Chapter 4 - Second Best

"Era! Era!"
Era exhaled a deep sigh, splashing another scoop of cold water on her face. She stared at her reflection in the mirror. The race had ended about forty minutes ago. She had done everything that was expected of her and now she was hiding here in the women's comfort room and the incessant knocking was coming from Trez.
Trez had been knocking for about five minutes already but she hadn't answered him. She was ashamed to face himu , hence, she had been splashing water on her face, wishing to wash away the feeling of being small and a loser. She could not believe that after all the training and Trez's sacrifice for her, she ended up as a huge disappointment.
Right now, she didn't want to talk to Trez. She just wanted to disappear.
"Stop hiding here!"
Era jumped on her feet when the door was slammed open and Trez loomed inside the women's comfort room, uncaring of the fact that he was not allowed to be in there.
"Photographers are waiting for you, they were in a frenzy to know you halfway through the race. We are to feed the craziness if you want to set foot on this racetrack again in the near future as the champion and not just a second placer. But then, girlie, taking the second placer was already enough to make a noise for them to notice you. A photo of your pretty ass would seal the deal for us for the next race."
Era heaved a deep sigh and turned to face the overly excited Trez. She folded her arms over her stomach, trying to guard it against producing any gas to release because of her nervousness.
"I don't want to be seen," she said, leaning her hips against the cold marble counter.
"Are you insane? Isn't this what you want?"
"Yes, but not now. I will not have my photo taken other than when I have to be on the podium but the other photos and the interviews, they have to wait until when I'm the champion."
"Era, Era," he said, shaking his head. "The photo in the podium that you were talking about could not be considered a decent photo, since you didn't take your helmet off."
"They can see my face! Well, half of my face," she stuck her tongue at Trez.
"You know that we cannot keep that for long if you want to stay in the racing world."
Era heaved a deep sigh. She knew and perfectly understood what Trez was saying but when she was walking to climb the podium to take her place, a sudden spell of dizziness washed over her when she saw the flashes of the cameras. She suddenly heard her father's voice, telling her that she had to wear her fake eyeglasses with their thick glass to hide her eyes because those people who took her could be looking for her.
The idea of someone finding her scared the hell out of her. Although she wanted to be found, she was scared that the wrong people would find her. She was not ready yet.
"Please, Trez. I just can't right now."
Era felt sorry when Trez's face was covered with disappointment with her answer.
"I'm sorry—"
"Don't be. I understand," he said, stepping forward and grabbing her into a bear hug. "I'm so proud of you. You did really well out there."
Era's throat constricts with the strong emotion that builds up in her chest. Trez is the few people that truly believe in her potential and is always willing to help her no matter what and without question.
"Thank you," she murmured in his ear as she rested her chin on his right shoulder. "I promise to always make you proud of me. I'm going to do really really well…but you have to promise me that you're going to help me keep my private life a bit…" She said, biting her lower lip. She hadn't told Trez anything about her life and she did not want to start now, however, her situation was calling it.
"It's fine. You don't have to tell me anything. Tell me when you're ready."
Era pushed herself away from Trez's chest and looked straight into his eyes.
"Are you sure, it's okay?" She asked in a tone of voice laced with hesitation and doubt.
"Era, the moment I saw you, I know you were special. I believe in you."
Era's eyes watered and her heart was squeezed with the warm feelings that overcome her by the words that came out of Trez's mouth.
She cupped his face and squeezed it like a stress ball. "You're the best," she said, giggling and smacking her lips on his. "The best ever!"
Era let go of his cheeks and twirled towards the door. "I'll be taking a quick shower and I'll just see you in the dock later."
She pulled the door behind her and did not wait for Trez's reply nor did she look back to see the reaction on his face. She was elated by the idea of winning second place in her first race in an international race. Everything came crashing at her all at once and she could help but imagine what would happen next and how much she could take home after Trez took his cut and the team expenses from her winning. It could not be that much because Trez had spent a lot of money for her to join the recently concluded race but the money maybe not be as big as would be a huge help for her father's hospital expenses.
She could just join other late-night races once they were back home to augment the money. She looked up at the ceiling, thinking of who she could contact since most of those races were hush-hush and way harder to get into than these international races since you can join unless you're recommended by someone inside.
She was too busy thinking that she didn't see the man who came out of the corner and she collided straight with his chest.
"Well, if it wasn't my second best."