Breezy Rides, Chapter 2

“Hey, by any chance, are you headed to the high school called Welstone?” Miguel’s voice sparkled with hope, his eyes reflecting a glint of aspiration. “Actually, yes,” the stranger replied, intrigued by Miguel’s question. He glanced down, catching sight of the boy’s matching school uniform. As realization dawned, the contentment on Miguel’s face was impossible to conceal, his mouth curving into a wide, goofy smile. “Mind if I tag along?” Miguel asked, his gaze shifting briefly to his wounded knee. “Of course, you can,” the stranger agreed, unable to resist the infectious enthusiasm on Miguel’s face. As he hopped onto the motorbike, Miguel held onto the stranger’s waist firmly, the engine roaring to life as they sped away. Amidst the thrill of the ride, I found my thoughts wandering while studying the boy positioned just an inch away. With his light wavy chocolate hair and an almost equal height, around 6 feet, he exuded a magnetic charm that caught my attention. Miguel tried to remember the stranger’s face and found himself mesmerized by the dark green eyes of his newfound acquaintance. They had shared a momentary gaze earlier that seemed to hold a captivating allure, leaving an impression he couldn’t shake off. Then his gaze averted in the direction of the places that his body showed his skin. He couldn’t help but notice the oddity of his companion’s arms, which seemed unusually light in color for such a hellishly hot summer. “How can you still be so light skinned in this heat?” he wondered aloud, his curiosity piqued by this intriguing observation. The other guy gave a wry smile, seemingly amused by the remark. “I guess I’m just naturally that way,” he replied casually, not elaborating further. Despite the mystery surrounding his appearance, the two focused on the urgency to reach their destination on time. As they hurriedly rode through the scorching streets, the two guys exchanged bewildered glances, strangers thrown together by their shared predicament of being late for school. The motorbike’s engine roared, struggling to keep up with the demands of the relentless summer heat. The blazing sun bore down on them, but the wind swept in to offer some respite. The cooling air caressed their faces, providing a brief escape from the heat. For a moment, they both closed their eyes, enjoying the feeling of freedom that the wind brought. As the wind subsided, they found themselves feeling more alive and present than ever. Miguel realized that amidst the chaos of rushing to school, this unexpected encounter and the refreshing breeze had brought him back to reality, grounding him in the moment. As the sweat rolled down his forehead, one of them couldn’t help but wonder about the other guy. He decided to strike up a conversation to distract from the heat. “Hey ! It’s sweltering out here. By the way, I’m Antonio,” he said, extending his hand to the other rider. The other guy shook Antonio’s hand with a warm smile. “I’m Miguel and I know what you mean. This heat is insane. But I’m glad we’re catching some breeze on this bike,” he replied. Their shared experience on the motorbike forged an unspoken bond between them. They communicated through glances and shared a sense of camaraderie, knowing they were in this together, navigating the challenges of the summer heat. As they finally arrived at school, both of them exchanged a nod of acknowledgment before parting ways. However, the memory of those dark green eyes and the momentary escape the wind provided lingered in their minds, leaving an unforgettable mark on their day.