Everything slowed as Mok gripped Kao's hands tightly.
"What's wrong, Mok?" Kao asked, squeezing his fingers gently.
Instead of answering, Mok kept staring at Kao's hands.
"Sorry… It's because of me." Mok lowered his head toward the floor. "If I hadn't responded, none of this would've happened. I…"
Kao said nothing. He simply watched Mok quietly.
Deep down, Kao wanted to behave the same way as Mok. Seeing someone react in his place somehow made him feel relieved.
Kao slowly released Mok's hand, and Mok did the same.
Then Kao and Kaen walked away.
Mok's eyes drifted toward Kao.
While Mok remained focused on him, Samy patted his shoulder after noticing the guilt on his face.
"Mok, it's really okay. This isn't something new here, so why are you so upset? Let's support Kao. Come on."
Mok hummed softly.
Before leaving, Kao turned back one more time. His attention lingered on Mok, who was speaking with Samy.
"I've only known him for a short time, yet I don't want to stay away from him… What's going on with me?"
At the same time, Sky hooked his arm around Mok's wrist.
"Phi, don't be sad. How about we make a bet—"
"Phi, you can—"
Before Sky could finish speaking, Samy smacked the back of his head, then dramatically brushed imaginary dust off her hands.
"Samy, you hit me again! You promised you wouldn't." Sky complained as he collapsed onto the floor.
"Ahhh…"
"These two brothers are unbelievable. One's a thug, and the other's a troublemaker. Oat is better than you," Samy muttered under her breath.
"Guys, take him away."
The boys immediately picked Sky up and dragged him along while everyone headed toward the track.
Even so, Mok's chest still felt heavy with every step.
"I feel like Kao will win, but still…"
They entered the lounge overlooking the racetrack from above. The area was reserved for Kao and the team leaders so they could analyze the races properly.
From the top floor, there was a direct stairway leading to the track, making it easier to reach Kao after the race ended.
"Mok, don't just stand there. Sit here."
Mok's attention remained fixed on Kao below, who was speaking with Kaen while Ren stood nearby, clearly mocking him.
"Mok… Mok…"
Samy pulled him down into a seat before handing him a sandwich. "Eat something. You look exhausted."
"If you don't, Kao will turn into a devil later."
"Mh? Did you say something, Samy?"
"No. Just eat. I'm serious, you don't look well."
"Khap…"
Mok only managed two bites. "I feel full for some reason… but I was definitely hungry earlier."
Without realizing it, his attention shifted back to Kao once again.
Down at the track—
"Kao, just teach him a lesson. Don't completely crush him."
Kao listened quietly to Kaen's warning. "A lesson? How am I supposed to go easy on him after he touched Mok?"
"Kao… Kao…"
"Do I even need a race for this? I could easily make him unable to drive ever again."
"Kao. Did you hear what I said?"
"Mh… I heard you." Kao finally answered calmly. "Have I ever done something like that before?"
"Kao, let me make this clear. This isn't illegal racing, and only a few people know you're Zero. So don't make it obvious."
"I heard you. I won't." Kao adjusted his gloves lazily. "I never drive the same way as Zero anyway, so relax."
Kaen sighed before fixing Kao's racing suit one last time. He stepped into the car just as Ren entered his own vehicle.
Meanwhile, Kaen wiped the sweat from his forehead beneath the scorching sun.
"It's unbelievably hot today. I'm worried about Ren. Please let this end with just one race."
The roaring engines thundered across the track.
Sky and the others immediately covered their ears.
"Mok, you're okay, right? We're sitting really close to the track, so…"
"What are you saying? I can't hear you!"
"Sorry! We forgot to give you ear protection!"
"It's okay, Samy."
"We're really near the track. Also, isn't this your first time watching a race like this?"
"Khap…"
"Shit, I forgot."
Samy scanned the others nearby.
Watching Sky and the others cover their ears, Samy narrowed her eyes. "Is K9 really in good hands? I need to double their training. These chicks are way too weak."
Samy chuckled to herself while already planning everyone's suffering.
At the same time—
"Guys… don't you suddenly feel cold?" Sky asked nervously.
"Did you say something, Sky? I can't hear you!"
"Forget it…" Sky quickly calmed himself down.
In truth, all the boys felt a chill crawl down their spines, but the feeling disappeared once the race truly began.
On the track, the two cars shot forward aggressively.
Ren smirked from the other side, clearly trying to provoke Kao.
Meanwhile, Kao remained completely calm.
"This feels like child's play. How does he still not know how to control his emotions?"
The two drivers continued testing each other before the real race officially started.
Seeing this, Mok turned toward Samy. "What are they doing?"
"Fighting. Just not with fists."
Samy smiled confidently.
"Mok, what do you think winning really means?"
Confused, Mok replied, "Isn't it something we all want?"
"That's right, we all want to win. Do you know a fast runner never focuses on the finish line because people who truly love running enjoy the race itself. Instead of seeing an ending, they only see endless roads ahead."
"That's what we call winning. The person who truly enjoys it is the real winner."
"Even though Ren is arrogant, his records are clean. When it comes to racing, he's someone all of us respect. He loves racing."
"Then Kao… will he…" Mok murmured quietly.
"Ren is talented, but Kao is…"
Samy suddenly stopped speaking.
A memory flashed through her mind—
(They were speaking in a foreign language.)
"Sara, you have the best records so far. Look carefully at today's race. This is the dark world of racing. A place without rules."
Back then, Sara—before becoming Samy—was only in her mid-twenties.
Her coach wanted her to understand how ruthless the real racing world could be.
Sara had always won no matter how difficult the competition was.
That day, however, she saw someone unexpected.
A boy who wasn't even seventeen yet.
"He's a kid…" Sara muttered in surprise.
"Sara, never underestimate someone. You never know what kind of monster they are," her coach warned.
Sara won the race that day.
But she was terrified.
Terrified by how ruthless that nearly seventeen-year-old boy had been on the track.
"Shit… why am I remembering this now? This is embarrassing."
Samy's eyes remained on Mok, who was quietly watching Kao.
"You don't know this, Mok, but Kao never used his family's money. Everything he owns came from the races he won there."
"Even now, I still wonder how he survived that world alone… and how everything began. Someone powerful must be backing him up."
Meanwhile, at the mechanical workshop on campus—
Artit suddenly sneezed.
"Achoo—"
A soft voice came from behind him. "Phi Artit, are you okay? I'm done."
Artit turned around and saw Toffee.
"It looks good," he replied, trying to hide his flustered expression. "Those clothes suit you well."
Back at K9—
"Shit, the sun's too hot today… Forget it. My brain needs rest."
"Samy, why are you so quiet? Will Kao..."
"Mok, just watch. You'll get your answer."
Inside the car, Kao tightened his grip around the steering wheel.
"I need to finish this quickly. Did Mok eat properly? I'm worried."
The flag rose.
The race finally began.
Kao didn't try to overwhelm Ren immediately. Instead, he forced Ren to keep chasing after him.
Ren slammed his car against Kao's while trying to outturn him.
Metal nearly scraped as they pushed each other to the limit.
The first lap ended, and the second began with a rush of wind.
"Wow!"
Sky and the others cheered loudly for Kao.
The roar of engines once again tore through the air.
Only one final lap remained.
"Fuck this… I'm provoking him, but it's not working. Even this car feels like it's holding me back. Why can't I go faster?"
"I need more speed… faster… faster…"
Ren pushed the car to its absolute limit.
Suddenly—
A sharp screech of brakes echoed across the venue.
Everyone in the stands stood up at once.
"Shit… Kao!" Samy shouted.
***
Bonus—
A Little Thief in K9~
Sky stared at the candies inside the glass jar before glancing toward Samy.
"I need more…"
He pulled out the candies hidden in his own pocket and started counting them.
"One… two… three… I only have six…"
Swallowing nervously, he slowly opened the door.
"Samy…" he called sweetly.
"No more candy for you. Don't try sweet-talking me."
"Samy, I didn't come here for candy. I heard Phi Kaen talking to himself earlier. He kept mumbling that he misses someone or something. I felt bad seeing him like that…"
Sky blinked innocently before holding up a dramatic expression. "What should we do, Samy?"
"Kaen…? Oh right, we had a fight today. I feel bad now. How do I leave without making Sky suspicious?"
"Only you can handle it, Samy. No one else is capable enough."
Flustered, Samy replied,
"I know. You don't need to say it. Everything needs my help. What will I do? I will help him. I'm leaving first!"
Samy immediately sprinted away before Sky could react.
Sky licked his lips happily before grabbing a huge handful of candy.
"Oops… my pockets aren't big enough. But it's okay. I can come back another time."
"My sweet candies…"
Months later in K9…
Mok sat inside Kao's office writing something before stepping out after Sky claimed Kao was calling him.
When Mok returned, he continued his work.
"What's wrong with Sky? He didn't even pay attention to me. Kao..."
Mok nearly crushed the bottle in his hand.
"Hm? Where are my glasses?"
"My favorite pair…"
Meanwhile, outside the office—
"Shit, I'm late. What should I do? Should I pretend I suddenly lost my eyesight or something?"
Sky carefully pulled the glasses from his pocket before placing them near the door.
"They're really beautiful. I can borrow them again another time."
Then he quickly ran away.
Just like that, food, candy, Kao's pens, and even Mok's glasses continuously disappeared over time.
Eventually, everyone became convinced an enemy organization was secretly targeting K9 psychologically.
"Sky, don't you think someone's trying to mentally exhaust us?" one of the members asked seriously.
Sky calmly ate his ice cream. "True. I agree."
Meanwhile, inside his head—
"Who would dare steal things like that? I need to catch him."
And so, the mystery thief of K9 continued to remain unknown.
A simple tip from Sky:
"If anyone wants something from Samy, just praise her a lot. See? It works every time.
Samy is the best~"
"Bye~"
To be continued...