight through his words, "Do you want to make it a win-win?" Mew blatantly teases her, but also wants to support the Pride Parade. Even though he needs to appear a certain way because of his profession, he knows that being there would be a step in accepting himself as he truly is. She doesn't realize she's squeezing Tofu a little too hard until the puppy squirms and breaks free from her embrace when she hears what Mew is saying.

Charlotte asks him, "What do you mean? How is it a win for me?"

"Oh, don't play coy now, Char. I know you." He laughs, genuinely. Charlotte is reminded of the time when they were younger and all fame and publicity were mere concepts in their minds. "Check your messages." He asks.

Mew then sends her a photo of Engfa's new promotional shot for Bangkok Pride. Engfa is smiling all out, her dimples revealed and eyes squinted, mouth slightly agape, and a rainbow flag painted on her cheek. She's wearing a different outfit this time, sporting a white cap instead of black, a white sports bra showcasing her abs and a turquoise jacket that reminds Charlotte of a lighter version of the colors of Mew's team in the Prix.

Feeling Charlotte speechless again on the other line, Mew continues. "I think I'd consider this a win for you, Ms. Harris."

After a little more convincing, Charlotte concedes and they agree to go together. The two even coordinate their outfits just to make sure it's clear that they come together as boyfriend and girlfriend. Mew makes appropriate arrangements with P'Van and the team, who give them the green light and agree it would solidify their narrative even more.

/

After Engfa had walked out after the team lunch, Coach Nawat did his best to reconcile with his star racer. Engfa isn't one to sulk, but she was annoyed at how Coach thought so little of her – and rightly so. Engfa is everything but an opportunist. If she is to beat anyone at the Grand Prix it would be through fair game and her skills alone. She wouldn't dare flirt with her competitor's girlfriend if it meant gaining her an advantage in the Prix.

After three days of only talking to him via the lapel mic when she's on the tracks, Nawat finally gives in and addresses the elephant in the room. He ensures that no one else is listening in on their conversation by having Sun collect the lapel mics during one of Fa's rounds at the track for "maintenance".

"Okay na, stop sulking. What do you want?" He tells her into the mic bluntly, dropping his clipboard down a bench and leaning forward on the rail watching the racer go.