Like Going Home (A KaiRain Story)

Distraction

Author's Note: Thank you all for your support on the first chapter. Here's the second one! Pasilip sa buhay ni Rain. Malapit na sila magkita ni Kai, so kapit lang!

Next update will be on Thursday or Friday, so stay tuned! :)
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The sun beat down mercilessly on the asphalt of Clark International Speedway, but Rain barely noticed. She sat behind the wheel of her GT car, the engine humming beneath her, but her mind wasn't here—her thoughts wandered far from the track. Every roar of the engine was drowned out by the chaos inside her head. Usually, she'd be dialed in, feeling every curve of the track like second nature. But today? Today, she was lost.

Marco, her trainer, stood at the pit, arms crossed, eyes narrowed as he watched her botch another lap. Missed apex. Late braking. Too wide on the turns. It wasn't like her at all. Normally, Rain was sharp, unshakeable. Today, though, she was just... off.

"Rain!" His voice cracked through the earpiece, frustration lacing every word. "Ano bang nangyayari sa'yo? You're all over the place."

Rain's grip on the steering wheel tightened. Her heart raced, but not with adrenaline—with guilt. She pressed the accelerator, pushing the car down the straight, trying to shake the haze clouding her mind. The speed should've helped her focus, should've cleared her head. But it didn't. Her thoughts were still scattered, untethered.

The next corner rushed toward her faster than she anticipated. Shit! Her foot slammed down on the brakes too late. Tires screeched against the asphalt, the car skidding dangerously close to the edge of the track. She barely managed to rein it in, but the scare left her breathless. Damn, muntik na ako 'don.

"Rain!" Marco's voice crackled again, louder this time, and with a seriousness that made her stomach twist. "Pull into the pit, right now!"

Frustration bubbled inside her, mixing with the guilt she tried so hard to push away. She pulled into the pit, slowing the car to a stop. The moment the engine cut off, silence enveloped her, but it only made her feel worse. Marco was already approaching, the tension in his shoulders giving away his concern. She ripped off her helmet, sweat-soaked hair tumbling around her face as she avoided his gaze.

"You're distracted," Marco said, his voice low but heavy with meaning. "I don't know what's going on with you, but you're not driving like you should be. Alam mo ba kung gaano kadelikado 'yung ginawa mo kanina?"

Rain nodded weakly, her throat tight. "Alam ko po, Coach." Her voice was barely more than a whisper.

Marco ran a hand through his hair, his frustration showing, but underneath it all was something else—worry. "This isn't just about winning, Rain. You could've gotten hurt out there. You can't drive like this. Not if you want to stay safe."

Rain clenched her fists, fighting back the emotion rising in her chest. The pressure she put on herself, the expectations, the noise that never seemed to quiet—it was all weighing her down. She wanted to tell him. She wanted to open up, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, she just nodded again, her hands trembling slightly.

Marco sighed, his expression softening. "Hindi ako galit. I just... I know you can do better. I know you've got it in you."

Rain swallowed hard. "I know. I'll get it together, Coach. Promise."

"You need to," Marco said, his voice firm but not unkind. "You can't half-drive out there, Rain. Either you're all in, or you're not. Take the time you need to clear your head, but when you're on that track, you need to be present."

Finally, Rain lifted her gaze to meet his, catching the concern behind the frustration.

She nodded, more firmly this time. "Opo. Next time, I'll be ready."