Sting takes the next round, with Fire close behind him. Dipuo isn’t happy. “Mxm mara Fire!”

But Gee is right; by the semi-final round Fire has overtaken Sting and shoved dust in his face. The final has only two contestants – Fire and Sting. Sting’s in panic mode; he led the race for all the rounds before the semi-final and was confident. Now he’s not sure of himself.

“Oh Gee, I think you were right hun!” exclaims Dipuo.

“You think?” says Gee.

“Things have heated up for real hey!” exclaims Nolwazi. She is excited and happy that she came to the event, instead of going to Witbank.

DJ Spinner is playing and people are dancing and having fun. They are excited, anticipating the final round.

*****

When Wandile checks his phone he has eight missed calls from Precious.

“Baby, I see your missed calls!” Wandile is shouting into his cellphone, so that Precious can hear him over the noise. Then he gets her text.

I am at the event. Where are you chilling?

“Precious is here,” Wandile tells Menzi.

“Oh! OK.” Menzi is surprised.

“Yeah, I’m going to just … walk around and look for her. I’ll be right back,” says Wandile.

Menzi doesn’t know how to feel about this – Precious always gives him an uneasy feeling. In a few minutes Wandile is back with her.

“Hello Menzi,” greets Precious.

“Hi Precious. How nice of you to join us,” says Menzi and he offers her a drink from his small cooler box.

“Thank you.” Precious takes a Coke Lite. “So, what did I miss? Is your brother still in the race?”

“Yes. He is doing great. He’s in the final. They’re just resting for a few minutes then should start again soon.”

There is an awkward silence then Precious tells Wandile that she has cooked already and that they should go home after the final.

“Oh – but there is still the after party to attend,” says Menzi.

“We won’t be going to that,” says Precious firmly.

Menzi glances over at Wandile, who just keeps quiet. Clubs are not Wandile’s usual hang-out spot, but today he wants to go.

*****

“I cannot wait to part-eey after this! Oh gosh you guys, this after party sounds exciting,” says Nolwazi. She is feeling elated by the crowd and the excitement of the race.

“Yeah. It is going to be off the hook,” says Dipuo.

“Yooooh like last year,” adds Lady Gee.

“Where is it going to be?” asks Nolwazi.

“At Diphaleng in Phiri section.”

“Cool. I’ve never been there but that sounds soooo coooool,” says Nolwazi.

“It is!” laughs Dipuo and gives her a hug.

Lady Gee and the girls are excited to #TURNUP after the race. The dancers are still doing their thing, entertaining the crowd.

And then the final leg of the race is about to begin. It is intense, this is it, the moment of truth. The red Gusheshe gleams with super-hot rims and the super-hot driver is confident. Why not, when his fans are screaming at the top of their lungs to adorn him with their love?

The blue Mustang looks absolutely cool but the driver is not so cool; Fire has shut down his confidence at the last minute. He is scared.

The engines rev as the countdown begins. “10! 9! 8! 7! 6! …” the crowd chants in in unison.

“5! 4! 3! 2! 1! Woooooo yeaahhh!” Everyone is jumping up and down waiting for the flag-lady to lower the green flag, signalling the start. It goes down and they are off.

It is neck and neck for Sting and Fire in the first lap.

“Please please please Fire,” Dipuo is praying.

Nolwazi and Lady Gee are quiet but their eyes are glued to the race track – Nolwazi’s hands clench into fists. The nerves are sky high.

Meanwhile on the other side of the track Menzi’s heart is beating fast as he silently roots for his brother, also sending a short prayer to God. Wandile too is rooting for Fire, in support of his friend. Precious is holding his hand. He squeezes it tighter and tighter, the closer the race to the finish line.

“Ouch!” shouts Precious.

“Sorry,” says Wandile.

A sharp bend sees Sting almost losing control of the car.

“Woooooo! Haaaaaa!” The crowd sympathises with him; the slip-up cost him two seconds – a lot when you’re trying to win a race.

Sting catches up, then his nose is ahead, but he has not passed Fire yet. The ‘blue cool’ has not fully doused the ‘red heat’.

Fire is one hundred percent determined to win. Sting is a great driver, but he feels fear; he wants so much to win that the thought of not winning scares him, and he panics.

It’s the last lap and the two cars are still neck and neck. Sting and Fire have put on a great show and the crowd is now frozen with anticipation. The tyres keep rolling; blue cool and red heat head to the finish line.

The black-and-white checkered flag signals that the race is over. It is so close the crowd has no idea who has won. The speculation is going this way and that. The judges have to review the video footage.

By a split second, Fire has won!

His supporters in the crowd go mad; Dipuo is beyond excited; Nolwazi and Lady Gee are screaming. Wandile and Menzi forget all about Precious and are hugging with joy.

Precious just smiles briefly, keeping herself composed. She is really cramping Wandile’s style with her sombre mood.

***

Tell us: Would you find attending a car race like this exciting?