Chapter 27

"Why are you too silent?"

Armando doesn't know how to respond to what his boss is questioning. Today is his first day as an official employee in the company, he doesn't want to create a scandal and be embarrassed. He is thinking now how he can escape this puzzle.

"Well uhmmm... Why did you ask, boss?" He bit his lips due to mistakenly asking back to him.

"Just answer my question, will you?" the boss demanded.

"No, boss."

"What do you mean?"

"Hale and I don't have a love relationship. He is just my friend, in fact, he is my close best friend. Why?"

"It looks like you are too sweet with him. Don't you know that what you have acted earlier may cause jealousy in other trainees? They will think that you practice favoritism which is not allowed in this company."

"Uhhmm... I am a sweet guy and open to everyone. Hale is not catching up on the lesson quickly, so I paid attention to him and gave him my full-time focus. The other trainees don't have to be jealous, they are so lucky that they are such a fast learner. I believe they act like professional office workers."

"Okay. I just wanted to be clear, now that you explained about the scene earlier, I don't have any questions. You may now go back to your business."

Armando deeply sighed after exiting the office and then went to the mini restaurant of the company. He ordered a fresh mango fruit shake and a medium-sized shrimp pizza, this is his way to calm his mind as well as to treat himself after stressful hours at work.

While having lunch, he contacted his girlfriend just to remind him that they would talk later at home. He is worried that Harrison will find out he is having a love relationship with a student. He is already aware that it is prohibited. However, it seems that this rule can be effective if someone is caught in the act, he remembered that the former CEO Xander is dating his girlfriend and nobody just reported even him.

He contacted many times but Hale didn't pick up the call. Hale is busy having chit-chat in the cafe outside the company.

"Uhm... Hale, we are curious about you."

"So what are you curious about?"

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

Hale hates this question. Their love relationship with Armando must remain secret because his boyfriend is already working in a company where dating in the office is not allowed.

"I don't have a boyfriend. Why did you ask?"

"Don't you know that our trainer, Armando, is flirting with you?"

"Oh... I thought I was only the one who noticed that."

"Yes, it looks like they are too close and sweet on the training. Hale, why don't you flirt with him back also? Like uhhmm he is so hot. Just grab the opportunity, girl!"

They laughed in unison which triggered him to be furious. He pushed his plate and suddenly stood up with angst.

"You know, I am not that kind of person. If you think I am easy to get, well you are all wrong. Bye! I lost my appetite."

He left the restaurant and went back to the training room. Armando is already there waiting for the trainees to come back to start the second training session.

"H-Hale... Come right there," he called his girlfriend in a lower voice.

His partner ran to him and sat on the chair next to his side.

"Let us talk. I was calling you earlier and you never picked up the call. I was too nervous after what happened to me with Harrison."

"I am sorry, I was busy during the lunch."

"Okay. Just listen to me... Our boss is already suspecting that we are dating. You knew that it is prohibited there, but I don't want to be affected because I love you so much."

Hale covered his mouth and his eye zoomed. "Oh no! What are we gonna do now?"

"From now on, you must be a fast learner. Harrison doesn't want to see any special treatment and favoritism. He is expecting that I will not act too sweet to anyone so that I will be looked at as respectful and authoritative."

"Authoritative? Like you will be strict? Then you must shout at me whenever I make a mistake. How about if you become cold to me for instance?"

"You are getting it. So, better prepare yourself to act later. Understood?"

"Yes, trainer Armando. Understood!"

As the noon comes to an end, the trainees eventually become complete in attendance. This time, Hale is just distanced from his boyfriend as planned.

Before 1 P.M., CEO Harrison visited the training room to announce something important.

"Good day, everyone. This afternoon, we will have a trip and will visit a private bank which is exclusive only to Fuentabella Company. This will be a part of your work immersion. As ABM students, you will be given an opportunity to explore the bank machines. Maybe some of you will work on that field so I am introducing them now to you."

Armando and the trainees exited the room and went out of the building. They entered the private van and chose their seats. To avoid suspicious acts, he didn't sit next to his girlfriend.

Their destination is a little bit far, so they all sleep while listening to the music on the radio.

~~~

They finally arrived at the bank. The trainees form a line before entering the entrance. They were welcomed by the security guard and they were also greeted to show respect.

"Hello, Mr. Fuentabella. I am glad to see you," the bank manager met CEO Harrison and then did a handshake.

"How are you, Mr. Lau?"

"I am quite fine and so happy because I see you today."

"My pleasure."

"By the way, why there are students here with you?"

"About that, I invited them to come here so that I can introduce them to how a bank works. They are ABM students and taking their work immersion."

"Well, that's nice. What an initiative!"

Mr. Lau commanded the trainees to come to the Audio-Visual Room so that they could watch the videos on what is the process of working in the bank. They were introduced to how to withdraw cash using an ATM card or check, then went through the topic of how to deposit cash. The manager lets them watch too on how the workers are putting money inside the machine.

While the students are being entertained by watching such an educational informative video, their enthusiasm suddenly changes into fears and trauma.

Just a few seconds later, the building danced due to the effect of the earthquake. Everyone felt dizzy and panicly ran then went out of the room.

Unfortunately, Hale could not move as he passed out. Harrison became shocked when he saw Hale lying on the floor unconscious. He went to him and lifted him to save him.

Unluckily, they were trapped as there was falling debris, and the door was just covered by the fallen broken walls.

"Help! Somebody help! HEEELLP..."

Harrison got hit by the falling objects and just passed out as well. After ten seconds while trapped, the quake has stopped.

Armando is so worried right now. He didn't see Hale enter the van or go out of the building. He was supposed to go back to the place but he was stopped by the security guards.

"Sir, the building is hazardous. Please don't ever attempt to enter as you will not know there is still falling debris."

"I just wanted to save my friend. Please let me in!"

"Don't be demanding, will you? The place is too dangerous. Even us are not even allowed to get inside. Let us just wait for the rescuers to arrive."

Armando will go home alone and sorrowful. He felt guilty himself because he was not able to save his girlfriend.

He is pessimistic now, he is afraid that later he will find out that his partner died in an accident inside the building. He burst into tears and sobbed as it hurt his heart leaving without him.

~~~

Hale massaged his head when he woke up after the tragic incident. His head is quite heavy and the headache is killing him so badly.

He saw Harrison in front of him lying on the floor. He panicked as there were just only two inside the building and worst they were totally trapped.

He confirmed that they were trapped as the door was covered with broken concrete that fell from above. He shouted to call some help but nobody heard him.

"Oh my god, we are trapped. What am I gonna do?"

He tried to find his phone in his bag but he realized that he had forgotten to bring it. He was too focused on the work immersion so he didn't think to leave home without that gadget.

"B-Boss, wake up..."

Harrison didn't respond. Because of this, Hale is going crazy because he doesn't know how long he will stay there.