May 5th, Silver Spur – North Dakota.

  Three days had passed since their last lunch. Brad was now on one of his “visits” to Tiffany’s garage, claiming he missed her. Meanwhile, back at Arashi's garage, he, Esme, and Bruno were elbows-deep in a Nissan 350Z (Z33), trying to breathe life into the machine.

  Esme grumbled, glaring at the laptop screen as she furiously typed away.

  Arashi smirked, unfazed by her frustration, as he carefully lowered the engine block into the car's front bay.

  Bruno called out while wiping grease from his hands.

  Arashi replied with a lazy shrug, not even glancing up.

  Esme shot Arashi a pleading look, her eyes wide and shimmering, silently begging for rescue.

  He sighed, finally setting his tools aside.

  Esme said thank you playfully in japanese, hopping up and clapping her hands like a delighted child.

  Bruno chuckled, shaking his head.

  Esme froze, her cheeks burning as she frantically waved her hands in denial.

  Bruno rolled his eyes with a smirk, turning back to wrestle with the SEAT Ibiza’s engine block.

  Arashi, biting back a chuckle, gave Esme a small pat on the head before returning to the Z33. Her face remained a bright shade of pink, but she couldn’t help the shy smile creeping onto her lips as she watched him work.

  Once Arashi finished securing the engine block in place, he worked methodically, attaching the twin chargers, water cooler, battery, and other essential components. After tightening the final bolt on the cover, he straightened up and declared with a triumphant grin,

  Esme’s eyes widened, and she practically stomped her foot. she protested, her pout in full force.

  Arashi turned to her, his grin only widening. He chuckled softly, clearly amused.

  Esme’s cheeks puffed in frustration.

  Behind them, Bruno couldn’t hold it in any longer and burst out laughing. he bellowed, clutching his sides.

  Arashi smirked and gave Esme a light pat on the shoulder. he teased, his tone playful.

  Still muttering under her breath, Esme threw herself back into her laptop, cheeks burning.

  With a mischievous glint in his eye, Arashi made his way toward the warehouse at the back of the garage. Bruno raised a brow, calling after him,

  Arashi paused at the doorway, throwing a glance over his shoulder.

  he said with a smirk, vanishing inside.

  Minutes later, he emerged, carrying a sleek NOS system in his hands, the shining chrome catching the light.

  Bruno let out a low whistle, impressed.

  Arashi replied, his smirk never fading as he walked back to the Z33, the promise of raw power practically radiating from his every move.

  Esme peeked over her laptop and gasped. she squealed, half in awe and half in disbelief.

  Arashi said, kneeling beside the vehicle to begin installing his secret weapon.

  As Arashi knelt beside the Z33, carefully installing the NOS system, Bruno leaned back against the Ibiza’s stripped frame, arms crossed. Watching Arashi’s focused movements, he murmured softly under his breath,

  His words were low enough to go unnoticed by Esme, who was still engrossed in her laptop, typing away with newfound energy after Arashi’s teasing.

  But Arashi’s ears twitched at the faint comment, and he glanced up briefly, his expression unreadable. Bruno, catching the subtle look, shrugged and gave a knowing smirk, returning to the Ibiza.

  As Arashi worked on securing the NOS system into place, he glanced over his shoulder and called out,

  Esme froze mid-typing, her cheeks puffing up in annoyance. she huffed, though the faintest blush betrayed her flustered state.

  Bruno chuckled from the other side of the garage.

  Esme whipped her head toward Bruno, her eyes narrowing.

  Arashi teased again, smirking as he tightened another bolt on the NOS system.

  Esme groaned dramatically but obeyed, dropping her head onto the desk in mock defeat. she muttered under her breath, though the tiniest smile tugged at her lips.

  Arashi just chuckled softly, his voice warm.

  Bruno wiped his hands on a rag, watching Esme sulk at her desk. he began with a casual tone,

  The room fell silent.

  Esme’s head snapped up, her face a mix of shock and fury. “ she shrieked, her voice reverberating off the garage walls.

  Arashi stopped mid-installation, glancing toward Bruno with a raised brow. he muttered under his breath, shaking his head.

  Esme yelled, her fists clenched at her sides.

  Bruno blinked, utterly unbothered.

  Esme’s face turned crimson, whether from anger or embarrassment, it was hard to tell. She grabbed the nearest tool—a small wrench—and hurled it in Bruno’s direction.

  Bruno ducked, the wrench clattering harmlessly to the floor.

  Arashi chuckled, unable to hide his amusement.

  Esme huffed, crossing her arms and turning her back to both of them.

  Bruno raised his hands in surrender, a sheepish grin on his face.

  Still smirking, Arashi returned to the Z33.

  Esme glanced over her shoulder, sticking her tongue out at Bruno before returning to her laptop, muttering something about men and their stupidity.

  As Arashi finished securing the NOS system, he wiped his hands on a rag and called over to Bruno,

  Bruno, who had been rummaging through a toolbox, glanced up and nodded.

  Arashi turned toward Esme, giving her a teasing smile.

  Esme gave him a quick, determined nod. she said, quickly getting back to her laptop, fingers flying across the keys.

  Arashi watched her for a moment, his expression softening as he spoke again,

  Esme glanced up, her cheeks flushing at the praise.

  Bruno gave Arashi a knowing grin, but before he could say anything, Arashi quickly added,

  Bruno muttered, finally finishing his work on the Ibiza’s engine and heading over to help with the seat.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  As Esme continued to work on the ECU settings, Bruno, clearly feeling left out of the affectionate banter, dramatically slumped against the workbench and let out an exaggerated sob.

  Arashi raised an eyebrow, looking over at Bruno with an amused smirk.

  Esme rolled her eyes, though the playful tone in her voice betrayed her amusement.

  Bruno sniffled, wiping an imaginary tear from his cheek with the back of his hand.

  Arashi snickered, shaking his head.

  Esme couldn’t hold back her giggle, despite trying to act annoyed.

  Bruno grinned through his pretend tears.

  After hours of meticulous work, the garage was finally quiet. The last bolts were tightened, the ECU settings prepped, and the NOS system in place. Arashi stepped back, wiping the sweat off his forehead, a sense of satisfaction washing over him.

  Arashi muttered to himself, his fingers gently tapping the ignition button.

  There was a brief moment of silence, then…

  And with that, the engine roared to life.

  The sound was like a beast waking from a deep slumber, smooth and powerful, vibrating through the garage. Arashi grinned widely, his heart thumping in time with the revs.

  Esme, her eyes bright with pride, whispered to herself,

  Bruno clapped his hands together, breaking the tension.

  Arashi’s eyes sparkled with satisfaction.

  The engine purred smoothly, a promise of speed, power, and the road ahead.

  Just as the garage buzzed with the hum of the Z33’s engine, a sudden notification broke the moment. Bruno’s phone lit up with an incoming call, the name "Brad" flashing on the screen.

  Bruno’s eyes widened, and he quickly picked up the call, putting it on speakerphone.

  The voice on the other end was frantic.

  Bruno’s heart raced as he quickly looked at Arashi and Esme.

  There was a faint, almost distorted noise in the background—frenzied moans of a girl, lustful gasps—and then Brad’s voice broke through again, trembling with desperation.

  Bruno stood still for a moment, his face slowly losing its expression as he pieced it all together and knows that he’s currently being sexually devoured again by Tiffany. He let out a heavy sigh before speaking.

  Without waiting for a response, Bruno hung up, leaning back against the workbench with a shake of his head.

  he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck in exasperation.

  Esme raised an eyebrow, but Arashi was already smirking, clearly entertained by the chaos.

  Bruno added dryly, still staring at his phone.

  Arashi glanced down at his phone and quickly typed out a message to Tiffany: 7 days left, Tiff... by the day after tomorrow, at least I can get the Z33 body first, okay?

  He waited, watching the screen for a response, but moments passed and... nothing.

  , Arashi thought with a knowing smirk. He already knew where Tiffany’s attention was.

  He glanced over at Bruno, who was still fiddling with the car parts, and Esme, focused on her work. Arashi couldn’t help but chuckle quietly to himself. Brad’s probably got her tied up with something else right now. With no reply from Tiffany, Arashi set the phone down, his smile still lingering.

  Time passed, and soon it was 10 P.M. The garage, still alive with the hum of the engine and the occasional click of tools, was quieter now. Bruno looked over at Arashi, a grin creeping up on his face.

  Arashi stretched and yawned, leaning against the workbench.

  Bruno nodded.

  Arashi, without a word, reached into the pocket of his mechanic suit and tossed the key to Bruno with a flick of his wrist. “Here, catch.” Bruno grinned, catching the key effortlessly.

  With that, Bruno headed toward the garage door, his boots tapping against the concrete as he made his way out, ready to grab the drinks and unwind.

  Lana was curled up in her bed as he listened to the song played in the radio, intensely absorbing all the sadness in the lyrics. The dim light from her bedside lamp casting soft shadows against the walls. She had the music on low, but the emotional pull of filled the room.

  Her tear-streaked face was hidden behind the cover of her pillow as she clutched it tightly, her body trembling with each wave of emotion. The bittersweet lyrics echoed in her mind, stirring memories and feelings she couldn’t shake.

  The song reminded her of things lost, moments of passion, and the sting of love that was both so beautiful and so painful. Her heart ached, but she couldn’t stop listening, couldn’t stop the tears from flowing.

  Lana’s hand reached for her phone, but she hesitated before placing it back down. Maybe later… She wasn’t sure what she wanted to say to that certain someone, pushing down her longing to hear his calming voice, even if it’s just via phone call. As the song reached its crescendo, she closed her eyes and let the music take over, losing herself in the melancholy beauty of it all.

  Lana’s voice was barely a whisper, muffled by the pillow she pressed her face into. “Arashi…”

  The name slipped from her lips like a secret she hadn’t meant to share, but couldn’t keep inside any longer.

  Her fingers curled into the sheets, the sound of Celine Dion's voice filling the room, a haunting soundtrack to her quiet, aching confession. Memories of him, of the moments they had shared—both tender and painful—flooded her mind.

  She pulled the pillow tighter, trying to stifle the sobs that rose up from deep within her. Why does it still hurt so much? she wondered, her heart caught between love and regret.

  The room felt colder, but her thoughts were consumed by him, by everything they had been, and everything that was now lost.

  She stared at the ceiling, but her mind was far from the quiet of her rented space. It was back at Arashi’s garage, where memories of her Z33 lingered like a painful echo. The car… it was still there, waiting for her.

  Her eyes squeezed shut as a wave of dread crashed over her. The thought of going back, taking the car, felt suffocating. She could imagine it so clearly—the moment Arashi would hand over the keys. The cold, detached way he would do it. He would let her take what was hers, of course, but then… What after? Would he expel her again?

  The fear surged, fierce and relentless. It reminded her of that night—the breakup. The pain, the heartache. The way his eyes had looked at her, not with love, but with hurt and anger. The sting of his rejection had been so soft, yet it cut deeper than anything she could have imagined. His voice, broken and steady, had made her feel smaller than she ever had before.

  His words echoed in her mind, the same as that night. His pain, his quiet refusal, had shattered everything between them. The love they had… it all crumbled.

  She pulled the blanket tighter around her, as though trying to shield herself from the oncoming storm of memories. Arashi had loved her, but he couldn’t forget. He couldn’t let it go. She had betrayed him, and now all she had left were the fragments of what used to be.

  What if he saw her as weak again? What if the car, the one thing that had once connected them, now only served as a reminder of the betrayal? She didn’t know if she could bear that.

  Her heart ached as she let the tears fall, quietly, without a sound. She didn’t even want to wipe them away. Let them fall. She had already lost so much.

  Lana curled deeper into her bed, the sheets twisted around her as she tried to push away the thoughts. But the memories kept creeping in, refusing to be ignored. The sound of Arashi’s voice, the touch of his hand on hers—it was all so real in her mind, yet so far from her now.

  And then there was the note. Just a few days ago, a delivery had arrived at her doorstep—donuts, ice cream, pizza. Simple things, but enough to make her chest tighten with longing. She had looked down at the small, almost impersonal note attached to the box, her heart freezing when she read the words:

  The note was so short, so to the point. But it pierced through her like a blade. It was from him—Arashi. After everything, after the pain, the rejection, the distance between them, why had he done this?

  Her mind raced. He was the one who had pushed her away, the one who had sent her packing with no more than his broken words and an empty heart. So why now? Why would he care enough to send her food, to remind her to take care of herself?

  She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to push the confusion aside.

  No, she thought, her throat tightening.

  But the ache in her chest, the longing that refused to fade, told her otherwise. Maybe Arashi was still there, somewhere. Still the man who had cared for her. Maybe it was just... too much for him to face, too painful for him to show her the love she craved.

  Lana bit her lip, tears slipping down her face as she curled into herself, hugging the pillow to her chest. she whispered inside her mind, her voice trembling.

  Suddenly, the soft voice of the radio jockey echoed in the room,

  Lana’s heart froze. Her breath caught in her throat. The familiar melody started to fill the room, its soft notes gently tugging at her chest, pulling her into a flood of memories.

  She remembered the garage, a quiet afternoon. Arashi had been alone that day, working on one of the cars. But then, out of nowhere, he put down his tools. He didn’t say anything at first, just picked up his guitar and began strumming. She had been lost in her thoughts, unsure of what to say or do, when suddenly he started singing.

  He never did it, not even once. But that day, he did. His voice, pierced deeply and soothing, filled the space between them as he sang ‘.’ It was soft, almost fragile, and it felt like the world had stopped moving. Back then, they were just friends, yet in that moment, everything felt different. More than that—important.

  The sound of the song filled her room again, but this time, it wasn’t just the music. It was the memory. Her longing for him became a physical ache, a gaping hole in her chest that felt like it might swallow her whole.

  Her cries came louder, raw, filled with the weight of everything she had lost. The love, the tenderness, the shared moments—they all came crashing down at once. Every note of the song seemed to carve deeper into her heart, amplifying the emptiness that she felt without him.

  And she let the tears fall, not caring anymore. Because this was the only way… she could feel him again.

  As the song played on, Lana's mind was consumed by the memories. The image of Arashi, gazing deep into her eyes, flooded her thoughts. She could still feel the intensity of that moment—the raw emotion in his eyes as he sang the most romantic line of the song,

  The words echoed in her mind, looping over and over, each repetition pulling her deeper into her longing. She could still hear his voice, soft but filled with such certainty. It was a line that spoke to everything she had hoped for, everything she had wanted with him. It was a promise, or so she had believed.

  But now, with the distance between them, that same question lingered in her mind, haunting her.

  Tears blurred her vision as she cried, the weight of her emotions pushing her into a painful silence. The question stayed there, unanswered, as she clutched her pillow tightly, feeling more alone than ever. Eventually, exhaustion took over, and the sobs faded into soft whimpers as she fell into a restless sleep, her heart heavy with uncertainty and longing.

  As Lana knows nothing about Arashi’s current situation, In the garage, laughter rang out, clinking glasses breaking through the quiet of the night. Arashi, Bruno, and Esme drank to the completion of the Z33’s engine, a small celebration to mark the occasion. But amidst the laughter and noise, there was something different in the air—something not right. A tension, a weight, that Arashi hides within the fumes of whiskey.

  They celebrated, oblivious to the storm brewing on the other side, while Lana's world shattered silently in the dark.

  Little did Lana know, in the quiet between their laughter, the man she longed for was preparing for something that would change everything—for better or worse. And in just a few days, her lover would betray the world to rush back saving his damsel in distress.

  TO BE CONTINUED.