Coastline From The Sky- (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 02

Kabanata 02
Flying

Nang mag-landing kami sa Istanbul International Airline ay agad kong naramdaman ang pagiging payapa. It’s always like that since I was assigned here. Kaya tuloy, I crave for a break right now because of the panoramic view in front of me. A enthralling sunset over the breathtaking cliff that I always love to see.

Bumuga ako ng hangin at sinuot ang makapal na jacket bago sumunod kina Devon na naunang bumaba kasunod ang mga pasahero.

A cold winter weather welcomed me as I stepped down on the ladder. Medyo makapal na rin ang snow sa alley kaya pahirapan ang pag-landing kanina. Pero dahil sanay na rin naman ako dahil sa ilang taon kong pagiging piloto ay hindi na ito nakakaabala sa akin.

Busy rin ang mga trabahante ng airlines sa alley because they tried their best to at least lessen the snow piles that started to stock up now. Ramp agents, marshallers... they’re all busy.

I rubbed my palms together para mainitan naman ang mga iyon. Nakasunod pa rin ako kina Devon, na ngayon ay papasok na sa isang sikat na Tea Shop rito sa loob ng airport.

“İyi günler! İstanbul'a hoş geldiniz!”
(Good afternoon! Welcome to Istanbul!)

I smiled at the waitress who welcomed me when I entered the shop and gave her my jacket and put it on the jacket holder where everyoneʼs jacket placed.

“Teşekkürler,” (Thank you,) pagpapasalamat ko.

I sat down on the vacant seat at agad naman akong nilapitan ng waiter.

“İyi günler anneciğim, emrin nedir?”
(Good afternoon, Maʼam, whatʼs your order?)

“İyi günler, sadece bir çay ve bisküvi istiyorum, lütfen.”
(Good afternoon, I just want a tea and a biscuit, please.)

Matapos isulat ang order ko ay agad na itong umalis at binigay sa counter ang papel.

Nakita ko si Arshed na naglalakad palapit sa pwesto ko. Heʼs left hand jolted on his jeansʼ pocket while the other one is holding his pilot cap. He’s wearing a long, black, thick, jacket that complimented his tall height.

Walang pasabi itong naupo sa harap ko na agad ikinalingon ng mga kasamahan ko.

I saw Devonʼs eyebrows wiggles at me kaya napailing ako.

“I will sit down here, Captain, because we have an urgent meeting,” natatawang saad ni Devon at naupo sa kabilang mesa kasama ang mga natatawang kasamahan namin.

Umiling ako. Kahit kailan kung ano-ano na lang talaga ang pumapasok sa utak nitong si Devon. At parang walang ni isang matino. Tsk!

“Captain, this is the only available chair, so Iʼm sorry if you have to deal with my face right now,” seryosong saad ni Arshed.

Binalingan ko ito at nilibot ang mga mata sa paligid at nakita kong tama nga naman ito. Wala ng bakanteng upuan.

Nagkibit-balikat ako. Ganyan ‘yan magpaalam kapag nakiki-upo.

“When I accepted this job and was assigned to that plane... ” sabay turo ko sa eroplanong pinapalipad ko gamit ang nguso ko. “... and knew that you were my co-pilot, I already accepted to myself that I need to deal with you every single second, Officer Salvaleon,” sarkastikong saad ko tsaka ako nagkibit-balikat ulit kaya napanguso si Arshed.

Tumawa ng malakas si Devon na nakikinig sa usapan namin. Arshed groaned playfully bago ako sinimangutan.

“Para namang ang hirap-hirap makita nitong pamumukha ko, Captain, ah,” reklamo ni Arshed tsaka ito umismid.

“Ikaw ang may sabi niyan, Officer Salvaleon. Ang sinabi ko lang naman, e, kailangan kong tanggapin sa sarili kong ikaw ang magiging co-pilot ko.” I rolled my eyes heavenward. Mas lalong napanguso si Arshed.

“Gwapo ako, Captain, kaya ako ang pinili nilang maging co-pilot mo. Alam kasi nila na mas bagay tayo,” mayabang na saad ni Arshed kaya inirapan ko ito at hindi na pinansin.

Dumating ang order ko at si Arshed naman ang nag-order ng tea.

While sipping on mine, he just kept on staring, trying to figure out something in me at nangingiti kalaunan kaya napairap ako. Grabe siguro ang pangungutya sa akin sa isipan nito.

“What?” mataray kong tanong nang hindi ko na nakayanan ang patitig niya. Ngumisi si Arshed sa akin.

“Hmm... I was just wondering... may kapatid ka ba, Captain?”

Sa loob ng dalawang taon na naging co-pilot ko itong si Arshed, ngayon pa lang siya nagtanong ng tungkol sa akin. He didn’t bother asking before, though, I preferred it, kasi kung walang magtatanong, ibig sabihin, wala akong masasabihan ng hindi maganda tungkol sa pamilya ko.

I raised my brows at him. Bakit bigla-bigla yatang naging interesado ito sa mga kapatid ko?

“Maybe, sisters?” he added. “Hindi ka kasi nagke-kwento tungkol sa pamilya mo. I don’t even know—or they don’t even know—all of us, about your family.”

I glared at him. Pero kalaunan ay sinagot ko rin naman.

“I have two. An older sister and a younger brother. They’re both in the business world. My older sister manages our hotels and restaurants, and so does our other company. She also helps my parents run our real estate, while my younger brother has his own hotels. Why youʼre asking all of the sudden?”

I fixed my eyes on him.

Arshed put his hands up, surrendering to me.

“I was just curious, Captain. Masama bang maging curious ? Anyway, are they like you? Or are they the sheep among the tiger? Because all I know was... youʼre the lioness.” I furrowed my eyebrow at him.

Hindi ko alam kung nang-iinsulto itong si Arshed o pinupuri ako. But the way he stared at me seriously, I know that heʼs serious in his question.

I know I am not like everyone else in QIA. If I am in the color box’s choices, I am definitely the black one. Even if thereʼs a hundred color choices in the world, black will always be me.

“Definitely they are the roses among my thorns, Officer Salvaleon,” pagputol ko sa usapan.

Tumango si Arshed. Uminum na rin ito ng tsaa nang ilapag ng waiter iyon sa mesa.

I didnʼt like talking about my family. I donʼt have any memory to proudly share to everyone else. I am not even proud to call them a family. I always wish I was born in a different world, with different parents and people surrounding me. But yes, I donʼt have the right to question Him for what happened. Instead of looking for someone to blame, I blamed myself for everything.

I donʼt want to look for excuses. Iʼm so tired for that. And... I am already contented for what I have now. I strived hard for this. And I know I deserve this a lot, more than anything.

Tahimik lang kaming nakaupo ni Arshed. Nakaharap kami sa glasswall at kitang-kita mula sa loob ng tea shop ang naglalakihang eroplanong paparating at papaalis pa lang.

Watching those airplanes soaring freely is like watching myself drifting away. Away from all the troubles. Away from the dilemmas. Away from any complications. Without any hesitation, hatred and despise... just purely flying, trying to reach the clouds and devour the serenity... peacefully and pure satisfaction.

I was never been this calm way back then. Not until I follow what I want to do. I follow what my heart wants and dismissed my parents approval for everything.

I donʼt want anyone to have control over me. I did. At kahit si Jardine pa ang gagawa noʼn ay hinding-hindi ko hahayaan. Kahit pa sabihin nating boyfriend ko siya.

—
GorgeousYooo✈️