Sinful Attachment

KABANATA 11

In front of her, the dashboard is covered in premium leather finish. May purple ambient lines na umiilaw sa edges, glowing softly like flowing light sa loob ng car. Hindi siya mukhang ordinary interior. It feels more like a cockpit, something built for performance, not just daily driving sa city.

Charlotte places her hands on the steering wheel, feeling the leather wrap and the purple stitching under her fingers. May slight cool touch ng metal sa sides, pero solid at controlled ang grip. It gives her confidence, like the car is quietly waiting for her command.

Sa center console, the black finish has a mix of carbon fiber texture, clean at sharp ang look. Lahat ng buttons are positioned facing her, parang everything is designed to respond agad sa control niya. In that moment, it doesn’t feel like just a car anymore. Parang extension na siya ng instincts niya, like it was made to move with her without hesitation.

“Dang.” Bulong ni Charlotte.

“Pwede na siguro tayong umalis?” Biro ni Chase na ikinangiti ni Charlotte.

“Seatbelt please,” Charlotte said, her smile refusing to fade as she glanced at Chase, clearly excited to finally drive the Chevrolet Corvette C8.

She adjusted herself in the driver’s seat, hands lightly resting on the steering wheel for a moment, like she still couldn’t believe she was actually inside it. Her eyes flicked around the interior again, taking in every detail, still amazed but trying to act calm.

Chase, who was already seated beside her, looked at her for a second before leaning back. “Ang bilis mo naman ma-excite, hindi mo pa nadadrive e.” She said, a small smirk forming on her lips.

Charlotte let out a soft laugh. “Eh kasi hello? This is not just any car. Chase it’s Chevrolet Corvette C8 with a fully customized interior.”

Chase shook her head slightly but didn’t argue. Instead, she reached for her seatbelt and clicked it in place. “Fine. Basta drive carefully and enjoy ha?”

Charlotte turned her head slightly toward her, still smiling. “Oo na. Watch me.”

Chase raised an eyebrow. “Yan ang scary part. Imbis na trust me, watch me.”

Charlotte laughed again, shaking her head as she adjusted her grip on the wheel. “Chill, driver ‘to e.”

“Kaskasera ka kaya.” Angal ni Chase matapos paandarin ni Charlotte ang sasakyan, habang bahagyang napakapit ang kaniyang kamay sa seatbelt.

Ngumisi lang si Charlotte, calm pero halatang may konting excitement. At sa isang pindot pa lang ng accelerator, ramdam agad ang pagbabago sa buong Chevrolet Corvette C8.

The Chevrolet Corvette C8 wasn’t just fast, it was the kind of car that could go from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in almost three seconds, depending on the setup. And the way it delivered speed wasn’t smooth or gradual. It was instant. Like in one moment, everything was still, and in the next, the road was pulling you forward without asking if you were ready.

Every time Charlotte steps on the accelerator, may strong force na pumipush sa kanila both back into their seats. The mid-engine layout gives the car perfect balance, so even at high speed, it stays controlled and stable. Fast, but never messy.

“Relax ka lang,” Charlotte said, her eyes still on the road, acting like wala lang yung nangyayari, like this level of speed is completely normal for her.

Chase immediately tightens her grip sa side ng seat niya. “Tngina 150 nasa speed mo paano mag rerelax. Nung dinrive ko yan hanggang 100 lang max ko sa sobrang bilis.” Reklamo ni Chase na halatang medyo nagulat kay Charlotte.

“Parang gusto mong makipag-away sa kalsada.” Chase said, her voice a mix of disbelief and a slight of panic.

Charlotte lets out a soft laugh. “OA mo naman. Kaskasera kamo ako diba?”

“Ayos lang yan.” Dagdag ni Charlotte na focus pa rin ang mukha sa harap ng kalsada.

“It’s fine for you,” Chase shoots back, still holding on. “Hindi ako sanay sa ganito ka-aggressive.”

Charlotte glances at her for a second, still smiling. “You’ll get used to it. Para namang hindi ganyan magpatakbo ng sasakyan si Chaos.”

“Or I might not survive it, besides 100 lang din max ni Chaos kapag ako kasama.” Chase mutters, making Charlotte laugh a little louder.

As they take each turn, the Corvette stays sharp and precise. Hindi siya nagwo-wobble or nahihirapan. Every movement ng steering wheel is instantly followed, like the car understands exactly what the driver wants. Fast, but obedient.

The purple LED lights inside the cabin slowly blend with the blur of the outside world. Streetlights, buildings, and roads all pass by in streaks, making the whole ride feel surreal. Parang hindi lang sila gumagalaw sa kalsada, but floating through speed itself.

“This is insane.” Masayang sambit ni Charlotte.

“Nandito na tayo.” Dagdag ni Charlotte matapos ayusin ang pagkaka park niya sa parking lot ng RestoBar ni Chase.

“Hindi na pala kita hahayaang mag-drive. Ganito pala ‘yung pakiramdam lagi ni Danzel kada sumasabay sa’yo,” Chase said while scratching her head, still trying to calm her racing heart.

Her tone was half-serious, half-exhausted, like she had just survived something she wasn’t fully prepared for. She leaned back in her seat a little, still gripping the side slightly, as if her body was only now realizing how intense the ride had been.

“Pagkain kapalit katahimikan?” Muling biro ni Charlotte habang nag hihintay sa kanilang order ni Chase.

“Mali.” Naka ngising sambit ni Chase.

“Huh?” Takang tanong ni Charlotte.

“I mean, katahimikan nga kapalit nito, pero may ibang pakay pa tayo,” Chase said with a small smile, her tone calmer now but still carrying a hint of mischief.

She leaned back a little in her seat, looking ahead at the road, as if she had already shifted her focus from the thrill of the drive to whatever they were actually supposed to do. The adrenaline was still there, but it slowly settled into something more controlled.

“Atake ka, ano nanamang sikreto o surprise yang binabalak mo.” Taas kilay na tanong ni Charlotte.

Hindi nag tagal ay dumating na ang hinihintay nila… Kasabay ng kanilang order.

“What the actual fck?” Hindi makapaniwalang sambit ni Charlotte sa kaniyang nasaksihan.

“Chase?” Tanong niya habang titig na titig kay Chase.

“This is Kaizer.” Sambit ni Chase.

“Hi,” Kaizer greeted Charlotte before he finally sat down beside Chase, carefully arranging the food on their table as he settled in.

His tone is calm and casual, parang normal lang na moment for him. He places the dishes properly, making sure everything is in order bago siya bahagyang sumandal, then glances at the two of them as if chine-check niya kung comfortable na ba sila.

Charlotte gave a small nod in response, still relaxed from earlier, while Chase looked between the food and Kaizer, noticing how natural he seemed as he joined them without any hesitation.