Love 4 Apex | Lando Norris

🏎 31 - Echoes of Departure

The world outside seemed distant as Lando sank into the rhythm of the days with Magui. He'd put his phone on silent, ignoring the hum of messages and notifications that would usually pull him in a dozen directions. For these two weeks, he wasn't the Lando that everyone else knew—the racer, the rising star, the guy always in the spotlight. Here, with Magui, he was just himself, learning the gentle quiet of her presence, the way she laughed at his bad jokes, and the way her eyes softened when she looked at him.

The days in Santarém unfolded gently, yet Lando noticed subtle shifts in Magui. Since starting her medication, moments of tiredness and mood swings crept in, casting a shadow she carried silently. Some mornings, he'd find her staring into her coffee, lost in unspoken thoughts. Her laughter, once bright, would sometimes fade, her mood shifting unexpectedly.

Every now and then, her phone would buzz or ring, pulling her briefly out of their secluded world. Whenever Lando asked, she'd simply smile and say, "It's just work." The answer seemed routine, but each time, he could sense a flicker of something deeper in her eyes—a hint of distraction, something she kept tucked away.

One evening, they celebrated his birthday in the quiet, intimate way that had come to define their time together. There were no big gatherings, no grand gestures—just the two of them, a small cake, and a few candles casting a warm glow in the soft light. Lando hadn't felt the need for anything else; he wasn't in the mood for a crowd. Her presence, her quiet smile as she softly sang "Happy Birthday," filled him with a warmth he hadn't expected.

Another afternoon, as they walked through Santarém's tree-lined paths, she stopped, looking frustrated.  "I'm sorry, Lando. I feel so up and down. One moment, I'm fine, then...." She trailed off, unable to explain.

"You don't have to apologize, Magui," he murmured, taking her hand. "This is the medication. It's changing things inside you—physically and emotionally. You're bound to feel up and down."

She looked away, squeezing his hand. "I just didn't expect it to hit me so hard. It's like I'm not myself."

He reached out, his hand gently cupping her cheek, his thumb brushing lightly across her skin. "The medication might be messing with your emotions, but everything you're feeling is valid," he murmured. "Let it go... With me, you don't have to hold anything back."

A faint smile softened her features as she took his hand on her cheek, her eyes meeting his with a quiet gratitude, unspoken but deeply felt.

As the sun dipped low, painting the town in soft colors, Lando held her close, grounded by the quiet bond between them. They both felt the weight of time, knowing he'd soon have to leave for Las Vegas.

One evening, she finally broke the silence. "So... Vegas is coming up soon?"

"Yeah, I have to take a flight in a few days," he replied, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "But I'm here now. These days are ours."

Her smile was soft, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm just... trying to hold onto every second."

And together, they walked on, savoring each quiet moment, aware that soon, their time would slip away.

As they stood at the edge of the tarmac, the private jet behind him loomed like a quiet reminder of his impending departure. The engines hummed softly, a low, steady sound that seemed to underline the ticking seconds slipping away from them. Lando's fingers tightened around Magui's, unwilling to let go, even though he knew he'd have to.

Magui looked down, her fingers trembling slightly as they gripped his. She hadn't said much that morning, but now, as the moment pressed down on them, she looked up, and Lando saw her eyes, glistening with tears she could no longer hold back.