| Fan Fiction |
by SeventhStar
I stole a glance at him. That stupid and lazy rookie in the garage. He still had a trouble to wear his overall. No wonder he had a trouble because he even didn’t make initiative to come to us and told us before about his body size. If he think he came here as a king, he is wrong. No body comes as a king in Formula One in his first day of racing. Well… perhaps I could recall one person, Lewis Hamilton. He came as a king in a big team. But he is an exception, he already being contracted since he was 11 years old. But that’s not him that we are talking about. This rookie couldn’t be compare, not even a bit with Lewis Hamilton.
I read his personal data last night. Of course I wanted to know about my driver since I will work almost everyday for the next season. Pretty impressive I thought. He won a couple of Europe series competitions. Not an easy achievement for an Asian driver. Moreover he came from a little country, Brunei. I thought I never heard an outstanding driver from Brunei in the past. What made Asian drivers mostly couldn’t compete with European drivers is in Asia is the frequency of race competition it self little bit rare. Particularly for four wheels competition. In two wheels, we still could be competing.
The only Asian driver that I ever met with a same impressive driving background is Him. Only him. And that’s made me sick when I felt like I had to once again, encountered with this kind of driver. I knew this kind of driver. Felt like an Asia Sweetheart; almost throw up with praises in their ears. I knew exactly this kind of person, because I’m nice still called them as persons. Because I always thought “He” was not a person in his heart. And that’s why this time I told to my self I will not treat this rookie as a person, moreover a friend. I’ve been made a mistake once, and I will not repeat it again.
I also noticed he is pretty young. 22 years old this year. A perfect age to start career in Formula One. More sickening is the same age when “He” started his career 5 years ago and met me for the first time in here. This same circuit and same garage. I was still became an assistant for the race engineer of this team. A fresh graduate from MIT, but eager to dedicate my life to racing world. Particularly for the sake of Asian’s improvement in motorsport world. I still could remember clearly the first time I trapped into “His” sweet mouth.
=Flashback=
Sepang, Malaysia – Winter Testing, 2003
“Ella I have to go for a meeting today so you will handle for testing today”. I heard my boss, the race engineer tell me from the phone. No wonder that’s the reason why until 9 am he still didn’t appear in the garage.
With a full confidence I answered him yes. Because I really wanted to prove everyone that even though I’m a woman, I could be a proper race engineer. I wanted to prove that John didn’t do any mistake when he hired me.
I sat in front of telemetry board. Ready to began the testing. I turned the radio communication on and spoke to “Him”.
“Are you ready?”. I asked him.
“Yes.”
“In count of 5. 5…4…3…2…1…”
He drove the car with a full speed. I impressed with how beauty he drove it. Just like he already used to drive it even though that was his first time.
He finally leaved the pitstop area, which means now he already in the circuit.
“Slow down your speed. Keep it below 200 km/hour”. I gave instruction to him.
“No need”
“Why didn’t you hear me?”
“Because this is my car.”
“Just do what I say. In first lap we didn’t count your lap time.”
I saw the telemetry board and I knew he reduced his speed. I just wanted in his first lap, he understand and get a feel about how the car synchronize with the circuit. Every circuit has their own style and character. He must be able to feel and be united with the car. That’s the essential of being a driver.
But then I saw the speed of his car gradually increased before I told him to increase it.
“Keep it below 200 km/hour before Turn 7”
He didn’t answer me. I saw telemetry display, and the speed still increased.
“Do you hear me?”
He kept on what he was doing. And finally what I’ve always worried about happened. He hit the barrier in Turn. He must be forgot that this car is not an ordinary car. Formula One car perhaps the most difficult car to be handling. Because if you didn’t break in the right time, BAM! If you didn’t push in the right time, BAM! If you late to do break, that was what happened. Turn 1 is an “S” turn. That is a twisty turn. After a long straight, if you didn’t maintain your speed, lost in Turn 1 is a must.
I kept calmed down when that accident happened. Why I must be worried when the safety is everything in Formula One world. There is no one died after Aryton Senna incident in 1994. I checked the radio communication network and it still on. I checked the TV board and I saw some marshals came to help him.
“Are you okay?” I asked him through the radio.
There is no answer from him.
“Are you okay?”. I repeated again. But still he didn’t answer me.
I was panicked. I lost my calmness. I showed my vulnerability as a woman. I showed my care to him. With called his name.
“Baron. For the God sake, please answer me!”. I was little bit shouted and I knew it was so clear I worried about him. As a woman, I have that kind of negative side, emotion control. No matter how hard I tried to not involve my emotion in my work, but for my first experience, it showed up.
“Finally you called my name.”
I shocked when I heard his answer. “Sorry?”
“Just if you called my name when do instruction to me, I will do whatever you told me to.”
I kept silent and didn’t answer him.
“And you know what Ella, your voice when called my name is like the most beautiful music that I ever heard.”
I blushed when I heard that. In my first assignment as a race engineer, I failed. I’ve been involved with.
And for the first time in my life, I fell in love.
=End of Flashback=
I shook my head when I remembered about that experience. Definitely I will not repeat that biggest failure in my life once again.
I saw the garage and I saw him already on the cockpit. The mechanics gave a signal that showed all of them already ready.
I turned on the TV board. Also prepared the telemetry board. I turned the communication radio on and took the ear plug on.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
“In count of 5. 5…4…3…2…1…”
Everything went smoothly. He obeyed every instruction since the time he pushed the start button. But then, something terrible happened. In Turn 1. Just like 5 years ago. Even worse. I could sense something wrong not only from the driver but also from the car. The pressure in the fuel tank not in the optimum value.
“Are you okay?”
Still no answer from him.
“Wu Ji Zun, are you okay?”
He still didn’t answer. I saw the TV board and the medical team already there helped the marshals helped him out from the car.
Wu Ji Zun. Had a terrible accident in his debut. He didn’t answer my call. I trapped in same situation. Once again.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
[Author’s Note]: Hello guys, from now on, I will reply the comment here, so it make sure you will get my answer. Hope you don’t mind.
My sincere thanks to you who commented in latest chapter;
- jowyn: yes he is. Ha ha. Thanks for encourage me that telling this story is interesting. Actually I really enjoy write this story. More than my other stories. LOL. You have no idea how I obsessed with Formula One ^0^
- charycvbjs: it’s the first time I saw you comment in my FF. Thanks for read my FF. I hope I see you comment in further chapters ^0^
- surfergirl_roxy: Hello girl… ha ha. First time also know you. I always glad to see a new reader. I am obsessed with races…lol. I always had a dream to see Formula One drivers live. And as you may see in my forewords, I’m a tifosi. I root anyone as long as he is in Ferrari. In the past, I’m Michael Schumacher fan *until now though lol*
- Riadupsi: Ah another new reader again. Welcome dearie *hugz*. No dearie, I have no idea you read my Pajama’s Romance. Glad finally you decided to comment on my FF. I hope I met you more often from now on
- Jasmine: You know what dearie… I just knew your name is Jasmine! Very beautiful name, it’s a white flower right and has a very good smell *oppss OOT here*. Yes she is. But there are some reasons why she is so fierce. And one of them you could find in this chapter.
- xiaoXue: This is the second chapter dearie. You want me to explain the Formula One world? Personally or here in this FF. I will ask other readers first if they want me to explain it here. I will explain for you in “FI pm” personally first. Lu mah emang dudul, wong Valentino Rossi aja baru liat dari blog gw :P. Kalo masalah gini2... lu jauh ketinggalan ya… ha ha
- ixie1503: I noticed you often use “ixie1504”… is this the different ixie or you just had mistake when typing? LOL. Chun was poor…. getting scolded and accident in his first day.
- Sailortrinity: Hey!!!! Do you consider me as your fan of your fanfics? Lol. Don’t be worry lah…. People just have their perference ^^. Yes you are true. The little girl is Ella’s daughter
- Valentina: Uhmm…. Thanks for your praise. I don’t think I’m that talented. It just seems so because I do understand about F1 world. Yeah… it so easy to be guess lol ^^
To All Readers: Do you want me to give you general acknowledgement about Formula One? If you want I will prepare it. If you have a question related on terminology that I used here, feel free to ask, I will answer it right away.
I had so much fun when I wrote this story. LOL. I even need to re-read my Formula One Magazine to make sure I didn’t make any mistake when I explain about Turn in Sepang circuit. Hope you also have fun when read this chapter and give comment to me. It will boost my spirit honestly. If you want to scold me, feel free to do that in “comment box”. I received critics too ^^
Tika (23 June 2008 – In desperate moment after Spain kicked Italia out -_-)