Artificial Horizon - A César Fernando Basa x Reader story

XVIII: Crosswind

I agree with that. For some reasons, I can't understand the despair of passengers in commenting a pilot's skills at all. All that mattered to me is that we all make it to our destinations safely, as it is the number one priority of every pilot.

The doctor drums his fingers for a moment against his desk before looking up at me again and asks, "Kayo ni Basa, ano? Naririnig ko lamang sa iba, at hindi pa ulit kami nagkikita kaya hindi ko natatanong sa kanya."

"Ah! O-Opo," I shyly answer. Admitting that there's something between us is like the final nail to the coffin that it is real. At least, in this dreamscape alone.

"Congratulations," he tells me, when I thought that he'll definitely be scolding me over the matter and used that relationship as a possible excuse for me to be lenient or whatsoever. Hence, the congratulations is quite surprising to me. He then tells me to follow after him as he walks on to wherever we're surely meeting César for the sobriety test. "Come on. Kahit hindi ako makapaniwala, well kailangan natin mapatunayan sa iba na hindi siya lasing para gawin man kung ano ang ginawa niya."

I know that I am glad that César is safe; but I'll be honest to say that I am curious of what he had done. As matters currently stand, it is still a very big question mark for me as I can't think of anything stupid that he'll dare try doing.

* * *

"Godoy, seryoso," I hear César speaking his defense by the time I and the doctor draw closer to where he is in. By the way hearing him talking speaks for itself that he is with someone. "Hindi ako lasing."

"César, muntikan na kayo magbanggaan. Tangina, sinong maniniwala na hindi isa sa inyo ang lasing hangga't hindi niyo talaga napapatunayan?" That sounds like Godofredo with him in, that by the time the doctor himself enters in the room first, with me following behind, my deduction had been true.

Both César and Godofredo are the ones inside the small and rather dull room. The set-up is almost like a prison cell or interrogation room due to the lack of further furniture befitting of a medical bay, all except for the already prepared apparatus for the sobriety test known in this era as the 'drunkometer'. It is a little weird seeing the equipment itself as it is the size of a suitcase, when the breathalyzers in my reality are all very handy.

"Well, Basa," the doctor addresses César, who is seating right next to the drunkometer on top of the table; while I draw closer to where Godofredo stands just next to the door. "Hindi ko inaakala na darating tayo sa ganito."

César leans his head back, exposing the span of his neck, and breathes in deeply. He appears completely the same from the last time I've seen, though he is still wearing his leather jacket and the scarf around his neck is undone, just as his cloth helmet and goggles are on one end of the table. "Hindi ko rin inaakala na gagawin ko ito sa buong buhay ko, doc."

"'Wag kang magsabi ng ganyan kung talagang hindi ka umiinom. Wala akong kilalang piloto na hindi umiinom ng alak," counters the doctor.

When César sits up straighter to listen intently on what the doctor is explaining regarding how the drunkometer works, I realize that his eyes settle at me for a moment before redirecting his focus to where it is definitely needed right now.

Godofredo sighs next to me, and I can't help but wonder what is truly behind that exhausted look, keeping his arms crossed as his eyes are attuned to César. For the record, the only reason that we're here is to bear witness that the test will not be fabricated at all. And a few seconds later, I hear Godofredo muttering, "Alam ko naman na hindi siya lasing."

I blink and snap my head at him. I don't know if that statement is meant for me to hear as some sort of an assurance or whatsoever; but I also don't feel like opening the topic of what happened at all.