Rodriguez - The Art of Shifting Gears

Spark Books is an imprint of Anvil Publishing, Inc.

The Art of Shifting Gears

Copyright to this digital edition 2017 by

Chi Yu Rodriguez

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner and the publisher.

Published and exclusively distributed by

ANVIL PUBLISHING, INC.

7th Floor Quad Alpha Centrum Building

125 Pioneer Street, Mandaluyong City

1550 Philippines

Trunk Lines: (+632) 477-4752, 477-4755 to 57

Sales and Marketing:

Fax No.: (+632) 747-1622

www.anvilpublishing.com

Book design by Miles Tan (cover) and Ysa Garcia (interior)

ISBN 9786214201570 (e-book)

Version 1.0.1

ITS HER LAST LAP. She relishes every turn and willingly fights against the strong pull of gravity on her body as the slicks lift off the ground at a sharp curve. She steps on the gas. She feels the air hitting her torso with a vengeance. Reluctantly, she lets her foot press down on the brakes, then she makes her last turn before stopping at the pit lane.

For a student whose expenses are mostly limited to tuition, books, dorm fees, and other school-related things, there is very little room for leisure. But Rae has long resolved to set aside some money every day enough for a round at the Manila Kart track at least once a month.

After their parents died, Rae and her brothers were forced to leave the life theyd been accustomed to. No more family outings, no more jet-setting, no more cruising down the expressway listening to their dad singing along very badly to pop songs on the radio. She lost a big part of herself when she lost her mom and dad, and a trip back to the kart track where her family last spent a day together makes her feel as if she is putting the first piece of her broken puzzle back in place.

Rae lifts her helmets face shield before breathing in the air that she loves the mostthick with the smell of burnt rubber, the atmosphere still simmering from the heat of all the karts on the track.

Jerome, the friendly track attendant, walks over to her kart. One more round, Rae? The words are said in a whisper, the slight man bending down a little to make sure the other customers will not hear his next words nor see the wink it comes with. On the house.

Who is she to say no? Shes at a point where it wouldnt be imposing to keep her kart and ride again. Rae has spent enough time in Manila Kart the past few years that shes already become somewhat of a fixture.

Looking over Jeromes shoulder, she sees the owner, Sir Basti, give her a thumbs up, and she sends back a salute before putting her face shield back in place.

Theres a lot of noise being made behind her, a new group of people goofing around. It barely registers, her mind already on the few minutes ahead. She tightens her grip on the steering wheel as her legs tremble in anticipation. It takes only a few more moments before all the attendants are off the track and the timer is counting down from ten.

The sound of the starter pistol sends all the karts on their way.

Its three laps in when Rae realizes its becoming a pretty tight race. Kart number 57 has been consistently pulling ahead and there are two other karts always just behind it. She manages to pull right back in the lead in mere seconds but its touch and go the entire time.

There are two laps left, and Rae is leading. She hits a sharp curve. Shes energized by gravity and the force of the karts weight pulling at her from opposite directions. Its always been bliss to fight that and she feels triumphant, knowing how to hit that curve perfectly every time. As the slicks settle back on the ground, she feels a nudge on the side of her kart. Kart number 57 just sideswiped her.

She feels another hit, and another, realizing quickly that the driver is trying to bump her off the track. This has never happened to her before, not in Manila Kart nor anywhere else. Its such an act of disrespect and not something any decent driver would pullamateur or otherwise.

On the next curve, she steers to the far corner before turning and driving away at breakneck speed. It should be enough to outrun him if hes as much of a newbie as she thinks he is. Instead, she feels another nudge. The jerk does not know when to stop.

At this point she begins to fear for his safety. There are only a few seconds left before the tracks next sharp curve. If he dares to chase her through it, an embarrassing disaster is inevitable.

Without any time left, she doesnt even think. Her hands, her feet, they know what to do. She takes the curve as she always does, feeling her body fall against the side of the kart. The slicks grip the ground in a split second, and she drives away.

When she approaches that same sharp curve on the last lap, she sees men pulling out kart number 57 that had apparently crashed into the tire barricades.

Another good run. Jerome approaches Rae to shake her hand and help her out of her kart.

Thanks, she says when she feels him pat her shoulder. The adrenaline is still running through her veins and theres a bounce in her step as she makes her way to the waiting areafulfilled, empowered, and centered.

Shes about to head toward the lockers when shes pulled back so roughly, it takes a moment before her gaze focuses on a guys face.

Mike, the Mike Vera Cruz, is staring her down. When did he even get here? From over his shoulders, Rae could see the familiar faces of his two closest friends. Yuan Recto, the taller of the two, is looking on with a tinge of worry on his face. The other, JR Gonzales, has a smirk on that Rae wishes she could wipe off with her fist.

No words are exchanged, and shes thankful for the helmet covering her face. Bastard probably has no idea that hes about to start a fight with a girl.

Is there a problem here? Sir Basti is suddenly beside them, a smile on his face and a hand on Mikes shoulder. Mike is still trying to stare her down right through her helmet, while Rae continues to glare at him from behind it.

Nothing, I was just congratulating him on his win. This confirms Raes suspicionsMike was driving kart number 57. Its even more infuriating now to see Mikes forced smile as he takes a step back.

Rae doesnt even wait for anyone to speak again. Theres no way Sir Basti would settle this without making her remove her helmet, and shes not quite ready for that. She runs off, waits until shes sure shes out of sight before removing her helmet and changing out of her race suit. In less than ten minutes, shes out of the gate and is sprinting away from Manila Kart.

RAE ON-AIR | SEPTEMBER 2015 PODCAST #232

[00:01] Hello everyone. Its Rae again.

[00:03] I know I havent been able to update you guys as much but *sighs*

[00:08] Life has been happening more than usual.

[00:12] The past year and a half has been taxing,

[00:15] but I made it out alive.

[00:20] I SURVIVED! *sound of a single clap*

[00:21] Its officially my last year as an Educ student