2025-02-23 19:05:22Huff! Huff! Huff!
"Not... not... no... not Reyna," Rico panted, his breath ragged as he forced himself onward.
His legs burned, his breath ragged from exhaustion.
He had been running for what felt like hours, dragging himself across the streets toward the abandoned construction site around Dominga Street, where he knew Reyna and her friends were.
His body screamed for rest, but the thought of what they might do to her pushed him onward.
He had to warn her.
Finally, the towering unfinished building came into view. Rico saw the cars parked outside, his heart sinking.
They're here.
Desperation fueled his legs as he charged forward, calling her name with every ounce of strength left in him.
"Reyna!! Reyna!!" His voice echoed through the half-built structure, his throat raw.
He darted inside, climbing the rough concrete stairs two at a time.
At the rooftop
Laughter and music filled the rooftop.
Six of them—Mateo, his friends, and the girls—lounged around with music playing from a portable speaker.
Empty bottles of alcohol were scattered on the ground, along with bags of snacks.
Blankets had been laid out to create a comfortable makeshift party spot.
Mateo's friends exchanged glances, silently communicating with their eyes as they passed drinks around, waiting for the moment to strike.
"Tonight's gonna be wild," Mateo said, eyeing Reyna with a grin, his hand resting too comfortably on her leg.
The other boys exchanged knowing glances, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Reyna sat in the middle, swaying to the music, blissfully unaware of the danger that lay ahead.
Meanwhile, Rico continued to call out, his voice growing hoarse.
"Reyna!! Reyna!!"
His cries finally became audible over the music.
One of the girls furrowed her brows and nudged Reyna.
"Huh? Did you hear that? Someone's calling you, Reyna," she said, confused.
Mateo immediately turned the volume down.
Reyna!! Reyna!!
Mateo smirked, recognizing the voice.
"Haha, you've got to be kidding me... Rico?! That pathetic loser!" he laughed, and the boys joined in.
"Why the hell is he here?" one of the other guys asked, rolling his eyes.
Reyna's expression twisted into a mix of surprise and irritation.
"Rico? What the hell is he doing here?" she muttered under her breath.
The group stood up, intrigued, as Rico stumbled onto the rooftop, his chest heaving.
Sweat drenched his body, his legs shaking from the long run.
His breath came in short, ragged bursts, and he looked as though he could collapse at any moment.
"Reyna..." Rico croaked, barely able to speak. He staggered toward her, pointing weakly in her direction.
Reyna, now approaching him with Mateo and the others behind her, glared at him.
Her face was twisted in anger and disbelief.
"You're crazy, Rico! What the hell do you think you're doing here? Stalking me now? Get a life!" she spat, jabbing her finger toward his chest.
"Reyna, listen... Mateo's not good for you," Rico said, his voice barely audible, as he tried to catch his breath.
His words were almost drowned out by Reyna's furious ranting.
"What?!" Reyna shouted, stepping closer as she shoved her finger into his chest.
"You're seriously delusional. Who do you think you are to tell me what I should do with my life?" She jabbed her finger more intensely at him again.
"You're just a loser. You always have been, and you always will be!"
"What, you think this is some love story? You think you're my knight in shining armor, here to save the day?" she mocked, her voice sharp as a blade.
"No... Reyna, they want to hurt you... all of you," Rico pleaded, but his knees began to buckle.
The world spun around him as he reached out, grabbing Reyna's shoulder for balance.
!!!
"How dare you!" Reyna shrieked, recoiling from his touch.
In a fit of rage, she shoved him hard, her fingers digging into his chest.
Rico, unsteady on his feet, stumbled backward.
His legs, already giving out, failed to support him as he tripped over the edge of the rooftop.
Time seemed to freeze as his body tipped over the side.
For a brief moment, everything was silent.
Rico's arms flailed, his mind blank with shock as his body plummeted from the towering building.
Rico's eyes widened in horror as he realized what was happening.
For a brief moment, he locked eyes with Reyna, but there was no time to speak.
His body plunged off the edge of the towering structure, and the city lights blurred as he fell toward the ground below.
THUD!!!
The sound of his body hitting the ground was deafening in the still night air.
A sharp ringing filled Rico's ears, a high-pitched tone that drowned out everything else.
The world around him faded away, replaced by darkness.
In those final moments, as the pain of the fall began to fade, his life flashed before his eyes—every humiliation, every moment he'd loved Reyna, every time he'd been beaten down for being an orphan.
It all rushed through his mind in a single, overwhelming wave.
Reyna... he thought, her face the last image in his mind before the darkness consumed him.
But then, out of the void, a light shimmered, growing brighter and brighter until it consumed everything.
The pain vanished, and Rico felt himself rising, leaving his broken body behind.
Rico opened his eyes and found himself standing in an unfamiliar place.
The sky above was an endless, glowing expanse of white, and beneath him was a simple stone platform.
He was barefoot, dressed in a plain tunic and trousers, his body unmarked by any of the injuries from the fall.
He looked around and saw towering figures seated high above him on ornate thrones, arranged in a circle around the platform.
Their faces were hidden by veils of light, and their presence exuded power and authority.
He stood at the center, like a defendant in a courtroom, and they were his judges.
One of the beings, holding an ancient scroll, began to speak in a booming voice.
"By the code of the realm, we announce the passing of Rico Santos—time of death: 5:47 PM, Earth realm, at dominga street. Cause of death: fatal fall."
Rico's heart pounded in his chest.
He wanted to speak, but his mouth wouldn't move.
Was this real? Or was it some kind of strange dream?
The words hit Rico like a freight train.
I'm... dead? He still couldn't comprehend it.
"Let us weigh the soul of Rico Santos," the being continued, unrolling the long scroll.
"His sins and his virtues. His good deeds, though humble, outweigh his sins."
Another voice chimed in.
"He was an orphan, a boy with little to his name, but he lived with faith in the teachings of Christianity."
"His karma points are significant, and his faith, though tested, remained strong."
Rico listened, confused and overwhelmed.
This couldn't be real, could it? He felt like he was watching someone else's life being reviewed.
"His faith in the Holy Scripture complements his deeds. Let it be known, Rico Santos has earned passage into heaven."
One of the judges raised their hand and waved two fingers over the scroll.
A massive hammer slammed down onto the document, sealing it with a glowing mark.
"By divine decree, your heavenly name is Rico 'Tiyaga' Santos. Your rank: Ordinary."
"You shall ascend to the heavens and reside in Heaven of the Righteous Faithful, where you will continue your journey."
!!!
Ting!
A soft chime rang through the air.
[System Initializing...]
[Scanning Being...][Scan Complete.][Name: Rico Tiyaga Santos.][Rank: Ordinary.][Occupation: None.]
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Huff! Huff! Huff!"Not... not... no... not Reyna," Rico panted, his breath ragged as he forced himself onward. His legs burned, his breath ragged from exhaustion.He had been running for what felt like hours, dragging himself across the streets toward the abandoned construction site around Dominga Street, where he knew Reyna and her friends were.His body screamed for rest, but the thought of what they might do to her pushed him onward.He had to warn her.Finally, the towering unfinished building came into view. Rico saw the cars parked outside, his heart sinking.They're here.Desperation fueled his legs as he charged forward, calling her name with every ounce of strength left in him."Reyna!! Reyna!!" His voice echoed through the half-built structure, his throat raw.He darted inside, climbing the rough concrete stairs two at a time.At the rooftopLaughter and music filled the rooftop.Six of them—Mateo, his friends, and the girls—lounged around with music playing from a portabl
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