Stonehearts 9: Sapphire

Four

"I'm sure lahat kayo nagtataka kung bakit ako nagtawag ng 6:30 am meeting." Panimula ko habang nakatayo ako sa harap ng mga empleyado na tinuturing ko na ring pangalawang pamilya. "I have good news and bad news."

Mag-dadalawang taon pa lang ang clinic ko ngunit sobrang dami na naming pinagdaanan. Marami na rin akong iniyak at itinawa na sila ang kasama. At tama si Kuya Yno, kailangan kong maging transparent sa kanila sa kalagayan ng business ko ngayon.

"May masesesante ba, Doc?" Biro ni Mico na ikinatawa naman ng lahat. Thank God for his goofiness. At least, he was able to alleviate some of the nervous energy hovering over us.

"Let's start with the good news. Walang mawawalan ng trabaho." Paglilinaw ko. "Two weeks by now, papasok na rin 'yong mga bagong doktor. Si Doc Luigi at Doc Francis."

I saw how pleased they are with the news. Lalong-lalo na si Mico, matagal na kasi niyang sinasabi na kailangan niya ng kasamang lalaki na doktor lalo na kapag malalaking breed ang may procedures.

"Sana pogi, 'no? Kahit isa lang sa kanila." Rafaela undauntedly commented, nudging shoulders with Marineri beside her.

"Doc Fel, silang dalawa dapat pogi para tig-isa tayo." Neri giggled.

I rolled my eyes at their shameless thoughts. Diyos ko! Hindi pa pumapasok 'yong mga bagong doktor, gusto na mamili ng laman nitong dalawang 'to.

Hanggang sa nagbubulungan na sila at humahagikgik. I heard Mico groan while Annie and Carol just shook their head in unison. 'Yong mga groomers naman namin walang imik na naghihintay pa ng sunod kong sasabihin.

"And the bad news." I croaked. The soft chatter died and it became eerie quiet. Tumikhim ako saka itinuloy, "I told you before that the clinic's expansion was a decision pitched by my business partner." I almost hissed the last two words. I can't even consider Cobi a partner.

"But, three months ago, my partner disappeared into thin air, taking all the money with him."

I heard gasps and curses from them, but all were too shock to say more. Lahat sila halos malaglag ang panga na nakanganga.

"P-paano tayo, Doc Fire?" Annie was the first one to break the silence. I know she's worried, not only for us but for her family. Lalo na't siya lang ang breadwinner nila gawa nang na-stroke ang asawa niya last year. May dalawa pa silang kolehiyo.

I gave her a reassuring smile.

"I'm doing my best to nurse the situation. My brother, who you've met a couple of times, is also helping me. 'Wag kayong mag-alala. Gagawin ko lahat ng abot makakaya ko. Hindi ko kayo pababayaan."

"Pwede kaming tumulong, Doc." Arturo, one of our service drivers, suggested. Lumingon pa siya sa mga katabi niya saka sila nagtanguan. "Pwede tayong mag-ipon, kahit tig-bebente lang kada araw. Malaking tulong na 'yon."

My tears started to surface, making me blink hard to hold them back. I pressed my palms on my chest.

"Thank you dahil gusto niyong tumulong. But I won't do that to you. May mga pamilya kayong binibuhay at mga taong sinusuportahan. This is my fault. I was too trusting and in turn became reckless. I must expiate this on my own. Ang hinihingi ko lang ay suporta at pag-unawa mula sa inyo."

I was given a several head bobbing. I even saw Carol wiping a lone tear from her cheek. I looked at them one by one, Mico, Fel, Neri, Carol, Annie, Arturo, Joel, Bryan, David, Charles, Tan-tan, and my soon to be hired employees. Itong mga taong 'to nakadipende na magawa kong tama itong mali.