DREXEL GENESIS

"I can't believe all that happened while I was sick at home!" Rowan cries, sneezing afterwards. I grimace at the snot and place the dinner on the table. "Crimson is your girlfriend?! Yes! Is that what the tension was between you guys recently? I'm glad you guys sorted it out! You both look so good together!" she says, blowing into her handkerchief.

A smile warms itself onto my face, "Thanks. I hope it goes well between us."

Rowan brings her handkerchief to her nose again and sneezes into it.

I pause, my eyes zoning in on her wrist.

"Is that a new watch? I've never seen it before."

She freezes like a statue before bringing down her hand and looking at the beautiful silver watch she was wearing. It looked expensive; Where had she gotten the money to buy it? Did she save up to buy it? 

My eyes narrow when she lets out a careless chuckle and rubs her nose, "Ah, this one? My friend gave it to me."

"Why? Out of the blue? What was the occasion?" I interrogate as I begin to plate Mum's dinner.

"She gifted it to me on my birthday," she shrugs and my head tilts in confusion.

"Wasn't your birthday five months ago?"

"What is with the questions?" Rowan rolls her eyes exaggeratingly. "I had forgotten about it until I rummaged through my drawers yesterday. I can't believe I forgot the fact that I had this!"

Deciding to let the subject go, I tell her, "Fine, but you can ask me to buy anything you want anytime, don't hesitate. Drink these meds after eating. I'm bringing this to Mum." 

I pick up Mum's plate of dinner and enter her room.

She was just wheeling herself out of the bathroom, her soft features breaking into happiness as she saw me.

"Hello, son. How is your sister, now?"

Before I can answer her, Rowan pops in with a grin, handkerchief placed against her runny nose, "She is fine now that she learnt about her new sister-in-law!"

"Rowan!" I yell outrageously, the plate almost slipping away from my grasp if not for my Mum who gracefully brings it to her lap. 

Mum looks between us with a look of astonishment, "Honey! Did you marry without inviting your poor mother to the wedding?"

"Mum!" I choke looking in between the two as they share a laugh. 

"Your sister told me that you seemed to be charming a certain redhead. I must say I am intrigued, son. When can I meet her?"

"Soon enough, when she is ready," I mumble, casting a glare at my giggling sister. Ayla had told my sister of my interest in Crimson when I had started to openly pursue her at school.

"Isn't it ironic that her name is Crimson too?" Mum wonders thoughtfully while I roll my eyes at Rowan. 

"Did you tell her everything about Crimson?" 

Rowan starts to giggle again before having a coughing fit. Serves her right.

"She is a very lucky girl," Mum says with a prideful smile. "My son is the best choice out there."

"Mum, stop embarrassing me!" I whine but her happy features suddenly turn serious. 

"Son, I must warn you to be careful nevertheless. Please think twice before crossing any lines or making any decisions. I'm sorry to say this but don't let the flowers distract you from the weeds. Please look out for yourself, my precious. Both of you." 

Her words strike a chord within me as the room turns tense as both Rowan and I watch our mother, seated with her head down, gaze covered with her flowing dark hair. I knew that she was talking about our father and their failed marriage. 

I wanted to take this chance to know more about what caused Father to leave our family, but I keep my mouth shut, instead opting to stroke her dark brown tresses.
"Yes Mum, I'll take your words to heart."

Rowan doesn't say a word but slowly slips out of the door, bidding us an inaudible good night. I don't dwell on it, instead tending to my mother, waiting for her to calm down and eat her dinner. Why did she not reveal the reason for our father leaving us especially when all of us loved each other unconditionally?

Mum, I can't help but think that you are hiding something else.

° ° °

Two months passed by, and both Crimson and I were closer than ever, going strong and having a great time together. She was one of the best things that has ever happened to me; she understood me, never got angry when I couldn't find time for her, she was patient with me despite my job keeping my time occupied. Once or twice she came with me to watch some of my midnight races, but especially with her Dad being a cop, I had to put a limit on it even through her protests. She was never cautious when it came to my races!

I loved how she bowed when thanking someone or apologizing to them. I loved how she always cursed in Korean. Sometimes her hair appeared as fiery as the sunset or as light as her blush when I kissed her in greeting every morning. I adored how she accompanied me on my hospital visits to Uncle Emmy or how she cooked a heartfelt Korean meal for my mother once every week. My Mum was on a roll, trying the new food that Crimson made; she fell in love with both the food and Crimson at once.

At times, I found myself zoning out, thinking about what was to come after high school graduation. I was falling for her, hard and fast; I did not doubt it. I can't hold myself. We had kept our relationship a secret from her Dad. Although we never discussed the reasons, both of us knew why. 

How can you tell a Police officer that his daughter was dating an illegal street racer? 

I should be lucky that he never got the chance to trace the fake number plate on Danny's car I had driven on the day of our first-midnight date. As soon as I had told Danny that a cop could've gotten the number, he calmly took it off and replaced it with a new number plate. And with Archer's help, it now sported a new shiny black colour.

Why reveal our relationship when we knew that it would end next year anyway? We could spare all the fights and arguments we might encounter with her Dad. We can silently date, and silently break up. My heart broke every time those words danced in my mind to a heart-rending tune. We never openly talked about it. But we knew that when the time came, we would discuss it. Or if we could afford a long-distance relationship. I didn't keep my hopes up. I didn't want to be disappointed. But I could only hope for the best for us.

So, I did what I could do. I took advantage of our time together and made her as happy as she could be, just as she made me happy to live to see the next day.

        Today, I was working on a client's car when a shiny white car rolled in from the entrance. My eyes zone in on the luxurious vehicle; it has never come into our Garage before, but I have seen it and know to whom it belongs. I blink my eyes to ensure that I have hallucinated it when the driver steps out of the car, making my body jump in alert electrifying my senses like a lightning bolt.

Never has he ever stepped a foot here. Not even his vehicles have pulled in here before.

"Mr. Grater," I greet Kash's father cautiously. 

The man ignores my presence. I am surprised that he had come alone without his entourage of bodyguards around. His gaze silently passes over the white walls of the exterior before it passes over the hanging vines flowing down the service area. I wipe my oil-clad hands over a cloth and silently wait while he takes his sweet time.

I am taken back again when the front passenger's door opens, and Mr. Denver steps out in all his glory, already with a sneer on his crumpled face as he looks around my workplace. He lets out a huff as his calculating eyes fall on me, and my feet remain frozen, rooted to the ground.

What were these two doing here?

John Grater's stoic face finally meets mine. We scrutinize and take in each other for the first time, a tense silence exchanged between us. 

"Mr. Genesis," he nods, "If you could spare your time to change my tires, please."

I nod and step towards the shining car and inspect the tires. Sure enough, they needed changing. I couldn't resist asking, "Don't you usually go to your own mechanic for repairs?"

"Why? Not used to changing tires of cars like this? You probably do so to only rusty pick-up trucks, huh? Brother, I told you this place is no good. Let's go back and we could get this done at our usual place," Mr. Denver spits out, expressing his distaste.

A rare smile envelops John Grater's face, "Ah, this is an emergency and unfortunately, my personal mechanic is not available at the moment. I rely on you to fix my car, Mr. Genesis."

Wasn't he the type to fire people if they weren't 'available' to do his chores? Relax, Drexel. He is your customer now. I give him a tight smile that I found physically painful to produce and gesture to the lobby.

"Please have a seat while I tend to your car, sir."

Mr. Denver eyes me with barely concealed disgust as he passes me, and he sits on one of the leather couches, opening up a half-opened magazine that was issued yesterday. 

"I think I will be fine just here, thank you. I heard that you were quite the talented one with cars. I'd like to see it myself," John Grater states in a calm but low voice, making me eye him dubiously. 

I choose not to reply, instead taking the spares and jacking up the car. I couldn't lie when I say that I wanted to show him what I was capable of, to show how much better I was than at anything his youngest son was, although I admit it was childish. 

Well, this was the first time I'd come face to face with the leader of the Ferals. He must've been extremely disappointed when Kash lost in the one-to-one race that he hyped up.

"Hmm," a thoughtful hum comes from behind me as I feel John Grater's presence looming over me while I work on his third tire. "You are just as skilled with your hands as they say. Just like your Uncle." The bolt almost slips from my hand but I manage to hold my emotions back. "A pity what happened to your family, Mr. Genesis. I'm sorry I couldn't visit your mother to see how she was doing, I was too busy."

"Thanks for your concern, sir," I grit through my teeth, my hands clenching on the wrench. "You don't need to visit, we are doing extremely fine."

I wanted to finish this as soon as possible.

"I admire that about you, Mr. Genesis. I have to say that I was most impressed by the moves you pulled at that race. Emmett has done a great job with you, he is a remarkable man. I hope he wakes up soon."

"I appreciate your sentiments. The job is done," I finalize, rubbing my hands down my apron and facing him. "You can pay at the reception."

"I can give a hand if you have any financial trouble, Mr. Genesis. Take it as compensation for all the stupid stunts my youngest son has pulled on you all these years," John Grater offers in a voice devoid of emotion making me snap my eyes into his, unable to hide the rage flaming in them. 

"With all due respect sir, we have no issues of the sort. You don't have to offer us anything."

  Leave us alone, please. And never come back again. Who knows what kinds of methods you'll use to get me to pay the loans that I burrowed if I were to agree to your offer?  It was a known fact that his gang of Ferals were ruthless when dealing with lending loans and asking back for the principal amount. I would never take up on his offer even if I was held at gunpoint.

One corner of his mouth tugs up a little, and then he says, "I'm sorry to have offended you. I will head to the reception now."

Willing my anger to dissipate, I exhale a deep breath of air as his footsteps glide gracefully across the floor as he goes inside, wallet in hand. I gulp some water, but the heat in my eyes never leaves as I seethe in the direction of Grater. Great, now my whole day is messed up because of the presence of these brothers.

I was so deep in my thoughts that I didn't hear the car rolling up behind me. "Drexel!"

The rage in my being evaporates into the air without a trace as I whip back and see her sunny beam. 

"Crimson, hey! Is it already time for our date, already?" I panic and check the time, removing the apron as Crimson steps out with a lovely smile. She walks over to me with a skip and a pink blush on her cheeks, eyeing the luxurious car parked with interest in her honey-brown eyes. The urge to hug her in greeting threatens to combust my heart, but I hold back, eyeing my dirty attire and oiled hands with a scowl. 

"No, you can finish your work, I can wait."

"Then, I'll take a quick shower and be right back. It is time to clock out anyway. I'll get someone to bring you something to eat while you wait," I tell her, ready to run to the changing rooms and I hear her laugh. 

"Take your time!" 

With a giddy heart, I hurry back only to harshly collide with a harsh chest. 

"I'm sorry," I apologize, rubbing my nose from where it hit before looking up at the person.

I had forgotten he was here.

Mr. Denver scowls at me and I take a step back. 

"Sorry about that," I say again cautiously, shifting a little to the right so he won't see Crimson.

 But luck was not by my side as both he and John Grater cast their gazes upon her. 

"Oh, I see you've got a date. We'll be out of your hair," John Grater observes and moves past me towards his vehicle.

But Mr. Denver stops when he is an inch from Crimson. My heart stills and before I can intervene, he looks down at Crimson and slowly drags his gaze over to me. My eyes remain unblinking on his, watching his next move. Crimson looks at him from head to toe and gives him a polite smile when he looks at her once more. 

"Mr. Denver," she greets courteously. "Have a lovely weekend, sir."

Those dull eyes cut into mine once again before the corner of his lip quirks up. "Have fun while it lasts, boy. You never know what would happen in the future now, would you?"

My hands clench by my sides, but Crimson touches my arm in comfort as we collectively glare at the man who opens the door to the car.

They drive away, leaving us watching the smoke left behind in silence.

"Don't mind his words, Drex. He is always such an unhappy man."

"I wish I could ignore his words, but I can't help but wonder what he meant by them," I express my worries but Crimson shakes her head firmly.

"We are not to ruin this day with unnecessary thoughts. But, the other man was very familiar-looking. Who was that?" Crimson asks instead.

I reply with a sigh, "That was Kash's father."

 With eyes agape, she wonders, "Really? What was he doing here? Did he give you any trouble?"

I give Crimson a comforting smile, "He wanted the tires changed. He didn't cause any trouble. But, enough talking about him. I'll be back soon!" I say, wanting to leave with Crimson as soon as possible. 

I wouldn't let the presence of the Graters hinder my plans.

When I come out with a quick shower and new clothes, I see Crimson perched on a bench, quietly watching something on her phone. I approach her and the smell of vanilla wafts in the air, my senses becoming relaxed and comforted as if a warm blanket was draped over my body. I just wanted to bury my nose in her fiery hair but I didn't want to come off as a creep. 

Crimson jumps up to her feet when she sees me, her face glowing and my heart brimming with anticipation for our date. 

"Hey, you look great," she says as she steps in front of me. I throw my arm over her and bring us to her car. 

"Thanks, but you could put anyone to shame right now."

 Crimson purses her lips, turning her head away to hide her flaming cheeks before she tosses her keys, "You wanted to drive."

I open the door for her and sneak a kiss onto her cheek, causing her to clutch it in surprise.

"I'm looking forward to our date!"

Hello!

Kind of like a filler chapter, but it contains some details you'll have to look into 👀

I wanted to put this chapter out before I get bombarded with my next set of exams☠️

The next chapter is going to be the last from Part 1, so tuned for updates! Hopefully, it will be up sooner than I expected! Look forward to it and do tell me your predictions!

Until then, peace!