My Untamed Princess

Chapter 4: The Race 2

It's almost 1 A.M and the road is empty. She glanced at Lizzie’s pale face and grinned. She purposefully stepped on the gas until the speed meter read 100kph.

Napuno ng tili ni Lizzie ang loob ng sasakyan niya bago niya natatawang inihinto ang sasakyan sa isang intersection.

"Oh good Lord!" hingal na hingal na sambit ni Lizzie na parang estatwang nakangunyapit sa mismo upuan ng sports car. Nagmulat ito, sandaling nakiramdam bago tumalim ang tingin sa kanya. "Are you trying to kill me?" asik nito, nanlalaki pa ang mga mata.

"Of course not! Why would I kill you? You're my bestfriend! You're one of my favorite persons in the world!" tanggi niya, nakangisi pa rin.

Hinigit nito ang buhok niya.

"Gaga ka talaga! Ikaw talaga papatay sa akin, Cassandra!" habol pa rin ang hiningang sabi nito, nakahawak ang isang kamay sa dibdib.

"Ang manang manang mo naman kasing mapatakbo ng kotse! It's just a 100. Tortoises are even faster than your driving, that's why. Your driving is boring, Liz."

Nalukot ang mukha nito bago itinirik ang mga mata. "It's not boring, hello! It's called being careful! And last time I checked, magkaiba ang depenisyon nang nagpapakamatay sa nag-iingat!"

Napahalakhak siya."Ikaw ang nagsabi, if it's not fast, it ain't fun," pang-aasar niya pa.

Napamaang na ito. "But that's only true for s*x!" Nasapo na ito sa ulo nito. "Oh God, why am I having this conversation with you?" inis na sabi nito.

Muli siyang natawa. Caleb and Lizzie got married secretly after they graduated from college. Caleb wanted to give Lizzie the assurance that even if he pursues his masters abroad, they'll stay together. And true enough, after two years, meaning earlier this year, Caleb came home and asked Lizzie's hand for marriage. And their church wedding is 6 months from now.

Yeah, Lizzie and Caleb's love story was just like a narrative from a feel good young adult novel.

E siya?

Dinaig pa ata ng buhay ang iba't ibang bida sa mga paboritong teleserye ni Yaya Bining tuwing gabi.

Napailing siya bago muling pinaandar ang sasakyan.

"Where should I drop you?" kaswal na tanong niya.

"Mag-U turn ka na lang d’yan, Babalik ako sa bar. Caleb's not feeling good since yesterday. I'll just check with the manager tonight and go home," sagot nito, kaswal.

Agad niyang ginawa ang sinabi nito. Subalit nang nasa daan na sila pabalik sa bar, may nakita siyang kumpol ng mga tao sa isang maliwanag na  bahagi ng intersection. Her brows furrowed.  Wala pa ang mga iyon nang dumaan sila doon kanina. Pinapalibutan ng mga ito ang dalawang sports car na sa pagkakapuwesto pa lang, alam na niyang magkakarerahan.

She stepped on the breaks. Nagkakandahaba ang leeg siya sa pagtingin sa kabilang lane ng highway.

It's was a battle of Lamborghini's. A silver gray Lamborghini Huracan and a shiny cerulean Lamborghini Aventador to be exact.

Napasipol siya agad dahil alam niyang maganda ang magiging laban ng mga ito. Well racing is really dependent on the driver's skills. If the driver is stupid, kahit na ang pinakamahal pa na sport's car ang imaneho nito, he'll surely eats dust.

"Why are we stopping?" si Lizzie sa mataas na tono.

"N-nothing," sagot niya bago muling ibinalik ang tingin sa daan at pinaandar ang sasakyan. Patuloy siyang nagmaneho kahit wala doon ang isip niya.

She wondered which car would win the race. And surprisingly, she's unexplicably drawn to the silver gray Huracan. It was sleek and very modern, casual yet dangerous. She had yet to talk to her father regarding the replacement of her BMW M5 she crashed two months ago. She'll definitely want Lamborghini this time.

Few seconds more and curiosity won over her. She maneuvered the car to the left and went back to where she saw the group of people rallying behind the two sports cars.

Agad  na nagreklamo si Lizzie. "Bakit na naman? Sandali--" Pinag-aralan nito ang eksena sa harap nila. "Is that...Oh my God, Casandra! No!" natatarantang komento nito bago bumaling sa kanya. Binalak pa siya nitong  abutin subalit nakalabas na siya ng kotse at naki-usyoso.

Mula sa likuran ay nasilip niya ang driver ng blue Aventador. Bata pa ito—with mohawak red hair and arrogantly chewing a gum. While the driver of gray Huracan was on a leather jacket, faded jeans at black helmet.

She grinned in annoyance.

Arrogance in mystery, she thought. Ewan niya, she found the driver of the gray sports car annoying kahit na hindi niya ito kilala.

Mamaya pa, sumakay na ang mga drivers sa kani-kanilang sasakyan. A woman wearing the skimpiest dress she had even seen walked and stood on the space between the cars. The very moment the woman waved down the white cloth, the cars speed up their way to race.  The cars instantly vanished on their sight. All what’s left were the smoke and the loud cheering from the crowd.

When she was in college, she used to drag race too. Not only because it gave her an alternative high booze could give her but also because, she has too many sports car to crash anyway. But when she got older, she lost the thrill of drag racing, not until tonight. Hindi niya alam, but something tells she was really meant to be there tonight.

"Hoy Cassandra, Halika na!" gigil na bulong sa kanya ni Lizzie. Ni hindi niya namalayan ang paglapit nito. Agad nitong hinigit ang isang braso niya.

Agad niyang tinabig ang kamay ng kaibigan. "Sandali lang, gusto kong malaman kung sino ang mananalo.”

Agad na nalukot ang mukha ni Lizzie. Namaywang. "Simple lang ‘yan.  Kung sino ang nasa headline ng broadsheet at tabloids bukas, siya ang talo. Do’n mo na lang abangan. Tara na!" hinila pa siya ulit nito pero hindi siya natinag. "Tatawagan ko si Tito Ernie, isusumbong kita!" pagbabanta nito.

She rolled her eyes, dismissing the threat.

"Cassandra!" asik na nito sa kanya, napapadyak pa.

Pero wala sa nalalapit na pagwawala ni Lizzie ang atensiyon niya. Nasa dalawang sasakyan na nag-uunahan sa pagbalik sa puwesto nila. Agad na nagtilian ang mga tao. Tuluyan nang nalunod ang pagrereklmo at pangungulit sa kanya ni Lizzie.

Ilang sandal pa,  unang humagibis sa harapan nila silver gray Huracan-- securing its win on the race. After a few seconds, the blue Aventador went by in  the same manner. Lalong lumakas ang tilian nang bumaba ng sasakyan ang driver ng Huracan, the man with black helmet and leather jacket.

Umismid siya, lalong pinagmasdan ang driver.

The mysterious arrogant jerk! naisip niya.

Lalo siyang nainis sa driver. Hindi niya alam, maybe it’s the driver’s aura that’s annoying her or even something. Or maybe because the driver’s stance reminded her of someone she loathes.  Napairap na siya. If she knew, nagtatago ito ng mukha dahil wala itong face value, panot, o kaya kulubot na ang mukha tapos--

She caught her breath and her mind instantly went blank when the driver took off his helmet.

His golden hair glimmered against the street light. His face wore the same frown, aristocratic, as if uncaring. And he casually walked towards the screaming crowd who drowned him with their victorious cheers.

Awtomatiko ang pagtambol ng dibidb niya nang ngumiti ito. That was the same smile made her fall for him 2 years ago.

Was.

Yes. The driver of the silver gray Lamborghini Huracan was the jerk Will Johnson himself.

No doubt, she hated him.

I have standards and you don't fit in any of it.

"Damn," she whispered unknowingly. Her eyes still looking at Will.

"Ayos ka lang?" pukaw na tanong sa kanya ni Lizzie.

"No," sagot niya, wala ulit sa sarili.

"B-bakit? May masakit sa 'yo?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Lizzie.

Tumango siya, mabagal. "My pride."

"Ha?"

Hindi na niya narinig pa ang ibang sinabi ni Lizzie nang makita niya ang ginawang paghalik ng isang babae kay Will. Lalo pa siyang nagtaka nang ngumiti lang si Will at hindi nagreklamo.

So he likes kissing girls now?

Napairap siya.

She balled her fist and gritted her teeth when a deep seethed anger filled her.  Wala tuloy siya sa sariling humakbang at isiniksik ang sarili sa kumpol ng mga tao na pumapalibot dito.

Awtomatiko ang pag-irap niya nang magtama mata nila ni Will. The jerk just grinned, a satisfied one. For what, ewan niya.

She scoffed and gave him a slow clap. "No wonder even if you hide behind that cheap head gear of yours, I can still feel pure hate towards you, Mr. Will Johnson."

Natahimik ang lahat. Naramdaman marahil ng mga ito ang tension sa pagitan nila.

He grinned once again, as if entertained before walking towards her.Lalong lumakas ang pitik ng kanyang puso and she instantly found herself hard to breath. For the life of her she doesn’t kno why! She silently cursed herself.

"Sorry Miss... I'm sorry what your name is again?" nakunot-noong tanong nito, may naglalarong ngisi sa mga labi.

Naningkit na ang mata niya. So is he playing the amnesia game now? She scoffed. What an asshole!

"Cassie. Cassie Echavez. That's Cassie Echavez! Idol!" sagot ng isang matabang lalaki sa likuran niya. Nilingon niya ito at nginitian bago muling ibinalik ang tingin sa guwapong kapre na nasa harapan niya.

Tumango-tango ito. "I see. Well, sorry, Ms. Echavez, but the name's O'Brien. Scott O'Brien," Pinagdiinan nito ang pangalan nito bago inilhad ang kamay nito sa kanya.

Lumakas ang bulung-bulongan.

This jerk! Talagang intensiyon nito na ipahiya siya. Pero hindi na niya ito hahayaang gawin iyon sa kanya gaya nang ginawa nito two years ago.

She smiled at him sarcastically and before she knew it she uttered, "Let's race."

Umangat ang kilay nito, ngumisi.

"Why would I?" anito.

Napatuwid siya ng tayo. Her logic is silently cursing her mouth. Totoo, mas madalas na mabilis ang bibig niya kaysa sa pagproseso ng isip niya, kaya siya laging napapahamak.

She's impulsive and she can't help it.

"For fun," she replied hurriedly.

The crowd cheered.

But honestly, it's for her pride.

Tumalim ang titig nito sa kanya. "I want you to be more specific, Cassie," he uttered her named with a warning.

It was her turn to grin.

"Scott, take her home if you win!" suhestyon ng isang babae sa grupo ng mga nanonood. Agad namang nag-second the motion ang mga iba.

Namumula ang mukha niyang bumaling dito. Abot-tenga na ang pagngisi nito. Umangat na ang isang kilay nito. Tila inaabangan ang desisyon niya.

Hinahamon siya nito at sino siya para tumanggi. She's Cassie Echavez, the untamed princess. And she'll race with this overbearing dillusioned jerk to save her pride.

Ang pride niyang winasak nito dalawang taon na ang nakararaan.

"Deal!" aniya bago madaling tinungo ang sasakyan at ipinuwesto iyon sa starting line.

"Cassandra anong ginagawa mo?" nagpa-panic na tanong ni Lizzie. Nakasilip ito sa bintana ng kotse niya,  convincing her to change her mind on what she was about to do.

"I'm taking back my pride," kaswal na sagot niya ang mga mata nasa harapan ng kotse.

"Pride? ‘Yong sabon? Ibibili kita nang isang trak h'wag mo lang ituloy 'to!" tarantang pakiusap nito, wala sa sariling sinuklay ng kamay ang buhok.

Hindi siya sumagot.

Maingay ang buong paligid. Malakas sa tainga niya ang hiyawan at kantiyawan ng mga nanonood. Nilingon niya si Lizzie, nasa cellphone na ito.

"Yeah, Dad? Ha? You're not Dad? Well kung sino ka man, magpadala ka ng isang batalyon ng mga sundalo, kapulisan, NPA, Pulang Araw o kung sino pa man dito mismo sa.... Ha? Nagsasabi ako ng totoo!"

Natawa siya sa itsura ni Lizzie. Namumutla na ito sa nerbyos.

"Hey, Liz," pukaw niya rito nang maglakad na sa pagitan ng mga kotse nila ni Will ang babaeng may maiksing damit.

Lumingon si Lizzie.

"We're going," sigaw niya sa pagitan nang nakabibinging rebolusyon ng mga makina.

She heared Lizzie cursed. Natawa lang siyang ulit bago sinulyapan si Will na nakangisi pa rin. Inirapan niya ito bago inis na ibinaling sa harap ng kotse ang tingin.

She has to win this race. She can't let Will to take a feast on her pride twice. That would be too much. No. That would be pure stupidity if she let him again to that to her.

She took in a deep breath and focused on the matter at hand.

When the girl flagged the white piece of cloth down, she shifted her gear and off she goes.

"Cassandra tatawagan ko ang Malacanang!" she heard Lizzie screamed.

She laughed and stepped on the gas even faster.

She will win this.

She has to.

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