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Chapter 5 – Womanizer

Ferris Rutherford is a tall, slender young man who always smiles warmly. His brown hair grow beyond his ears, even with hair on his jaw and chin that framed his slender face. His eyebrows are thick, he has brown eyes the color of amber stones that are always shining, radiating the strength and passion he has in living life. There was also pride and arrogance that shone through his eyes.

This Formula Prime racer who is on the rise has indeed caught the attention of many parties; racing sports lovers in the world, major sponsors in Formula Prime car racing, prestigious Formula Prime car manufacturers on the Euro continent, news reporters, and none other than girls all over the world who are crazy about him and they suddenly become fans of Formula Prime. Those girls always hoping for Fez's victory in each series, so they can watch Fez standing on the podium, lifting the trophy, and spraying the winning champagne. Fez's calm and cool demeanor makes his fans, the girls, even more crazy about him.

His handsome and charming physique makes him the target of various well-known companies in the world, and they offer themselves to become Fez's sponsor. Fez enthusiastically signed contract with many of them. He has starred in advertisements for world-renowned fashion brands, branded watches, branded shoes, and also others. Just like recently, to fill the time before the racing season starts, he becomes a brand ambassador for a well-known cellphone company which is one of the biggest car team sponsors. He did his new job with great enthusiasm and he enjoyed it. His face is now on billboards, advertisements on television, and also advertisements in magazines. This makes girls all over the world increasingly captivated by his charms, and fall in love with him.

Fez, who has a narcissistic trait in him, is very well aware that he is in the public spotlight in all corners of the world and is liked by girls. So he kept on being cool and calm when dealing with his fans, and also when the press interviewed him and took his pictures. He enjoyed the public attention aimed at him.

***

That day, in a luxurious lounge in Leighryn, Fez and his close friends from the GT Forrier car team were having a great time. 

Fez sat relaxed and crossed his legs. Both hands on the stomach, his fingers met each other. He focused on listening to his friend's chat. Even though the press didn't swarm him like mosquitoes, he still tried to look cool. He noticed a group of girls sitting across from them were captivated by his charms and were always stealing glances at him. Fez laughed inwardly, then smiled at one of the girls he caught staring at him. The girl returned Fez's smile shyly.

"Heh! Stop spreading your charm!" said Shawn Renan, punching Fez in the shoulder, making Fez flinch in surprise. Shawn Renan is also a driver for the GT Forrier team, Fez's partner, who is four years older than Fez.

"Shit, don't bother me," Fez replied.

"Come on, Fez. Don't you realize you've had dozens of girlfriends? Don't you feel sorry for those girls?" asked another, nosy.

Fez looked bored. "Yeah... yeah...."

"So? Did you flirt with that woman too? Holden Bannister the Hollawood actress. How many times have you and her shot that new Forrier commercial? I guess you've already flirted with her. She's pretty hot."

"Holden Bannister?" said Fez. "Nah, she's not my type. I mean, yeah, she's pretty cute, but ...."

One of them named Dan cut in, "But Holden isn't as sexy as his current girlfriend. That's what you mean, Fez?"

"Huh, you got a new girlfriend? It feels like just last week you introduced your Frenchye girlfriend. Now there's already the new one?"

"You don't seem to know him that much," said Dan. "No girl ever stayed in Fez's arms for more than a week. Fez's current girlfriend is an actress from Columbia. I give her a thumbs-up, she's incredibly sexy! Her name is Luna Estrada. Here, ask our Don Juan about his new girlfriend," he said again as he elbowed Fez.

Fez smiled broadly. "Yea ... Luna sure is hot. Hollie, I mean, that Holden Bannister is not as sexy as Luna. Luna has her .... You know, her boobs. Southern women like her are much bigger than Euro women. Yea ... I think I'm addicted to her lumps," he said honestly, without censorship at all, while laughing.

"Bloody hell ... you're such a womanizer," commented Shawn.

"With Vivian Pramoj? Phailand women are also sexy, I think. Not much different from typical Columbians. Moreover, she already got the title 'Sexiest Woman' by FHM."

"Ah! That's so last year! I already forgot about that Vivian. Anyway, either Luna, Vivian, Sophie, Sabine, err ... and those others, I flirt with them according to my mood. Today I'm in the mood with the sexiest, tomorrow I'm so into with whose body is normal but advanced in bed. That's how it is," explained Fez as if he was explaining the most natural thing in the world.

"So, you're changing girlfriends every week .... Aren't you bored, doing that?"

Dan chuckled. "People like Fez never get tired of it! But yeah, the loss for us is, the choice of women we can date has decreased a lot because most of them have slept with Fez. Do you want to approach Fez's 'former' woman? I refuse unequivocally, thank you."

Fez sneered. "Well, that's your business. What do I care? What is clear, of all that, I have chosen eight girls to make masterpieces. I have painted their beauty on canvas."

"You painted them?" asked a surprised Dan, gaping in disbelief.

"But they're not those of your girlfriend celebrities, right?"

Fez nodded. "They're celebrities. All of them. So, I could say, I didn't just get signatures from celebrities, but also brush strokes depicting their beautiful bodies," he answered, while his friends just sighed and shook their heads. "Hey, what's wrong with that? They agreed to be painted by me. And again, don't worry, those paintings are not for commercial purposes. Only for my private collections," Fez said lightly.

"Of course, you should make that private! You are committing a crime if you show or even sell those paintings to other people. Your girlfriends can sue you," commented Shawn. "One more thing, have mercy on them," he added.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," said Fez bored.

"Well, as you please, Fez. The most important thing is that you don't put your career second to women, because GT Forrier still needs you. You're ready for this year's racing season, right?" asked Steffan Ahlquist, Fez's manager, who had been silent all along.

Fez grinned widely. "Oh, sure! A racer has to always be ready to fight, bro. And don't worry, for me, sex is the umpteenth thing, even though from the outside it may seem that I put sex first. I'm much more concerned with career ... and money, of course."

Stefan smiled. "Glad to hear that."

"You can count on me! After all, under the hot conditions between me and Alvarez, do you think I will give up, like last year? I won't!" exclaimed Fez excitedly.

Shawn commented, "Optimistic and ambitious. That's who you are."

 

Chapter 6 – Ambitious Racer

Shawn commented, "Optimistic and ambitious. That's who you are."

One of them said, "Hey, somehow, ever since our new car was tested, and since its launch, I've had a good feeling about this season."

"Hopefully, it will end well for our team," said Dan.

Fez continued, "Guys, what's missing from the GT Forrier? There's me and Shawn at the forefront. The car we're going to use this year, the GT17, is much better than the car we used last year. Luck, it must be there because the Goddess of Fortune must fall for my charms. It's just a matter of figuring out the strategy we'll use, to defeat that goddamn Glauber, our toughest rival car team!" he shouted excitedly, making his friends silent.

Shawn replied, "Really. Since you joined this team, we can feel much more confident. This is all because of your infectious optimism," he said while patting Fez's shoulder.

"Ooo, so you guys weren't optimistic all this time?" said Fez. "Anyway, this year we are doing what is best for the team! We are designing the right strategies so that we can always be above Glauber. Especially from our world champion, Jose Rudolpho Alvarez. It only takes one season for him to make me a loser. I won't let this season be his and Glauber's again. I'll prove it to the world," he continued excitedly.

"There's nothing wrong with what the world has called you, Fez. You're ambitious."

"Yeah, no wonder the world champion has never underestimated you."

Fez smiled. "It should be."

"But, it seems you also have to be careful of that person."

"That person?"

"Isaac Renauld! The one who looks like Ferris. He could be one of Ferris' arch rivals."

"Oh about that Isaac, I heard yesterday his car was accidentally hit by someone!"

"Yeah. The day before he was also 'robbed'. Robbed, but didn't lose anything, only the trophies were destroyed."

"Is he okay? After getting hit by that?"

"He's fine, except for the car."

Fez smiled slyly. "Even though it's better if he's not okay after that hit, huh ...."

"You're mean, Fez, just because he's your arch-rival."

"Ha! What did you say? He is not Fez's arch-rival. Llinos Purvance's quality is below ours! There's no way he could be such a tough rival to GT Forrier."

"I know, based on theories, Purvance's quality is below ours. But if Friedrich Sheppard as Glauber's boss targets Isaac Renauld as a replacement driver for Jose Rudolpho Alvarez, what would it be?"

"Damn, right, I heard about that rumor, too! They said Sheppard often has meetings with Renauld's agent."

"Well, why is he bothering to find a replacement? What's the point of their third driver and test driver?"

"It's like you don't know what kind of person Friedrich Sheppard is. Sheppard is a perfectionist. It seems he doesn't trust the ability of the test drivers he has, moreover, their test drivers are getting old. Sheppard needs fresh blood by recruiting talented young drivers. If necessary, he robs drivers from other teams. Right now, young racers who are shining are Ferris and that  Renauld."

"How tough is that guy? Did he get Sheppard's eye? Unbelievable."

"Are you blind? You didn't pay attention to his actions last season? He's tough, and his persistence makes it difficult for the other teams. He even gave Fez and Shawn trouble a few times. If it weren't for the poor performance and durability of his car, which often prevented him from finishing the race, of course, he can earn a lot of points and even win the podium!"

"Yeah, okay, I admit he is persistent and fast. It's just the car that sucks. But what you guys heard about Glauber siding with him is just rumors, right? There is no clear confirmation from Glauber or Renauld. At least for this year, he will not be a serious rival for our team, because he still belongs to Llinos Purvance, not Glauber! Keep those worries aside, until there is clear news about it."

Fez, who had been sitting quietly while listening to the debate between his friends, spoke up. "Never mind, guys. That guy will never be my arch-rival. From the looks of it ... I'd say he's kind of unlucky and would always be riding for a mid-to-lower car team. Well, let's just pray for that to happen."

"How can you be sure?" asked his friend.

"I'm pretty sure about that," answered Fez. "A racer must always believe what he's saying and doing."

Shawn shook his head. "Bastard. Of all the Formula Prime drivers I know, you're the only one, the one with the most arrogance and the most big mouth."

Fez shrugged. "Arrogant is still much better than insecure."

"By the way, I'm still wondering how come Ferris and Renauld have similar faces. Do you feel that way or not, Fez?"

"Hhm, well ... a little bit," Fez replied lazily.

"You and Renauld do look alike. That's true. I think you two are meant to be," Dan joked.

Fez crumpled the paper tissue he was holding and threw it at Dan. "You think I'm gay?!" he shouted, while Dan and the others chuckled.

"Perhaps he is your brother, Fez?"

Fez frowned. "Nah. I don't have any brothers."

**

Ferris' Mansion.

Ferris was lying naked in his studio room with an Columbian woman beside him, hugging him tightly.

The woman, Luna Estrada, stares at a nudist portrait of herself across the room. The painting was not finished by Fez, Fez still had to add light and shadow effects, as well as the finishing. But with Fez's ability, who has painted hundreds of paintings since his school days, finishing a painting doesn't take long. Although the painting has not been finished, the beauty of the painting is already evident. Luna realized that she looked so beautiful and charming in the painting, just like what Fez had always said to her. And she felt sure when the painting was finished, it would be a very beautiful painting, a masterpiece of art.

"This is the first time ... I've been painted as a nudist. So, it feels like this," said Luna.

Fez smiled. "Like what?"

"I feel I belong to you. Because while you were painting, I was the only one in your eyes. I'm the only one who keeps you looking at me ... and I'm happy. And you have me too. I want time to stop spinning ...."

Fez was satisfied to hear Luna's confession. He stroked Luna's black long hair. "Are you happy with me?" he asked.

"Sure! Sure ... but there's one thing I'm annoyed about."

"What is it?"

"I'm jealous to see you with that Holden Bannister. She and you also still have to shoot together. I'm jealous to think of you two alone ... chatting intimately, or just practicing acting."

"Why should you feel jealous? Do you think I'm flirting with her?"

Luna shook her head and then raised her face to meet Fez's eyes. "Not you ... but I'm sure she's paying attention to you. I can tell by the look in her eyes! She expects something more from you. Don't be tempted by her."

Fez chuckled lightly. "You are making it up, why should I be tempted by Holden? A thousand Holdens are meaningless to me because the only one I'm crazy about is you. You, you, and you. You always make me lose control, but I enjoy it," he said while grabbing Luna's lips with his own, then fondled her passionately. While his hands were busy roaming every inch of Luna's beautiful body.

 

Chapter 7 – Magnum

Just call me Magnum. Magnum is one of the deadliest firearms. Because it's my job to kill someone who deserves to die. Ha ha. No, unfortunately, I'm not joking.

I heard the chatter of two people sitting behind me, disturbing my peace eating my lunch today.

"The police still can't catch the serial killer, huh." A woman's voice.

The man replied, "It seems they have reached a dead end. There are no clues, no evidence, or any enlightening testimony."

"I'm getting worried... The killer's last act was by the end of the past year, right? And usually every few months there will be new victims!" the woman exclaimed.

"That's right," said the man. "He doesn't discriminate, he's sadistic! Lastly, the victim was killed while relaxing in the park! In an open space like that! The perpetrator had guts .... Just imagine, some husband and wife were relaxing, minding their own business, they even didn't know the perpetrator, then suddenly they were stabbed to death! Even though they have nothing to do with the perpetrator, how could that person just take someone's life as they please? I'm sure that person is purely mentally ill!"

Hmm. I sipped my drink. The perpetrator is said to have guts. Of course. Only guts I have.

"I remember of one case, he killed in the victim's own house. He tied the victim's hands and covered their head with plastic, then just left them in the bathroom until they ran out of breath! Those incidents happened in the victim's own house! What the!"

Oooh. That one case, I remember it too. I nodded. These two people behind me are my fans. They remember everything I do, you know!

"All the victims he killed were married couples aged 50-60 years. I'm also really worried, honey. What was the motive of the killer...?"

"He's mentally ill, you said that. That's why he's on the prowl. I'm terrified ... Mommy and Daddy are of that age. They also often go for walks in the park. What if ... what if one day they meet the killer? He doesn't discriminate!"

"We've already told them not to go out if they don't have any important business. Calm down, honey."

"Yes, you're right ...."

"Hopefully the serial killer who for whatever reason targeted the husband and wife pair repents soon. Or even better, he's already dead. Don't let him run wild again, someone with cruel intentions like him! He's disturbing everyone's peace and security!"

Wow. I was sworn to death. Duh, I feel so scared ... haha.

"Yeah .... Let's hope so."

"We pray for the safety of our parents, honey. May they always be protected. The power of prayer is very effective, everyone knows that."

I've been holding back my laughter since I was listening to this ridiculous conversation between the two people behind me. Prayer does work, he says. Prayer to whom? Which figure? Who claims omnipotence?

I heard the voice of the man again continuing his lecture. "And pray for the other couples. They are innocent of anything but are forced to be victims of the killer's savagery!"

Savage, you say. What if after this I finish you off? I assume you two are also husband and wife, even though you are barely half a century old. But that's okay. Once in a while, I don't mind breaking my record and widening the age range that can be my victims. That's not a big deal for me.

You, who were my victims, and who will be my next victims in the future, all of you should be very grateful to me. I had to go to great lengths to arrange death for you guys! Do you think just killing is enough? The hardest task is just after execution. How to clean up every trace of my acts so they don't get tracked. So far I've been successful. There is no suspicion whatsoever that leads to me. I made those stupid cops look barren and lame, unable to do anything while the small part of the people they protected had to meet the angel of death sooner than they should be.

From the window, I could see a couple in their 50s passing by. The woman seemed happily chattering, while her husband reacted with a smile. A couple that looks happy, but also weak. They seemed pretty easy candidates for me to work with. For a moment I contemplated, should I chase after this couple, or stay here waiting for the couple behind me and follow them home?

But I prefer to choose the one that just passed by earlier. So I quickly packed up, about to follow them. Dear couple in the back, you are safe this time.

Hmm. Why do I hear you protesting me? Why, you ask?

I have my reasons. Regardless if you want to know my reasons or not, I do not care. I'll just say it frankly. I have a grudge against a couple, of ordinary civilians, who have ruined my whole life. I went through hard times with sweat and blood, while they lived peacefully and happily out there. Is that fair? No. Absolutely not.

Until my last victim, whom I killed in the park, I didn't know the identity of the married couple who were my original targets. Well, how can I target those two when I don't know their names or faces? Simple. Because they were the ones who just threw me away when I was still a newborn and couldn't do anything. Yeah. They are my biological parents. I wasn't interested in finding out their identities and meeting them nicely, and then a sweet reunion ensued. No. I only want to make them miserable and destroy them forever. So since then, I've been on the prowl for prey, married couples, who might just be my real targets. All this time I wished I had killed my original target, but I couldn't settle down with empty hopes.

And at the beginning of the year, for the first time, I learned the name of my real target. They are both still alive today. Living a quiet life on the outskirts of Leighryn. Yeah, I've even got their addresses too. I just have to eliminate them both, right? Then this serial murder case stopped there.

But I have no interest in doing that. After dirtying my hands so many times with the blood of my victims, somehow I became addicted. I enjoyed the adrenaline rushing in my body every time I executed my victims. I enjoyed my own heart beating when it happened, and I'm satisfied if I managed to do it brilliantly. Even more satisfied when I succeeded in eliminating traces and leaving the bodies of my victims lying stiff.

I decided to continue having fun this way, while I thought about the best way to eliminate my original target. As the main target, their death must be something special, right?

I hope my explanation is enough. Now is the time for me to focus on my potential victims for today. I walked about ten meters behind the couple, following wherever they went...

Chapter 8 – Good Guy Ike

Hello, this is Isaac Renauld. Formula Prime racer for the Llinos Purvance car team.

The grueling race for the day is over. As soon as I parked my car in the team garage, I jumped out of the car's cockpit, then took off my helmet. And after weighing according to regulations, I drank as much mineral water as I could.

The air at this time still feels humid but hot after the heavy rain that flushed the circuit that afternoon. After passing the qualifying round yesterday, no one expected that it would rain very hard today, forcing many car teams, including our car team, to change strategies because the circuit became wet and tricky. But anyway I'm grateful because today I managed to finish successfully and still managed to get points. Yes, even though I only managed to finish in eighth position and that means I only managed to get one point, this is a good start in the first Grand Prix series this season. Hopefully, in the future, I can get more points and our team will no longer be a dark horse team that often fails at crucial moments.

I saw the three podium finishers that day, aka the three winners of the competition. The winners of this victory were the team duo Glauber, Jose Rudolpho Alvarez, and Fabio Ortolani, as well as the champion of the GT Forrier team, Ferris Rutherford. With bright faces and wide smiles, it was obvious they felt the euphoria of victory overflowing. They shot each other the winning champagne after the trophy was handed over.

This Ferris Rutherford is such an excellent racer. I always salute Rutherford. He and Alvarez completely dominated the race earlier, as if the entire circuit belonged only to the two of them. In the middle of the race it seemed that Alvarez had slowed down and this opportunity was immediately taken advantage of by Ferris, who until the race was over managed to maintain his position, he was firmly in first place.

Ferris Rutherford is said to have the same face as me. That's what they said, that's what I heard. But it seems it is true, there are similarities in our faces. But there are also some differences between us. Apart from Ferris' achievements being far more flashy than mine, Ferris always appeared in public with his facial hair. Hmm, I don't think he ever shaves his hair. Unlike me, who never once let hair grow on my face. It's just that I always want to look neat and clean. I guess if I let the hair grow out on my face, or if that Ferris shaved off the hair on his face, we'd both look alike.

I do not understand why such a coincidence could happen! Imagine, two racers carry the name Eastland on the Formula Prime world stage, have different surnames but have almost the same face ... and more clearly, different fates. Ferris, who has always had a flashy career and is a top racer, compared to me, Isaac Renauld, who still can't show the world that I have spurs!

I've never played around with careers. I always do my best, I even often provide valuable input to the team so that the Llinos Purvance team can develop the car's engine and performance so that the world no longer underestimated us. But, maybe I should try harder.

Me and Ferris are just acquaintances. We barely know each other, we rarely talk face-to-face. But even so, Ferris' success inspired and fueled my passion for racing. Yeah, you could say I made Ferris a role model all along.

A bunch of news reporters blocked my way while pointing their mic when I was about to head to the paddock club to pick up my girlfriend. As usual, the press tried to find as much news as possible, including a word or two from me about the race. And I, as usual, always respond to their questions as friendly as possible. I understand that the press has many roles in the career advancement of an athlete. In some ways, every athlete depends on good news coverage in the media through the press. I feel the presence of the press is important. So I always try to build a good relationship with them, at least I never refuse to be interviewed or photographed.

Tanya, my girlfriend, suddenly came over. "Honey ...." She called spoiled, immediately clung to my arm.

"Hey, honey, why did you come here?" I asked concerned. I know that Tanya can never stand the heat, so whenever she accompanies me, she is always at the paddock club. The club is more comfortable and has air conditioners.

"Ah, it's nothing, I'm just bored at the club ... can we go now? If not, I'll go back to the hotel first. I'm tired," complained Tanya.

Do you want to leave me here?

"Hmm. Can't you wait for me a moment?" I persuaded.

"I'm bored here, I have no one to chat with, while you're busy. If I knew it would be like this, I wouldn't have to come here." Tanya said sullenly. Her brown eyes like sulking, ah this girlfriend of mine is indeed a bit spoiled.

"There are no more friends to talk to at the hotel, honey."

"Yeah, what can I do? I'm here to accompany you just because I don't want to be alone in Leighryn. Remember, a killer is roaming freely there? There was another new victim yesterday. We don't know what kind of psychopath he is. Yesterday he was targeting older couples, how about next time he targets even more random victims? Target me, for example, because I often live alone. Just like you, you've been the target of bad guys twice. You can't even see what their face looks like, I could just pass him by or some other bad person, or the person who ran into you yesterday or messed up the house that time. Don't you worry about me?"

"Yeah, of course, I'm worried about you," I said. "Come on now, be a little more patient, OK? In a little while, my affairs here will be finished. Don't you wish going to shopping at Miran tomorrow?  I'll accompany you until you're satisfied shopping," I coaxed.

And suddenly Tanya's eyes lit up. "You promise??"

I smiled and nodded. Miran is the name of a city that is famous for its fashion industry, almost all famous fashion designers in the world come from this city. And of course, as a woman who likes to buy beautiful clothes like Tanya, shopping there is one of her dreams.

"Promise?" Tanya demanded my answer.

"Yes, I promise."

A wide smile spread across Tanya's face, she tightened her grip on my arm, "Okay ... you promise to accompany me shopping ... you pay for it too, okay? I'll wait for you here until your business is done ... I promise," she said.

Ah, Tanya, Tanya. Indeed, Tanya's only hobbies are shopping and traveling, or spending money on sprees. But even so, I love this girl.