Chasing You | Manjiro Sano

01

I yawned while I was scrolling through my phone, watching TikTok videos. Nagpapaantok ako dapat dahil hapon na. Inabot na kasi ako ng madaling araw kanina kakaayos ng isang piyesa sa motor ko.

I was supposed to sleep already nang tawagan ako ni Koko, nag-aaya ng karera between me and my friend, Mikey.

We met each other sa isang drag race na sinalihan ko years ago. I was bored that time and was looking for some thrilling event to come and shake up my life, kaya kung ano ano ang pinasok ko before.

Manjiro Sano is online.

Hoy, race daw. Sabi ni koko :

: G.
: Saan?

Usual. Dun ata sa park kung
saan tayo lagi nagre-race. :

: Okay.

Cold naman nito :

: There's nothing more
to say.
: See you lose, Lila.

Alright, Mikey. See you lose. :

I scoffed after rereading our convo a few times especially those last words na sinabi ni Mikey sa akin. I know na it's normal to say those things to your opponent, but of course, I can't help but to scoff at his pride and confidence.

I and Mikey used to race with each other out of boredom ever since we met. For whoever's sake, no one won. The two of us were always in a tie, and kahit anong formal tie breaker ang gawin ng tropa namin, wala talagang mangyayari. We will always end up with a draw.

Kaya ang ginagawa nila Inui, pinag-babato bato pik kami at kung sino ang talo sa jack en poy na 'yon, siya na ring kino-consider na talo sa race. For formalities lang.

Wala silang magawa kundi gaguhin 'yung result dahil aabutin kami ng forever kung formal racing ulit ang tie breaker.

Kelangang may manalo. Hindi pwedeng tie lang kami.

Ayan lagi ang nasa utak ko. I don't want someone new na bigla akong malamangan, pero ayaw ko rin ng draw lang. Also, we're both competitive, that's why.

I was always wanting for more, to be the one on top, especially now that it's frustrating na may nakaka-pantay lang sa akin. Although I and Mikey are friends, pagdating sa field where we're going to race against each other, doon tumitigil ang pagiging magkaibigan namin. It might sound offensive and sensitive to other people, pero that's what we do, e.

Mikey made it clear to me as well.

"We can be friends. But pagdating sa field where we're going to race against each other, hindi tayo magkaibigan. If that's okay with you, then okay. We can begin our friendship..."

I rolled my eyes upon the memory. It was like naging friends lang kami for the reason of having someone na available lagi para kalabanin sa karera... and not to mention na we talked back then as if being in a friendship with each other is contractual, in the way he approached me for the relationship he wanted to have.

But of course... Mikey is greedy.

He will always crave for more.

That was just the beginning and I had no idea kung anong pinasok ko.

-----------------------------------

After finishing my cup of iced coffee, nagligpit na 'ko at bumaba sa garahe ng condo. I took a picture with my motorbike habang naka-taas ang middle finger and uploaded it on my twitter with a caption saying, "See you lose, Mikey."

Binaha ng tropa namin 'yung retweets, likes, and comments section. Koko, Inui, and Shinichiro were saying na ako ang boto nila, meanwhile Sanzu and Rindou are arguing whether auction ba ang tamang tawag sa may nagbi-bid or was it suction, according to Sanzu.

@iamkoko commented: "black card"
@prettyboi.sanz commented: "suction ba 'to?"
@rin.htani replied: hindi ba auction 'yun?

Natawa na lang ako sa iba pang mga kalokohan na pinagsasasabi nila doon. Instead of wasting my time, I geared up at inilabas ang motor para makapag-cold start na. Mapapagalitan na naman kasi ako if I revved my engine habang nandoon ako sa loob ng garahe ng building. Masyadong maingay ang kaya kapag dumarating at papaalis na ako, malayo pa lang, alam na ng lahat na ako 'yung darating.

Nang makuntento sa ingay at init ng motor, I drove off na. Hindi naman gano'n kalayo 'yung park na tinutukoy ni Koko kung saan dapat 'yung venue ng magiging race namin ni Mikey, pero dahil gusto ko pang mag-buy time at mag-chill muna, umikot ako roon sa malayong dadaanan at maraming pasikot-sikot.

On mt way sa highway, I heard a 'beep' sound from behind, may bumusina sa likod kasabay ng malakas na rev ng motor.

Hindi ako nagkamali, it was Mikey who was chasing me from behind, sinusubukang humabol kung nasaan ako.

It looks like kakalabas niya lang din at nakita ako kaya nag-decide na sumunod dahil nung nakita ko siya, he's still around the u-turn corner of the area.

I didn't back down, of course. Mas binilisan ko pa kahit na medyo maraming sasakyan na nakaharang sa straight course. I saw a stoplight at alam kong kahit maging si Flash ako, hindi ako makakaabot kaya I shifted a gear down and slowed down, accepting the fate na makakahabol 'yung isa sa akin since I stopped.

Seconds after reaching the stoplight, tumigil ito kasabay ng pagdating ni Mikey sa tabi mo. He tried killing my switch kaya nasampal ko agad 'yung kamay niya.

"Ayan ka na naman!" Singhal ko sa kaniya but I got no response. Instead, he tried standing his motorbike down, kaya sinipa ko 'yung stand which caused him to laugh dahil sa petty revenge ko.

"Bakit dito ka rin dumaan?" I asked.

He flipped the visor of his helmet saka sumagot, "Well, I saw you and heard your bike. Sinundan na kita." I rolled my eyes sa yamot but he just chuckled, not minding my behavior.

Syempre, sanay na siya.

"What? You want me na mauna doon at antayin ka? Lakas mo," pang-aasar niya. I nodded para sana lalong yamutin siya pero ending, ako lang din ang naasar.

Hay nako, this guy.

I sighed.

I shifted my gaze back to the stoplight nang magpakita ito ng number to notify the drivers na pwede nang mag-go in 3...

2...

I revved my bike.

1!

I didn't even wait for the number 1 to appear. Basta sa utak ko, 1 na... at ganon din si Mikey. I can hear both of our bikes echoing loudly sa daan especially when we were taking turns para lumiko paikot at pabalik sa park na siyang venue ng race namin, pero mukhang ito na 'yung magiging race naming dalawa.

I am frustrated, of course. Kasi kaya nga ako umiba ng daan e para mag-chill muna before the race mismo, and here he is, following me like a goddamn stalker. Wala na ako sa mood to even go on with the race na dapat ay mamaya pa, kaya it was like a non-verbal communication between me and Mikey na ito na 'yung magsisilbing karera namin for later.

Turns after turns, narrow pathways, and I even tried na lumusot sa mga eskinita to loose Mikey, but he was persistent. Kahit na masikip, pinapasok niya just to come after me.

At kahit na nayayamot na 'ko, I lowkey loved the idea that he's behind, always chasing after me... Kasi alam kong nasa likod lang siya.