„You look like you do this since forever."
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Daniel Ricciardo is 35 years old and his life change in few seconds. It was his best drive since he left Red Bull but it end up with accident and now he had to left Formula one world.
His parents...
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"Today, we're heading into the wild, sport," Alira declared with genuine certainty as she walked into Daniel's house as if she owned it. Daniel had opened the door for her even though it was only five in the morning on a Saturday—a day he never worked. He hadn't expected any outings, so Alira's arrival at five in the morning caught him completely off guard.
"What?" Daniel mumbled, still groggy. His voice was slightly hoarse from just waking up, and his messy hair stuck out in all directions, giving him an irresistibly adorable look. Alira had to suppress the urge to do something she might regret later. Daniel shook his head, closed the door, and looked at Alira and Tar, who were already comfortably seated on the couch, ready to go.
Alira was dressed in long khaki pants and a black tank top, with a shirt tied around her waist in case she needed to protect her arms. Her black combat boots gleamed, perfect for a wilderness adventure—she knew exactly what to wear because she had been doing such expeditions for years. But Daniel knew nothing about it. No one had informed him or prepared him. He had fallen asleep the previous night thinking he would enjoy a leisurely breakfast in the city, do some shopping, and spend the rest of the day watching his favorite series since he didn't have to train. He certainly hadn't expected to be up at five in the morning, setting off into the wild with the girl he liked.
"We're heading into the wild," Alira repeated with a smile, patting Tar on the head. Tar stared at Daniel with a blank expression, not moving an inch.
"What do you mean, we're heading into the wild?" Daniel repeated, confused. His mind buzzed like a hive. He hoped this was just some crazy joke the zoo played on newcomers. He rubbed his eyes to shake off the remnants of sleep and yawned deeply, covering his mouth with his hand.
"I forgot to tell you yesterday?" Alira asked, her tone indicating she was stating a fact rather than asking a question. Daniel looked at her with a face that clearly asked if she was joking. Alira nervously chuckled and ran her fingers through her loose hair. He noticed a hair tie on her wrist, suggesting her hair would end up in a ponytail during the day.
"What did you forget to tell me?" Daniel asked, his voice still filled with disbelief.
"Today, you're coming with me into the wild," she replied with an innocent smile, as if what she had just announced was perfectly normal and something she did every weekend. "Perth Zoo participates in large-scale animal rescue efforts, so once in a while, staff go into the wild to look for sick or injured animals, which we then bring to the vet."
Daniel stood there stunned, his plans for a peaceful Saturday dissolving like steam over a pot. Alira looked at him expectantly, her eyes shining with excitement. It was a challenge, an adventure being offered to him on a silver platter. Something inside him stirred—perhaps curiosity, perhaps her infectious enthusiasm, but he felt this could be the start of something new, something he had never imagined.
