Karera | [ Stacey x OC (F) ]

C13 - Plea

Third Person's POV

Louise stood there, rooted to the spot as Stacey stormed off, her words still hanging heavy in the air.

"It stopped feeling fake, Lou."

The engines revving in the distance and the sound of laughter from their friends seemed distant, like they were miles away.

All she could focus on was the tightening in her chest. She tried to shake off the feeling, telling herself that Stacey was just overreacting. But deep down, Louise knew there was more to it. The lines between fake and real had blurred, and now she was faced with the fallout.

Louise sighed, running a hand through her hair. She didn't want to deal with this right now, not here, not after the race. But the look on Stacey's face when she walked away kept replaying in her mind-anger, hurt, and something else she couldn't quite place.

"Hey Lou, okay ka lang?" Kai's voice broke through her thoughts as he came up behind her.

Louise blinked, forcing herself to refocus. "Yeah, yeah. I'm fine." she muttered, though her voice didn't sound convincing even to herself.

Kai raised an eyebrow but didn't push. "Well, if you're done spacing out, Javi's getting impatient. He's already itching for the next race, kinukulit sila Fons na umulit dahil dalawa daw yung nanalo."

"Kahit kailan talaga." Louise thought.

Louise nodded absentmindedly, but her eyes drifted toward where Stacey had gone. She could see her now, standing with Maloi and Sheena, though her arms were still crossed, her posture tense. Stacey hadn't even glanced back.

"Sunod ako." Louise said, her mind already wandering.

Kai looked like he was going to say something, but thought better of it and jogged off toward the others.

Louise, still torn, knew she couldn't just leave things like this. She took a deep breath and started walking toward Stacey. The conversation they had moments ago replayed in her head, each word hitting her with more weight than the last.

As she approached, Maloi noticed her first and shot Stacey a look before giving her a nudge. Stacey stiffened, clearly noticing Louise's approach, but she didn't turn around. Louise reached her, but before she could say anything, Maloi spoke up.

"Stacey, kukuha lang kami ng drinks ni Sheena. You want anything?"

Stacey shook her head, her gaze fixed on the ground. "Hindi na, I'm good."

Maloi and Sheena exchanged glances, sensing the tension. "Okay, balik kami agad." Maloi said, before pulling Sheena away, leaving Louise and Stacey alone.

For a moment, neither of them said anything. Louise shifted uncomfortably, her mind racing for the right thing to say. Finally, she spoke, her voice softer than before.

"Staks, listen... I didn't mean for it to come off like that. I didn't realize..."

Stacey cut her off, her voice sharp but low. "Didn't realize what, Lou? Na hindi nalang basta basta laro 'tong ginagawa natin? That maybe I started to actually care?"

Louise swallowed hard. "I didn't know you felt like that."

Stacey laughed bitterly, shaking her head. "'Yan ang problema, Lou. You never do."