Flight Plan (FLIGHT series #01)

Closing Flight - Flight Plan

Flight Plan

Flight Plan is a written statement that gives details of the flight that a pilot intends to make. As a general rule, flight plans must be prepared and signed by the pilot-in-command, and be submitted to the Air Traffic Control at least sixty minutes before the time of departure.

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Preceded by: FLIGHT LEVEL Flight 1.55.2 - Morning Mist

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22 June 2024. Angeles City, Pampanga.

I don't know why for some reasons, hindi ako naiyak sa exchange of vows nila. Mas naiyak pa ako sa naging homily ni Father. And at the moment na bago pa may makapansin sa akin na naluluha ako ay kaagad kong binabawi na kulang talaga ako sa tulog at dahil humikab ako. After all, even that one cup of coffee hadn't been enough. Good thing that I've got the next two days as rest.

Right after the wedding and we're all heading off to the reception, kahit alam nila na nag-taxi lamang ako, ay gumawa naman sila ng paraan para mapwersa akong sumabay kay Nikolai. I'll hate to do so, but masyadong planted na 'yong excuses ng iba naming ka-batch kaya sinabayan ko na lang din.

It had been a little awkward noong kaming dalawa lamang sa sasakyan niya. Bagong sasakyan compared sa dati niyang Coupe, but still an Audi one. And when he tried to start a conversation, calling me by the nickname of "Phoe", naging seryoso ako na tawagin pa rin siyang "Nikolai" or even "Verano". I am clearly not in the mood to bring up what actually happened for things to end up this way.

Naramdaman naman niya din kaagad iyon, kaya bumalik siya sa pagtawag sa akin ng "Yumi" or "Bonifacio". And naging medyo sarcastic ang mga naging sagot ko sa kanya like:

"Kumusta ang naging recent na lipad?" tanong niya.

"Okay lang," sagot ko.

"Hindi mo ba ako tatanungin?"

"Hindi. Halata namang okay ka lang."

Yes, medyo cold. And I know na okay lang din sa kanya. In fact, I can sense that he seems to be enjoying this.

"Anong mayroon ba sa inyong dalawa?" kaagad na pabulong na tanong sa akin nila Nikki pagkadating namin sa reception.

Bahagya kong tinignan kung nasaan si Nikolai na kaagad na kinausap nila Sage kahit magkatabi lang kaming dalawa. Ipinaling ko ang atensyon ko pabalik sa kanila. "Cold war."

Huminga ng malalim si Carina. "Halatang maliit na bagay lang, eh. Ikaw lang itong naka-pout at si Nikolai naman ay parang nag-eenjoy pa nga."

"Nag-eenjoy talaga 'yong loko na 'yan sa cold war namin," I answer as I scurry closer to them, moving a little farther from him.

At once, the reception's program starts, dimming the lights of the hall a little to begin with the introductions. And the man in question uses the same opportunity that everyone's attentions had been turned away to pull my chair close to him and instantly surrounds an arm around my waist, almost making me jump and scream.

"How long are you going to keep up with this cold war, Bonifacio?" tanong niya sa akin. I can feel his breathe right next to my ear.

Patuloy pa rin sa introduction ang host at halata naman na nakatuon ang atensyon ng mga guests sa kanya, pwera lamang sa aming dalawa ngayon. Bahagya kong kinagat ang labi ko. "Tsk... Hindi ka pa nga nag-sosorry, eh. Pangako ka ng pangako, tapos napapako lang din pala," bulong ko sa kanya pabalik.