Secret Unlocked

And Era finished her practice when the clock strikes six o'clock. The sky was painted with bright orange which gave the imagery of the sky being on fire.

The view was breathtaking but Era had no time to enjoy it. She was in a hurry because she had to go visit her father in the hospital.

She asked Dommie a favor of keeping some of ber money for her. Dommie was shocked because it was the first thing they knew of each other but she was entrusting him with her tip from Ridge which wasn't a small amount. It was almost half of her service fee.

But Dommie didn't ask for an explanation. He had agreed to wire the money to her this morning.l for she had planned to visit the hospital first thing in the morning.

However, Trez had sent a message that he was able to book a training session for her. And she can't say no. Not just because it was difficult to book the racetrack for a one on one training. She also can't explain to Trez her family situation because he had no idea about it.

"You're going home?"

"No. I'm going somewhere first."

Trez cocked his brow at her but she pretended not to notice. He can be a bit clingy and nosy to her life outside the racetrack but she had no plan to let him, no matter how much he tried to be cute.

She lowered her head, shaking it in amusement.

Trez had always been very vocal of his admiration. And she's not going to deny that his words tickled her fancy but she had too much on her plate to entertain whatever it was that he wanted from her.

"I have nowhere to go. I can take you to wherever you're going."

Trez shouted behind her back. She replied by lifting her hand and waving it goodbye, not stopping to discourage him from insisting. He can be too persistent for her.

And it's hard to say no to his boyishly handsome face. That's why she mostly just escapes. She can't entertain crushes and whatever that tickles her heart for her family rely on her.

She exhaled a deep breath.

"It's hard to be poor," she whispered to the wind when she stepped out of the building and started walking to the bus stop.

The bus stop is fifteen minutes walk and it's quite cold. To sit comfortably in the passenger seat is tempting but she cannot allow herself to be tempted with ease and convenience for now.

Things are going to be more complicated in the future. She needs to brace her heart for it.

She was pondering the things she had to take care of when she heard a honk behind her.

She closed her eyes and pressed her lips into thin lines.

"Why do you have to be so persistent? Why can't you see that I don't want you to see me in this situation because I'm losing my pride to face you properly?" She asked herself before turning around to see the familiar car of Trez behind her with it's passenger window rolled down.

"Get in!" Trez hollered.

"I'm going to pass by the bus stop. I'll drop you there," he said with a big smile.

Era gave him a lopsided smile and straightened her back. She stopped on the sidewalk and waited for Trez to stop. She knew from past experiences that he would not stop following her and offering her a ride if she continued to refuse him.

She's tired and not in the mood to turn down his invitation. Besides, she's in a hurry and she's quite tired. All her muscles were sore and to sit down in a passenger seat without care about the steering wheel seemed to be so tempting, and just like any other person, she's weak in the face of temptation.

She opened the passenger door, not giving Trez the chance to get down and gallantly open the side door for him. She got in without a word, fastened her seatbelt, sit back and relaxed.

"You can drop me off at Kingston Avenue," she said.

Kingston Avenue is the place where she will get off if she takes the bus from here. But she's tired and not wanting to sit for more than an hour in an uncomfortable and crowded bus, she decided to let Trez drive her near the hospital.

From Kingston Avenue, she will take another bus for two stops to the hospital.

The estimated travel time going there from here, during rush hour is about an hour and a half. But with Trez driving her to Kingston Avenue, her travel hour will be lessened by more than an hour or so.

It's convenient here. She didn't want to get used to the convenience that involved Trez but just like she said, she's weak.

"It's a bit far from here. Who are you going to meet around that area?"

Era smirked inwardly. Trez knew her too well. He knew that it wasn't her final destination.

"I'm going to meet someone special."

Era glanced over her shoulder when Trez didn't answer.

She regretted teasing him when she saw that he was driving too seriously when there's no ongoing traffic in front of them.

His brows were drawn into one line and his hands were holding the steering wheel too tightly with both hands like a newbie driver.

She wanted to take back what she said even though it was the truth because of the awkward air between them.

She could not tell him that the special person she was going to meet because she had been keeping the continued hospitalizations of her father from him.

The comfortable drive became so awkward that she wished she took the bus. Trez didn't say anything and it didn't look like he's going to say anything. She chose to close her eyes and pretended to fall asleep, escaping the awkwardness.

She must be really tired that she had fallen ast for real and when Trez woke her up, she was shocked to see where they were.

"What the?! Why are we here?"

Trez didn't answer her instead, he grumpily said. "Get out of the car."

Still groggy with sleep and shocked. She got out of the car.

The moment she stepped on the curb, Trez drove away like he was being chased by some monster.

She was left standing on the curb of the City Hospital.