F3 - The Official F Buddy | Rafael and Ruri

Chapter 45 - Stupidity

(POV Ruri)

With Rafael's signal, mabilis kami tumakbo ni Ichiro pababa sa basement stairs. He is trying to protect me kahit nahihirapan siya. I also noticed that he has several shots on his chest. Thanks to his bulletproof vest, but he must have some broken ribs by now.

"Rafael, brother. It is good to see you. Hindi ko alam na andito ka. This is more exciting!" sigaw ni Levine nang makababa kami sa basement. Si Rafael naman ay naiwan sa ground floor.

We tried to open the door sa underground facility, but it is not budging. Umiling lang si Ichiro as if saying na si Levine ang may kinalaman kung bakit hindi namin mabuksan ang pinto.

"Levine, what are you doing? Why do you want to kill Big Boss? He treated you like his own son," tanong ni Rafael as he tried to set up his gun. He is probably asking questions as a delaying tactic.

"He is messing up with my plans, Rafael. You know that I hate that," sabi ni Levine as he tried to shoot Rafael.

"Hindi namin alam na buhay ka. Dapat bumalik ka sa amin. We will welcome you with open arms," Rafael said as he returned the shots. It is like nag-uusap sila gamit ang mga baril nila.

"Rafael, my death became my freedom. I am free to kill whoever I want. Not just one, not just two but hundreds of people at the same time. Imagine their deaths because of my talented hands. That is liberating and satisfying," sabi ni Levine as if he is proud of his terrorist attacks.

He tried to bombard Rafael with several shots before changing his position. Kahit nasa lower ground floor ako, I can see that Rafael is trying hard to evade those gunshots. Salamat sa isang malaking wall na pagitan nila.

"We have rules to follow, Levine. We are not senseless killers because of those rules," sigaw ni Rafael.

"Big Boss trapped me inside those codes, Rafael. He bounded my capabilities. He tricked me that our job will repress my hunger for killing. It is hard to explain as my situation is beyond your comprehension. Just give me Ichiro and you will be fine. Oh you have to leave Ruri in my hands too. I really like her," sabi ni Levine and I can notice that his voice is getting closer to us.

Si Ichiro naman ay alert pa din, pero pumipikit pikit na ang kanyang mata. Aside from his wound sa braso, tinamaan din pala siya bandang balikat.

"Walang kinalaman si Ruri dito!"

"Of course, may kinalaman si Ruri dito. When I found out that most of our team members were in the Philippines, one thing is for sure, there is a get together event. So I did some research. I found out that a luxury hotel and resort in Batangas was recently bought by a Swiss banker. Guess what? It is a fake name."

"And so?" tanong ni Rafael habang inaayos ang baril niya.

"Come on, Rafael. I know Big Boss well. Alam ko na binibili niya lahat ng lugar kung saan gaganapin ang get together event natin."

"You installed some surveillance gimmicks in the meeting room?"

"That's right and I heard it straight from his mouth that Ruri Rosalind Saji is his daughter. Dapat pinatay ko na siya nang makita ko siya sa park, pero umiiyak si Ruri. She looks so cute and so sad. I befriended her instead. I was confident that she will broke up with you because of what happened to her. Damn! She almost had a miscarriage because of you, brother. She is supposed to hate you! But I was wrong, she forgave you in a blink of an eye," sabi Levine.

Alam ko na malapit na si Levine kay Rafael. I saw a shadow na palapit kay Rafael. Alam ko na ang cemented wall na lang ang nagsisilbing pagitan nilang dalawa. Ichiro pulled me away bago pa kami makita ni Levine.

"Levine, akala mo ba pwede mo gamitin si Ruri against me or against Big Boss? You must have underestimated her."

"I underestimated the power of love also known as stupidity."

Within seconds, I heard shots at napapikit na lang ako para magdasal. Soon, I heard a sound of shattering glass and broken furnitures. Rafael and Levine are probably fighting.

"Ruri, this is an automatic riffe. If you see someone na pababa sa stairs, shoot them right away," utos ni Ichiro.

"Where are you going?"

"Rafael needs me. Levine is far more skilled than him. I know the outcome of their close combat. Again, shoot, Ruri. Don't hesitate. Kung kailangan mo ubusin lahat ng bala, gawin mo."

Kahit duguan si Ichiro, dahan dahan siyang umakyat ng hagdan papunta kay Rafael. Hindi ko na alam ang mga nangyayari, but all I know that the three of them are still fighting. This seems like the longest minute of my life.

I heard several gunshots and there is a long silence. I quickly covered my mouth when I heard Levine's voice.

Tears began to fall on my cheeks. It only means that Rafael and Ichiro are both death.

"Ruri, where are you? We have a lunch date, remember?" sigaw niya habang naglalakad palapit sa hagdan.

I covered my mouth dahil sa takot. No one can save me now.

"Should I call you Rosalind instead?" dagdag ni Levine na dahan dahan na bumaba sa hagdan.

I want pull the trigger, but I can't move. My hands are shaking in panic. I am holding the gun, but my body is frozen with fear. Ichiro is gone, Rafael is gone.

I saw Levine's devilish smile appeared nang makita niya ko na nakaupo sa sahig. I want to beg for my life para sa baby ko, but Levine is a psychopath. Hindi ko akalain na ang lalaking tinuring kong kaibigan ay ang taong nasa harap ko na ngayon.

"Rosalind, you don't have to be scared. It is me, Jairon. We are friends right?" sabi niya na unti unting lumalapit sa akin. He pulled another gun as if he is ready to shoot me in the head.

"Ssshhh, you don't need to cry. Just close your eyes and it will be over in seconds, Rosalind," he whispered as he gently touch my hair.

"I really really really like you Rosalind. Kung hindi ka anak ni Big Boss, I can spare your life but you are a loose end."

Loose end. Sabi ni Rafael noon, I am a loose end so he can't let me live.

Kung alam ko lang na mamamatay ako sa kamay ng lalaking ito, sana pinatay na lang ako ni Rafael noon. I closed my eyes and I accepted my dreadful fate as tears flowed on my cheeks.

I heard three consecutive gunshots and then darkness filled my eyes...