Chapter 2

After the race, the Redsuns and Project D and some of their friends went to a pub to celebrate their win.

Ryosuke leaned back on the chair and observed Takumi. Just over a year ago, Takumi had joined Ryosuke's Team and Project D was formed. Takumi had been brilliant throughout the whole year. He definitely has a got potential and most importantly, always willing to learn.

"Jealous?" a familiar voice disturbed.

"Jealous of …?" Ryosuke asked lazily.

"You've been staring at Takumi and his girlfriend ever since you got here. Besides, your drink's untouched." His brother always knew which spot to hit. "Maybe it's high time that you find yourself a girlfriend. A serious one at that," Keisuke added as he settled opposite his older brother and placed his drink on the table. Kenta, his Redsuns team-mate, pulled up a chair and joined in.

"You know I don't get myself involved in all these." Ryosuke answered. "With the school and the racing world, I don't need distractions. That's why I don't get serious."

"Yeah yeah, it's always just a 'game'." Kenta answered with a shrug of his shoulders. "Some people have all the girls in the world, but they just can't seem to see that," he sighed.

For a moment, Ryosuke wondered if Kenta was talking about his groupies. Ryosuke questioned himself what these two fellows see in the throngs of girls who're skimpily clad and always doing their groupie screams each time they see Ryosuke. He can't stand this type of girls. They're number one on his hate list. He turned to look at his brother who took a sip and looked down at Takumi's direction. "I heard, his girlfriend is 2 years older than him." He nodded towards Takumi's area.

"Her friends are cute, too" Kenta added, with a glee and nudging Ryosuke.

"I haven't noticed," Ryosuke answered and stood up to leave for the rest room. That was obviously a lie and he can't be bothered to join in such conversations.. For the past half an hour, he had been observing that long haired brunette sitting amongst Takumi and his girlfriend. The long haired brunette who had been staring at him before the start of the race. Somehow, she had stood out amidst all the excitement and the crowd. Ryosuke knew for sure she was a definitely a virgin in the racing world.

As he left the restroom, he decided to call it a night and head home. He saw Kenta and his brother talking to a girl who was sitting beside Nyoko. He assumed she was Nyoko's friend. Speaking of which, the long-haired brunette was nowhere to be seen.

Damn it, I must've missed her, hecursed in his heart. Shrugging it off, he signalled to Kenta that he was leaving.

The cold wind greeted him as he stepped out of the bar. He lit a cigarette, zipped up his jacket and walked towards his car. And that's when he saw her, the girl who was staring at him before the start of the race. Despite her back facing him, he could recognize her from the off-white jacket she was wearing and that familiar long wavy hair which was tied up this time. Alone, she walked towards the main road.

Ryosuke continued staring at the girl's back, keeping his footsteps abreast with hers. In his mind, he was busy debating whether or not he should make a move. There was just something different about her. He'd noticed from his seat that she was quite reserved. Quite a number of guys had approached her but she was obviously putting up a wall and the expression in her eyes didn't show a slight hint of any interest. Weighing his decision, Ryosuke fiddled with his cigarette. It was now or never. Ryosuke pondered for a while. Finally, he took one last puff and threw the cigarette away.

"Going home?" he shouted at her. The brunette gave a short yelp and turned around.

Nice one, Ryosuke. You scared the shit out of her.

"Sorry," he muttered sheepishly and held both hands up in surrender. Her expression changed immediately when she saw him. "Um.. its okay." She murmured, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. Ryosuke neared up to her and noticed that she was showing signs of uneasiness.

"I don't bite," he said, as assuring as possible. "It's hard to get a cab from here." He was now standing about 2 feet away from her and he could smell the nice fragrant of hers. They continued to stare at each other. "I'm Ryosuke," he finally said, extending his hand. The girl stared at his hand and back to him. "Trust me, I don't bite," Ryosuke smiled slightly.

She shifted her gaze from his eyes back to his hand. "Sumie. Nice to meet you," Warmth spread from his hand to the rest of his body the moment she touched it. "Sumie," he repeated after her. "If you don't mind, I can give you a lift home. I'm not kidding when I say it's really hard to get a cab here. Besides, the main road is about half an hour's walk from here." Sumie stared at him, with a blank expression.

Good god, this girl's a tough nut to crack.

He was about to open his mouth when she cut in. "I know, you don't bite."

What a smartass. "So …" Ryosuke pointed to his car.

"So you often send girls home in this famous car of yours?" Sumie asked as she buckled her seatbelt.

Leaning forward to brush something away from the windscreen, he bit on his lower lip. He then turned to her and pretended to think, resting both hands on the steering wheel,. "Hmm … only a handful of them," He started stepped on the pedal.

"Only a handful of them who what?" Sumie asked, unrelenting. Ryosuke smirked but kept his eyes on the road. "You really want to know?"

Something tells Sumie that she's not going to like the answer. Slowly, he turned his head and stared fixedly at her with his foot still on the pedal, increasing the speed.

"Someone who's never been in racer's car," he said, his eyes still fixed upon hers. Sumie clutched tightly onto her seat as she felt the car speeding and most importantly, his intensifying stare still on hers and not on the road.

"Keep your eyes on the road," Sumie said softly.

He chuckled, obviously finding delight in her uneasiness. "See, you've definitely never been in a car which is under the hands of a racer,"