As I was walking. My feet unconsciously walk in the direction of the food I smell and I cannot help to touch my stomach who is growling nonstop. It has been complaining earlier and I just chose to ignore it, because I am quite short with the money. My feet lead me to a vendor on the street.

Before I knew it I stared at the food as if it is the most delicious food on earth.

"Mister. How much is that?"

He looked at the big frying pan, inside it is around but flat little food, there is also a long brown color and the other is an orange rounded one, wait "is it edible?"

"Which one?" The vendor asked.

"How much each?"

"Ahh, the fishball is fifty cents each, while the kikiam is one peso each. This squidball is two pesos each along with tokneneng is and the..." Then he stop as he looked at me quite stunned thinking about something.

"Which planet are you from that you don't know how much is this food?" Somehow I felt ashamed by my ignorance but what can I do. I just saw this kind of thing in the street and at that time we have a bodyguard and a driver. I looked at him feeling irritated.

"Are you saying that someone who doesn't know the price can't buy it?" The vendor smiled half hearten.

"No, of course not. I was just asking. How much do you want?"

"I want to taste everything first and then just tell me how much." I took a stick and skewered the fishball and put it in my mouth. "mmm, it's edible" she unconsciously pick the kikiam, then the squidball, chicken ball, wait quail eggs were inside the orange color, Kwek Kwek or Kwak Kwak or is it tokneneng?

Ahhhh never mind then she is back on eating again this time it's the fishball then followed by the squidball until he was full.

"Manong how much po."

"Thirty-one and fifty cents."I was shocked

"That's a lot of money?."

"That's what you ate." Manong seems to be running out of patience for my ignorance so I can't do anything, I took my wallet and gave him the money.

The food is a success. I was just hoping that he can lower the price. I am on a tight budget.

"oh" He returned her Thirty-two pesos and it was time to leave.

But I blocked it.

"Ah ah ah, you can't trick me, You still owe me a fishball, I paid thirty-two pesos." I took another fishball and Manong was free to leave.

Ariel Life 101 Learn to save money and never be tricked by others.

He looked at her wallet again and count the money maybe I just made a mistake with the number before. I closed my eyes in frustration because the money still hadn't changed, it had been reduced, when he opened it the wallet was no longer in his hand. I looked everywhere and I saw a man in the blue hat running quickly away from me. I was stunned as the realization hits me that I have been robbed. Then I quickly run after him.

"Hey return my wallet !!!!!"

"Ha..ha ... Ha... Where did that man go?" I just grabbed my knee out of exhaustion. I looked at the alleys but he run so fast.

"Haaay ..... Bad trip, bad trip .." I am out of breath in running and sweat is all over my body. I am about to leave when I heard something.

"What? Have you lost him?"

"Yes but I'm tired by the speed of that man, he almost caught me." I walked slowly and hid first while looking at them. I smiled when I confirm that it was the person who took my wallet. I even saw that he took out my wallet and took the content.

"You are so dead," I whispered.

"Son of bit---" The man who hold my wallet frown as he saw the money. While my head immediately heated up as he threw away my wallet.

"Why?" I heard another man said.

"I just tired myself out. That one doesn't even have any money. He is just all show but there's no money."

"How thick is his face. He's a thief for fuck sake but he's still choosy?" I just clasped my hand and move toward those thieves when two more men came, one with an old man dragging him.

I move back to where I hide.

"Who's that?"

"This one is rich, that can be redeemed by thirty million." The four men grinned at the same time.

"That's it, you hit the jackpot." The old man tried to escape but he hadn't gone far yet, so they caught it again and kicked it.

"You're still trying to run away?"

"Just kill me."

"Don't worry I'll think about that when we get the money.

"Just get him in." coming from the man with a beard.

As soon as they are already inside the basement, I moved and took my wallet.

I could still hear the old man's struggle inside, and my mind was debating whether to save the old man.

I'm not a saint and I'm not even close to being kind.

"Help!" I stop from walking, for a minute I heard a voice that sounded familiar. Then I just sigh and tell to myself that..

"So what if the kidnapper wants ransom? His family is rich anyway." I start to step away again.

"Help me..." I shivered from the voice I kept hearing.

I told myself loud and clear so I can hear my own voice.

"Besides, he looks like he can handle himself." I whispered to my self. That time I have the urge to run as far away as I can but a familiar voice keeps bugging in my head.

A few more steps and I heard the old man shout again,

like this

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH,"

Every step I take. It gets stronger and louder.

I just stopped and looked at the sky.

Another shout from him and this time I walked back where they take the old man.

I just don't know what is happening to me. Even if I wanted to run away, I just can't.

I know he had a money on his own but the time is quite precious.

The back of my mind says it's dangerous and I don't have to go save the old man.

But I can't just let it go.

I slowly entered the broken wall at the back and hid in the dark part of the warehouse. Until I heard the voices of the kidnappers.

"Here's another shot. you know when we get the ransom, let's go to the end of the earth."

"And I'll gamble every day, then maybe kiray might give me another chance."

My head heated up when I saw them having fun. I thought that something happens to the old man.

A few more moments.

"Wait, where are the other men?"

"The other two?"

"No, the three of you, I think you're drunk?."

"No you are the one who is drunk, didn't you order them to buy something to eat and pick up the food."

I moved like a cat, leaving no trace of sound while moving forward to the old man.

"Ahhh by the way, let's go." I'm close to the old man and I pray that they will not notice me.

When the old man saw me his face gets excited.

"Who are you!"

"shhh don't be loud." I'm currently untying the old man's leash while the kidnappers are still drinking.

"When I count to three we'll run, ok?" I smiled after untied the rope, but bad luck seems on my side. One of the kidnappers noticed me.

"Hey what do you think you're doing?" At that moment I started to count.

"One.."