It's been a few days since we landed in Singapore and I'm bored to death when all I can do is going to the gym, eating food and going to bed. Oscar has been busy with something - one he keeps far away from me - until today.

I don't find out because I'm snooping, that's too hard to do with my phone being taken ages ago. I find out because one morning, Oscar sits on the edge of the bed and starts his confession in the most guilty tone possible, which almost makes me think he ate all of my Kinder Maxis. "So – uhm. This might feel like a lot, but I need you not to panic."

That's never a good opening line. The anxiety spikes up so fast I feel lightheaded, fingers gripped on the sheet to steady myself. "What did you do Oscar?"

"I didn't", he defends quickly, "I mean – I did. But not alone."

That's even worse. Before I can stand up and pick up a physical fight with him, there's a knock on the door. One of McLaren staffs shows up with some tablets in his arms, some engineers whose name I can recall instantly, our team principle and CEO also stand right outside.

Oscar gives me a look that's apologetic and a little defiant all at once then reaches out to kiss my forehead in front of all those people. "You were never supposed to carry this alone."

People coming in the room, saying hello to me, settled down anywhere they can find. They are all smiling, coffee in hands, looking more relaxed than those previous days.

The tablet is connected to the TV, screen bright with a lot of information I can't digest fully without explanation. The familiar interface of Instagram pops up with endless pictures of me and Oscar. The McLaren staff taps on the first one.

@papayaharry: Some people make history with trophies. Some just make it by being brave. Proud of these two.
The photo is old and grainy. Me and Oscar in the garage, caught mid-laugh by someone who definitely wasn't meant to take a picture of that scene.

@elenamcguire: Day 312 of pretending I didn't know. You were never subtle and you never have to be. Best person to work with.
This one is just me with helmet off, look toward something off-camera that I guess it must have been Oscar.

@powerunitinpapaya: We watched you grow up. We watched you fall in love. Neither surprised us.

"The project started few hours ago", the staff explains gently. "McLaren employees first, those who have been working with you two for years. Mechanics, engineers, PR, hospitality. All personal accounts, no caption coordinated, they share whatever they want to. We force no one to voice their option."

@racingismclaren: Still remember Suzuka when the race track was fully rain-soaked. You both argued about snacks like it was life or death matter. Didn't know it would lead to this. Love wins, always.

@pitlane_lacey: If loving your teammate is wrong then the last three years didn't teach me a damn thing.
There's a picture of the girl smiling so proudly in MTC, our framed pictures behind her back.

Oscar reaches out to hold my hands while explaining the rest of the plan. "I contacted other drivers. Mainly our close friends, but it eventually got out of control. I asked Alex, George, Charles and Carlos for help but words travel like wild fire. Almost all of the most influenced drivers had shared something, the rest is sleeping I bet."

That's when the screen changes to something else entirely, deeper in emotion with stories from insiders.

@alex_albon: You two owe me dinner for emotional damages of being the third-wheel all these years.
He includes a picture of us I don't remember being taken - three of us crammed into a kart with Alex sitting in the middle, me and Oscar looking at each other like we forgot he existed.

@carlossainz55: My boy is finally grown up.
Picture of me when Carlos first joined McLaren years ago, when I was still a rookie under his protection and then another one of me standing on podium, spraying champagne all over Oscar.

@charles_leclerc: FYI, they still haven't returned my AirPods because apparently @lando dropped it somewhere then kept promising he would get me a new one.
The attached photo is brutal - me and Oscar fast asleep on private jet, posture perfectly mirrored each other with arms crossed in our chest, an airpod in our ear. I must have forgotten about that day.

@maxverstappen1: Was wondering how long you two would keep pretending.

The photo is taken in paddock corridor with me and Oscar fighting over something I can't remember, faces close, hands on each other without realizing cameras were around. Max is in the edge of the picture, looking dead serious like he knows what kind of earth-shattering secret he just found out. He tagged us both, which proves clearly that he wanted that picture to be seen everywhere. It caught me by surprised that even Max took part in this project, I thought he sided with Red Bull.

Then Oscar carefully opens a picture he has saved, read the caption loud enough for the whole room to hear.

"I knew about Lando's existence when I was 19 years old, watching cars running around in a circle for fun. He looked ridiculous back then with ugly hair and don't even get me started on his choice of clothes.

Somehow I'm 26 now and he's my favorite driver on the grid, not because he's handsome or rich but because he refuses to lie. Lando has been so transparent about his motivation, his feeling, his struggles. He has been so much of an inspiration for me to always speak up my mind, to let my voice be heard.

Lando, I hope you know that I'll always like you whether you choose to be with Oscar Piastri, or Charles Leclerc, or maybe even Ryan Gosling (please don't take Ryan, I love him)."

I laugh and cry at the same time, tears falling so fast I can't stop them. So this is what it feels to be loved and protected by the world. Zak shifts forward, cuts off the storm of emotional coming out of me by explaining the rest of their project.

"We need to stop letting people define the narrative. We needed a clean leak, something credible and powerful."

Oscar glances at me, eyes full of mischievousness, "So I contacted Lewis. He is the one I trust, who understands what it means to carry visibility without asking for it."

The article breaks less than an hour later, devastatingly clear. We choose a random explanation video from a trustworthy Formular 1 commentator and watch it together.

"Sources confirm drivers may face exclusion from Abu Dhabi Grand Prix due to same-sex relationship."

He discusses about timing, about our relationship and what is going on in the span of 24 hours. The way he talks about things is clear without actually accusing anything.

After watching some videos and read a few articles, Zak and Andrea steps out to take calls and the staffs give us our personal space back. The room is finally empty with only me and Oscar.

"I feel......" – I start to put my thoughts in words but unsuccessful so Oscar gives out suggestions to help me.

"Overwhelmed? Hard to breathe? Devastated?"

"Privileged", I say finally, "like I'm standing in the middle of the storm and somehow perfectly protected."

He smiles at the way I use the word, fond and knowing. "Government isn't the only one who knows how to manipulate a crowd. Ours is way more louder."

"And more popular as well", I laugh softly.

I lean into him, forehead resting on his neck, the weight of the day settling into something like awe instead of fear. "Mr. Piastri, has anyone told you that you are terrified as hell and right now I'm scared of how you got us here?"

Oscar's smile turns into a smirk, "I prefer the word strategically prepared."

Watching the whole act unfold, watching Oscar pull strings I didn't even know existed, I realize something with a clarity that feels almost embarrassing in hindsight – he didn't stumble into this moment. He planned it all along. None of it was accidental. Oscar laid the groundwork and then just like clockwork, the dominos cascaded in a line – because he is a fucking mastermind.