Her Fearless Ways

Chapter 43

Just as I thought luck was now on my side, something like this happens again.

May makapagsasabi ba kung ano ang kasalanan ko sa mundong ito at nangyayari lahat ng mga ito sa akin? Akala ko ba kakampi ko na ang swerte ngayon? May expiration date pala? Sana man lang ay binigyan ako ng notice of suspension!

Malko reached for my hand as we drove our way to the office. "Try to calm down, mahal."

I was close to hyperventilating. Sure, I did say I could still make it without Schwartz Philippines, but for it to burn down before we could even create our brand in the country? It will be a huge loss!

Hindi basta-basta ang perang nalaan para matupad ang proyektong ito! Our facilities weren't even done! It was only months away before we could properly start our operations tapos... ganito na ang nangyari.

The fire was massive when we arrived. I couldn't move a muscle as I watched our building slowly turn to ash. All I could do was suppress my cries as I checked on my employees, making sure every one of them safely got out of the building.

Pero may kulang.

"Where's Siru?!" I exclaimed.

Nagkatinginan ang mga empleyado ko. When it sunk in that Siru wasn't with them ay doon na sila nataranta. With a desperate move, I ran towards the burning building but got stopped midway. Nanlalaki ang mga mata ni Malko habang pinapapirmi ako. I tried tugging myself from him, pero hindi niya ako pinayagan. He locked me in an embrace and made me hide my face in his chest.

I can't let Siru die! He and his family saved me! Why can't I save him for his family?! They still need him! I can't imagine his family's faces if he doesn't make it out alive!

"Lumayo kayo sa apoy!" sigaw ng bumbero sa amin.

Upon realizing it was Juno, I ran towards her instead. "Nasa loob si Siru! P-please, iligtas niyo siya."

Nabasa ko ang gulat sa mukha niya. I know they knew each other. Maybe they were friends. Classmates. I don't know. Ang alam ko lang, matapos makitang nilusong ni Juno ang matataas na apoy para makapasok sa nasusunog na gusali, may pinagsamahan silang dalawa.

Nanginginig ang katawan ko sa kaba at pag-iyak. Hindi na ang kapakanan ng kompanya ang iniisip ko, kundi ang kaligtasan ng mga taong umaasa sa akin. They could lose their jobs because of this incident. May pamilya silang umaasa sa kanila. They have mouths to feed and children to save. Paano na iyon ngayon?

Tuluyang akong nabunutan ng tinik sa dibdib nang makita ang dalawang pigura ng taong papalabas mula sa nasusunog na gusali. Akay-akay ni Juno ang halos mahihimatay nang si Siru. Mabilis siyang sinakay sa ambulansya para idala sa pinakamalapit na ospital. Pati ang mga empleyado kong nangangailangan ng first-aid ay pinasakay ko na rin sa ibang ambulance.

I know I couldn't do anything anymore with the building, so we went to the hospital instead to check on my people. They were traumatized and injured, lalo na ang iilang karpintero. My heart ached for them. Sa sinapit nila at sa mga pwede pang mangyari dahil sa insidente. I already contacted the Baltazars about the incident and they immediately went to the hospital.

"Kamusta si Siru?" bungad ni Kuya Carlos.

"He's in the emergency room," Malko answered on my behalf.

Halos hindi na ako makapagsalita habang hinihintay namin ang balita tungkol sa lagay ni Siru. Napuruhan siya, halata iyon sa mga galos na nakita ko nang mailabas siya ni Juno. His family was silently praying for him as well... until Stara broke down.

"Bakit lagi tayong pinapahamak ng apoy?! Nasunugan na tayo dati, ilang gano'n pa ba ang mangyayari?!" pagdaing niya.

Mabilis siyang inalo ni Ate Amy na tahimik na umiiyak. Ilang oras pa kaming naghintay. Sa bawat minutong lumilipas ay lumalakas ang kabog ng dibdib ko. Dahil tahimik ang paligid ay narinig namin ang mga yapak papalapit. Agad kaming napatingin sa bumberong naglalakad papunta sa amin. The Baltazars looked surprised to see that it was Juno.