Marked by Salvatore

Chapter 4

The other racers had fallen behind.

Only two cars remained at the front—Salvatore’s Aston Martin Valkyrie and a sleek, black Porsche. They were neck and neck now, engines roaring like beasts unleashed.

Salvatore’s Valkyrie moved like it had a mind of its own. Smooth, aggressive, precise. Every turn, every acceleration felt deliberate, like he wasn’t just driving—he was commanding the road.

The Porsche wasn’t backing down.

It was brutal, and fast. Whoever was behind the wheel wasn’t just trying to win—they wanted to crush the competition.

The car clung to Salvatore’s tail, matching his speed, daring him to slip.

The crowd around me was electric. People were shouting, filming, jumping out of their seats. But I was frozen, eyes locked on the two cars battling it out on the track.

First curve and Salvatore took the lead, his maneuver flawless. The Valkyrie glided through the bend like it was born for it. The Porsche followed closely, its tires screeching as it clung to the edge.

Akma kong ilalabas ang cellphone pero ng dahil sa panginginig ay hindi ko na nagawa.

Second curve. The Porsche surged forward, overtaking Salvatore with a burst of speed.

“No…” I gripped the armrest, heart pounding. It felt like I was in the car with him.

Straightaway. Salvatore’s strength.

He hit the gas, and the Valkyrie responded like lightning. He overtook the Porsche again, reclaiming the lead.

Third curve.

The most dangerous part of the track. A blind slope, sharp and unforgiving. The Porsche didn’t slow down. It dove into the curve recklessly. Salvatore, more calculated, eased just enough to stay in control.

Hindi ko na nakita la ang ginawa nito dahil sa marahan kong pag pikit. Sobra g kabadong kabado na ako sa nangyayari.

When I open my eyes, Salvatore was still ahead.

Then—a screech. The Porsche skidded. Not a crash, but close. It lost momentum.

Salvatore didn’t hesitate. He pushed forward, full throttle. The Valkyrie roared, slicing through the air like a blade.

Hindi ko na alam ang mga sunod na nangyare dahil pinilit ko nang maupo at itakip sa buong mata ko ang sumbrero na suot ko. Good thing I wear this.

The crowd was wild. “GOOOO!” I hear people screamed. I couldn’t breathe. And then—BOOM.

Pinilit kong iahon ang aking ulo to see what is happening. Did he won?

"Omygosh! may date won!" The girl beside me scream.

He won. Umahon ang ulo ko ng lubusan. The race is finish. Sobrang kabang kaba ako. Despite ng kaba may kung ano akong naramdaman na saa ng madinig na nanalo ito.

I even held my head ng maalala na hindi ko na videohan ang nangyare kanina. Kaya agad kong dinukot ang phone ko at vinideohan nalang kung ano ang ma videohan ko.

"Let's go girls.. Let's go to the ladies room first bago tayo lumapit kay Salvatore" natatawang aya ng babaeng ka date daw ni Salvatore mamaya.

That was my cue to stand up. Should I stop her sa pag dadate nila? but why would I do that? Anong gagawin ko? should I just say na wala naman ka date si Salvatore?

Hindi naman siguro malalaman ni Hailey na nagsisinungaling ako diba?

Habang nag iisip ay hindi ko namalayan na nandoon na pala ako sa may ladies room. I heard them chatting to a random things. Nag retouch nalang ako hinubad ang denim jacket that revealed my tube top.

May kalakihan ang aking boobs sakto lamang sa edad ko. It was revealed when I removed it medyo mainit na kasi at pawis na pawis na ako.

Nakita ko ang bahagyang pag lingon saakin ng grupo ng kadate ni Salvatore. Bahagya ko itong nginitian.

I put my hair in a high pony tail and retouch my makeup.

"let's go.." yaya ng ka date ni Salvatore. Ilang minuto ko bago nadesisyon na lumabas at muling sundan sila.

I checked te time from my phone and saw Hailey's messaged. Hindi ko na iyon binasa at tinype nalang ang update na nanalo si Salvatore sa race.

Hailey:

May ka date?

If meron, make sure na hindi matutuloy, If you lie I will know.

Agad akong napakamot sa aking ulo. What now Celeria.

"How can I stop that man to date that girl?" I said frustrated.

Pinagtitnginan na din ako dito ng mga tao dahil siguro sa problemado kong muka. I even saw boys looking at me intently.

I know what that look means. Sanay na din ako sa ganyan. Kung hindi nagagandahan ay baka may kung ano pang meaning.

"I cannot just say.. Salvatore don't go out with that woman!" I whispered. "At bakit ko yon gagawin naman diba?" Patuloy kong pagkausap sa sarili ko.

I lean at one car habang nag iisip ako ng kung ano.

"Or maybe I should talk to the girl nalang?" I even play with my cap and denim jacket dahil hinubad ko iyon parehas. "Pero it seems like that girl likes that Salvatore.."

I was about to go out at umalis sa pagkakasandal dahil baka dumating na ang may ari ng sport's car na sinasandalan ko when I bumped into a man.

To my horror it was him!

"Sorry.." Bahagya kong sabi. Binaba niya ang tingin saakin pababa sa katawan ko at iniwas. Hindi naman nito pinansin ang sorry ko at parang hangin lang na dinaanan.

Sungit.

Tiningnan ko ang pupuntahan niya at nagulat ako ng pumunta siya sa kabilang bahagi ng sasakyan na sinasandaan ko.

Tiningnan ko ang sasakyan at agad na lumayo ng narealized na kanya ito.

Oh gosh!

"Salvatore.." malambing na tawag noong babae kanina.

"Lyn." maikling sagot nito

"Congrats.. about our date today.." dahan dahang sabi ng babae na tila nahihiya.

"Can't go out tonight. I'm busy." Maikli nitong sagot na nagpatulala sa babaeng kausap nito.

Bahagya din akong nagulat ng tumingin saakin si Salvatore gamit ang madilim na ekspresyon. I was about to walk away dahil baka akala niya ay nakikiisyoso ako.

Well parang ganon na nga pero dapat ay hindi halata.

"Hi..." Hindi ko na natuloy ang paglayo ko ng sobra sakanila. Malayo na ito pero balak ko na sana umuwi at ibalta nalang kay Hailey ang nangyare.

I don't want to be rude kaya binalingan ko ang lalaki. He was the guy who ride at the black Porsche.

"Hello.."

"I think this is the first time I saw you here." He said

Well yeah this is really the first time.

"Yeah." maikli kong sagot.

"Easton, you are" inilahad niya saakin ang kanyang kamay. Im not rude kaya tinanggap ko ito.

"Celeria."

"beautiful name. It suits you." He licked his lips while smiling at me.

"Easton." Someone from behind call him. Nang nilingon ko ito ay gulat ng makita na si Salavtore iyon na madilim nakatitig sa direksyon namin.

"Uh.. I have to go." pagpapaalam ko

"Well okay.. I hope to see you here more often."

Hindi na ako muling nag paalam pa at naglakad na palabas I text my driver na sunduin na ako. Nakasabay ko pa si Lyn yung babae kanina na palabas ng venue. She was crying.

"What just happened Milly?" There that was the girls name, Milly.

Milly is pretty, tall and sexy. I can tell na may ikabubuga din naman siya sa buhay. Actually hindi ko din alam bakt na turn down siya si Salvatore e mukang kanina may plano talaga sila.

I don't have anything to do with that that's the least of my concern now. Maganda nga iyon at hindi na ako magpapakahirap. Mission accomplished I should get going.

"Really? Milly the model Milly?" Paulit ulit na tanong ni Hailey saakin.

"Yes nga.." I kept on saying na si Milly nga yung supposed date ni Salvatore at tinurn down niya ito nung lumapit siya to ask saan sila pupunta after the race.

Kahit siya ay hindi makapaniwala dahil paulit ulit siya ng tanong.

I already told her like 20 times pa nga!

"Well, hindi naman din siya kagandahan. Buti nalang! Knowing Salvatore hindi iyon makakapasa kay Salvatore. Wala ata makakapasa don. Well, baka kung makilala niya ako." mayabang na sabi ni Hailey.

"Then why don't you introduce yourself then?" I asked. I don't want to sound sarcastic but mukang ayon nga ang naging dating sa kanya.

"Uh I mean it's not that ha-hard no! tingin mo sakin." Padarag niyang sinalampak ang sarili niya sa upuan.

"It's just that I'm weak right now kasi nga I have sick diba?"

Excuses.

"Pero diba as I remember hinabol mo na siya before?" It was the slow Stacey said.

Bahagya akong nagulat doon. I didn't know that ang alam ko lang ay crush niya ito. I looked at Hailey na ngayon ay pinandidilatan na si Stacey. Staceg even mouthed "why" to Hailey dahil nga sa galit nito.

Agad naman akong binalingan ni Hailey and smiled widely.

"Don't mind her. I didn't follow him kaya I just bumped at him One time-"

"4.." Pagtatama ni Rhian.

"Maybe 4–"

"7 kaya.." Margo also said.

"Okay? 7 maybe 7–"

"What's wrong with you guys.. It was multiple times na kaya, Hailey. I cannot even count it with my fingers." Stacey then said while showing us his fingers.

"Yuck! are those dumi in your kuko?" Margo hissed.

Stacey said that she didn't mind his finger pero panay ang sulyap naman niya dito.

"Fine! multiple times.. Pero it's just coincidentally. Hindi ko iyon sadya kaya don't say na I make habol!"

Doon nanaman umikot ang aming kwentuhan huong lunch break. She was indenial na hinahabol niya daw si Salvatore, well madalas naman ako hindi sumamasama sa hang out nila dahil madami akong bagay na pinagkakaabalahan noon. Gaya na lang ng ballet class, out of the country, at kung ano ano pa mahiligan ko.

"Ang galing niya siguro noong race!" Pahisteryang tanong ni Hailey.

Well, magaling naman siguro I don't know hindi ko masyadong tinignan e. I'm not used to it. It's so dangerous pero siguro nga magaling siya, he won duh!

"Bakit walang video?"

"Uh.. I forgot." I really forgot to take a video only photos lang nung hindi pa msyadong intense ang race.

Enough nanaman yon at mukang satisfied na siya specially nalaman niya na Salvatore ditched his date with a model girl named Milly.

"So..." panimula nanaman ni Hailey. Napapikit agad ako ng madanig ko ang boses niya.

Malamang sa malamang mag uutos nanaman ito. Wala na ba akong break?

"I have things to do on weekends so.. baka last nayang ipapagawa mo-"

"For this week only. Correction okay!"

I just rolled my eyes.

"Fine! pero if you change your mind.." Tiningnan ko ito at ngumiti lang ng malapad.

"I won't."