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The scent of gasoline and the hum of engines filled the air as Ashianna leaned back in the driver's seat of her black and red sports car, her fingers gripping the steering wheel with practice ease.
This was her sanctuary—the roaring engines, the rush of adrenaline, the blur of the world around her. Every time she hit the track, it felt like freedom.
The chaos of life, the drama with Mavis, and the ridiculous emotions she didn't want to acknowledge faded away with each rev of the engine.
"Game time" She muttered under her breath, staring at the track ahead.
Two other racers were lined up next to her—one in a sleek silver car, the other in a deep blue, but Ashi barely noticed them.
Her focus was locked on the road ahead. She wasn't here to make friends or enjoy the crowd's cheers.
She was here to win.
The crowd roared around her, but it was all background noise, except for the steady beat of her heart and the thrill of competition coursing through her veins.
In the crowd, unseen to Ashi, Mavis stood among the spectators.
She was there with her friends, not really invested in the race but mesmerized by the sleek beauty of the black and red car she saw parked earlier.
She hadn't realized it yet, but the driver of that car was Ashi.
Ashi glanced at the starting line, feeling the vibrations of the engines around her.
'This is where I belong'
She thought, determination coursing through her.
'Not in school drama. Not in confusion over some bully who can't make up her mind. Right here, racing.'
'Hindi sa pesteng confession ni Mavis '
She keeps telling herself that.
"On your marks..." The announcer's voice crackled over the loudspeakers.
The engines roared louder, the cars vibrating with pent-up energy. Ashi inhaled deeply, steadying her breath.
"Get set..."
Everything around her blurred into silence. Her eyes narrowed, muscles tensing.
"Go!"
Tires screeched as the cars launched forward, the night air exploding with sound.
The track blurred beneath them as Ashi pressed her foot hard against the pedal. The world shrank to the road ahead—each curve, each challenge.
The silver car was fast, but Ashi was faster. Her hands moved instinctively, guiding the car around bends, weaving through the competitors like a knife through butter.
She could hear the cheers of the crowd, the muffled voices that made no difference to her concentration.
The other drivers tried to keep up, but they were outmatched. Ashi's car zipped ahead, and she felt the familiar high as the wind roared through the windows.
'This is my world— my escape. No one can touch me here.'
As she took the lead, her mind flickered briefly to Mavis—the kiss, the confusion, the way Mavis had looked at her after confessing her feelings.
Ashi gritted her teeth, pushing those thoughts away. This was her escape. She wouldn't let anything ruin it, not even the red-haired menace.
Lap after lap, the other racers fell further behind. The finish line loomed, and with one final burst of speed, Ashi's car crossed it, leaving the others in the dust.
