xiv.

after retiring as f1 mechanic, sebastian remembers karl used to work at mark and franco's, the workshop that was named after the owners. and today, when sebastian brings karl to the same workshop, marc and franco are still there and looking as if they never aged even one year. if it weren't because of the white hairs, people would think they're still in their 30s.

     "sebastian?" franco's eyebrows knitted on his forehead.

     "hey, franco." sebastian smiles at the man. nothing feels better than to reunite your friends again.

     "oh my god! you're getting bald!"

     it's not sebastian's first time to have someone judging his appearance though. mick had made a remark on his bald spot too. many times and he never stopped. his wife hannah never let him forget about how he looks way older than his age and looking different every time he gets home in between races. he knows he could grow hairs once he's taking hiatus on f1 after the end of the season.

     "marc! marc! come here! see who's here!" franco had called his business partner. and as if there was an emergency, marc emerges from the deep of the workshop looking worried.

     "what? what is it? did something–" he stops himself as soon as he sees a familiar figure standing close in front franco. he drops everything in his hands. "sebastian? goddammit, franco, you scared the shit out of me! c'mon here you piece of–"

     and they share a hug, but unlike with franco (where the hug was tight, warm, friendly but short), marc makes sure that sebastian could feel every limb on his body including what's down there. uncomfortable, sebastian pushes marc to break the hug while trying to hide a cringe on his face.

     "oh i almost forgot," sebastian says before turning around in search of karl. "karl, do you remember who they are?" sebastian should stop asking that question, shouldn't he? because the answer that is coming out of karl will always be the same.

     karl shakes his head.

     "this is marc and franco." sebastian smiles at the older man. "they were your bosses when you were working here after retiring ferrari's car mechanic. they were two of your good friends, too."

     marc and franco glance at each other. they met a few days ago. marc and franco and karl at karl's house. they were talking and laughing. it seemed that karl had a really good time with them. so it's crazy how karl doesn't recognise them though it's only after a couple of days passed.

     "don't take it too personally with karl," sebastian reminds the two rugged-looking man in front of him.

     "never, sebastian," franco says. "but it's sad to see him that way. it's only two days ago since we last saw him."

     "how's his little girl?" marc asks as he and franco lead their two guests into their waiting room.

     sebastian smiles tightly. "probably still the same since you last saw her."

     "she told us that mick is home. are you staying here with your family?"

     "i wish," sebastian answers. "but i came here by myself. my kids have school."

      and the three of them begin talking like there's no tomorrow. and with a company of the good, chilly weather and hot coffee, the environment seems perfect for the three dads to play catch up after so long not seeing each other.

     as sebastian, marc and franco continue talking in the other end of the garage, feeling not needed there, karl takes his time looking over the tools on the silver trolley. they recognise one or two of them. okay, maybe only one. a screwdriver. what else they have here? a T-thing with two different heads? hammer. a retractable object with marks and numbers on the metal? measuring tape. other complicated tools your father doesn't recognise. air compressor, dismantled gear, tyres spanner, sport rims. there is a car on a blue platform without tyres and karl doesn't understand why.

     sensing the uneasiness on karl's face, sebastian politely tells marc and franco that they have to leave. marc and franco promise that they'd see sebastian again next time he visits. and soon when they arrive back at the schumacher's, sebastian leads karl into the house.

     everything went too well for sebastian. karl was behaving well. they got back home at exactly one hour after he left the house. feeling a little light from the good day he'd spent with marc and franco, sebastian forgets that karl needs every help a healthy person has to offer to a sick person. without thinking anything, he merely nods his head when karls says he needed to use to loo. what did sebastian reply after that?

     "i will be in the kitchen."

     karl doesn't know why sebastian would be in the kitchen but he didn't ask. instead, he turns to a direction where he thought the loo is. only, he was wrong. the door where he thought the loo is is just another room.

     where is the fucking toilet? karl asks himself as he ventures the whole first floor of the house. he walks pass the kitchen door, sees a blondie making a something at the counter against the wall. he walks pass the living room but no one is there so he continues walking ahead. he walks pass a hallway, sees several pictures in big frames hanging on the wall. he stops in front of a door and tries to open it–it wouldn't budge.

     he returns to the living room, sees nobody else, sees the front door but ignores it, walks pass the kitchen. if there were people who didn't know karl's disease, they would think this man is utterly stupid for not seeing a small door a few steps after the kitchen because that's where the toilet is.

     and he does this for several times. until he forgets what he was initially looking for. feeling uncomfortable pacing back and forth between the walls without remembering why he was here, karl walks to the front door. he opens the front door, leaves it open, and steps outside. without looking back, he walks straight ahead, turns right and continues straight. and that's the last time the house sees karl until you get back.