Unexpected

Part 11

Before the next WGM, my teammate and I have a photo session and a bit of filming for Formula One. There are short clips to be used as gifs for social media, serious pictures, funny ones, and NGs. I had raced against Esteban Ocon in Formula 3, but that was a few years ago. Compared to my height of 170 centimeters, he towers over me at 186. I realize that we are one of the tallest and shortest drivers on the 2019 grid. Lando Norris and I are both 170, and Alex Albon and Esteban are both 186. This makes our height difference all the more apparent. The dominant color in the Nissan livery and race suits is a bright grassy green, with black as an accent. We've been shooting against a white background.

When we take a break Esteban asks, "What's this rumor I hear about you getting married?"

This is going to be tough to explain. Not to explain, actually, but for him to understand why I did it. "We're not truly married. It's a TV show were we pretend to be married."

"That sounds weird. Why did you do it?"

"Because I can," is my first retort. "Yasuda-san thought it was a good idea. It might bring in more fans, more sponsors, more exposure."

"The bottom line," says Esteban. "That makes sense. Is it strange?"

"Kind of," I honestly reply. "I'm looking at it more like dating. Though on the show I have to say things like husband instead of boy toy."

He raises his eyebrows. "You call your boyfriend 'boy toy'?"

"No. That came out wrong."

"Have fun explaining to your F1 buddies."

I've been through that when the news hit the mainstream media. Alex, George, and Antonio (the ones I'm closest to in F1, and rookies like me) had all contacted me and asked what was going on. Those were some of my most embarrassing text conversations. There have also been plenty of negative comments from F1 fans. I try not to read them.

I'm excited for tomorrow, when Sangil and I will be together. We're going to an onsen (hot springs) and spending the night in a traditional Japanese inn. After this grueling week of cross country skiing and running on cold sandy beaches, it will be nice to relax and pamper my muscles. But last time I had my solo interview with the WGM crew, they told me that this shooting is close to Valentines Day and we should do something special to celebrate. We've only seen each other two times. This is probably when I'll have to fake something lovey dovey.

When we meet at the train station Sangil is shy again. I think he thought about physical touch too often. After saying hi he basically looks at the ground.

"Hello, Shim-sama." His ears turn red. "Let's grab an ekibento before boarding." Ekibento are lunchboxes that are sold at train stations. They don't differ from regular bento in any way, but they do have local specialties at the various locations around Japan. At first I was looking for one with many veggies and grains, but then I remembered that I eat healthy during the week so I don't have to be so picky on camera. So I choose fried shrimp and Sangil picks one with tuna sashimi.

We settle into our seats and then dig in. "Itadakimasu." Delicious. I'm glad I went with the shrimp tempura instead of the healthy option today. "How's your sashimi?" I ask.

"It's great. I love tuna."

"I listened to Snuper's Weekend Secret album."

"Oh yeah? What'd you think?"

"Where is amazing. I love it. Weekend Secret has some interesting lyrics." His ears turn red again. "Shall I say they are ... mature? Suggestive? Taewoong and Sebin wrote the lyrics for Where. Did any Snuper member ... ?"