Koen realized, that often depending on the area, that music for the car meets would be different. In this case, it was House Music. Arguably the best thing for a car meet of this stature.
Enzo's Audi pulled into the lot, encompassed by the loud engines, music, lights, and people there. Even with the tinted windows, people's gaze naturally attracted towards the Audi R8. Of course, many people wouldn't think of bringing an R8 to a car meet.
But Enzo would.
Not only because he knew of the stares that it could get, but moreso the stature. Enzo always joked about it, Koen remembered. He said that his R8 was just a "Huracan with more Elegance".
Koen wasn't one to see how far that statement could be tested, but he figured he would trust him on it.
Enzo parked right into a lane, and left the engine on. Customary of all car meets for this. Both Koen and he had got out the car, and already, they were amassed by so many people. Koen barely recognized them, since all of their eyes had went towards Enzo naturally.
"Yo Enzo!"
"Is that Enzo and his Audi? It looks so hot…"
"Damn, that Audi is clean? Who's ride that is?"
Enzo got close as he dapped up one of them, "Enzo my man! You're back!"
He scoffed, "You know I couldn't miss it for the world, right Harry?"
Harry was an acquaintance and mutual acquaintance between Koen and Enzo. Far bit older than Enzo, though. Coming in at the age of 25. He usually was the one hosting the meets around the state. This time, it just happened to be in the path of where Enzo and Koen's were heading.
Koen assumed that Harry and Enzo had history, even though he never really spoke about Harry outside of car meet invites or parts really. Harry was more of a different type of car guy, though. He loved his European cars.
Koen remembered it as bright as day, his 2010 BMW M3 was so a stunner. A deep orange color with exclusive liveries, and even a custom wrap! Koen admired it, but not as much as Enzo's Audi, however.
Enzo crossed his arms, as Harry and he spoke, but because of Enzo's reputation, he was a fairly recognizable face. All the attention and spotlight was right on him, and people slowly gathered around.
Then, with the lack of interest regarding them, they went for the next easy target. The one who rode in the passengers seat with Enzo.
Koen.
"Yo…is that his little bro?"
"To ride in Enzo's Audi like that? He must be known, right?"
"Yeah!"
The chatter began, and before long, Koen and Enzo separated through the myriad of people. The crowd swarmed instantly—bomber jackets with stitched crew logos, girls perched on hoods with phones recording.
It was a lot to take in.
That is to say, that Koen wasn't already used and prepared for this.
He drifted through the lot, often striking up conversation with other people. Koen may come off as an introvert, but when it's about cars, or anything of the sort? He can become an extrovert real fast.
Koen drifted through the lot, eyes bouncing from one build to the next. A cherry-red RX-7 FD coughed at idle, rotary whining sharp, the kind of sound that split crowds into love-it-or-hate-it.
A widebody Supra MK4 hissed with every gear change, the turbo sneezing loud enough to turn heads. Farther down, a slammed Silvia S15 scraped low over cracked pavement, neon underglow bleeding purple across the asphalt.
Then came the Hellcat Charger, barking like a caged dog, its driver lighting up the tires just to prove he could. The air stank of rubber and gas, layered with smoke from a taco truck and cheap vape clouds.
Koen caught it all, every rev and hiss—this wasn't Fernview. This was the noise of a new religion. One that he emobided, very, very much.
However, there was this one build that encountered his view a lot. He strolled over, just in time as the driver popped up the hood. A Honda S2000. Rare, even rarer to see this thing be pulled out for a car meet.
The driver noticed Koen behind him, and dapped him up instantly. Already on the sense realizing that this was Enzo's "little bro". It would be blasphemy not to pay respect. There, Koen and the guy looked down at the hood of the S2000.
Already clicked open, steam of oil breathing into the air. Koen leaned in, eyes scanning the setup. He didn't even mean to…it just kind of…happened. Naturally. Automatically.
"Is…is that a K-Swap?" Koen asked, intrigued. Smiling just enough. The Driver seemed to look shocked he was able to spot that out.
"Most guys never bother with the hassle, that's why."
The driver nodded, "Good eye, and yeah, they don't. Thought you'd just nod and point at the shiny valve cover like the rest of 'em."
Koen shook his head, "Nah. It's way better than slapping a cheap ass turbo and praying your rods don't scatter."
The driver let out a low whistle, dapping Koen up again.
"Enzo's little bro, huh? Guess it runs in the blood." He whispered lowly, not amidst the chaotic and random revving of other cars as Koen continued to look within it.
He inspected further, even as getting his head as close as he could, then he backed off and spoke to the driver yet again.
"K24 bottom, K20 head?" He asked.
The driver blinked, caught off guard.
"Yeah…how the hell did you know that just by looking?"
Koen's finger pointed right at it, "Bolts don't line up the same. Plus, whoever tuned it knew what they were doing. No cheap eBay parts spotted around here."
The guy laughed, shaking his head. He couldn't believe that Koen might have been indeed the real deal. Even to go as far as to knowing his stuff. Because this is what Koen does.
This is his jungle. His ecosystem.
A place where he could feel home.
Where he is home.