FUEL | Completed

Lap 21

KAIRO ROSALES

He was  here.  Darwin Dalton was here. I remember him— of coarse, I would. Not because his famous in the world of racing but because... he wass my father's greatest foe before. Silang dalawa ang madalas magkompitensya sa loob ng racing field.

Darwin Dalton. My eyes squinted as I stare at the blank ceiling. I don't know pero... hindi ko s'ya gusto. Dahil ba kalaban s'ya ng tatay ko noon? Weird pero gano'n nga ang nararamdaman ko sa kanya.

I shrugged my head. Bumalikwas ako ng higa. I should rest for tomorrow's training... and of coarse for that bullshit festival. Susuotin ko na naman 'yung lintik na costume na 'yon. I frowned on that thought. Bullshit.

I slowly closed my eyes and enter the world of dreamland...

THIRD PERSON

"Tch. Nandito nga ang anak ni Kiro," Darwin said. He puffed a white smoke from his mouth.

"Sabi ko naman sa'yo e," bulalas ng kausap n'ya sa telepono. Muling bumuga ng puting usok si Ryan saka tinataktak ang upos ng sigarilyo. “Oh? Ano na ngayon ang plano mo?” tanong nito kay Ryan.

He grinned while staring at the open window. “Tingin ko hindi naman s'ya magiging problema,” sambit nito.

“Paano mo nasabi?” 

“Look, he's just a newbie! Baka nga hindi n'ya paalam paano talaga ang tunay na karera e,” nakakaloko itong tumawa. “So bakit ko pa s'ya bibigyan pansin?” dagdag pa nito na naiiling.

“I think, kailangan mong paghandaan 'yang batang 'yan. He maybe a newbie, but I know his hiding something na magagamit n'ya para manalo sa isang karera.”

Darwin tsk-ed. He is pathetic, he told hisself. “He's just a piece of shit, Dwayne. A piece of shit,” may diin n'yang sabi, “By the way, since I'm here at RA. Ie-enjoyin ko na.”

KAIRO ROSALES

Kinabukasan.

Hininto ko ang sasakyan lagpas ng kaunti sa finishline. I dashed out from the car and went to Winston's direction. Humahangos akong umupo sa kanya habang umiinom ng tubig. Tirik ang araw kaya tagaktak na naman ang pawis ko, dagdag pa ang suit ko.

“Is there any improvement?” I asked. He nodded as an answer while browsing some data on his thin tablet. Ang mga data na 'yon ang nagtatala ng improvements ko.

“I think you are really ready for a real race, Kairo,” he tapped my shoulder but  immediately took it off ng mapansing basa iyon ng pawis.

I was born ready for a race.

“But you still have to train. Kailangan mo pang matutunan ang ilang bagay na dapat alam ng isang racer,” he added.

Tch. Ano pa ba ang dapat kong malaman?

“You can now go to your claasroom. Enjoy the last days of school fest—” nahinto sa sinasabi sa kanya ng may kung sinong sumingit sa gitna namin.

“Hey there, Kairo!” he plastered a wide grin. Nakasuot pa s'ya ng shade. “Are you done on your training?” he asked. Him again.

“Yeah. I'm done,” ma-presko kong sabi at pinasadahan s'ya ng tingin. Sinandal ko ang likod ko sa sandalan at dume-kwatro. “Ano naman sa 'yo 'yon ngayon?” dagdag ko pa.

Mas lumawak ang ngisi n'ya. “Just like your father,” he whispered yet enough for me to hear. “Kung gano'n,” he paused then straighty looked at me. “Can we have a 1 lap race?” nanghahamon n'yang sabi.