Pitbabe S2, Chapter 7 pg3

 Pitbabe S2, Chapter 7 pg3

   “It’s not exactly out of nowhere,” Kim sighed, seeming troubled about bringing it up. Normally, X-Team racers don’t switch cars much unless it’s absolutely necessary (except for Babe, who once went through a phase of changing cars for fun). For them, a car is like a partner. It takes time and effort to learn its quirks, understand its nature, and adjust to each other. So, once they’re bonded, it’s hard to switch. Kim must know this well. “Lately, I feel like my form’s been off.”

   “Is it you, though? Doesn’t seem like the car’s fault.”

   “I know, but I still can’t figure out why. Everything just feels so… flat,” Kim said.

   “So you think changing cars will help?” I asked.

   “Maybe,” Kim shrugged. “You don’t know until you try, right? Maybe I just want to feel something new, spark that excitement again.”

   “Sounds like you’re looking for a side chick,” I teased.

   “Maybe something like that, but I already talked to the main wife, and she’s cool with it,” Kim shot back.

   I burst out laughing. I wasn’t sure if Kim was serious, because I’d never heard of a racer wanting to switch cars just because they were bored. But if that’s what he wanted, and it didn’t mess things up for the rest of the team, I didn’t see the harm. Like Kim said, it’s true—last season, his performance wasn’t up to par. He used to be the top dog at Red Race Sing, but at X-Hunter, he’s up against a boss like Babe, not to mention Charlie, who’s been improving so fast it’s like he’s got some magical skill-boosting item every race. Kim’s probably feeling the pressure, like any ambitious type who feeds on their own drive.

   “So, got your eye on anything specific?” I asked.

   “Not really. Can you help me pick something, Uncle?”

   “Sure, I can do that,” I nodded, already picturing a catalog of badass cars that’d suit Kim. “But I’ll need to talk to Jeff first.”

   “You’ve gotta ask the kid just to get a new car for your little bro?” Kim squinted, giving me a slightly mocking look. Ever since Jeff started taking on a bigger role at the garage, these guys act like I’m some spineless pushover who can’t make decisions on my own. All I said was I’d consult Jeff first—why do they have to act like they respect me less for it?

   “I’m not asking him, damn it. It’s his garage too. What, I can’t even talk it over with him?” I quickly defended myself, though I knew it probably wouldn’t change much of this Korean punk’s opinion. “Besides, Jeff’s got good instincts. Letting him help pick a car for you would probably be a smart move.”

   “You’re hyping him up too much,” Kim said.

   “Hey!”

   “Fine, but if you’re getting Jeff to pick, why not have him check my future too?” Kim’s eyes sparkled as he spoke. “Get him to see which car I’ll win with in the future. That way, no way I’ll screw up, right?”

   “No way,” I shut him down immediately. I knew Jeff would never agree to that, no need to even ask. “Jeff doesn’t look into the future for anyone.”

   “What?! Why not?” Kim yelped, his brows knotting up. “He’s got this awesome ability and doesn’t use it? Is he dumb or what?”

   “Seeing the future isn’t as great as you think.”

   “Isn’t it up to the user whether it’s good or bad?”

   “Sure, but not everything is under Jeff’s control,” I tried to explain. Kim’s perspective wasn’t wrong—I got why he thought that way. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t had similar thoughts myself. Honestly, I’ve considered using Jeff’s instincts to our advantage. There’s probably a lot we could control better with his ability. But when you dig deeper, it’s not fair to Jeff at all. If I used his instincts knowing how much he hates them, I’d be no different from his abusive ex-foster dad or the countless others who just want to exploit something that isn’t theirs. “Sometimes Jeff can’t control whether he sees something or not. He panics, can’t sleep, gets so stressed he has to take meds all the time. It’s not like he’s a fortune-teller who can just look when he wants, Kim. His instincts don’t work like that.”

   I’m a selfish person myself, but I’ll try my hardest to make sure Jeff doesn’t turn into a work machine like Tony did. Unlike that filthy old man, I genuinely love Jeff, even if he’s not more special than anyone else. That doesn’t change how I feel about him one bit.

   “I get why you think like this, but please, don’t ask Jeff to read the future. Don’t even let him hear about this stuff, got it?”

   Kim looked away and let out a soft sigh. I knew he understood what I was saying, but since he didn’t fully agree, it was hard for him to accept. That’s understandable, but at least I trusted Kim wasn’t the type to exploit others. He had more principles than that.

   “Listen, if it was my power, I’d help you without a second thought. But this is Jeff’s. He gets to choose whether to use it or not, because he’s the one who bears the consequences, not us.”

   “I understand,” Kim nodded slowly, clearly not wanting to make things harder for me. “Just a pity, that’s all.”

   “You’re a talented guy. Things might be tough right now, but I believe you’ll bounce back. You don’t need to rely on anyone else’s power.”

   “Hope so.”

   “It’s a sure thing,” I said to Kim sincerely, hoping he’d believe these were my honest words, not just a team captain’s pep talk but a big brother’s faith in his little brother’s abilities above anyone else. “I don’t take losers on my team. I’m damn sure of that.”

   “Hearing that feels good,” Kim gave a faint smile, his expression much brighter than before, which eased my mind a lot. “Jeff’s lucky to have you, man. Not everyone would get it like you do.”

   “I’m the lucky one.”

   “Jeff’s not around. You don’t have to hype him up all the time.”

   “I’m serious,” I laughed. It was funny how everyone acted like I was scared of Jeff, too timid to speak or act up. In reality, Jeff wasn’t scary at all—he was incredibly kind, just a bit awkward in how he expressed it, so people often misunderstood him. “Jeff puts up with a lot from me. I’m already grateful we’ve made it this far. Life’s been so much easier with him around.”

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