"HOY Rant! Nakipagbasagang mukha ka na naman ano? Ayan! Ayan! Akala mo hindi ko mapapansin yang pasa mo? Ha! Manang-mana ka sa tiyuhin mo! Sa halip na matuto ka sa taong yun tinutularan mo pa!" Napa-aray sa sakit si Rant nang dutdutin pa ng tiyahin ang mga nangingitim niyang pasa sa panga.

There are really times na panget ang umpisa ng araw niya dahil natitiyempuhan niya ang bungangerang tiyahin. Nagtra-trabaho ito sa isang tahian ng gown at madalas pumasok ng maaga kaya hindi niya naaabutan sa paguwi. Malas lang minsan dahil naglalandas ang daan nilang dalawa sa bahay.

"Hindi naman ako nakipagsuntukan, tiyang! Hindi nga ako gumaganti kaya hindi yun counted na nakipagbugbugan ako. Ako nga itong pinagtulungan eh!" Pagdadahilan niya pa. Ikinalapit naman ulit iyon sa kaniya ng tiyahin at piningot siya sa tenga. "Aray, tiyang! Masakit! Sorry na!"

"Sasagot ka pa! Gumanti ka sa hindi, kasama ka pa din sa gulo! Kapag ako napuno sa'yo Rant, papalayasin na talaga kita dito! Baka turuan mo pa ng kabulastugan si Garry! Wag kang magkakamali! Wag mo nang idamay pa sa panget mong buhay ang anak ko!" Patulak na binitiwan nito ang namumulang tenga niya. Nagsandok na ng sinangag ang tiyahin niya kaya umupo na lang din siya sa harap ng mesa. Lumabas na din ng silid ang pinsan niyang kakatapos pa lang magbihis para sa pagpasok.

Hindi na lang pinansin ni Rant ang mga sinabi ng tiyahin at masayang tinusok ng tinidor ang isang jumbo hotdog na nakahain. Ilalagay niya na sana ito sa plato niya nang bawiin ito sa kaniya.

"Nauuna ka, anak ba kita?" Rant hissed to what his aunt did. Inilagay nito ang hotdog na nauna niyang kunin sa plato ng pinsan.

"Ma, ang aga-aga nagaaway na naman kayo ni Rant. Daig niyo pa ang magasawa eh." Dismayado si Rant dahil sa hotdog pero muling lumaki ang ngiti niya nang ibalik ito sa plato niya ng pinsan. Before it will be taken from his plate again, kinagatan niya na ito nang malaki at sumubo ng sinangag.

"Susmaryosep ka anak! Iyan ba ang natututunan mo sa pinsan mo? Sinasabi ko na nga na hindi magandang lagi mong kasama ang kutong lupang ito eh!" Rant had a big bite of that hotdog nang hampasin siya sa likod ng tiyahin. He almost spat what's in his mouth.

"Tiyang! Pakainin mo naman ako! May call pa ako ngayong maaga eh. Kunwari wala ako dito. Wag niyo na lang akong pansinin, please!" May tumalsik pang butil ng kanin mula sa bibig niya. "Bastos kang bata ka! Wag kang magsalita ng puno ang bibig mo! Wala ka talagang ugali!" Pagsaway ulit sa kaniya nito. Napapailing na lang na nag-almusal na din si Garry.

"Iyang nanay mo Garry, lagi na lang mainit ang dugo sa'kin. Eh almusal lang naman ang pinapakain niya sa'kin. Hindi din naman ako natutulog sa inyo, nakikiligo lang tsaka nakikilagay ng gamit. Tsk. Pag ako yumaman sasabuyan ko ng papel na pera yan si tiyang para wala nang masabi!" Rant even flashes invisible dollars from his palm imitating billionaires from tv ads.

Natawa lang naman ang pinsan niya habang naglalakad na sila galing sa bahay. "Good luck na lang, bro-" Rant suddenly ran towards the people carrying furnitures from a truck.

"No!" Lahat ng mga taong naglilipat ng mga gamit sa loob ng bahay ng isang lote ay napalingon sa kaniya but still continuing their work.

"Hindi maaari. You can't move here! Sino'ng amo niyo? Ha? Sino?!" Nanlulumong sinundan ni Rant ng tingin ang bawat taong may kani-kaniyang gamit na bitbit. Hindi siya pinapansin ng mga ito.

"May bumili na ng bahay at lupa na 'to, Rant. Hindi mo pa ba alam?" Garry speaks beside his cousin. The lot has been vacated and abandoned for years. Who knew someone would be interested in it.

"Sino? Sino'ng bumili? Ito ang may pinakamasarap na manggang natikman ko! Hindi nila maaaring ipagdamot ito sa'kin." Rant exaggeratedly protests. Dito siya laging nagpapalipas sa tuwing nagiging madamot ang mundo sa kaniya. Yun bang mga araw na wala man lang siyang matanggap ni isang call. Garry always finds him sulking out here.

"Let it go, Rant. Male-late na tayo." Garry dragged him out of that place. Walking distance lang ang University and it only took them 15 minutes to walk. Napadaan din sila sa parke. Rant glance to the bench where he sat last night. The sticky note wasn't there anymore. Did someone took it? Nakuha kaya ito ng taong nagsulat noon?

"May problema ba?" His cousin noticed him looking that way. "Wala." Rant just shrugged it off. Kung hindi man ito nakuha ng may-ari ay baka itinapon na ng kung sino'ng umupo doon.

Pagakyat nila sa mataas na hagdan ng unibersidad ay hinarangan sila ng nakikilalang dalawang lalaki ni Rant. Yung mga bumugbog sa kaniya.

"Good morning, boys." Rant greeted them with a smile. Dalmatian's friend gestured them to follow. Sa gym sila nito dinala. Naabutan nilang nagbabasketball doon si Dalmatian playing with the other boys wearing their P.E uniforms.

"You're finally here, call-boy. How's your body? Recovered?" Maingay ang mga sapatos nito sa bawat galaw. Nasa tabi nanunuod ang magpinsan habang kinakausap nito si Rant.

"Yeah, fine." Rant even applause to the guy's slamdunk. Pagkatapos noon ay hinihingal na tinanaw siya ng lalaki. "Do you play?" Pinatalbog pa nito ang bola patungo kay Rant and he just caught it in ease. "No. May mga call pa ako kaya no time." Rant threw back the ball to the boys playing. Nasalo ito ng isa but Dalmatian calls for a time-out saka dinaluhan sila Rant. Inabutan ito ng kasama ng towel.

"So, we're supposed to talk about my call right?" Pagsasalita na nito tungkol sa pagpapapayag nito sa babae para makipagdate sa kaniya.

"Ahm, oo tungkol dun. She kinda.. dumped the letter on the trash. Literally. Suplada pala yun hindi mo man lang ako binalaan." Rant talks honestly at hindi naman iyon ikinatuwa ng kausap niya.

"Hindi kita binalaan? So it was my fault you failed an attempt." Nahalata ni Garry ang paghugot ng hininga ni Dalmatian. Rant was just being himself, bright and positive.

Dalmatian Florente. Garry knew him better than Rant does. Rant practically doesn't know the guy. Nakilala niya lang ito dahil sa call while Garry is on the same department as Rant's client. Pareho silang nasa Business Administration Management. He's one influential guy sa department nila. Popular among girls and even to the professors. His family runs a huge high-profitable company kaya naghahanda ito sa pagmana ng negosyo ng pamilya. Being entitled of such fortune, natural na mayabang at mapagmataas ang lalaki. He gets what he wants. Kaya natatakot siya para sa pinsan kung sakaling hindi nito mameet ang expectation ng lalaki.

Dalmatian stood in level of Rant. Mas mataas si Rant ng ilang pulgada kesa sa mayamang binata but his arrogance reach higher than Rant's height.

"Look, call-boy. I wouldn't have made a call to you if Gayle was that easy to get. Do you think I would make myself a fool to ask you that if I could do it myself?" His smiles tremble to suppress his temper from Rant. Dinuro-duro pa nito ang dibdib ni Rant. Nakikiramdam lang naman si Garry sa likuran ng pinsan. Dalamatian's boys are guarding them.

"Chill, dude. I don't plan to back out. I never fail a call, ever. Wala pa akong binibigong kliyente kaya humihingi ako ng kaunting pasensya. I'll make sure you'll date her in no time." Pinagpagan pa ni Rant ang invisible na alikabok sa balikat ng nagiinit na kliyente.

"Keep your words. Aasahan ko ang yabang mo, call boy. Who knows, kapag natuwa ako sa serbisyo mo I'll reserve you a nice and cozy position from our company. You wouldn't need to attend a call after graduation if you'll be lucky. How's that?" Now, that's such an enlightening words to hear in the morning!

"Ooh! That's.. lovely! Nasabi ko na ba sa'yo that I am fond of generous clients? I'll head back to your call, sir! Keep that cozy position for me! Have a good day, everyone!" Rant happily exited the gym tagging along his cousin out.

"What a lowly punk. He knew very well his place and how to bow to orders. It's not bad to have such a loyal subject sa company." After graduation, he'll inherit the company. Appointing someone will just be a part of his authority. But first, that Rant should succeed his call or else he'll paralyzed his limbs for good instead.

"Alam mo naman sigurong hindi magandang nakipag-call ka sa lalaking yun? I told you he's-" Garry talks to his hopping cousin. "Oo na. You told me many times. Tsaka magandang nakipag-call ako sa kaniya. Nakita mo? Inofferan pa ako ng trabaho sa kumpanya nila."

"At naniniwala ka naman dun? Tingin mo gagawin niya talaga yun kahit magawa mo ang utos niya? Come on, insan. Wag nating lokohin ang sarili natin dito. That guy is a scam! Nothing but an arrogant rich kid trampling over you na tingin niya ay mas mababa sa kaniya." Garry insisted his side for his cousin's sake but Rant just don't take his advise seriously.

"Yung babae. Do you seriously think gusto niya talaga yun? You know they're just betting on her. Kung bet lang talaga yun, you think he'll pay more than a cash he promised you?" Dugtong pa ni Garry na ikinahinto ni Rant sa paglakad. Nasa tapat na sila ng gusali ng literature to check out on that girl.

"May point ka dun. Tingin mo gusto niya talaga yung babae para alukin pa ako ng posisyon sa kumpanya nila?" Rant thinks the other way Garry wanted him to realize. "Ewan ko sa'yo, Rant. Bahala ka na nga." Garry left him outside the building at tumungo na sa department nila para sa unang klase. Sometimes he just gave up on Rant's over positivity. He's loosing sight of the real situation.

Rant's class starts in second period kaya may time siya para asikasuhin ulit ang call nung Dalmatian na yun. Maybe he should observe the girl first. What she likes and not para mapadali ang trabaho niya so he could accept more call after that. Pagpasok niya ay may napansin siyang grupo ng magkakaibigang babae sa hall. "Nice!"

GAYLE stares at the sticky note she pasted on that bench. This morning, she stopped by the park before going straight to the university. It's been days after she wrote it and she's not expecting to see it again not even properly pasted exposely on that bench for people to see. Hindi niya maisip kung paanong may nakakita noon. Unless it fell off under the seat? Did it?

Naisara niya agad ang notebook na iniipitan ng sticky note nang may dumaan sa gilid niya. Her eyes glance to her classmates who seems to be looking at her. Hindi naman umiwas ng tingin ang mga ito lalo na ang mestisang classmate niya. Siya na lang ang bumawi agad ng tingin at binuhay ang tugtugin sa earphone niya but she can still hear them talking.

"Bakit kaya siya?" Someone curiously asks from that group while still staring at her. Gayle pretended not noticing them. Hanggang sa may naramdaman siyang humila ng upuan sa katabi niyang desk. The desk next to her is always vacated. Hindi dahil walang gustong tumabi sa kaniya -maybe that too- pero hindi lang naman iyon ang bakanteng upuan sa room. There are few others too. Siguro wala lang din talagang may ibang trip na umupo sa puwestong malapit sa kaniya. It feels isolated for the other but cozy for Gayle.

"Hi!" Gayle heard the first Hi of a guy who took the seat beside her. Inulit nito ang pagbati sa kaniya and she continues acting deaf from the music on her ears. She succeed on being snobbish dahil huminto na ang lalaki. Nakapangalumbaba siyang nakatingin lang sa labas ng bintana until a hand put a piece of paper above her notebook. Isang Hi lang din ang nakasulat doon. She was obliged to glance to the annoying person.

"Hi!" Hindi niya magawang ngumiti nang bumungad ang masayang mukha ng lalaki na hinihintay siyang tumingin. Him again. Gayle rolled her eyes from the trespasser guy. Hindi niya alam kung bakit sulpot ito nang sulpot sa paningin niya as if begging for her attention like a freak guy.

"You're not talking again." Rant commented to the silent girl. He was guided to where this girl is by the women he spotted to ask on the hallway. Turns out na classmate pala nila ito. Inis namang nilakasan ni Gayle ang volume ng pinapakinggan niyang kanta para hindi marinig ang lalaki sa tabi.

"Makikiseat-in ako para makipag-usap sa'yo. Okay lang?" Rant asks for the girl's permission but he was treated coldly again at wala pa ding nakuhang sagot sa babae. People inside the classroom watch him approach the distant woman at the back. Nakatagilid pa ng upo si Rant to face the woman properly. Nakapatong ang siko niya sa sandalan ng upuan while watching the silent woman hanggang sa pumasok na ang isang professor na kilala niya para maglecture.

"Mr. Masigasig! The last time I check, you're still a psychology student. Do you intend to shift to this course? You're graduating in three months, that's a waste if you do so." Bati agad ng professor nilang si Mrs. Panganiban nang mamataan siya sa likuran ng classroom. Prof niya din ito sa Oral Communication at isa siya sa paborito nitong estudyante. He's always active to her class kaya ganun.

"Good morning, ma'am! Nagkakamali po kayo. Makikiseat-in lang po ako. Wala pa naman ho akong klase. I'm here for a call so don't mind me." Magalang niyang pagpapaalam sa guro. Even professors knew him being a call-boy doing whatever errands that has a pay. Dumako din naman ang paningin ng guro sa katabi niyang babae.

"By that call you say, that means.." Rant also glance to the woman ignoring him. "Yes ma'am. I got paid for sitting beside her." Almost everyone don't believe him even Mrs. Panganiban. Ilang taong magkakasama sa iisang classroom ang buong klase and everyone knew Leewyn Gayle Riad isn't someone who would want a company of others. Not even a handsome guy it be, no way.

"Really?" May pagdududang reaksyon ng guro seeing Ms. Riad's awful reaction. It's time for Gayle to give this guy a real glare. Pinagmumukha siya nitong tanga sa mga kaklase for a lie. Pero sinuklian pa din siya ng matamis na ngiti ng lalaki despite her obvious unhappy face. She's becoming the center of attention for the first time which she hated to be.

"Well then, I won't kick you out as long as you stay quite in my class, Mr. Masigasig." Nagumpisa nang maglecture ang guro sa harapan. Gayle just listens attentively and writing notes. Nilukot niya ang papel na sinulatan ng lalaki purposely showing her nasty attitude to shoo the guy away.

Rant's presence was just  awkward and annoying to Gayle. He's just like that for an hour, watching her. Pabagsak niyang isinara ang notebook at isinilid na sa bag ang iba pang gamit. She stood and Rant copied her action. Matapang pang nakipagtitigan ito sa kaniya.

"Makikipag-usap ka na ba sa'kin?" Rant speaks to the glaring woman. She wants to tell him 'get lost' but she knew once she speaks it would just make him feel she's being nice to him. And he'll keep approaching him kaya sa halip na kausapin ito ay nilagpasan niya na lang. Her classmates' eyes are still watching her. "Lady, wait!" Habol pa ni Rant sa babaeng lumabas na ng silid-aralan.

Gayle had her new shades covering her eyes again avoiding the guy. Patungo siya sa locker at nakasunod pa din ang lalaki sa kaniya. Rant checks the time on his wrist watch. It's about time for his class.

"Aw, magta-time na para sa klase ko. How about I'll see you at the rofftop? Dun ka nagla-lunch diba?" Rant remember seeing her taking her lunchbox yesterday. Gayle heave a deep frustrated sigh suppressing her unpleasant words to come out. She closed her locker at tinalikuran na lang ulit ang lalaki.

"That's a yes? I'll see you there then!" Tinanaw na lang ni Rant ang babaeng naglalakad palayo pero bago siya umalis ay nakilala niya ang grupo ng lalaking makakasalubong ng babaeng sinusundan niya. Napabagal ng hakbang ang mga ito nang makita ang babae. He can see from the distance how Dalmatian stares at the girl. He even stops to turn and watch her leave. Rant secretly smiles in awe. What an interesting, dude. His major class starts in 5 minutes kaya nagmamadaling nilisan niya na ang gusali.

Shelovesrain❤