"I was undefeated until you stepped in, Ace, and I am determined to get my number one title back tonight. So let's place a bet. If you win, I'll do whatever you want. But if I defeat you, I get to swap my trophy and prize money with your girl. What do you say?" Victor asked. Hunter shook his head, a polite refusal, a friendly smile still intact on his lips.
"What are you afraid of, Ace? You were never the one to back out from a challenge," Victor stated, eyes curious but his tone mocking. Victor descended from his motorbike and looked at Hera once again.
Hunter followed his sight to see her bickering with Michael. They were fighting, and Victor laughed when they both grabbed each other's hair tugging it. They looked like two toddlers fighting for the same toy or toffee.
Victor looked at Hunter to find him smiling.. "None of your friends is trying to stop the fight or helping your girl, and you seem unbothered," Victor stated the obvious and Hunter chose to ignore responding to that. Instead, he answered his earlier question. "I'm not afraid of your challenge, Vic, but she's not something I would share," he said.
"Hm, she must be special then," Victor said, and Hunter agreed. Hera raised her fist in the air in victory when Michael held up his hands in surrender. The biker chuckled at her cute victory dance. "Your girl has stolen my heart, Ace. I want to go on a date once with her," the older boy shared his desire.
"You're too old for her, Vic," Hunter stated. Victor looked offended, and Hunter chuckled. "You wound me, buddy. I have a crush on her and age doesn't matter where the heart and feelings are involved," the biker said. "See you, Victor," Hunter said, walking away and Victor tried his last bait.
"Are you afraid that she'll fall for my charms because I'm older, and a matured man in comparison to her high school going little boyfriend?" The biker said, effectively making Hunter halt in his tracks. When he turned around to glare at Victor, the self-proclaimed mature man sniggered. "God, you always fall for that bait, boy," he said, clapping his hands and laughed.
"Come on, Ace, You've snatched my victory so many times. Give me this one chance or are you already afraid that you'll lose this time?" He asked, smirking arrogantly, his eyebrows arched up, daring him to deny it. Hunter scoffed, matching arrogance for arrogance. "You'll never win her against me, Victor," he stated confidently and offered a handshake. "It's a deal. Let's race," Hunter said.
Victor kick-started his motorbike while grinning at Hunter. Still keeping one of his feet on the ground, he let his motorbike lean significantly and turned it in circles repeatedly. Hunter gave him an unimpressed look as Victor did an elaborated showoff. "Can't wait to beat you, boy," the biker said. "In your dreams, loser," was Hunter's crude reply.
Victor rode off to join the other motorbikes taking positions at the starting point.
When Hunter rejoined his friends, Michael and Danny were waiting for him with his motorbike. He found Hera gawking at his bike before an impressed smile made its way onto her lips. "Do you like it?" Hunter asked, and Hera bobbed her head excitedly without tearing her eyes off the bike.
Hera had gone on a bike ride with Hunter before, but this vehicle was new. She's seeing it for the first time.
'Maybe he used it only for these illegal street racing events.'
Hera could only assume the reason.
She knew not a thing about motorbikes, but it looked hot like a bad boy with his rugged looks, rough and tough, fit and fine. It was all black and shiny, and Hera could bet it cost a fortune.
'Dangerous, hot and sexy, just like the owner.'
Hera thought and shifted her eyes to glance at Hunter. He was admiring her the same way Hera did with his bike. She bit the inside of her cheek to lessen the heat spreading all over her face and neck.
'God, why do his eyes make me blush all the time? His stare gets so intense sometimes I could hardly survive it.'
"Only a few more minutes left. So, let your Lady wish you luck," the announcer yelled. Evelyn didn't waste any more time and climbed behind Danny's bike. "It's dangerous," he said, and Evelyn grinned, kissing his cheek with her cherry red lips before hugging him tight from behind.
"Are you participating in the race?" Hera asked Hunter, she looked shocked. Hunter nodded, and she whined in response, throwing her arms in the air. "I thought we're here to watch the race. God, I'm so scared," she admitted, glaring at Hunter and his friends in disapproval. "Correction, baby girl, you're here to watch, and we're here to race," Michael said, blowing her a kiss and winked as he kick-started his bike.
"Seriously, this is crazy. What if something goes wrong? One of you could die or get hurt badly," Hera said, trying to stop them, but she knew it was a vain attempt. Danny already rode off to the starting point.
"Relax, Goddess, stop panicking and kiss me luck," Hunter said, tilting his head down for the kiss but Hera shoved him away. "Maybe, don't die and come back alive for that kiss?" Hera said indignantly. Hunter grinned in response before speaking. "I promise you, Goddess, I won't die without claiming that kiss now," he vowed.
Hunter waited for a few more minutes, but Hera didn't budge. She scowled in resentment when Bianca reached out and kissed his cheek, wishing him victory.
"Stop fidgeting, Pixie, you look ridiculous," Eric said, breaking the staring contest between Hunter and Hera. She was continually shifting her weight from one foot to the other. "It's not the first time. We've done it plenty of times," he revealed. Hera knew, but she never witnessed it before, and she was genuinely worried about their safety.
"Evie is stupid," Hera muttered, worry filling her voice. "Danny is never bothered about winning. He enjoys riding the bike. So don't worry about it too much. Evie will be fine because he won't risk their safety," Eric assured her. "All of them are going to be okay, stop torturing your little brain," he said, pulling her to his side and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
"Why are you the only odd one out in your group?" Hera asked, smiling warmly at him. Hunter honked, signalling her that he was off for the ride. Hera shrieked suddenly and jumped back when he made a show of moving right into her but hit the brakes when he was mere inches away from her.
He laughed heartily raising the accelerator for the added effect. Hera's hand flew, trying to hit him on the shoulder, but he caught her wrist in the middle and pulled her forward. Hera kicked his shin when he attempted to steal a kiss and turned away from him. His lips landed on her lower jaw instead, but he didn't look disappointed.
Hunter kissed her jaw and pulled her closer before giving her a long smooch on the cheek. "I'm not dying today, I promise," he whispered, only for her to hear. Hera sighed and nodded in acknowledgement.
He did fist-bumping with Eric and Bianca. His friends gave thumbs up and hollered for the victory as he rode off. Bianca wanted to join him, but she thought Samantha would feel left out. But to Bianca's surprise, her best friend ditched her and chose to accompany Jake on his motorbike.
"He looks hot with that bandana," Hera said to no one, but both Eric and Bianca heard her.
'If only you knew, Pixie.'
Eric inwardly scoffed because Hera didn't know Hunter had used that bandana to hide his bruise from her.
Bianca rolled her eyes at Hera's words and went around Hera to take place at Eric's other side.
"You didn't answer my question," Hera said to Eric. He frowned before recollecting their previous conversation. "You mean, why am I the odd one out?" He asked to confirm, and she nodded.
"I know you love riding bikes, but why didn't you join them? And you never take part in the fight when your friends do. You always keep yourself out of the mess. Not complaining though, I appreciate it. I only wonder, how are you so determined?" Hera asked, and as usual, her eyes widened in curiosity.
'Hm, you've done your homework for once, I see," he said, and both of them laughed at the knowing meaning behind his words. "You were such an evil prick to me back then," Hera said accusingly, but the smile didn't waver from her face. "It was fun tormenting you," he admitted only to get a slap to his arm.
The participants lined up waiting for the signal, and a girl in ripped jeans and pointed heels raised her hand holding a red hat. Like how it happens in the movies, she blew the horn, and the racers twisted the throttle of their bikes, ready to guide the speed of accelerator.
The race began as soon as she dropped her hat.
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