The clang of wrenches, the hiss of compressed air, and the occasional laughter of mechanics filled the workshop. It was a usual morning, though Jason could feel that today wasn't quite "usual." He came in with a quiet smile on his face, greeted everyone as though his heart carried a secret none of them knew.
"Morning, Jason!" one of the guys called from under the hood of a rusty pickup.
"Morning," Jason replied, setting down his bag and slipping into his work overalls. He could still hear Sophie's laughter from earlier that morning when she teased him about Elena. That memory kept his spirit warm, even as grease stained his hands and the day began to stretch.
Sam noticed it. He always did. The man leaned against the edge of a workbench, arms crossed, smirk tugging at his lips. "So… you're smiling like a guy who either won the lottery or found a woman."
Jason chuckled, shaking his head. "It's complicated."
"Complicated?" Sam raised an eyebrow. "No, no, my friend. That's not complicated—that's called love trouble. Spill it."
Jason tightened a bolt on the engine in front of him, letting the tension of the steel match the quiet tension building inside him. Finally, he sighed. "Remember Mariana? The rich lady who came by with the Ferrari yesterday?"
Sam perked up immediately. "The one who looked like she could buy this whole workshop just for fun? Yeah, what about her?"
"She brought her younger sister yesterday too, bet you didn't know it was her younger sister."
Sam's smirk widened into a grin. "Ah. I see. Let me guess, you think she's prettier."
Jason shook his head with a reluctant smile. "Not just prettier. Different. Younger. Shy, but smart. Elena." He said the name carefully, as though the word itself was fragile, like glass.
Sam leaned forward, eyes narrowing in mock suspicion. "And you—you, Jason, who used to drown himself in bottles and smokes—are telling me you've got the attention of not one, but two wealthy sisters?"
Jason didn't answer immediately. Before he could, his phone buzzed in his pocket. The vibration was sharp against his thigh. Sam's grin widened even more.
"Ohhh," Sam teased, "I bet I know who that is."
Jason hesitated, then pulled out his phone. The screen lit up with Elena's name.
Sam leaned so close Jason almost shoved him back. "Come on, answer it! Let me hear the angel's voice."
Jason gave him a flat look. "You're like a jealous girlfriend already."
"Jealous? Me? No. Just protective. Now answer it before I snatch the phone out of your hand."
Jason rolled his eyes and swiped to accept the call. He put it on speaker. Elena's soft, almost melodic voice filled the workshop noise like a sweet breeze.
"Jason?"
Jason's lips curved unconsciously. "Hey."
Sam mouthed, She said hey! before chuckling under his breath.
"I just wanted to check on you," Elena said warmly. "Did you sleep well? I've been thinking about you since yesterday."
Sam slapped a hand dramatically on his chest. "Oh, my heart. She misses him already!"
Jason shot him a look to keep quiet, but his ears were burning. "I'm fine, Elena. Just at work. What about you?"
"I'm fine too," she said softly, then added in a more playful tone, "But I'd be better if I saw you today. Could you… bring the Ferrari over? I want to spend some time with you. Just us. No crowds. No interruptions."
Sam nearly fell off the stool from laughing. "Oh, man, she's already asking for dates with the Ferrari! This is rich."
Jason ignored him and rubbed the back of his neck. "Are you sure you're not busy?"
"Never too busy for you," Elena replied firmly. "So… will you come?"
Jason hesitated. He wanted to. He really wanted to. But a part of him still feared he wasn't enough for her world. Still, her voice broke through that hesitation like sunlight scattering clouds.
"Yeah," Jason said finally, his tone steady. "I'll bring it over."
Sam clapped his hands together as though Jason had just won a championship. "Atta boy! That's my guy."
Jason ended the call, slipping the phone back into his pocket. Sam leaned closer, grin still plastered on his face. "So, let me get this straight—you, Jason Tyler, mechanic extraordinaire, have a girlfriend who just asked you to bring her a Ferrari like it's some toy car?"
Jason shook his head, though a small smile lingered on his lips. "Shut up, Sam."
But Sam wasn't about to let it go. "No wonder you were smiling this morning. Don't forget us little people when you start cruising around in million-dollar cars."
Jason smirked. "I'll make sure you wash it for me."
"Ha! With my sweat and tears, maybe."
The banter continued as they both returned to their work. The workshop buzzed with noise, but Jason's mind was elsewhere. Time moved faster than he realized, and soon enough, Sam nudged him with his elbow.
"Go on. Don't keep your princess waiting."
Jason cleaned his hands, pulled off his grease-stained overalls, and changed into a cleaner shirt. His reflection in the workshop window showed someone he barely recognized—someone who had changed, little by little, since the system came into his life.
The Ferrari gleamed under the dim workshop lights, its polished body catching every shadow and reflection. Jason walked up to it, heart thumping in his chest. His coworkers peeked discreetly from across the room, whispering and chuckling at the sight of him approaching the luxury car.
Sam crossed his arms, watching. "Well, this is your moment. Don't stall it."
Jason slid into the driver's seat. The interior smelled of fine leather, sleek and sharp, so different from the beat-up trucks he usually fixed. His hands wrapped around the steering wheel.
The system pinged suddenly.
[Analysis: Ferrari 488 Spider. V8 engine. 660 horsepower. Top speed: 211 mph.]
Jason grinned. "Guess it's time to see what you've got."
He pressed the start button.
The engine roared alive with a deep, throaty growl that shook the air around him. Heads turned in the workshop. Some of the guys whistled.
Sam cupped his hands around his mouth. "Don't crash it on your first date, Romeo!"
Jason smirked, revving the engine just to hear it purr. Then, with steady hands and a racing heart, he pulled the Ferrari out of the workshop and onto the street.
For the first time in a long time, he felt like he wasn't just a mechanic or a fighter or a struggling brother. For the first time, he felt like he was stepping into a new chapter of his life—one filled with roaring engines, unexpected love, and the promise of something more.
And as the Ferrari tore down the road, Jason couldn't stop the smile that spread across his face.