"You guys always come to see me ready for war, huh?" the owner of the place teased his close juniors with a weary expression.

 

"You have to get used to it, P'Tar, because I don't think there's any way that'll change. These guys..." "Donut" grinned awkwardly and poured his boss a drink, trying to be considerate. What could he do? They were his friends, and they'd been fighting for ages. Suddenly, would they listen if told to stop fighting?

 

"This is giving me a headache. How many years has it been, damn it?" Although he sounded annoyed, P’Tar didn't object to the younger students borrowing his field for the duel. He'd consider it another opportunity for them to try out his field.

 

"This time, Jay started it. He challenged Jinn first. I was there, boss," Mai, who was massaging Tar's shoulders, said, glancing at his two close friends who were now parked side-by-side, ready for a race.

 

"What does it matter who challenges whom? Because in the end, they never refuse. It's so frustrating." As the leader of a gang of brats? Tar has always really misunderstood Jerome and Jinn. No, he really doesn't understand them at all. Why do they always compete with each other in everything? They have so many similarities in personality and interests. They seem more suited to be best friends than enemies. They're in the same friend group, their mothers are friends, they've known each other since childhood, yet they fight every time their parents aren't looking. They compete in every way, giving each other no rest, to the point where it's become a "habit."

 

Sometimes he secretly wondered if, one day, they could put aside their prejudices and resentments towards each other and become one of the closest and most understanding best friends. They knew each other so well and were always one step ahead of the other. It was a shame he might never see that happen. They didn't hate each other enough to avoid seeing each other again, yet they refused to reconcile. He was truly baffled by them. Sigh.

 

Right now, Tar doesn't know that what he's been playfully thinking about and hoping to see will actually happen in the not-too-distant future. And not only will it happen, but it will go far beyond his wildest expectations... so far that he doesn't even think it's real.

 

Jinn pouted, annoyed at those who came to compete but didn't just bring a "man" to cheer them on. Did they think he'd be upset? Pfft! At most, he'd just be annoyed. It wasn't the first time this had happened. So childish.

“Beam, you don’t need to come along, it’s dangerous. Just wait and cheer from the sidelines, okay?” Jerome glanced briefly at the person standing next to another car before turning to speak sweetly to the small, young man he wanted to bring along today. At least it would be good to have someone to annoy him.

 

"Okay, but Jay shouldn't compete with Jinn. It's dangerous," Beam said, but inwardly he couldn't help feeling proud. The short, sweet-faced person thought that the reason the two were competing today was definitely because of him, which made him feel happier.

 

It was a small thing, without them realising that this kind of behaviour was "normal" for JJ, and not because of him at all.

 

“Heh heh, don’t worry, I’m going to win. We’ll celebrate later, okay?” Jerome placed his hand on the younger man’s head and spoke in a teasing, suggestive tone that they both understood.

 

"Of course," Beam replied with a sweet, charming smile, secretly glancing at the other young man, whom he actually regretted losing quite a bit as well.

 

The tall, muscular figure leaned against his car, talking to someone. A cigarette was held between his slender fingers, and a cunning smile played on his lips as he exhaled grey smoke. It evoked a feeling of intoxication and passion, making hearts race, even though he wasn't doing anything, just standing there. The atmosphere he emanated made it difficult for the observer to breathe. Truly wicked.

 

Jerome smirked, a mocking glint in his eyes as he looked at the person standing beside him, his mind wandering to the one he had rejected earlier. This wasn't the first time this had happened; it had happened 'all the time.' Once he got him, he wanted Jinn; once Jinn was gone, he wanted him. But he was far too sorry to let them go, because neither of them ever truly crossed paths. Once he had one, he had to let the other go. It had always been that way. Thinking of taking both of them? That good? Dream on!

 

“Are you done flirting yet? If not, I’ll just go to sleep. What a waste of time!” Jinn shouted, urging the person who was still standing there smiling and stroking a man’s hair as if they were miles apart, when in reality it would only take a few minutes. A liar is a liar, no matter what. They’re used to lying about everything, I guess!

 

"I'm going to the race first, just a sec," the one who'd been taunted said goodbye to his kid, his long legs striding towards the white car parked next to it.

 

“Come on, you guys. How many laps? I’ll time you. Consider it a record,” Tar walked onto the field as soon as he saw the honorary competitors—all ready to go.

 

"Three laps would be good. Once we've completed three laps, I can send you off," Jinn laughed mischievously, making faces that were so irritating to those watching him that it was like he'd rather compete in a boxing match than a car race.

 

“Three rounds is fine, P'Tar. That way, the loser will have time to compose himself before the final round. He lost last time, too; this time will probably be the same. Heh heh.” Jerome gritted his teeth, trying not to retort because he still needed to maintain his image. He didn't want others to see his reckless behaviour; it looked bad. Let this clueless guy look bad all by himself.

 

"You're the one who's going to lose. This time, I'm definitely winning," Jinn waved his hand, signalling to the track owner, before giving his opponent the middle finger as a final gesture. He then got into his car, buckled his seatbelt, and waited for the signal to start.

 

In reality, it was just a regular speed race, nothing as intense as professional race car drivers. Before Tar opened this track, they would both find empty roads in the suburbs to race, covering short distances with quick results (don't try this!). But this time, with a long, wide track to try out, they couldn't help but feel more excited than usual.

 

"Okay, three, two, one, GO!!!"

 

A high-pitched whistle signalled the start of the race. Both cars, one white and one black, sped off like rockets. Both drivers focused on both speed and distance, with a track that wasn't just straight; there were small and large curves that forced them to slow down a bit.

 

In the first lap, Jinn took the lead, with the black car only a few meters ahead of the white car. Jerome lost his rhythm on the final curve and, unfamiliar with the new terrain, had to follow on the first lap.

 

On the second lap, Jerome finally took the lead. Once he got used to the track, he navigated the corners smoothly, eventually overtaking the black car. Only the final lap remained.

But then the unexpected happened. In the final stretch before the finish line, whether it was a loss of control of the steering wheel or something else entirely, the white car, which had been leading smoothly, screeched to a high-pitched sound before spinning or for some other reason, in a short circle and crashing violently into the edge of the track, amidst the shocked and panicked expressions of everyone watching.

 

Bang!

 

"Hoy! Hey Jay!”

 

"P'Jay!"

 

"Damn it! Call an ambulance, quick!"

 

The shouts and commotion from outside couldn't reach the person inside the car. Jerome's mind was racing, unable to hear anything else. The pain in his fingers and parts of his body told him he was still conscious, but his mind wasn't clear. Images and sounds, unfamiliar to him, flashed before his eyes, causing a dizzying headache. The sudden appearance of these images and sounds caused him to lose his balance, ending up right at the edge of the field, where he was now.

 

"Excuse me.”

 

"I'm sorry."

 

"What the hell is this?" At this point, the image didn't matter anymore. The young man wanted to curse loudly to express his bewilderment.

 

"Hey Jay! Jerome! Are you still conscious? Unlock the door!"

 

The sound of shattering glass right next to his ear made the person whose name was called turn around instinctively. The image he saw was of someone who had just appeared in his mind. The image had changed so much that the young man was no longer sure whether it was real or just a strange vision in his mind.

 

"You idiot! Is he dead already?! I saw you watching!" Jinn angrily smashed the car window. Just moments ago, after witnessing the car slightly ahead of him spin out of control and crash violently into the edge of the field, the young man was so shocked that he slammed on the brakes, causing the tyres to skid, before quickly opening the door and running inside.

 

The person sitting dazed in the car at the scene looked at the pale face, but felt a little relieved to see no drop of blood. At least it wasn't as serious as they thought, probably because the side that hit the edge of the field head-on was the non-driver's side. They considered themselves lucky to have escaped injury.

 

"He's not dead yet," Jerome unlocked the car and muttered to the person who opened the door to help him unbuckle his seatbelt.

 

"You son of a bitch. Even though I told you to circle three times before sending you off, you don't have to follow every word I say, do you? I'm not used to you being this easy, really." Jinn glanced around briefly, relieved to see no blood anywhere on the other's body. No matter how much they fought, he didn't want him dead.

 

Jerome didn't retaliate with the usual stinging remarks. The injured man simply stared blankly at the person's profile as he stood with his hands on his hips, inspecting his car with interest. The face in his mind and the face he saw with his eyes overlapped so much that they were indistinguishable. The young man might have thought he was simply seeing multiple versions of Jinn if it weren't for the fact that these two faces were quite different.

 

The face I saw was that of a very familiar twenty-year-old young man.

 

The face that the brain could see was that of a fully grown young man, probably no younger than thirty-five years old. And both of those faces belonged entirely to Jinn.

 

What the hell is this? How could he have ever seen that idiot Jinn when he was that age, when they're both twenty years old now?

 

"I don't dare take it out, P'. I'm afraid that if I break something, it'll get worse." The conversation he overheard brought Jerome back to the present. He glanced at the worried faces of the people around him and gave a small smile, as if to say he was okay. But the person closest to him was still Jinn, followed by Tar, the owner of the field, who was utterly shocked.

 

"Yeah, I've called an ambulance. It's just around the corner; it shouldn't take long. Jay, are you okay?"

 

"I'm still conscious, just a little dizzy," Jerome averted his gaze from Jinn to look at his close friend, trying to move his body gently to feel where he was hurting.

 

"It's not very serious, don't worry. Are you in any particular pain?" Tar sighed in relief. At least he could still talk and respond.

 

Or maybe it's broken... "My head and left hand are a little sore; other areas just feel stinging. I don't think it's serious." The injured person winced as soon as they moved their left fingers. What's going on? Is it fractured?

 

“Still good.”

 

"Are you sure? Are your legs still there?" Jinn asked loudly before a large hand from his respected senior slapped him hard on the head.

 

"You're such a bigmouth, you bastard! Stay here! It probably isn't that bad!" Tar made a move to attack again, forcing Jinn to quickly step back to dodge the deadly slap, before realising a burning gaze was fixed upon him.

 

"Why? You want to get up and fight me, don't you? Sorry, kid, but you don't get that right right now." Seeing that it was Jerome looking at him, Jinn made a teasing gesture in return, because he was confident that at least the other guy wouldn't die today.

 

"Yeah," Jerome replied, and said nothing more.

 

Shortly afterwards, an ambulance arrived. Several people helped Jerome out of the severely damaged car and into it. Another car was provided to take them to the hospital, with Tar as a passenger.

 

“Beam, have Mai take them first. It’s not convenient to follow now. If everything is alright, I’ll have him call you. Okay?” Jinn watched the ambulance drive away and then turned to speak to the smaller person standing hesitantly behind him.

 

"And...what about P'Jinn?" Beam thought this person would offer to give him a ride.

 

"I have to go to the hospital to face the guardians," Jinn smiled weakly, knowing he was about to be scolded incessantly by his mother.

 

"Then Beam..." will come too.

 

“Beam, go home first. We’ll talk about other things later. Take care of things, Mai,” the tall young man cut him off dismissively. Jinn thought Jerome probably didn’t want the kid to follow him either; otherwise, he would have said so from the start. Besides, he was 100% going to get yelled at. He’d get yelled at, nagged, and lectured. How could he let anyone see this side of him? It's not cool at all!

 

"Damn it," he fastened his seatbelt and shook his head in frustration. The one who got hurt is that idiot Jerome, but Jinn definitely deserves to be blamed, too. Who told their mothers to be such close friends? Whenever trouble arises, both of them get blamed together. No one ever asks who started it; they just blame everyone, regardless of who the real culprit is. Where can he seek justice for himself in this matter? It's truly sad.