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[Location: Bundes autobahn 3 | Outside Düsseldorf | Date: 22/12/2019 | Time: 11:04 AM CET]
The mint green BMW i8 sliced through the crisp winter air, its low hum drowned beneath the howl of wind and the rapid whoosh of lanes disappearing beneath them. Snow-dusted trees blurred past on either side of the Autobahn as the car surged forward, needle flirting with 220 km/h.
Rakim had one hand resting lazily on the wheel, the other tapping along to the bass of an old-school Drake track echoing through the speakers. The heat was on just enough to keep the cabin warm, while the outside world lay frozen in shades of grey and white.
May reclined in the passenger seat, her legs covered by a thin blanket which was kept in the car, especially for her. A travel coffee mug from home was repurposed to carry her Starbucks order in her hands as she occasionally took a sip. Despite the car being warm, her body temperature liked to take its time to warm up, causing those around her to worry.
Luckily, the doctors had determined that there wasn't anything detrimental to her health before using medical jargon to explain why her body temperature tended to be lower than regular people. Her cheeks still carried a pink flush from the cold, and her eyes flicked between Rakim and the icy blur of the road ahead with a sense of peace. Seeing her so relaxed brought a smile to his face, feeling as if part of his family had returned to him.
"I forgot how stupid fast this thing was," she muttered, holding onto the door handle as the BMW zipped past a black Audi like it was parked. "Are we trying to break the sound barrier, or…?"
"Hey, it's not a thing, her name is Roxana.
Rakim grinned, sunglasses catching a gleam of winter sun. "Hey, it's not a thing, her name is Roxana, the most beautiful steed a man can ask for." He quickly retorted with a light pout, sending a pointed glance at her. "You said you were hungry. I'm just being a good boyfriend and getting you fed before the transformation begins."
May rolled her eyes. "The only thing transforming is my blood sugar. Slow down before we end up in the Fast & Furious: Cologne Drift."
He laughed, easing his foot off the pedal just enough to drop to a barely legal speed "Fine, fine, you know that no one likes a passenger driver, right?"
"Good thing you're in love with me then, otherwise we might have a serious problem." May retorted with a light huff before bringing her hand forward to turn up the music, which just happened to be playing Heart on Ice by Rod Wave.
Rakim raised a brow at the choice of song as Rod Wave's voice poured through the speakers. The raw emotion in the track clashed with the serenity of the snowy Autobahn, but somehow, it still fit. He smirked, glancing sideways in May, who had now taken off her shoes and was hugging her knees as she mouthed the lyrics. She swayed gently to the beat; blanket bundled around her like a cocoon.
"You sure you're not in your feels?" he teased, eyes darting between her and the road. "You know, most people play this after breakups, not reunions."
May shot him a side-eye over her mug. "Please. Just because I've got range doesn't mean I'm sad. It's called being emotionally cultured."
Rakim chuckled, tapping the wheel with the pads of his fingers. "Right, emotionally cultured. That's one way to explain why you still cry watching Toy Story."
"You really bringing Toy Story into this? Wow." She leaned her head against the seat and looked up at the ceiling dramatically. "That's a low blow, considering your eyes were also watery watching that film. I'm just more emotionally resilient, not heartless."
His head snapped her way so fast he felt a little whiplash, causing him to subconsciously ease up on the throttle. "They are toys... and they held hands." He tried to explain but could tell that she wasn't buying it.
"You've got a friend in me,
You've got troubles, I've got 'em too
There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you
We stick together, we can see it through
'Cause you've got a friend in me
Yeah, you've got a friend in me."
"I've never heard a toy or cartoon say something as profound as this (Sniff)" Rakim explained after an impromptu acapella performance of his favourite part of the movie's song.
"Are you crying?" she questioned, after taking a sip of her drink with theatrical poise, "I survived three Tube delays, a pigeon invasion at Camden Market, and a guy named Giles trying to convince me he's the reincarnation of David Bowie, but this takes the cake."
Rakim scoffed, dramatically wiping an imaginary tear from the corner of his eye with his thumb. "First of all, real men don't cry. We bleed translucent masculinity through our eyeballs when emotionally compromised."
May laughed so hard she nearly choked on her drink. "You leak masculinity? You sound like a busted radiator, my guy."
"That's just the sound of suppressed generational pain being turned into character development," he quipped, adjusting his grip on the steering wheel as the exit sign for Leverkusen flashed past overhead. "Besides, those toys were ready to face the incinerator together. That's loyalty, Brotherhood, and even the most ruthless man would shed a Daniel tear."
"Oh god, here comes the TED Talk, no matter how you wrap it up, I am not buying it," she groaned with a smile, leaning her head against the window as the soft glow of sunlight diffused through the frosted glass.
"Not even if it's TEDxRakim?" Rakim offered with a raised brow, his lips twitching at the corners.
"Not even if it came with a free emotional support squirrel," May muttered, but the way she smiled at him said she was thoroughly entertained.
They cruised off the main highway, the cityscape of Leverkusen gradually replacing the blur of pine-lined autobahn. Towering buildings glistened under the pale winter sun; their rooftops were dusted with snow. In a matter of moments, they had reached the familiar Hilton hotel where Rakim had been parked for half a year now.
"Seriously, how is it you haven't settled on a house, let alone an apartment, after all this time?" May asked as they pulled over to their designated parking spot.
"I've been waiting for you to make the final decision, plus the staff treats me well, so it's not on top of my list," Rakim shrugged as he moved to exit the door, already spotting a porter making his way to their car.
"You spend a fortune each month, and knowing how you tip, it's no wonder they treat you like a king." May retorted with a look of disdain, wondering how her usually acute boyfriend loosely managed his money. "Just be glad that your dad gives you a budget each month, otherwise, you would be living on the streets."
Rakim gave her a wounded look as he stepped out, the gullwing door rising dramatically beside him. "First of all," he said, rounding the car to open her door, "I could survive on charisma alone if it ever came down to it."
May arched a brow as she accepted his hand and slid out of the passenger seat. "Charisma won't pay for bottled water in Europe."
"Which is a crime, by the way," he muttered, grabbing her suitcase from the trunk just as the porter arrived with a respectful nod. "I still don't get why I have to pay for water that falls from the sky."
"Same reason you pay fifteen euros for artisanal avocado toast," May replied, brushing snowflakes off her hoodie. "Because you're bougie"
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To Be Continued...
