Just after the podium celebrations, Luca was surprised to see Miles approach him to congratulate him on his second victory. He felt that was odd as Miles, his personal rival, was the only driver to do so. Others could only make use of the silent treatment, eyeing each other whenever and plotting how to climb to the top.
Luca and Miles' conversation went smoothly as both silently agreed to speak as if they didn't know each other personally. They both cracked a few jokes within the short time they spoke and actually chuckled genuinely to their jokes before greeting each other off. Right after that, all moods reset as Luca resumed his celebration and Miles, his sulking over the crash that had ruined his race.
Luca recalled everything they spoke about, and he couldn't help but laugh softly. That was surely the Miles Bellingham he knew, always questioning him for unnecessary details as though he needed them for anything. He had asked about Luca's mother and sister, the questions trailing to Luca's personal sponsors and any possible training regime he followed. Miles prodded around, aiming to discomfort Luca, who wasn't buying it. Luca remembered Miles even quipped about the champagne spray on the podium, hinting that Luca was getting better at aiming it—possibly the most useless feedback he'd ever given.
Luca returned to the team, free of any obligations to the Federation, and could now focus on Trampos. This included the waiting fans, of course.
He stepped up to the barrier with a wide grin, waving toward all those donned in red, black, and white. His first interaction was with a young boy and his sister with their parents. The boy was holding a mini replica of Luca's single-seater. He could tell because of the #21 etched on its chassis. Luca wasn't sure if the boy really bought that or if it was custom-made. "You have my car? Wow," Luca said, crouching down. "What's your best part about it, mm?"
It turned out the little boy wasn't yet good with English, so his parents helped him understand by translating to German and vice versa for Luca. "The speed through the turns, he says," both parents said to Luca at once after the little boy blurted something out.
"Definitely!" Luca signed the tiny car and nodded to the boy's parents. He looked around at the crowd, all eager to get a personal interaction with him before the sky could get even darker. Luca double-clicked the pen, knowing he had a long time ahead of him.
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[Host should begin his Daily Routine]
Luca rubbed his eyes, heavy with sleep, and swung his legs over the side of the bed. The room was a void of silence, its darkness wrapping around him like a cocoon. He sighed softly and leaned forward, his hand searching for the switch of the sidelamp. He found it within seconds and dragged it down, producing a soft click. A golden glow spread across the room, chasing the shadows back into corners and illuminating the space in a muted radiance.
"June 10th, Monday," Luca said to himself as he remained seated, the light settling on his face and highlighting the angles of his jaw.
[Certainly, host. That indeed is today's date]
[Host should begin his Daily Routine]
Luca sighed again before rising to his feet. He gave a quick hop to fire energy into his body before strolling to the bathroom to brush his teeth. He switched on the lights, grabbed his toothbrush, and applied the toothpaste with a measured amount. Soon the scrubbing of his teeth followed, slightly echoing off the tiles of the bathroom.
When he was done, he washed and dried his face with the same organized precision. The cool water did its part to clear the remnants of sleep, leaving him sharp and his facial features brighter. He exited the bathroom and stepped back into the dimly lit room.
The faint glimmer of his trophy caught his eye as it reflected the bedside lamp's golden light. The trophy sat prominently on the sole cabinet in the room, exactly where Luca had placed it. He paused, his gaze fixed on it as he couldn't get over the sight of crafted victory.
He walked across the room to touch it for the day, his fingers brushing its sleek surface before caressing the silver base where his name was etched alongside the GP and year. Luca smiled, knowing he had one particular trophy in his sights—the overall F2 world champion trophy. That would be the one he'd keep. Any Grand Prix trophy would go to Sophia and his mother.
Luca got dressed in his conventional tracksuit and sneakers. He decided to have an empty mind today, free of music and words, as he strapped his wrist with a Catapult watch.
He left his accommodation seconds later, closing the door behind him. He was based in the Vasliget Training Center's accommodation areas. This marked the team's fourth day in Hungary, and within the next day, their stay in this center was set to expire. They were expected to leave for Berlin or find another accommodation in Budapest or elsewhere.
Luca walked down the dark corridor in solitude. He sneezed countless times, the sound resonating through the walls. The faint smell of chlorine lingered—something Luca was very sensitive to. He quickly remembered the nearby indoor pool, where they had celebrated on Saturday night.
The stillness in the training center was oddly grounding. It seemed everyone had slept in for the day, even though it was a Monday morning. Considering the extended celebrations following Formula 1's podium on Sunday, Luca understood how everyone, including them—an F2 team—was tired.
He greeted a janitor who was pushing a mop bucket around before approaching a set of broad glass doors at the end of the corridor. Pushing them open, Luca revealed himself to the gym. He stood at the doorway, observing the dimly lit space and how quiet and empty it was. The silence here was even deeper.
Luca licked his lips as he got ready to begin. He had missed yesterday's Daily Routine because the celebrations had disrupted his sleep, but he was determined not to miss today's.
Rolling his shoulders to loosen the tension from the night, he stared at the doors before deciding to close them from the inside. This tranquility was rare, and Luca was determined to turn this gym into his sanctuary.