"TEKA lang, teka lang!" Rant stood between the two guys and a freshman. He smells a job no matter how far the distance is kaya natagpuan niya ang mga ito sa likod ng gym ng campus nang magtapon siya ng basura.

"Rant, wag kang makialam dito. Kaibigan na ang tingin ko sa'yo kaya pumikit ka na lang at magpatuloy sa daan mo. Go on and leave." His client this morning told him to move away and mind his own business.

"Wag kayong magalala, hindi ko naman kayo pipigilan. Makikipagusap lang ako dito saglit." Rant smile to the bullies at humarap sa baguhang pinagkakaisahan ng mga ito.

"Bata, unang taon mo lang dito noh? Tsk. Tsk. Malas mo, malupit manggulpi ang mga 'to." Pagkausap niya sa takot na binatilyo and he points his thumb to the other men. Takot na hinawakan siya ng walang kakamping lalaki sa braso at hiningian ng tulong.

"Kuya, tulungan mo ako please. Ayokong mabugbog." Tumaas naman ang sulok ng labi ni Rant seeing this as another dime for him. "Ano bang atraso nito sa inyo? Mukhang lalampa-lampa ito ah." Prangkang paglarawan ni Rant sa binatilyo at kinompronta sila Dalmatian.

"Ang lampa talaga! Ang lawak-lawak ng campus sa akin pa bubunggo kaya pinapatigas ko ang buto para hindi basta-basta matatalisod sa susunod. Pag pinagtanggol mo yan Rant idadamay kita dyan!" Pagbabanta pa ng naunang kliyente niya ngayong araw.

"Chill, dude. Raraket lang ako dito." Rant now talks to the kid about business.

"Ganito, totoy. Hindi ko mapipigilan ang mga yan pero kaya kitang tulungan para hindi masaktan. Yun nga lang, may pera ka ba dyan?" Bulong ni Rant sa lalaki. Nakaakbay pa siya dito habang sinisipat ang bulsa nito. Nagtataka man ay tumango din ito sa kaniya. Desperate to escape from the bullies, he got himself fall to Rant's business trap.

"Good. Makinig ka. Ako ang magpapasuntok sa kanila. Kaso gwapong lalaki ako kaya medyo mahal ang isang suntok sa mukha." Even the bullies curiously listens to their whispering. "M-Magkano po?"

"Hmm.. Pwede nang 100, pag may tadyak mas masakit yun pwede akong mabalian so 200 ang tadyak, kaya mo? Abot-kaya na yun ng bulsa mo." The one they call Dalmatian impatiently stood from sitting on a block watching them talks by themselves.

"Matagal pa ba kayo dyan? I think we still have to talk about my call, right? Cut it out already! Patapusin mo na ako sa isang yan!" Naiinip na tawag nito kay Rant.

"Ano na 'toy? Mas dadami pa ang suntok niyan kapag pinaghintay mo pa sila. Mas kawawa ka, bahala ka. Atleast kung ako ang magpapabugbog, pera lang malalagas sa'yo. Ano, call?" Panggigipit ni Rant sa inosenteng lalaki. This is practically helping on his ways. Kumbaga yung ibabayad sa kaniya ay parang pagtanaw lang ng utang na loob, ganun. He's just helping him not to get beaten to pulp but of course with a call.

"S-sige po. Kayo na pong bahala. Babayaran kita." His smiles gets wider nang makapagdesisyon na ang lalaki.

"Good choice. Heto, pakihawakan na lang muna. May tinapay dyan kaya ingatan mo ha. Magbilang ka din kung gusto mo para naman hindi mo masabing dinadaya kita." He tossed his bag to the new kid at nasalo naman nito. Sinenyasan niya din itong umatras para hindi na matamaan.

"Guys! Trabaho lang. Sa'kin niyo na lang isuntok yang kamao niyo. Kliyente ko na ang isang ito." Rant even took off his polo at naiwan ang pang-ilalim niyang puting sando. He tossed his cloth to the kid again.

"Are you kidding me? Wala akong panahong makipagbiruan, call-boy. Tumabi ka dyan!"

"Tama ka dyan. Call-boy nga ako. He made a call so that makes him my client. May bayad itong pagpapabugbog ko kaya wag ninyo akong intindihin. Hindi naman ako magtatanim ng sama ng loob sa inyo. Go on. I'll be fine. Show me what you got." Rant willingly stood up for the kid to get paid. He's used to punches and kicks so this won't hurt him a bit.

Nagkatinginan muna ang mga mambubugbog sa kaniya saka na ito inutusan ni Dalmatian para sumugod. One- first punch landed on his shoulder. Two, three- magasawang kamao ang bumaon sa sikmura niya.

"Wait! Wait-" Rant brushed his forearm to his mouth. He coughed from the punches on his abdomen. "Hindi ba ako pwedeng gumanti?" Tatlo ang nagpapalit-palit sa pagsugod sa kaniya. Isn't he allowed to backfight too?

"Kapag gumanti ka ng suntok, iisipin kong pinagtatanggol mo ang gagong yan. Hindi ba tumatayo ka lang bilang siya? Hindi nga marunong sumuntok ang lampang yan, you should pretend you can't too." Rant silently cursed to his head. Dalmatian got him on that. Accepted ang punto nito.

"Boys, continue! Eliza is waiting for me. Make it short but will mark to that idiot's head. Siguraduhing niyong magtatanda yan." Sa anunsyong iyon ay agad na tinadyakan sa sikmura ulit si Rant.

Five- he knelt on the sandy ground. He was pulled up again. Six- inuppercut naman siya ng isa sa mga ito.  He took another three rounds of punches to his jaw, and a hit on his back. Napadapa siya sa lupa dahil sa atake sa likuran niya.

"Teka! Teka! Saglit lang! Time-pers!" He rolled lying on his back. Pinagpatong pa niya ang palad sa tip ng mga daliri niya forming a letter T signing them to pause.

"Sino'ng humampas sa'kin?" Namilipit siya sa sakit sa likod. Tadyak at suntok lang ang usapan nila ng binatilyo. He should raised the price for that hit. Hinampas siya ng dos por dos and it almost break his backbone. Hanep, these guys are really no joke. Hindi niya akalaing mabubugbog siya mga ito one day.

"Tama na yan! Baka yumaman na sa bugbog ang isang iyan. You should have been paralyzed for that if Rant wasn't here. Dahil babaliin ko talaga yang gulugod mo kung hindi siya umeksena." Gigil na banta ni Dalmatian sa nanlulumong binatilyo. Lumayo na ang mga barkada nito sa nakahigang si Rant.

"We'll talk about my call tomorrow. Gamutin mo na lang muna yang tama mo, call-boy." Naiiling pang tumalikod na si Dalmatian na sinundan din ng mga kasama. "He's insane." Narinig pa ni Rant ang natatawang sinambit ng mga bumugbog sa kaniya pero hindi niya yun inintindi. They're right about him though.

"Nakita mo yun, totoy? Aray! Mas mataas ng isang daan yung hampas sa akin ng dos por dos ha. Yun ang pinakamasakit sa lahat kaya naiintindihan mo naman diba? Kung ikaw yun--" He couldn't finish adding his terms nang lumuhod sa tabi niya ang binatilyo. Rant spat blood after getting beaten up in the freshman's place. Ikinataranta naman ito ng binatilyo.

"Kuya, ayos ka lang ba? Sorry." Rant sat in an indian seat and massage his jaw. He raised his one hand and shakes his head telling him he's fine.

"Ayos lang ako. Sa susunod iwasan mo na lang ang mga yun. Takaw gulo ang grupong yun. Hari-harian dito sa campus. Kung hindi mo man maiwasan, ito numero ko. Make a call, I'll come for your pay." Dinukot niya ang wallet sa likod ng pantalon at humugot dun ng isang calling card at inabot dito.

"Magpapabugbog ka po ulit?" Rant almost laugh to the new kid's innocent face. "Depende sa magiging kasalanan mo. Ngayon kung ayaw mong magbayad para magpabugbog ako eh magingat ka na sa susunod." Mabilis namang tumango ang lalaki sa sinabi niya.

"Opo! Magiingat na po ako para hindi ka na mabugbog. Pramis!" Rant felt a bit of disappointment to the kid's response. "Alam mo, okay lang naman ako. Basta babayaran mo ako eh. Normal lang naman yung hindi tayo nagiingat minsan. Human nature na yun." But still, the kid shook his head.

"Hindi po. Magiingat na talaga ako." The kid insisted kaya wala nang nasabi pa si Rant. Getting beaten up will give him added income. This kid is just clueless. Hay.. Tinulungan siya nitong itayo ang sarili. Isinauli na din nito ang polo niya at ang bag pagkabihis. Inilahad na din ni Rant ang palad to get his pay. Saglit namang natuliro ang lalaki saka naalala ang dapat nitong ibayad sa kaniya. Dikit ang paningin niya sa pagbunot nito ng pera sa wallet.

Isang malutong na isang libo at limang daan ang inabot nito sa kaniya. His eyes sparkled in excitement. Forget the body pain. He earned his prize!

"Keep the change na, kuya. Kulang pa nga ito sa pagpapadoktor eh. Gusto mo samahan kita? Kahit sa clinic lang?" He couldn't suppress his grin about the keep the change part. Iyon na yata ang pinakamagandang nadinig niya sa tanang buhay niya.

"Sarado na ang clinic. Hindi na kailangan. Yelo lang ang katapat ng mga ito. Bukas, wala na. Tsaka sapat na to may sukli pa nga eh. Ang mga galanteng tulad mo ang pinakapaborito ko talagang kliyente!" Tuwang-tuwa na isinilid niya ang cash sa luma niyang wallet. Pinuluputan niya pa ito ng goma para safe ang perang pinaghirapan niya ng maghapon.

"Pauwi ka na ba? Sabay na tayong lumabas ng campus." Inakbayan niya ang binatilyo at inakay paalis. Papalubog na ang araw kaya kalat ang kahel na kulay sa kalangitan.

"Alam mo bata, lagi kong sinasabi sa mga kliyente ko.. if life gives you struggles, give me mangoes." He chats while walking with the kid downstairs. "Hindi po ba, if life gives you lemon make a lemonade yun?" The kid corrected him kaya tiningnan niya naman ito. Kill joy sa mantra niya eh.

"Ano'ng pangalan mo?" Rant asks. "Klarens po." The kid answered too. "Nice to meet you!" Nakipagkamay pa si Rant habang nakaakbay pa din dito bago itinuloy ang sinasabi.

"Klarens, una sa lahat hindi ako mahilig sa lemon. I like mangoes. Yung hinog. Yung yellow at matamis tapos may bagoong! Ah.. Naglalaway ako." He swallows back his saliva after imagining the fruit he loves. He can't help but to crave.

"I could trade anything for a mango. Kaya nga, if life gave you struggles give me..?" Kusang pinutol ni Rant ang linya para dugtongan ng kasama. "Mangoes." Klarens happily completed his line.

Mango stands for the things he likes. He could climb the highest fence for it. As well as he's willing to get enslave to earn a penny.

Rant found a bench at the park. Tuluyan nang lumubog ang araw at lamp post na ang lumiliwanag sa paligid. Maingat niyang inilapat ang likod sa upuan to rest. Tumitig ang mga mata niya sa mga gamo-gamong lumalapit sa ilaw ng poste. Ilang saglit siyang naroon. Tahimik na ang gabi. Panaka-naka siyang napapaimpit dahil sa sakit ng sikmura sa tuwing hihinga siya. His back still sore from the hit.

There are nights like this where he just felt tired and his body aches to his roots. Nights that he wanted to just stop everything and live a comfortable life. But he couldn't. Unlike the name he owns, ranting isn't his style. He accepted what life he's living and see what it has to offer to him, better or worst it shall be . It's unfortunate but no human being remains stagnant at one place. He'll climb that higher places even if his limbs would fall off or breaks. Take his organs if needed just for him to keep elevating.

After graduation, he'll finally have the perfect chance to get to his goal. He'll find a high-paying company, any work. He'll save up more. And by that, he'll fly abroad. Iiwan niya ang lahat for his happiness and goal. Hindi na siya babalik sa maruming squater. Hindi na siya magugutom- yet his tummy suddenly grumbles to his thought.

"Hindi nga pala ako nagtanghalian." He skipped his meal at lunch. Isang suman lang ang inalmusal niya kanina sa pagmamadaling makahabol sa unang byaheng dumadaan sa lugar nila. That is the first time he was left behind. All because of that woman who could actually talk. She made him look stupid and judgemental for thinking she's mute. What a real rude. That woman even dumped that Dalmatian's love letter- na si Rant na ang nagsulat since its his call.

Hinanap niya ang tinapay sa bag. Slice bread lang iyon na pinalamanan ng peanut butter. Nang ilabas niya iyon sa bag ay sumama naman ang pulang liham sa kamay niya at nahulog sa lupa. It fell near his foot and when he bends down to pick it up, may piraso ng papel ang dumikit sa likuran nito pagdampot niya. A blue sticky note na wala nang dikit. It must have fell off from where it was pasted. Maaaring mula sa mga dumadaan sa puwestong ito o kaya naman somewhere else. He doesn't know.

Biting to his sandwich, he reads what was written on it. Cursive ang writings.

Dear No One;
      Will someone even cares?

Rant swallowed a bite. This looks like a letter. Walang nakasulat kung para kanino. Dear No One it says. It can be for someone, anyone. It can be him too. It was probably addressed to whoever might read this note. Or was there someone named No One by a chance? Kay gandang pangalan.

He fasten finishing his food. Itinapon niya sa bag ang plastic nito saka finocusan niya ang sticky note. He looks around from his seat searching for whoever wrote this if they're still nearby.

"Will someone even cares?" Rant muttered to himself. The question echoed in his mind as if he too wanted to know.

People are busy facing different problems. They couldn't mind what others had been struggling about dahil abala sila sa sariling problema. May mga taong sa sobrang pagkaproblemado, nagiging iritable sa lahat ng bagay. They became mean to everyone that they didn't even intend to be. Some put others before their own. They help other people and even forgot their own thing to solve. Even the person who wrote the piece of note must be going through something that they couldn't speak it out to anyone.

Just like a voice that couldn't come out, this letter was calling out to someone to listen. A silent cry wanted to be heard. He knew very well the feeling of it. Maybe he asks the same question too within his heart many times. He wanted someone to care too. But would they?

Rant left the bench. Iniwan niya ang  sticky note roon. He pasted it back sa sandalan ng bench with a bandaid. He has boxes of band aids carrying inside his bag everyday. He's a poor guy always getting a cut somewhere during his work o kung minsan, well he'll just say that he got tripped off by his step kaya siya nagkakasugat at pasa- if people would even believe that.

"On the way na sir! Nandyan na ako ng sampung minuto. Opo!" He talks by the phone. Pagkababa niya ng telepono ay kumaripas agad siya ng takbo patungo sa part-time niya.

The sore from getting beaten up earlier had healed. The pain people feel are made by the mind. Kung iisipin nating masakit at hindi natin kaya, our body will feel the same negativity our mind thinks. Pero kung iisipin nating wala lang ito, our body will be numb. Hindi nito mararamdaman ang sakit. For Rant, that is the power of psychology. The brain is the commandant and our physical self was just its subordinates following its order.

Abala na ang barbecue house nang makarating si Rant. It's just 10 minutes he's late. The house was always busy and full during nights kaya malaki din ang kinikita niya sa pagshift niya dito. Sa likuran siya dumiretso para magpalit. He had apron above his uniform. Nakahairnet din siyang lumabas na mula sa locker room sa likod ng kusina.

"Rant! Table no. 14!" He quickly took the tray of foods to deliver to the table mentioned. Nakangiting inilapag niya ang mga pagkain saka bumalik ulit para sa mga nakahilerang orders. They offer different kinds of meat to serve. May it be chicken, seafoods, pork or beef. People have plenty to choose. May added dishes din sa menu so it's quite popular around the area. His shift ended at 10 pm. Free dinner included sa duty niya doon kaya wala siyang gastos.

Pagkatapos noon ay sa isang lugawan naman siya nagbabantay hanggang alas singko ng madaling araw.

He'll stop by Garry's house at naliligo lang pagkatapos ay diretso na ulit sila sa pagpasok. He actually had no sleep. He's practically staying by his cousin's house. Pero sa sobrang pagkaabala sa mga call sa kaniya, he barely stays nor sleep there. He wouldn't want to encounter Garry's nagging mother kaya pabor din naman sa kaniya ang set up niya. He'd rather work than stay vacant and slack off. Mas importante sa kaniya ang pera. Bukod sa pinapagaral niya ang sarili, there's something he's saving up for, his dream.

Shelovesrain❤