Bad Times at Sunrise (La Fortuna Series #3)

Kabanata 38

Warning: R-18. Note that all parties are consenting, willing adults.

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Kabanata 38

Kneel

"You really want to race with me?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. 

We were now on the racetrack. I chose to drive the 1997 Nissan while he chose the 1986 BMW. Wala naman akong pakialam kung ano sa dalawang sasakyan ang mapunta sa akin. I would still beat Ico. No sweat. Palagi kaya akong inaaya nila Jacob, Eloy, at Oliver ng karera! I was kinda rusty but I still knew how to beat a man.

He arched his brow. "Bakit? Natatakot ka bang matalo?" A playful smile etched on his lips.

Tinawanan ko ang kahambugan niya. He really knew how to bring out my competitive side. Naglakad ako patungo sa Nissan at saka sumampa na sa driver's seat. Ico leaned his hands on the driver's seat's door. He crouched a bit so our eyes would meet.

"Ayokong magpa-iyak ng babae, kaya huwag kang umiyak pag natalo kita," aniya.

I almost gagged. "You can't beat me, Ico. I'm not your typical girl."

"Really now?"

Nagkibit-balikat ako. "I mean, what kind of girl likes the smell of wet gasoline?"

Nanatili siyang nakatayo sa hamba ng pintuan ng driver's seat. I started the engine and heard its beautiful, heavenly sound. Tinapunan ko ulit si Ico ng tingin, may ngisi na ngayon sa labi.

"Hard and tight. Just how I like it," I said sensually. 

Hindi ko alam kung dahil lang ba iyon sa atmospera ng lugar, pero parang biglang bumalik ang pagiging matapang at mapaglaro ko. It's like the racetrack awakened my inner goddess or something.

Ico's jaw tightened. Umismid siya bago naglakad tungo sa kaniyang BMW. 

"Don't say I didn't warn you," he said.

We both started our engines. The red light stopped, and I firmly stepped on the gas. Nanguna agad ako sa kaniya. Mas lumapad ang ngisi ko dahil alam kong kapag ni-maintain ko ang speed ko ay mahirap nang maunahan niya pa ako. I did not want an early ego boost, so I returned to being serious.

We would be doing 20 laps. Nangunguna pa rin ako sa ikaapat na lap. He's not far back. Talagang nakabuntot lang siya sa akin. Papalapit kami ngayon sa isang curb. I swiftly changed gears and turned. Namilog ang mga mata ko nang bigla na lang mag-overtake sa akin si Ico!

"Yabang," bulong-bulong ko. Somehow, I just knew he was wearing his smug smirk kahit hindi ko naman makita ang mukha niya. 

Noong una ay panatag pa akong mauunahan ko siya. Our 12th lap came and he was still leading! Naiinis ako! Noong nasa diretsong daanan na ay mas binilisan ako ang aking takbo. I changed gears and was now running on 5 000 rpm. He sped up too kaya hindi ko pa rin siya mahabol! 

I cursed and increased my speed. When we were on our 16th lap, I charged at 7 000 rpm, which was the engine's limit. At that moment, everything felt weightless. Naririnig ko ang tunog ng makina at ang pag-vibrate ng sasakyan. It was an amazing feeling. It's like I was neither here nor there. It's like I was coursing through space and time.

We were now on our 19th lap. Nangunguna pa rin ako kay Ico. It's still a long way to go before the finish line, though. Medyo binagalan ko ang aking takbo noong huling dalawang lap kasi pakiramdam ko ay 'di na kaya ng sasakyan. Noong kapantay ko na si Ico ay binilisan ko ulit ang takbo.

"Shit," mura ko nang mapansing medyo overworked na iyong Nissan. "Oh no, baby, you can't give up on me now. We're almost at the finish line."

Mas binagalan ko ang takbo kaya nakahabol ulit si Ico. I tried to speed up again pero biglang umusok ang hood ng kotse! I immediately stopped. Naramdaman ko na rin kasing sobrang nipis na ng dalawang gulong sa harap. Napamura ulit ako. Did I increase the power too early?