Wakas
Final Boarding Call
"Congratulations to our soon to be groom of QIA's, Captain Adriel De Lanaza."
Everyone's congratulating to Captain Adriel De Lanaza after his long-time girlfriend finally said yes to his proposal. I saw his eyes glistened in so much happiness. And also his fiancée, Maisha.
I saw her first in Captain Adriel's promotion. I was ahead in their batch and Captain De Lanaza was promoted as a pilot captain. She was the most beautiful woman I ever laid my eyes on.
"Captain, this is my fiancée, Maisha. Hon, this is Flight Captain Alec Castriel Lazer," Adriel introduced his fiancée to me.
A small smile crept on my lips as Maisha shakes my hand.
"Nice meeting you, Captain. And thank you for coming."
'Di matanggal ang tingin ko sa kanya, kahit na naging busy na ito sa pag-i-intertain sa ibang mga bisita. Panay ang ngiti at tango nito.
"Find another woman, Captain. She's pretty and cool, but someone owns her already."
Masama ang tingin ang ipinukol ko kay Harry dahil sa sinabi nito. But as usual, Harry just laughed at me like it's f*cking funny.
"Shut up, asshole!" singhal ko dito dahilan para mas tumawa pa ito.
The day lasted 'til everyone gets tired and enjoyed the party. Some of our colleagues slept in the hotel rooms provided for us. I have a condo unit here in Philippines, but I chose not to sleep there. Pagod ang katawan ko dahil sa biyahe kahapon, and now I'm sleepy because of the alcohol I drunk.
"Captain! Did you hear the news?"
I boringly stare at Harry who approached me while I'm checking the plane. Nagmamadali itong lumapit sa akin like it was really important, but I know Harry, kun'di babae ang dahilan ng paglapit nito, surely, kukulitin lang ako.
But this time seems like a different one. Based on his serious and stoic face. I faced Harry while I'm holding a bottle of water.
"Speak up," utos ko dito. Ilang sandali itong nanahimik kaya tatalikuran ko na sana ito para taposin ang ginagawa ko. But what Harry said, made me stop.
"Flight 486 towards France, crashed."
'Yon pa lang narinig ko, but my mind was thinking already to captain Lanaza's fiancée, Maisha. What will happen to her if she found out? Surely, it will broke her so much.
The news spread like a wild fire. Kahit saang TV station, news papers, and all social medias was busy talking about the plane crash. Captain Lanaza reported dead. Together with all the passengers and cabin crews. It gives a big impact to the airline, but it was indeed an accident. Who would want that, right?
After a long years of not having a news about her, sure that I was surprised seeing her walking confidently and cool with her uniform in Queen's International Airline's aisle. Looking so fine and all. She looks so different from the last time I saw her. From the smiling and innocent woman turns into an imposing and emotionless, cold-hearted woman.
I had never imagine that she'll become a pilot, following her late fiancée's steps. Is she really in love in aviating the plane? Or she was just courage because of what happened to her fiancé? The reason why she pursued this glamour, yet very dangerous job.
"I wasn't expected that the newest pilot captain is you."
I saw how Maisha's left brow arched because of what Harry said. Maybe, she didn't remember him, us. You can't see the old her in her eyes now. All you can see was empty.
"Well, sorry for ruining your expectations, Officer, but if I didn't reach your expectations, I won't care anyway," taas-kilay na saad nito sa kaibigan ko. But Harry laughed a bit, showing his playboy side.
"It's not like that... The truth is, you over passed my expectations."
I saw her almost rolled her eyes. Agad na lumapit ako sa dalawa. I cleared my throat and look at Harry that has smirk on.
"Excuse me, Captain... may I talk to you, Officer?" baling ko kay Harry matapos ko itong tinaliman ng tingin . Harry shakes his head bago ito nagpaalam kay Maisha.
I sat down in my swivel chair inside the office and cross my arms while looking at the CCTV's in front of me. While Harry still standing in front of me, grinning from ear to ear. Halata na ini-inis lang ako nito.
"She's so hot and---damn! What's that for, Captain?" natatawang saad ni Harry said akin matapos kong ibato sa kanya ang walang lamang bote ng tubig. I looked at Harry with my sharpest look, samantalang tatawa-tawa lang ito sa akin.
"What? I am just appreciating her! She's so cool and---"
"And she's off-limit! So shut up you and back off, Wallaper! I know your tricks!" inis na saad ko sa kaibigan. Harry bark in laughter, na mas lalong ikina-inis ko.
"D*mn man! I can't believe you're still into her all these years!" 'Di makapaniwalang saad ni Harry sa akin kaya tumayo nalang ako at iniwan itong patuloy parin sa pagtawa sa akin.
"How do the venue looks like, Alec?" malambing na tanong ni Maisha sa akin na nagpalaki nang ngiti ko.
We're going check the venue and we're going to have our food tasting for the wedding. Aztiel was with Maisha's parents, nagpa-iwan ito doon, so we can spend our day alone.
"You decide after we get there, Baby. I'm sure, you will like it."
Maisha nodded at me. We're heading towards the QIA, for the reception and plane we're going to use in our wedding. Which is the plane I am manuevering. We both chose to have it in plane, because we're both a pilot and that's what Maisha love too.
"Flight Captain Lazer, you can expect ILS runway 24 at Kuwait Airport," agad kong itinuon ang pansin sa sinabi ni Officer Wayne.
"Flight Captain Lazer speaking, copy that Officer Wayne."
"Cessna niner-sierra-papa, turn left heading two-seven-zero to intercept the localizer, cleared ILS runway two-four into Kuwait, maintain two-thousand-five-hundred feet until established."
Automatically, I looked at my co-pilot, Edrian that is alert in what we're talking but remained silent and nodded at me. That's the main rule of being a co-pilot, remain silent and let the pilot in his talks, unless your opinion is needed.
"Turn left heading two-seven-zero, cleared ILS runway two-four into Kuwait's, maintain two-thousand-five-hundred feet until established. Cessna niner-sierra-papa," I responded.
Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas when Officer Wayne contact me, saying that the Kuwait Departure Area is cleared and ready for my landing procedure.
"Scavac zero-five, cleared to land runway two-niner," I heard Officer Wayne's order.
"Cleared to land runway two-niner, scavac zero-five," I responded as I take my landing procedure.
Kasalukuyan kaming kumakain ni Edrian, nang tumawag si Harry sa akin. If it is not important, I'll probably nag this guy over the phone.
"Make sure that this is an important call, Officer Andrada. Or else I'm gonna kick your ass when I get there," banta ko kay Harry, dahilan ng pagdagundong ng tawa nito sa kabilang linya.
"F*ck man! Just chill and get back already. You're woman is on a bar, chilling and drinking alone."
Napamura nalang ako dahil sa narinig. Harry barks in laughter on the other line again. That irritates more.
"Go after her. I'll be there within an hour," saad ko kay Harry 'saka pinatay ang tawag. Buti nalang at ilang minuto nalang ay babalik na kami sa Canada.
Kakalabas ko pa lang sa check-out area ay nagmamadali na akong nagpunta sa building to change my clothes. I need to go to the bar Harry's talking about.
I clenched my jaw and blew a loud breathe after seeing Maisha sitting on a bar counter. At first, I'm hesitant in walking towards her, but when I see her shoulder moves a bit, natanto kong umiiyak ito.
Looking at her right now while crying miserably while staring at captain De Lanaza's picture in her phone, slowly break me. It's been so long, yet, she's still crying over this man. He's damn lucky for having a woman like Maisha. The woman I will never have.
Hearing her saying she wasn't mad to her late fiancée because of what he did to her, and she's just disappointed made me envious on him. I envied him for having Maisha in his life.
"I have a heart, that's aching to see you smile again," saad ko rito bago hinalikan ulit sa labi.
Whatever happens tomorrow, I will accept the consequences of my aggressive moves. I will.
I am still doomed, knowing that I am the first man who get her. How's that possible when she was engaged to someone before? But on the other hand, I feel glad and lucky for it.
"I can't believe you're going to be my wife the next day," malambing na bulong ko kay Maisha habang nakayakap ako mula sa likod nito.
"Hmm... Why?" Maisha turned around and face me now. Namumungay ang mga mata ko habang nakatitig sa maamong mukha nito.
"You're too good to be mine. And I'm so blessed to have you and our son."
Madamdamin kong saad. Maisha kissed me smack in the lips, making me groans, 'saka nito tinapik ng mahina ang pisngi ko.
"You and Aztiel are the best blessings to me. I love you so much, and I always will."
The worried face of Maisha 4 years ago when the plane crash happened, still carved on my mind. How could I'll forget it, if it was the most scary moment happened in my life. Afraid that I might lost the woman I love the most. Afraid for the possible things that could have possibly happened, because we don't have the will of knowing what will happen next. It's either this will be our last day, or not.
"Tito, please take care of her. I'll get her back when the time comes, and when I fix everything."
I was in my Tito Armando Esslinger's rest house now, seeking for help to take good care of Maisha. Mabuti nalang at nandoon ang mga ito sa malapit na rest house nila kung saan ko piniling pabagsakin ang eroplano. I don't have any choice. But I was so thankful to God for not letting us die on that accident.
"Don't worry, we will take care of her, Alec." I then went back to the plane where the rescuers found me.
I did my best to heal myself, at the same time, planning on how to get back Maisha. I am not in a good condition, and surely, this will be the reason for me to get suspended. This is not a fucking joke!
"I've met a lot of pricks in my time, but you, Sir, are a fucking cactus!"
Maisha insulting Major Captain Watson angrily. Nakita ko itong pinatawag kanina kaya sinundan ko. I don't know what is it all about, pero dahil sa galit na nakikita ko ngayon sa mukha ni Maisha ay siguradong hindi nito nagustuhan ang sinabi ni Major Captain Watson.
And looking at her now like a wounded tiger, I'll bet my ass that Major Captain Watson bring out the worst in her. Nothing is more dangerous than a wounded tiger. Maisha was like a sleeping tiger, she'll surely devour you if you pull her tail.
"I just hate her so much for hurting my sister, Alec!" sigaw ni Amya sa akin matapos kong komprontahin ito dahil sa ginawa.
"I can't believe you, Amya! She didn't do anything forgodsake! She doesn't know anything about your sister!" sigaw ko.
"I don't care! I didn't know that you're going to be her co-pilot! Because if I know, I will let it pass for the meantime, and do it on the other day. And makes sure that she'll be dead because of the plane crash! She'll be blamed by the family of those people who lost their love ones!"
But it didn't happen. I was the one who was blamed by the people who lost their family. Not that I want Maisha to be blamed, I'd rather let myself rot in jail, than let her. I suffered in jail for almost two years. That was not a joke, for godsake!
"You are not the pilot in that plane, it was Captain Granada! You are just her co-pilot, but why did you maneuvered it?" I tilted my head because of what Major Captain Watson said.
"As a flight captain, Sir, I also have a right to maneuver the plane, when the captain of the plane was sick. Captain Granada was, and I asked for her authorization when I did it," paliwanag ko kay Major Captain Watson.
"That doesn't mean anything now!" sigaw nito. 'Di nalang ako nagsalita dahil wala akong ganang magpaliwanag sa mga taong nakasara ang isipan para sa sasabihin ko.
"She's now giving birth to your baby." Hearing those news from Harry makes my heart cry. That was the most beautiful and painful news I ever heard.
"It's a baby boy, and it was named Azariah Castiel," dagdag ni Harry.
She's giving birth for our child, without me in her side. It hurts me. That was one of my dreams, to be always there for her. But faith never favor to us.
"How is she?" Sa nasasaktan kong boses.
"She's doing good. In fact, she looks more beauti---"
"Shut up, Harry!" agad na putol ko dito kaya napahalakhak ito. Napailing nalang ako at hindi na nagsalita.
Nanatili sa isipan ko ang sinabi ni Harry. Gustong-gusto kong nasa tabi ako ni Maisha habang nasa hospital ito, pero wala akong magagawa.
I did my best, with the help of Harry and Edrian para malaman ang totoong nangyari. I will never let myself root in jail because of the accident that we never wanted.
The days without Maisha in my side was hell. I couldn't sleep every night, thinking how is she doing. Is she mad at me for not reaching her out, knowing that I know she was pregnant.
"This is Atena Josefia Meyer, Officer Amya Jolina Meyer's younger sister who got into asylum because she was sick after her fiancée left her and chose someone else."
Turo ni Harry sa pinapakitang larawan ng isang babae. Innocent and has this almond eyes. She is the innocent version of Amya Meyer. Kunot ang noo ko habang tinitingnan iyon.
"And?" I ask for more information.
"And... it happened that her ex-fiancée was Captain Granada's late fiancée, Captain De Lanaza."
Sa narinig ko palang mula kay Harry, may mga espekulasyon na ako. The possibilities why Amya hates Maisha so much.
Atena Josefia Meyer. Basa ko sa pangalan nito.
"And as I investigated her, Officer Meyer got her sister out in that asylum in an illegal way, even if she wasn't healed yet. This is the situation I don't understand," Harry pause as I thinking about it too.
"Why would she do that?" nagtatakang tanong nito, dahilan para mas gumulo ang isipan ko. From then on, we investigated Officer Meyer and her sister under Harry and Edrian's hands.
I tried my best to get out in the jail. Nang makalabas ako ay una kong tinunton ang kapatid ni Amya. Nakita ko ito sa QIA's airport at ang sabi ay may flight na ito patungo sa America. Hindi ko na inaksaya ang oras para maka-usap si Atena.
"I badly need your help, Atena."
Inosente itong tumingin sa akin. Walang mababakas na dinadamdam nito.
"About what?" Napakalambing ng boses ng kapatid ni Amya. Kabaliktaran dito na parang laging galit sa mundo.
"About your sister. Can we talk it in somewhere else?" Nang tumango ito ay agad na kaming umalis sa airport. Kasama ko sina Harry, Edrian at ang imbistigador nang kina-usap ko si Atena.
"She just said that we need to get revenge to Maisha. I don't know who was it, but my sister was despondent because of that girl. She encourage me to get my revenge too. But I don't know why," mahinang kwento ni Atena sa amin.
Iyon lang ang nakuha naming impormasyon sa kapatid ni Atena. Wala na kasi itong alam maliban lang doon sa gusto na paghihiganti ng kapatid niya.
"Officer George, you're going to plant the micro bomb near the left cockpit. Make sure that it will explode in New Jersey. I will not alert them that there will be a storm in New Jersey. In that case, they will think that the reason behind the plane crash is because of the storm," saad ni Amya sa kasama nitong lalaki. Nakaharap ang dalawa sa laptop na may sketch ng plano nila doon.
I was clenching my jaw and balling my fist while watching the CCTV footage na nakuha namin before the plane crash happened. It was all about the plans of Officer Meyer. Planned and worked so well. Ang kaibahan lang ay agad na namataan nila ang bagyo sa New Jersey, kaya hindi 'yon ang tinitingnan na dahilan ng aksidente.
"What if they saw it in radar, Officer. Surely, Captain Granada will detect it. She's damn good at that, Officer. And how about the passengers? They'll die for sure!"
"Just stick to the plan and stop saying non sense, George! You promised me that you'll help me to get even to her. It's your time to full fill that promise," matigas na saad nito sa kasama 'saka nito dahan-dahan hinahaplos ang dibdib ni Officer Stan. Napa-igting nalang ang panga ko sa nakita.
I'm furious towards Officer Meyer and Officer Stan, I pulled the flash drive out in my laptop and put it inside the envelope together with the other evidences we got.
After two years of seeking for the justice, I finally have it. Bitbit ang isang envelope na naglalaman ng mga litrato at CCTV footage years ago, bago ang aksidenting nangyari, naglalakad kami papasok sa Control Tower Room with the Canada's FBI's.
"You are under arrest for some cases filed about the plane crashed a year ago, Officer Meyer," matamang saad ng isang police kay Amya na nagwawala ngayon.
"No! You can't do this to me, Alec! She deserved it! She ruined my sister's life! She seduced you! She get you away from me! She's a fucking b*tch!" walang pakundagang saad ni Amya sa akin habang nagpupumiglas.
"You don't have a proof for this sh*t!" dagdag nito.
"Anything inside of this envelope are the strong evidences of what you did, Officer. It was all recorded here. Any other questions and complains will be accepted in the police station," saad ng pulis bago pinusasan si Amya.
"He is my best friend, yet, he chose my sister over me! He said he loves my sister even if I told him that I love him!" Kitang-kita ko ang galit sa mga mata ni Amya habang sinasabi iyon sa akin.
"I love him! And Atena betrayed me! She's a b*tch! She deserves whatever happened to her!" patuloy nito. Hindi pa rin matigil-tigil sa pagpupumiglas.
"My sister stole him from me! That's what she get from stealing the man I love! I knew him first! I knew him first, Alec!"
Years had passed, and here I am, standing in front of the priest, waiting for the announcement that Maisha will be my legal wife.
"I will always follow wherever you are. Always let you fly, when you don't wanna walk. Always willing to take all the flights, just to be with you. I love you."
Maisha cried after saying those overwhelming words to me. I wiped her tears as I kissed her in front of the people who witnessed our heart melting vows. This is the moment that I'll never wanted to forget, whatever happens.
I tried hard to protect my heart, afraid that I might get hurt in the end. I never assume. I never expect. And I never wanted to fall in love, but love finds it's way towards me.
"You are the best reason why I believe in love. I love you, wherever the plane takes us, even if planes will take us apart, I will always catch those flights just to be with you. I will always love you, My Captain."
The audience clapped their hands as we shared a kiss again, pinakamalakas na palakpak doon ay kay Aztiel. I winked at my son, who's now in Harry's arms, mouthed 'I love you's' to us.
"Congratulations to our newly wed. Mr. And Mrs. Lazer. Best wishes."
Mas lalong lumaki ang ngiti ko habang pinagmamasdan ang nakangiting mukha ni Maisha.
"Congratulations Mommy and Daddy." Agad kong kinarga si Aztiel at pinaghahalikan matapos nitong mag-congratulate sa amin. Walang paglalagyan ang sayang nararamdaman ko ngayon.
"I'd rather steal your snacks than your man, Officer," nakaka-insultong saad ni Maisha na hinding-hindi ko makakalimutan nang sabihin nito iyon kay Amya. I felt so insulted, but challenged at the same time. Because I am not Amya's man, I'm hers. Only hers.
In aviating plane, you must never let an airplane take you somewhere that your brain didn't get to five minutes earlier. It's dangerous, but taking her away from me even just a minute, was more dangerous.
Maisha Arachne Granada is my final boarding call. She will always be.
The End🍀