Coastline From The Sky- (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 16

Kabanata 16

Avoid

I saw Arshed loosened up his necktie before he blew his breath harshly. Magkasalubong ang mga makakapal na kilay nito. He looks like a dangerous handsome predator who’s ready to devour his prey.

Kabababa ko lang galing sa kwarto ko rito sa QIA building para mag-agahan sa malapit na restaurant nang makita ko itong kausap si Captain Lazer at ang asawa nitong si Captain Maisha sa labas at pareho nang nakasuot ng uniporme. May hawak na tablet si Captain Lazer at may pinapakita kay Arshed na parehong mga seryoso ang hitsura. I don't know what they’re up to now.

Nagkibit ako ng balikat bago tuluyang naglakad palabas ng building. I was just wearing a black cropped top na pinaibabawan ng itim din na hoodie at pinaresan ng denim jeans. Hindi muna ako ba-biyahe ngayon dahil may dalawang araw pa namang natitira sa leave ko. Magpapahinga na lang muna ako at bukas na ako babalik sa trabaho. Uuwi ako ngayon sa condo para doon ako makapagpapahinga ng maayos.

Lumingon si Arshed sa gawi ko nang ituro ako ni Captain Lazer bago ito nagpaalam sa kausap. Captain Lazer tapped Arshed’s shoulder before he walked towards me.

He looks polished as usual—handsome in his own way. Mas lalo itong gumwapo dahil sa suot na uniporme namin. Gwapo si Captain Lazer at ang iba pang mga piloto at co-pilot dito sa QIA. Marami ring gwapo sa DIA na minsanan ko nang nakasama sa training, isa na roon si Captain Sullivan at Captain Montecalvo. Isali mo pa ang mga mechanical engineers at mga co-pilots doon, pero iba ang dating ni Arshed sa akin. He looks expensive, snob, ruthless hunky but smells like baby powder.

I shook my head in disbelief. Behave, Carae, maybe you forgot that you have a boyfriend, a scout ranger. I reminded myself and closed my eyes painfully. I can't believe I'm thinking about it, for goodness sake!

I cleared my throat nang tuluyang nakalapit sa akin si Arshed. His eyes were serious like the placid morning Caribbean waters, drowning me in reality, and I can't help myself but to let it drown me and not even willing to get up, even if it will take me deep down even more.

"Günaydın, Kaptan," ( Good morning, Captain) agad na salubong nito sa akin. His husky voice lingered in my ears and made my stomach churn and even gave me goosebumps.

"Günaydın," I greeted back as I cleared my throat again. "You're going now?" tanong ko dahil handa na itong umalis. Agad umiling si Arshed sa akin at nagkamot sa batok.

"Yok (No)..." sabay iling nito. "I'm going to have my breakfast. Mamaya pang alas otso ang biyahe. Wanna... come with me, Captain?" Hindi na ako nag-inarte pa. I nodded at Arshed and walked past him as he gestured for me to walk first. Agad din naman itong sumunod sa akin hanggang sa magkasabay na kaming naglakad.

Tahimik lang kami ni Arshed habang kumakain. He didn't bring up what we'd talked about last night, na ipinagpasalamat ko. Now, I wonder what he's thinking about it. Maybe he's thinking that what my mother did scared him out of anything.

Nagkibit ako ng balikat dahil sa naisip.

Well, it won't be a surprise to me, though. I have known a lot of my friends' families, but they aren't like mine. They have a warm home with loving families living together, unlike mine. My family lived like we're in the middle of the Antarctica, so cold and distance. Sa sobrang sanay ko nga sa pagiging malamig ng pamilya namin, it didn’t bother me at all. I treat it like it's normal for us because my family was busy in business, I just didn't know that there is a big reason behind that coldness treatment.

"Kailan ka babalik sa duty, Captain?"

Nag-angat ako ng tingin dahil sa tanong ni Arshed. I forgot to tell him that I'd be on duty tomorrow. I don't want to sulk in my bed and think about what happened in the Philippines anymore. Tama na iyong mga araw na pinagmukmok ko. I want to live my life the way I want it to be. I don't want to let my step-mother ruin it by sulking.