Chapter 22 – The overtake which left the deepest impression

Editor: Sammy

Proofreader: Bubbles

Was it because of one’s dignity? Was it due to the impending crisis resulting from the previous races’ poor performances? Or was it because of love?

To the audience, the previously overtaken Catherham racers were overtaken for the second time in this race!

The already slackened string was stretched taut again, waiting for an instance to snap and show its capabilities. 

In the end, Hunter crossed the finish line in eighth place.

This result was a miracle not only for the audience, but also for Marcus’ team.

When Hunter drove back to the pit, everyone gathered around.

“This brat is truly awesome! That was so fucking amazing!”

“There were too many ups and downs! My heart was about to break!”

Hunter was in a daze at this moment.

Just as Marcus hugged him, Hunter asked, “Who’s the champion of this race?”

“It’s Winston Vann! Based on the statistical data, Winston and ‘Great White Shark’ Ciel fought a total of 12 clashes at the corners!”

They assumed that Hunter only wanted to know the results of the race, so no one expected him to suddenly tear up.

“Hey! Hunter, what’s wrong?”

“N… nothing…” Hunter raised his hands to wipe his tears.

This is so stupid, why cry about it?

“What’s wrong? Hunter?”

Marcus noticed that Hunter didn’t look like he was happy to earn those points. 

“I’m not satisfied… Mr Marcus, I’m not satisfied…”

Hunter lowered his head.

He clearly tried so hard, clearly staked everything, but still he failed to enter the top six.

In the previous race, he was in sixth place and Winston second; they seemed so close.

But this time around, Winston became the champion yet he fell further back.

Sure, Rome wasn’t built in a day, but when would he reach the ‘next corner’ that Winston had mentioned?

For a moment, everyone fell quiet.

Every setback Hunter had in this race, when compared to the other racers, would’ve been a huge blow to them. Perhaps some would’ve even given up. Be it the oil pump in the qualifying round or the flat tire at a crucial point in the race… He seemed like he didn’t know how to give up; breaking through their expectations and rushing beyond to a place they never dared to imagine.

But at this moment, this brat seemed to be feeling a sense of loss. 

Marcus sighed and pressed Hunter’s head into his arms.

“Kid, you’re still too young. Be it in life or on the track, it’s all the same. We’ll lose some, but afterwards, we’ll gain even more.”

Hunter wiped his tears away and used force to take a deep breath.

“Marcus, mind the chicken soup¹As in the inspirational book Chicken Soup for the Soul and so on… it really doesn’t mean anything.”

“Ah… fine. I thought it could console you.” Marcus shrugged his shoulders. “Be a bit more happy, Hunter. You were originally at the bottom and might not have even finished the race, but just now you were able to get the points.”

“I’m thirsty,” Hunter dejectedly said.

“Quick! Drink some water! Replenish your electrolyte!”

“I still feel hungry…”

“Eat something! Replenish your protein and energy!”

As long as this kid stops looking so sullen!

After the race, a media conference ensued. 

“I don’t feel like attending,” Hunter indistinctly stated as he ate his cheese hamburger.

“Why so?” Marcus sat by his side and watched this brat constantly lower his head. Looks like he was still frustrated.

“You know why, I can’t say anything when I’m nervous.”

Marcus rolled his eyes at the sky. “Do you take me for a fool? Why didn’t I see that you were nervous when your oil pump had issues during qualifying? Why didn’t I see that you were nervous when your tire went flat during the main match? You’re the only racer who executed four stops during the main match, this is a record! To top it off, you were the contestant who overtook the most!”

“I don’t feel like going.”

The media would be modest when interviewing Winston or the ‘Great White Shark’ Ciel. Yet when interviewing him, for example, they could also be both sharp and merciless. 

He didn’t want to answer questions on whether his ranking was thanks to luck or not, nor did he want to analyse his thought process when he decided to push on during the match after his tire went flat while being lapped around by the other rivals.

He was clear about what he was truly chasing after, but if he were to say it out now, everyone would think he was biting off more than he could chew and was being too ridiculous. 

“Then keep putting on a sad look, let public relations and I handle the questions.”

“You want me to be a flower vase?” Hunter crooked his head.

“Why? You don’t wanna be a vase?” Marcus laughed.

“…It’s better to be a vase.”

At this moment, a staff member delivered a large bouquet of flowers to Hunter. “Hey! You got lucky!”

“Ah?” Hunter foolishly accepted and opened the card on top. The name caused Hunter to freeze slightly.

“Look, you finally have a fan in Formula One!”

Hunter passed the card to Marcus. “Why did she send me a card? Is it consolation?”

When Marcus saw the name, he first froze then tightly hugged Hunter. “Kid, your blessing has come! Since Audrey Wilson has sent you flowers, it means that she’s optimistic about you! Every driver who’s in her good graces has later turned into a top-notch racer in Formula One! Like Winston, Donald and Duchovny!” 

Hunter blinked his eyes. He still remembered when he was watching Winston’s post-race interview — he was envious of how Audrey Wilson, a big beauty, was around Winston!

“No way! We need to make you look a little handsome! Do you want a makeup artist to cover up the little freckles? They’re too childish!” 

Hunter’s face was full of black lines. It wasn’t like he was about to shoot a movie, why cover some freckles… 

“Hold on, it’s better to not cover them! It’s better like this! Audrey Wilson likes your unpolished, innocent personality!”

…Unpolished, innocent personality?

Are you sure you’re complimenting me? 

“Marcus, don’t torment yourself… Audrey Wilson is Winston’s die hard fan, and since he won the championship, she’d definitely prioritise interviewing him!” 

“That’s true…”

Before the post-race interview, Hunter went to the bathroom and chanced upon McGrady.

McGrady’s face was cold, which led Hunter to feel a little worried about whether this guy was washing his shame away in the bathroom or something.

But come to think of it, he didn’t get any of the top six positions, so it was inevitable to be ridiculed by McGrady. Who let him boast shamelessly and make a bet with McGrady?

“Hey, McGrady—” Hunter smiled as brilliantly as the sun while waving at him.

McGrady cooly looked at Hunter and finally spoke after a while.

“I was previously angry at you for not implementing the team’s strategy to the best of your abilities, even though it helped me stall Duchovny by 0.1 seconds… But currently, I really want to beat you up.”

“I’m sorry… we’re always fighting internally, Marcus can’t tolerate this… How about I go out and get you a bottled drink now so that you can drink it immediately. That way, when you want to pee then…”

“But right now, I still hate you because you clearly have the ability to surpass Duchovny, so what were you doing in the previous three races? Warming up? Or were you playing games? Every one of us, regardless of talent, stake everything for our ranking, every point is from the blood, sweat and tears of the entire team, do you get it?” McGrady spoke word for word as he stared into Hunter’s eyes.

“I understand,” Hunter nodded, “I overtook you in the Austria race, but don’t bear a grudge towards me.”

McGrady paused and shot Hunter a very frustrated glance before walking out of the washroom.

Hunter thought again, stuffed his hands into his pockets, and faced McGrady. “Hey! You really don’t want me to get you a drink? I won’t resist today, but you won’t have a chance afterwards!”

McGrady didn’t look back and only pointed the middle finger.

“He didn’t punch me… I’m actually not used to it…” Hunter felt slight regret.

It looked like McGrady wouldn’t find him for trouble anymore. This guy wasn’t actually that bad, just very serious therefore, he wasn’t used to Hunter’s playfulness.

But at this point, why did his heart still feel so uncomfortable?

Probably because Winston was so certain that he’d be able to get into the top six… 

When the media conference started, Winston became the focal point as expected, and the entire room felt like it was about to explode because of the crowd.

His expression was dull from beginning to end, as if the questions the media was asking had nothing to do with him. Only the team manager and publicity manager were dealing with the questions from the reporters all while presenting a strong smile amidst the pain.

“Winston, which overtake left the deepest impression in your mind in this race?” Audrey Wilson stood up and asked.

Everyone thought his answer would be the fight between him and the ‘Great White Shark’ Ciel in the final lap, but instead Winston answered, “It was the two overtakes after a flat tire by Hunter from Marcus’ team.”

“You saw the recording of the race?” Audrey was a little shocked since the race had only just concluded.  

Winston only made a ‘mm’ sound, before raising his watch to take a look and uttered something to his publicity manager.

The publicity manager faced the reporters to apologise. “Apologies, Winston has very important matters so he will be leaving first.” 

Winston stood up and nodded to the media, amidst his modesty was an arrogance that belonged only to a king.

It was at this point that Hunter bowed his head with a frustrated expression on his face. His originally childish face now appeared a little more pathetic.

“Hunter, in this race, you experienced an oil pump issue during qualifying, and also had a flat tire in the main race, but you displayed extremely strong overtakes. Was it due to the team placing a lot of pressure, or was it because you set high expectations for yourself? Since your performance in the previous three races was mediocre!”

–

The author has something to say:

When frying eggs:

Hunter: Winston! Which overtake left the deepest impression in your lifetime?

Winston: It was deep when I topped you, does that count?

Hunter: …

–

[1] As in the inspirational book Chicken Soup for the Soul

nura: thank yous so much for waiting for this chapter! ><

• 1
  As in the inspirational book Chicken Soup for the Soul