"Damn, they did an incredible job!"

"Money sweetheart, money!" To say the track was spectacular would be an understatement. It was a mind-boggling sight. It was a Speedway racing. The levelled oval track consisting of two straights joined by two semicircles. Dirt, loosely packed shale, and crushed rock covered it. The entire area was bustling with people chatting and eagerly awaiting the race. CODE 1 was written in bold print on a massive screen.

"What's that? CODE 1?"

"It's Merciless commercial name. You didn't think they would use this so-called mafia name all over the world, did you? So, they use CODE 1." I nodded in understanding. CODE 1 was a good fit for it, and it sounded more like a racing federation.

"Don't you think it's quite big for an illegal one?"

"Who said it's illegal?"

"Fuck me! This is not!?"

"Nah, long story short— it's half-legal and half-illegal."

"Well, that's a little complicated."

"Care to elaborate, will ya?"

"Umm.... take it this way. Look, the track and everything is legal, but the ones racing here aren't."

"WTF!"

"Still a sec! You mean... Senior Aylwin is racing illegally, correct?" I cut in and demanded.

"Yeah, you can put it that way." Senior Drew replied, shrugging.

"Why? I mean... this is legal and all... Don't they check on the racers and all?"

"Of course, they do! What makes you think Merciless will take such a risk so nonchalantly? No chance! We've all got our false IDs with us. They've all covered Aylwin since he's their favorite racer. It's almost like a 50-50 situation. Aylwin loves racing, and they love popularity." It made complete sense. It all did. In a sense, they cleverly used Senior for their own gain. No, "used" was not the appropriate word. It was a win-win situation for both sides. Senior loved racing, and CODE 1, aka Merciless, profited from it.

"This is surely illegal... and legal... well, whatever, we're here to watch, and the rest can fuck themselves." Ivy exclaimed as she drank her cold drink.

"Ah, look they're here!" The guys had gone with Senior Aylwin to wish him luck in the race. S Racers members had also competed in races, but their matches were different. They joined us, but Senior Chase was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps he was with Senior Aylwin.

"All set?" Senior Ryder nodded as Mysie inquired.

"Where's Senior Chase?" Ivy asked, frowning slightly.

"He's with Aylwin."

"Chase's here!" Senior Chase reached us. He appeared a little tense and stiff. His forehead was creased with lines, as if he had been thinking quite intently. He came to a halt in front of me and smiled.

"Hazel Eyes, bro wanna meet ya." That was all it took for my feet to seize control of the situation. I followed him into the circuit's backside. One after the next, rows of changing rooms were lined up. One of them was opened by Senior Chase, and I walked in. "I'll be outside waiting."

I shut the door behind me and turned around to behold him in a black and red racing suit. And, as always, he looked sinfully alluring. He was gazing at me the entire time, with his signature poker face. I approached him, standing just in front of him. We didn't say anything for the first few seconds, as though basking in each other's proximity. Even without the use of words, it was peaceful with him. It felt alive, like a heartfelt caress to the heart and nurture to the soul. Everything seemed rather surreal. In a nutshell, I cherished it. I treasured the pleasure of being in his presence. I savored him.

"Fresher?" He inched closer to me, tenderly encircling his arm around my waist. My hands traced their own path by clutching his jacket. His silver ring caressed my cheek as I hummed in return. The coolness of his silky hand felt like a soothing feather, melting my worry and filling it with warmth and love.

"What's bothering you, Fresher?" I was flabbergasted by his sudden and unexpected question, but that didn't mean I hadn't foreseen it. It was just a matter of time until he asked me. I wished I could tell him everything. I wished I could share all my miseries with him. I wished I could curl up in his arms and let go of every worry in the world. But those were just wishes... wishes that were nothing more than mere wishes...

For even the anguish knew,

One day was it all planned....

It was just a matter of time....

For time was cruel,

And we were the pawns...

"Nothing! Why would you say so?" I smiled, fluently lying through my teeth. Because you have to be careful what you say and do when you're in the arms of an observer, especially when that person can read you like a book. That's what I did, too.

"Bro, the race's gonna start." Our intimacy was cut short when the voice of Senior Chase erupted from outside the changing room. He pecked my lips before resting his forehead on mine. I fixed my gaze on him, my concerns surging to the surface and clouding my senses. Even though I knew it was only a race, I couldn't help but be concerned about him. It was all new to me as well. It seemed as though the whole Titanic was dawning on me. The only difference was that it unfolded on a ship, whereas mine was on the tracks. Phew!

"Just stay alive." I whispered as I snuggled deeper into his embrace. His warmth and cologne ravished every cell in my body in a delicate manner.

Little did I know how ironical my words were! It was just a question of time and our life was about to unfold into something neither of us could have ever envisioned in our wildest dreams.

"I will." He whispered, with his eyes closed. Two words. Mere two words, yet they were quite enough to ease my racing heart and cluttered thoughts. His eyes fluttered open and clashed with mine, and his next words overwhelmed my heart with great pleasure and sheer delight.

"And this time, I've got a good reason."

"What type of bikes are these?" The motorcycles were all lined up in a straight line. Each of the five motorcycles was painted in a different color. The bike model was entirely different from the previous ones.

"These are laydown motorcycles with no brakes." What the!

"Oh, my gosh! This is extremely dangerous..."

"Now, now, now, where's the thrill in easy ones?" said the seniors, smirking at us.

"How to stop them? I mean, what if... " Senior Ash cut Saphy off, "They can stop the bike by deliberately laying it down on the track." My phone started buzzing. It was Ethel. I hastily disconnected his call and texted him.

'Busy right now. Will call you in an hour.'

I made a mental note to call him after the race. Huffing, I watched as the racers revved up, cheerleaders dancing at their sides. Senior Xavier and Senior Aylwin were sitting against one another, while the rest of the opponents consisted of regular racers and CODE 1 collaborators. I watched as a less-clothes-more-skin-display blondie clung to Senior Aylwin, whose face was concealed by his helmet.

"Hey, will the authorities sue me if I slaughter the blondie?" My gaze stayed glued on Molly's twin sister from After as I asked my gang. I overheard their laughter and gushing about how cute my jealousy was!

Finally, after what felt like a decade, the race began with the crowd hooting and roaring. In a flash, the bike accelerated. The race was four laps long. Each bike was attempting to stay ahead of the other. The first was a green bike, followed by Senior Aylwin in the second, and Senior Xavier in the third. The blue bike was trailing them, but he managed to go ahead of them and cross Senior Xavier's yellow bike. Senior Aylwin sought to take over the green one, but he was playing dirty. Senior Aylwin executed a power slide while dodging the other motorcycles. As the first laps came to a close, he boosted his speed. He broadsided into the bends followed by Senior Xavier's bike. The green bike swerved to the side, accelerating sideways. The blue bike tried to overcome it, but the green one skidded into it, causing it to lose its balance and fly off to the side. Shit!

"Fuck! The green one is playing dirty, dude." My eyes never wavered from Senior Aylwin's motorbike. He switched his weight towards the curve and drifted for a few moments before doing a perfect cornering posture. My eyes widened in terror as the green bike neared him, crashing with his. My blood froze in my veins. My voice was caught in the throat. Senior Aylwin lost his balance and came perilously close to colliding with the ground. I could hear the audience shouting and gasping all around me. My friends were cussing that green reckless bike. Fear seeped through my bones and prospered in my core. My lips moved in silent prayer, wishing that the race would finish soon enough. Oh lord, he was able to keep his poise while being in a sharp swerving stance. I let out a sigh of relief, not realizing I had been holding it all along.

"Why aren't they doing anything?"

"They're clearly cheating."

"That's what makes the race interesting."

Senior Aylwin regained his speed in full revenge-time-style on the third lap. Senior Aylwin and Senior Xavier raced side by side, nodding to each other. Both of them had a menacing aura around them. I faced my gang, who all had a sly smirk on their faces.

"He's dead, man!"

"Poor Mr. Green, doesn't know what he's gotten himself into!"

"Aylwin-Xavier will love to toy with him." Boys!

True to their words, they wasted no time in toying with the green one. Senior Aylwin overtook him and gave him a slight shove that was so damn clean it seemed like a drift move. Senior Xavier seized the opportunity and trapped him, sliding diagonally and leaving no room for him. For a while, they both toyed with him before dumping him for the last lap. Mr. Green motorcyclist was enraged to the point of violence, as seen by his rash actions. Dang, they were very slick with him!

The last lap was considerably more challenging than I had anticipated. After all, both seniors were attempting to outpace each other. Senior Xavier took the initiative by power sliding first and then keeping up with the fast pace. But that didn't stop Senior Aylwin from surpassing him and crossing the finish line with another flawless cornering. Final line...?? Final line!!! It took a few moments for me to grasp what had happened before I screamed with exhilaration. Senior Xavier ended a split second later, followed by the violet one, and lastly Mr. Greenery Gypper Green.

Ivy, Mysie, Saphy, and I all jumped up and down in a group hug. The guys exchanged bro-hugs, handshakes, nose shakes, body shakes, and whatever else they do.

I stood there watching him take off his helmet. His gaze swept the room until it clashed with mine. He was imbued with the same somber demeanor. Our silence communicated with each other. Through our gaze, we both freed ourselves to convey those unsaid words. I whispered to him softly, "Thank you."

It didn't matter to me whether he won or lost; all that mattered was that he was fine. He was safe and sound. He was alive and quite well, without any cuts or bruises. I couldn't contain my pleasure and contentment since he kept his promise. Aside from us... just the two of us, nothing really mattered.

I excused myself to call Ethel because I was afraid, he'd flip out if I didn't. I emerged from the area and stood near a ramp-like structure. Outside, it was dark and gloomy, and all I could hear were the laughter, applause, and roars from within. He insisted on hearing my voice to ensure that everything was alright. He might be too protective and highly doubting at times. While the seniors were busy collecting their prizes, I took it as my cue to call him. I hurriedly dialed Ethel's number and told him I'd give him a call later.

"Okay, be careful! Bye!" I hung up the phone, only to hear an ear-piercing scream, "Sophronia, watch out!"

Everything happened in a twinkling of an eye. I felt a hard push on my back, which caused me to lose my balance, and my body quickly reacted by rolling down the inclined surface. I was hurled to the bottom of the ramp by the jerks and rolls. Every inch of me was enslaved by agony. Whimpers trailed groans from my lips, but as a blinding light beam assaulted my face, it turned into a full-fledged scream. My blurry vision didn't allow me to see well, but I was certain it was a speeding car. As my body collided with it like a ship striking the coast, I didn't have time to figure out what was going on. I was propelled into the air by the impact, and landed with a thud only a few meters away.

You know what they say: life has a plan to astonish you in every nook and cranny, and I was living proof of that. Even in that predicament, I couldn't help but chuckle at myself and my dire state. It never occurred when I desperately wanted everything to end and numbness to whisk me away. But then, just as I had begun to live again, to live the life I had always longed for, life dealt me its final blow. Wow, to say I was awestruck by my life would be an understatement. Mr. Sarcasm sputtering in my last breaths, doncha think?

Someone rushed up to my side and wrapped his arms around me. His features were barely discernible. Warm brown teary eyes met mine, brimming with concerns and pleading. His lips were moving, but I couldn't perceive anything. A searing ache surged throughout my body, and pain felt like blood coursing through my veins. I felt a thick, warm, sticky liquid on my forehead, hands, and practically everywhere. My mouth had a metallic taste to it that I was all too acquainted with. Numbness was echoing in my ears. My head was throbbing, and my heart felt like it was about to burst through my ribcage. My limbs weren't mobile; instead, they were sessile, as if anchored to the spot. Everything inside of me was screaming, but on the outside, I was paralyzed.

During those few moments, I relished every memory I could, dreading what would come next. Dad's silent love and care. Mom's mind reading skills. Ethel's protective nature. Ivy's blunt reply, and jokes. Senior Chase's teasing. Lily's big doe eyes. And on and on the list went. Everyone's memories whirled around and in my head. I recalled my reminiscences with each of them until it eventually ended with him.

"Just stay alive."

He kept his promise, but I? Like a gush of air, our moments poured inside me. Everything about his words, gestures, kisses, and touches flowed through my mind. Was that our last time? Was our story really going to end in such a way? Would we never meet again? Even on my deathbed, all I could think of was him. There was so much to do, so much to speak about, so much to share, so much to see, so much to feel. Our journey had just barely begun. However, it seemed as though destiny had other plans for me; for us.

My energy was drained, as was my hope of living. It seemed like all those years of fighting had finally paid off, but I didn't want that. I fought tooth and nail to keep my eyelids open, but all was for naught when I finally gave up. A fight with myself, and succumbing to the darkness that had been buried in my life for far too long. Unwillingly, I let dread and misery engulf me.

It was about time,

I was going to accept...

Some sins to sins;

And flaws to test...

But destiny double-crossed,

Putting me on my deathbed...