The One Who Stares Behind

KABANATA 29

I found myself driving nowhere. Masyadong matarik ang daan na tinatahak ko. Good thing I brought the Raptor.

It seems like Xandrev might have planned to confuse me. Kung hindi ko pa nahanap sa waze ang Nostalgia Valley na ito, malamang ay naligaw na ako.

Tahimik ang bawat kalye na nadaraanan ko na napapaligiran ng mga puno.

That’s what I thought, but as soon as my car finally made it out, the trees suddenly disappeared and were replaced by a flat road. The quietness was replaced by the sounds of people and the roar of vehicles.

What is this?

Ano bang balak ni Xandrev at dito niya ako pinapunta? I parked the vehicle near a barbed wire fence before getting out. This isn’t what I expected.

Naroon ang isang babaeng kakapiraso lang ang suot na damit na may hawak na green flag. When the whistle blew, she immediately lower the flag and left her position.

"So, buddy, here we are at Nostalgia. I'm sweating badly already!"

"I can confirm that,  here we go, leading right from the start is the crowd’s favorite! Number 9!"

"I can see that, pero sino itong mabilis na umaabante?! Magiging madugo ito panigurado."

"Yes!!! Go! Bring home the bacon!" As the audience went wild cheering for their personal bets.

"GO NUMBER 31! GET THE FLAG!"

"Bago lang itong number 16 ngunit nangunguna na. Tama ba, buddy?"

That explains everything. It's a car race. Anong kabaliwan ba ba ang nais ni Drev? Ang sumali ako dito? No. Hindi ko hahayaang magasgasan ang sasakyan ko. At taliwas ito sa mga sasakyang nakikita ko.

Well. I must say, I'm impressed!

Minsan ay naiisip ko rin kung ano kaya ang pakiramdam na makipagkarera. Dahil hindi lamang oras ang makakalaban mo dito. Batayan rin ito ng diskarte para makarating sa finish line. Just like in life.

"Malapit na sila! Keep on track!"

"Yohoooooo! Mukhang out na si 12!"

"Nako, hindi na makakahabol si number 8!"

"Walang binatbat yan sa bagong manok ko! Go number 16!"

Wala na lamang akong nagawa kundi ang panoorin ang mga nagkakarerahang sasakyan at langhapin ang usok na nagmumula sa mga ito. Idagdag mo pa ang hiyawan ng mga tao.

Shit. Number 9 is impressive, no doubt. But it seems there’s some tension between them and Number 16. If there weren’t, they wouldn’t be jostling as if they were the only ones racing. Strange.

Why should I even care about this? Even if each of their cars were on fire, it’s none of my concern.

Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas at umugong na ang ingay. May nanalo na.

"NUMBER 16 REACHED THE FINISH LINE!"

"Let us welcome our new winner! Number 16!" The race caller announced.

"This is so unbelievable."

"It might be the first time in history that someone could beat Number 9."

"Hmm. Yeah. Sad but true."

"I’ve heard that Number 16 is extremely hot. I’m really looking forward to seeing him take off his helmet."

"Ako hihintayin ko siyang maghubad ng damit."

Ilalabas ko na sana ang cellphone mula sa bulsa ng pantalon ko para awayin ang walang hiya kong kapatid nang maagaw ang atensyon ko ng driver ng number 9. El?