SA mismong tapat ng bahay huminto ang taxing sinakyan ni Gayle. Agad namang napatayo ang taong naghihintay sa labas ng gate niya. "Gabi na ah." Nakagat ni Gayle ang labi sa pagpipigil sa sarili.

What a great timing to see the person who caused all the ruckus on her life right now. Kung hindi ito nagumpisang sumulpot sa buhay niya, she would still be having a peaceful mind right now.

"Kanina pa ako naghihintay dito. Pwede ba tayong magusap?" Hindi niya tiningnan ang lalaki at binuksan niya lang ang gate. Iniwan niya ito sa labas pero napigilan agad ni Rant ang pagsara noon saka sumunod sa kaniya sa loob.

"Sandali lang! Hindi pa ako nakakapagpasalamat sa'yo tungkol sa-"

"What's your deal this time?" Natigilan si Rant sa madilim na aura ng babae. She's.. madder than her usual mad face. "Ahm.. Gusto ko lang magpasalamat."

"Done. Nakapagpasalamat ka na. You can get your dog anytime. Ngayon na ba? I can get him here para maisama mo na siya." Akmang papasok ng bahay si Gayle but Rant grabbed her hand.

She's strangely getting mad at him. Not that she haven't been mad to him before pero iba yung ngayon. Her jaws tighten as if suppressing herself.

"Just take your dog and get lost forever! I don't want to see your face again, Rant Masigasig. Famous call-boy in town. I heard Mr. Florente paid you to get me on a date with him. Is that job still going on until now that's why you keep appearing before me? How shameless." Surprised to what he heard, Rant lost grip on her hand. She knew.

"I wonder how much did you get from that Florente whatever-guy. I just dumped your client so get lost for good now. You don't have any reason to keep up with me." Pagharap ni Gayle papalapit sa bahay niya ay naroon naghihintay ang aso nito at pinapanuod sila.

She doesn't want to let the dog go. She just wants to discard any connection to Rant anymore. Kahit labag sa loob niya.

"You should go with him now." Malungkot na hinimas niya ang ulo nito then she went inside her house not looking back.

Rant couldn't defend himself. Hindi man lang siya nakapagpaliwanag. Siguro dahil guilty din siya. Did Dalmatian told her that too? Rant looks to askal with its blaming and judging dog eyes. Askal is starting to look like that woman. Tsk!

GAYLE had no proper sleep again the following nights. She misses the dog but she shouldn't. Dahil sa sobrang sama ng loob nitong nakaraang gabi ay wala siyang lakas na pumasok kinabukasan. If only she could just file a sick leave today, everyday.

She had her usual gear again. A sunglass on her eyes and her mighty pieces of earphone rejecting social interaction. These past few days, she let her guard down. Ngayon kailangan niya nang bumalik sa dati.

"Hi!" Gayle kept her face straight.

"Hindi ka na naman namamansin. Uy, irapan mo naman ako." Gemini poked her again habang naglalakad sila sa lobby. Gayle still ignores her.

"Gayle!" Her eyebrows curled in annoyance. Nagpipigil na hinablot niya ang braso nito mula sa paghawak sa kaniya.

"Are you dumb o nangiinis ka talaga? I'm not talking to you because I don't want to. Can't you just stay away from me?" Inirapan niya sa likod ng sunglass ang babae at muling tinalikuran ito.

"That's harsh. I'm- I'm just being friendly!" Naiinis na sinundan ulit siya ni Gemini.

"I don't need a friend!" Madiing ipinaintindi niya yun sa babae nang hinarap ulit ito. Hurt flashed on her annoyingly sweet face. The face that Rat had his head over heels.

"Ano ba'ng problema mo? Alam kong loner ka but you shouldn't humiliate me like this just for asking to be friends!" Nagumpisa silang pagtinginan ng mga empleyado. Napataas naman ang sulok ng labi ni Gayle. Now she looses her sweet composure and showing off her little fangs.

"I wouldn't have done this if you're quick enough to figure out that I don't like your company. I'm just tired keeping up to your annoying sweety act so go away from me." Walang emosyong binitiwan ni Gayle ang mga salita. This is just her usual self.

"What?" Gemini felt hurt to her sudden meanful words. Hindi niya akalaing ganito ang iniisip nito sa pakikisama niya sa kaklase.

She already think of Gayle as a friend now but knowing Gayle never thought of her as one, that hurts. Pinigil niya ang pagtulo ng luha habang nagiging sentro na sila ng atensyon.

Sa gitna ng crowd na nakikichismis sa komosyon nila ng Gem-whatever girl ay natanaw ni Gayle ang lalaking umamin sa kaniya na lalong ikinainit ng ulo niya.

"If I were you, you should get aware about your Rat boyfriend. Who knows, he might be just getting paid on dating you. He's capable of that, believe me. Maybe when you meet him later, kumpirmahin mo kung gusto ka ba talaga niya. Baka tinitiis niya lang din ang presensya mo nang hindi mo namamalayan. Do that so you won't get shamed again like this." Gayle left without feeling sorry but half on her way, Gem-whatever speaks again.

"I hate you! I'm already seeing you as a friend tapos- I can't believe this." Gayle heard people comfort that sobbing girl far behind her. They all symphatize with her and hate Gayle for being rude. Maging ang mga kasama niya sa office ay dumistansya sa kaniya. Just great, now she's getting the solitude she needed. Nandito lang naman siya to finish her job and graduate, not to socialize.

"MS. RIAD and Ms. Mercado, please go to Mrs. Montez' office. ASAP." Parehong nakuha nito ang pansin ng dalawa. Gayle just stood silently at tinungo ang office where she needs to be.

"I am Mrs. Montez. I do counseling and disciplining here. You made a quiet fuss down there earlier. I really see your attitude there very inappropriate in work, Ms. Riad. Whatever the tension between you two needs to be settle down, right here right now. We don't tolerate such behavior inside this company. Both of you. Now first, apologize to Ms. Mercado, Ms. Riad." The old woman requested to Gayle.

Gemini waited for her to do what she was told to. "And please take your sunglass off. This isn't any beach you go vacation."

"I'm sorry ma'am but I'm comfortable with this. And I deserve to be left alone after what I said. I mean those words." Gemini can't believe her pride. Alam niyang hindi palakaibigan ito but she keeps understanding her personality.

Despite her being a loner, she sincerely been wanting to befriend Gayle ever since they're still in first year.

"Ms. Riad, you should watch your words. All you have to do is to say sorry to her. Mahirap ba yun?"

"I believe saying sorry should be from the heart. Kapag nagsorry po ako sa kaniya ngayon, that won't be sincere." Gayle's hand on her laps clenching to her jeans. Hinihiling niyang paalisin na siya ngayon. Wala siyang pakialam kung galit sa kaniya itong Gem-whatever girl.

"It's okay, ma'am. Don't force her. She's always like that ever since our first year. Hindi po talaga siya sociable. Dati akala ko po, tahimik lang talaga siya. I respect her space. But right now, I think she's just putting her miseries to other people." Gayle smirks. Look at this Gem-whatever girl talking as if she knew her with sarcasm.

Hindi siya sumagot. Let them see her base on what they think she is. She just stood excusing herself.

"Aalis na po ako." Lumabas ng silid si Gayle gritting her teeth and clenching her fists. Maybe she's really miserable herself para makipagkaibigan. So what?

"Kanina pa nagri-ring yung phone mo. You should check it. Mukhang importante." Sabi ng isang empleyado sa kaniya kaya dinampot niya agad ang cellphone.

There are indeed 20 missed calls. Ganun ba siya katagal sa office ni Mrs. Montez?

'Gayle, I can't reach you. You're mom is flying to Switzerland this afternoon. I don't know how to stop her.'

Nakaabang na nakatingin sa kaniya ang mga kasamahang empleyado and Gemini just got back. Nanginginig ang mga daliri na nagdial sa phone si Gayle.

"Please, answer." Lahat nanunuod sa natatarantang pagiipon niya ng mga gamit niya. Lahat din nagulat nang tumakbo palabas ng office si Gayle dala ang gamit na wala man lang pasabi sa kanilang lahat. Nabunggo pa niya si Gemini sa may pinto and everyone was clueless about why she left.

"M-Manong sa airport po, please." Nanginginig ang boses niya nang makasakay sa taxi. "Po? Malayo yun ma'am ah."

"I don't care! Just.. just drive. Please, manong. Magbabayad naman ako. Pakibilisan din po." Hindi na tumutol pa ang driver nang makitang tumutulo na ang luha niya.

She's been praying that her mom won't go. Akala niya okay na siyang maghiwalay ang mga magulang niya and go on with their own lives. But not this soon. Hindi pa siya handang umalis ang naging ina niya sa paglaki.

Sobra-sobrang bayad ang inabot niya sa manong at nagmamadaling bumaba ng taxi. She ran through the crowd coming in and out of the airport. There's too many of them. Parang umiikot ang paningin niya sa dami ng taong nagbabalik-balik sa harapan niya. Her sweats running down her temple in fright na hindi na maabutan ang ina.

Umiiyak na tinawagan niya ang mommy. "M-Mom, where are you? Please don't leave. Please. I'm here at the airport. Please go home with me. Don't leave us." She weeps over the phone at pilit hinahanap ang ina sa dagsa ng mga tao sa loob ng airport.

"I love you, Gayle. But this is for the better. Hiwalay na kami ng daddy mo. I can't stay here anymore. I can't move on if I'm here. I'll come visit you kapag okay na ako. I'm sorry. I know this is selfish." Lalong napahagulgol si Gayle sa hindi na mababagong desisyon ng ina.

"T-Then. Let me see you before you go." She desperately resquested.

"I'm sorry, Gayle. Nasa eroplano na ako. The plane is taking off in a minute. I'll see you when I get back. Though that might take some time." Gayle fell on the floor. Her cries reached her mom's line. Nalulungkot man ang mommy niya ay buo na ang loob nitong umalis.

"I'm really sorry, Gayle. I hope you become a fine lady even if I wasn't with you. Thank you for coming to my life." The call was ended with her cry. Naikulong niya na lang sa palad ang mga luha.

Maybe some people are just like wind passing through. Their time comes for them to leave. In this heartbreaking breeze, she's like a bird flying against the wind. She wanted to stay. She wanted to keep this wind and stay on her flight. Ayaw niyang magpatangay sa ihip. She wanted to fly north to change the reality that had gone south.

The reality that left them all broken. The wind blows against her and she fell wounded in the ground, half-alive.

Repeated rings had been echoing inside her house. She couldn't remember where did she even put her phone. Hindi niya alam kung may mga batang naglalaro lang sa doorbell niya sa gate that she sometimes hear it rings too. She's just burying herself under her sheet.

Rant is taking askal in a walk nang mapadaan sila sa tirahan ng babae. He stops infront when askal stops to stare at the gate. Tila gusto nitong pumasok but Rant always stops him. Ayaw niyang magkaproblema ulit sa babae. He's been keeping his distance from her. He's trying to get lost on her sight for good just like what she wanted.

One night nang mapadaan siya dito, he heard faint cries inside. Hindi niya alam kung hikbi iyon ng isang multong balak lang na takutin siya but it's definitely coming inside the fence.

"Don't even think about it, askal. Gusto mo bang mawala na ako sa mundo kapag nakita na naman ako nung babaeng yun? Sa'yo baka matuwa pa siyang makita ka pero malabo sa akin. Kaya tara na. Kalimutan mo na siya." Askal even pouted to him. Pumayag ang tiyahin niyang doon muna itong aso hangga't wala pa daw umaampon. Pansamantala lang.

Pinanlakihan niya ng mata ang aso nang para siya nitong inaasar. Idinikit kasi nito ang isang paa sa gate na parang nakikipagtantiyahan pa sa kaniya.

"Seryoso ako, askal. Wag- Hoy!" Hinabol niya pa ang artificial leg nito bago tuluyang makapasok but he failed. Tila sadyang ginawaan ng babae ng sariling pinto ang aso sa baba ng gate kaya ang lakas ng loob ng askal. Tsk!

"What the! Askal lumabas ka dyan, ano ba!" He jumps to see the askal trespassing the yard at natanaw niyang papasok na ito ng bahay. Darn it!

Bago pa siya makaisip ng paraan para tawagin ang aso ay pumarada ang isang kotse sa tapat niya. Nakilala ni Rant ang taong bumaba ng kotse. The woman's father. Tiningnan din siya nito, curious kung bakit nasa tapat siya ng bahay ng anak. At this moment, baka pagkamalan siya nitong akyat-bahay na nagmamasid-masid.

"M-Magandang umaga po." Magalang na binati niya ang lalaki. Nginitian din naman siya nito.

"Magandang umaga din. Tagadito ka ba?" Magiliw na tanong din nito sa kaniya. Rant nervously nodded. He can't leave because of that naughty askal. Tsk.

Hinintay niyang mag-door bell ang lalaki pero tinabihan lang siya nito sa labas.

"Hindi po kayo papasok?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Rant. Mukhang nasa loob naman ang babae pagsilip niya. Nakahawi kasi ang isang kurtina sa bintana.

"I don't know if I should see my daughter today. She must be still devastated until now. Her mother left us and flew abroad. It hurt her a lot." Rant wasn't sure if he's in the place to hear this.

Gemini has been talking about that woman's absence these past few days. Tinawagan din siya ng professor niya if he's seeing Riad for his study dahil nga hindi nagpapakita sa ojt after magreport ang isang tauhan sa company. Nagsumbong din sa kaniya si Gemini about their fight that day before she disappeared. It must be because of what her father is talking about.

"Do you know my daughter? Your dog went inside isn't it? You must be close to her?" Napailing naman agad si Rant.

"Hindi po. Kilala ko po siya pero hindi kami.. ganun kaclose. Medyo, may pagkamasungit po kasi siya." Depensa agad ni Rant.

"Really? My Gayle is not a bad person, young man. She's sweet and kind. Tahimik lang siya but if you get to know her and understand her, you'll like her. Nagkaproblema lang kami ng mommy niya kaya siguradong naaapektuhan siya ng sobra. Tinawagan ako ng school niya, hindi daw siya pumapasok so I came trying to talk to her. I'm just embarrassed to face her. Nahihiya ako sa kaniya dahil ako ang ugat kung bakit nasira ang pamilya namin." Naupo sa gilid ng kalsada ang daddy ni Gayle kaya naiilang na gumaya din si Rant.

Naiintindihan niya ang sinasabi nito. Naaalala niya ang pagtatalo ng magasawa sa mismong harapan ng anak nila. So that must be why she cried there.

"Alam ko naman pong mabuti siyang tao. Topakin lang. Ang totoo po niyan, utang ko sa kaniya ang buhay ko ngayon. Pati yung aso ko, sinagip niya sa mga drug adik. I want to thank and apologize to her pero nahihiya din po akong magpakita. May kasalanan din po kasi ako sa kaniya." Rant suddenly becomes honest to her dad. Maybe it's because he opened up to him about their family problem.

"Totoo ba? My Gayle did that?" Masayang tumango si Rant sa proud na reaksyon ng ama ng babae.

"Hindi ko po alam kung ano'ng nangyari basta nakarinig na lang ako ng sirena ng mga pulis kaya nagsitakbuhan yung mga bumubugbog sa'kin. Then I saw her silhouette when I thought I'm dying. My dog lost its legs. Hindi ko alam kung paano niya nagawang ilayo sa kamatayan yung aso ko pero nagpapasalamat po talaga ako sa kaniya. Sana lang po, hayaan niya din akong tumanaw ng utang na loob."

Rant just realize that he was lucky that woman was there. Iyon yung pagkakataon na natutuwa siyang nakita niya ito.

"Kung gusto mo talagang tumanaw ng utang na loob sa kaniya, can I ask you a favor iho?" Desperadong kinuha ng lalaki ang kamay ni Rant.

"Please save my daughter too. She must be dying inside. I lost her mom. I don't want to see my only daughter lost herself because of us. Please do that for her. She saved your life. Siguro hindi naman kalabisan kung hihilingin kong sagipin mo din si Gayle."

Umalis ang daddy ni Gayle na iniwan sa isipan ni Rant ang pakiusap nito. Gulong-gulo na napahilamos sa sarili si Rant. Ano ba ang magagawa niya para sa babae eh kinamumuhian nga siya nito. Tsk.

He stood from sitting on the pavement. Hindi pa din lumalabas si askal. Mukhang nawiwili ang loko. Rant looks around before jumping up to the fence. Bumaba agad siya sa loob bago pa siya pagkamalang magnanakaw.

"Okay, Rant. Susunduin mo lang yung askal." He walks forward then turns back again. "Pero siguradong magiinit na naman yun kapag nakitang nagtrespass ka na naman, Rant." Panenermon niya sa sarili.

He sat to her hammock and contemplate if should he get askal. Then he stood by the porch. Kakatok na sana siya but he heard her voice inside.

"You shouldn't come back here. I'm fine alone. I got used to people leaving. Just go back to that Rat." What? Rat? It's Rant, you woman! Rant corrected her in his mind. He sat on the soft and feathery swing by the door.

"Who would be used to people leaving? You shouldn't get used to them leaving because people are supposed to stay. They should stay." Rant uttered to himself.

"But even if they leave, you don't need to mourn as if they're gone forever. Buhay pa naman ang mommy mo. There are others who lost people permanently pero nagpapatuloy pa din habang ikaw nandito binuburo ang sarili mo. Askal lost Aling Corazon. Yung may-ari talaga sa kaniya. Ako.. ako, bata pa lang ako nang naulila. Sabay namatay ang mga magulang ko. Binubuhay ko ang sarili ko. Yung call ni Dalmatian sa'kin tungkol sa pagpapapayag sa'yong makipagdate sa kaniya, that's a part of me making a living. Hindi ko naman ikinakahiya yun. I just.. couldn't argue with you dahil alam kong mali din naman ako. Pero kung paguusapan ang swerte, you're luckier lady." Rant rants outside. Akala niya hindi siya rinig sa loob ng bahay but the door suddenly opened.

Napatayo sa swing si Rant dahil sa halo-halong takot, kaba at guilty. She caught him trespassing again. Damn. Askal came out too and having the same look as the woman. You know the look na ang epal niya at bakit siya narito. Sipsip talaga itong asong ito eh!

"The last time I checked, my door bell works fine." Seryosong pagsasalita nito meaning hindi ba siya marunong magtao po o magring ng doorbell.

"Sorry. I-- Si askal kasi, iniisip ko baka magalit ka kapag-"

"I'm fine with him here but not you." Still too intimidating. Rant commented on his mind. She looks like just getting up from bed.

Isasara na sana nito ang pinto with askal still coming inside, but Rant talks to make her stay. "Your dad came!" Mabilis niyang sinabi. Gayle looks at him doubting.

"He just left a while ago. Nagaalala siya sa'yo. Nahihiya daw siyang magpakita dahil kasalanan niya daw kung bakit--"

"Shut up. So just because you talked to my dad gives you permission to trespass?"

"Syempre hindi! Gusto ko lang icheck kung buhay ka pa-"

"So should I pay you for that? Magkano ba? I'll get some cash." She's insulting him again. Kalma Rant. Wag mong patulan. May pinagdadaanan lang siya.

"That's free, lady. Hindi ako nagpapabayad sa pagtulong- ibig kong sabihin, tulong na-"

"Cut it out. I don't even care! Just go." Akmang isasara na ni Gayle ang pinto but Rant grabbed the knob open.

"You're afraid of people leaving but you keep telling them to go. Sorry, lady. I plan to just passed by but I saw you dying. I'm not leaving. You're my patient, Ms. Riad. I'm not leaving a patient die." Magkasalubong ang kilay na tinitigan siya ng babae.

Damn, pakiramdam niya ang cool niya sa mga sinabi niya. If this lady falls for him, Gemini and her will surely be fighting again.

"So you think I'm loosing my mind? I'm insane enough to be a patient of a psychology student like you?" This is unbelievable. Gayle just have no energy for this kaya pumasok siya sa loob ng bahay at lumabas na may dalang kutsilyo.

"What the hell! Are you serious?" Napaatras agad si Rant palayo sa bahay.

"I'm not serious. I'm insane. Wala ako sa tamang pagiisip ngayon so leave before I could really stab you! Go!" Rant couldn't believe her behavior. She just threatened him with a knife! Damn it, she looks like a psychopath lady!

Nanggigigil na nagiisang lumabas ng gate si Rant. That askal is serious on staying with that woman. Ano bang pinakain nun sa aso niya? Tsk!

"At paano niyang nalaman na psychology student ako? Is she spying on me?" Rant stared at the gate feeling left out. Tinalikuran na naman siya ni askal dahil sa babaeng yun. Napailing siya.

But maybe askal could persuade her to come to work again. Dogs are comforter of emotions. Letting askal with her might lessen her burden inside her. Maybe askal could tame that tigress inside that woman.

Fine! He'll just let her borrow his dog again.

Shelovesrain❤