"Fuck! I messed up"
Vrooooom
"Get back over you asshole!"
I throttled my motor faster, dodging passing by cars. The swift of the air grew louder, neon lights flash to my eyes, horns blading from every side.
"Oi! Watch where you're going!"
"Sorry, I'm in a hurry!"
I took a sharp right turn and looked at my mirror, the thugs were still tailing me, shouting and angry, waving their fists. But I got farther and farther away from them.
My phone on the phone mount of my motorcycle started ringing. It was James Caliver.
I tapped the accept with my left hand, leaving the throttle and only having one hand on the clutch. I suddenly started swerving on the road.
"Woah woah woah!"
I regained my balance. Having one hand with that speed is a bad idea.
"Yow, how's the motor test? Was it good? And damn slow down, I could your motorcycle very loud" He asked
"Uhhh it was good. But I accidentally mess up a drug deal during the test"
He laughed "What do I expect from Kryos Valentino. Come back to my shop, make sure they are off your tail or my shop will be destroyed"
He ended the call. I should ask him to install a modification, a hologram thing a lot of people use nowadays.
***
I throttled my way to James' auto shop.
"Come in now!" He shouted
I swerved inside, the roller shutter doors shut behind. We heard the cars of the thugs outside passing by.
I took off my helmet and sighed in relief.
"That might have been a one hell of a ride. Get off, let me have a check"
He knelt down to check my motorcycle, touching the machines.
"How was the armor suit I requested?"
"It is good to go. It is over there shining and shimmering. Go double check it"
I approached the suit. It was well made, shining under the lights, red lights fainting pulsely across its surface.
"I made sure it comfortable to wear, easily to move in and not too much heavy. Since I know what kind of person you are, I made it bullet proof and make sure to protect you from accidents. I also installed it red lights when turned on to make more aesthetic when you drive around and a hidden pocket if you want to hide something just in case"
I laughed "I am so lucky to meet you when we were in elementary. Is it waterproof?"
"Of course it's waterproof" he stood up and sat on the motorcycle and started throttling "I should be charging you for all of this. But since I am earning a lot and from this auto shop and you are my friend, I let it pass"
I walked up to him and watch him tinker.
"So, is there a problem?"
"Well, uhhhh, the exhaust pipe easily heats up. It might not be a problem during the test but if it goes on like this, it might going to be a problem during a ride and expensive to change in the future. I have to take it off and improve it"
"Oh yeah can you install it a OS which can also be connected in my phone like they use? I nearly got into accident when you called"
"Ooof, that will be pretty expensive but I will soon see what I can do"
Riiiing
"Oh shit, it's remembrance day, I have to visit my great great great grandfather's statue again. Can I borrow your motorcycle again?"
"Okay, but take care of my girl, I gave it a lot of modification to perfection. And also tell your ancestor for me thank you for saving the city"
I mounted his motorcycle.
"I will keep that in mind"
I went out of the auto shop and went straight to the center of the city.
***
There stood my ancestor's stature admired by a lot of people around. He is wearing jeans and topless, the carved a long chains around him connected to the machetes on both of his hands.
Mateo Valentino, died at the age of 84. He save a lot of people during the unexpected in 2020. His story made through our country's history.
Some called him a fraud, he might be the one who started it just to make himself a name.
But in our hearts, that was a stupid rumor and he was a great hero.
"They will soon comeback"
That was his tagline, we don't know what he meant, but we will sure be ready if it happens again. Wheneverytime I come to this very place, I always feel motivated.
"You've came, Kryos" my granpa Crane approached behind me
"Of course gramps, I always come"
He is old in his sixty's but still standing straight and musculine. We both stared up to the statue.
"What do you feel wheneverytime you come here?" I asked
He rubbed his chin.
"Well, all I could feel is proud"
He noticed my parked motorcycle.
"That wasn't the motorcycle I know you ride, did you make a swap with a friend?"
"Nah, I just borrowed it"
"What happened to yours?"
"I requested to install it some modification from a friend. A very very good friend"
"You always talk about that friend but you never let us meet him or tell his name"
"So, gramps. Tell me more about him"
He giggled "You really want to more about him eh? Well, uhhh, this one is confusing"
He cleared his throat "This is supposed to be his secret. But he was so old that that he doesn't care about secrets anymore told it to your great great granpa Ferdinand"
"Why is it confusing?"
"Imagine you are him, your ancestor Mateo. What motivates and keeps you going and motivated in such a life and death situation?"
"Of course, I can't just leave people behind to die. That is not the kind of person I am. And also the fame like him"
"Like most people say. For him, he didn't do it for the people's life, neither for his friends"
My eyes widened, face full of confusion "Huh, then why does he keeps going then if it is not for the people? Why would he keep on fighting and saving people instead of saving himself?"
"The answer is..." He wave is pointing finger "He only did it for himself"
I tilted my head "Can you clarify?"
"He only did everything for himself. That was his motivation, he was testing himself, how strong he is, how long he can stand on his ground, without crediting someone. That means, he is a selfish person"
"Are you really sure that's not somekind of rumor you heard?"
He laughed and mess my hair "C'mon son, it is common in our culture to tell stories to your grandson even in today's future. These words came to your great great grandfather Ferdinand. The very first one to hear his story"
I looked back at the statue tapping my cheek. "I really really want to be like him, but his motivation is not what I like"
Riiiiing
"My time here is done here. I have to go now gramps" I mounted the motorcycle and started it's engine
"You really have a tight schedule. Don't go around and make a ruckus"
***
Riiiinng
"What is it James?"
"I've done improving your bike. I made a built-in OS for it, she can also talk like an AI, making your motorcycle feel like a human"
"Ohh, sorry bro. I'm like on a date, I can't come back and keep her waiting"
"Okay, I know you girl is one hell of a joy ride addict. So take care of my bike when that time comes"
"Stop worrying bro, I've like borrowed your bike like multiple times now and returned it without a scratch. Call you later"
Beep
I fixed my and brushed my collar. I pointed and flash myself a grin through a glass window.
I found my cute girlfriend standing by the road, wearing a long white dress, dark shoes, and her dark eyeglasses. She noticed me, she gave me a smile and a wave.
"Kryos, over here!" She shoured
I ran to the other side of the road, meeting her.
Her name is Alissa Himaya. A cute and shy girl I met in junior high. Many people ignored her because of her shyness, but I am the only one who made friend and made a move to her.
She shrugged her shoulder shyly, her cheeks blushing.
"Ummm, happy Remembrance Day and happy anniversary to your ancestor"
"Wow, thank you"
We both stayed side by side, shy and don't know what to say. Only the sound of the crowd and large TV's on the buildings can only be heard.
"Uhh, it's our sixteenth date. What do you want to do?" I broke the silence "Wanna go to a restaurant, watch a movie, take a walk in the park?"
She went silent, thinking. I waited for her reply.
"Uhhh, h-how about a joyride"
"A joyride? You sure you don't want to do anything else before a joyride and also take you back home?"
"I kinda want something refreshing today. Maybe when we are finish, I might get hungry"
"Well, if you say so"
***
Vrooooooom
"Wooohoooooo!" I shouted as we rode on an empty only-motorbike road
Alissa hugged me tighter, she admired the view of the neon-lit city with the night dark starry sky. My motorbike roared throughout the bridge.
Something suddenly hit my mind. I wonder how and what it felt like in the old days without the holograms, these futuristic technologies, these smart vehicles. Was it boring? Was it better than today? Was I born in a perfect time?
"Don't you ever get bored of this joyriding? These same sceneries we see?" I shouted
"No, I never get bored, it actually refreshes my mind. I even watch the same movie 20 times, it's still good to me" she shouted back
"Oh wow, such a girlfriend I have!"
She giggled "I think I am done now, let's go to a restaurant"
"Tell me first. Am I the best boyfriend?"
"Of course you are the best boyfriend" she laughed
"Say it loud!"
"Okay, you are the the best boyfriend ever!"
"Louder!"
"Kryos is the best boyfriend in the world!" She yelled in the top of her lungs
I laughed. For the first time in history, my girlfriend called me the best boyfriend in the worl-!
Crash
.....
H-huh, what happened? Alissa and I flying in the air, the motorbike seems completely wrecked.
Wh-what happened? What did I crash on to? I have never been crashed in my whole life. I swear there was nothing on the roa-
!?
There was a person on the road. Both of his arms are armored with cyber armor arms, but only his arms.
These cyber armors made durable to protect against bullets and sharp objects, but not this durable to fend off a high-speed motorbike.
H-how?