Artificial Horizon - A César Fernando Basa x Reader story

XIV - Knot

A unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour, approximately 1.85 kilometers or 1.15 statute milesper hour.

* * *

As César's mother earlier mentioned to me, she definitely exerted too much effort in preparing the dinner. It is a feast, and I hint at once my favorites as if I am the guest of honor. Both I and César sit across from them through a variety of choices to start with, and I wonder if we're expecting more. His mother also insists in starting the meal with a prayer, and I'll not be surprised in finding out that they'll be Catholic-devotees, as Americans fail to convert the Philippines to Protestantism upon finding out the Filipinos' strong faith to Catholicism. Not to mention that I also find an altar of religious figures just by the corner of their living room earlier on.

As part of a classic Filipino home, my exploration in the hall I've trailed on earlier, I also notice a few photographs of the family and a series of awards that César had achieved in college. I'll definitely take in consideration looking on them later on after dinner; given that I survive this one first.

Because, no matter how heartwarming I've been welcomed, I can't help but to still be quite too stiff in front of his parents. After all, in a sense to me, this is my first time meeting them; and definitely my first time being placed in this situation, too. Sure, I'll be meeting the parents of my friends; but definitely not a lover's.

"Mas madami pa kaming nababalitaan mula sa ibang tao sa kung anong nangyayari sa loob ng Zablan kumpara mula sa iyo, César," his father breaks the silent atmosphere, jumping straight to the discussion than formalities of 'how are you'. I think, his father's question is one like's saying 'we're worried'.

And César knows it for him to appear quite guilty for a second before smiling sadly. "Mas madami talagang masasabi ang ibang tao tungkol po sa PAAC, Pa. Mas kita ng marami ang nangyayari sa itaas kaysa sa mga ginagawa ng tao sa ibaba."

"At alam rin ng marami ang nangyari sa may San Francisco del Monte. Halos dalawang linggo na ang nakakaraan?" his father adds.

My ears perk at that. It is something I definitely didn't know of and missed out from this dreamscape. And fuck it all, spending the entire day with César made me lost my focus that I didn't figure out today's date yet.

Anong petsa na ba talaga ngayon? Ilang linggo ba ang nakaligtaan ko?

"Ah, 'yong nangyari noong vientiocho po, Pa? Dahil doon nawalan pa kaagad ng dalawang eroplano," César answers too casually as if he is only talking about the weather.

"Anak," his mother finally calls to him this time. "Hindi bale kung nawalan kayo ng dalawang eroplano dahil nagkaroon ng diperensya, pero nagkasagian 'yong dalawang eroplano. Mid-air."

"It's a mock dogfight. How are we going to train against enemy fighters kung hindi po namin i-sisimulate ang almost same parameters of a dogfight itself?" He sighs heavily before looking dejected for raising his voice a little to prove a point. "Pa... Ma... I'm safe, okay? As well as those two. Juliano and Luzon are safe. It just so happens that akala nila na isa sa kanila ang mag-gigive way after being heads-on with one another. 'Yong wings nila ang nagkasagian. Luzon managed to land the crippled plane at the backyard of a German woman, and when he saw her..." He clears his throat as he tries to suppress a laughter from erupting, "He muttered, "Oh, I must be in heaven." Sorry. Godoy survived and managed to leave unscathed but it cost a casualty.

"And, Pa... Ma... I'm sorry," he adds, and when he speaks again, he seems dreadfully serious. "Alam kong nag-aalala kayo sa akin. And I am already beyond grateful na pumayag kayo sa desisyon kong pumasok ng PAAC at maging piloto. I know it's dangerous; but during the training, noong... o kapag lumilipad ako mag-isa, I realize that danger is attributed much more to the pilot than to the plane. It's not just a matter of skills or experience, but the presence of mind, the decision-making, and definitely the will to survive ensures all that safety. Everything heavily relies to the pilot. And I... I want you to trust me. Pa, Ma, I am doing something I love." He smiles at that. "And I want you to know that. I want you to remember that."