Artificial Horizon - A César Fernando Basa x Reader story

XIX: Field of Vision

"Bakit ko naman papatayin pa ang isang tao na sabik na sabik na mamatay kahit wala akong gawin?" I scoff. Saying it all over again now of how César truly sounds so willing to die pains me once more that I feel my eyes becoming watery again. "Binigyan ko na siya ng basbas, kung gustuhin niya man din."

"Grabe, binabawi ko na pala na mukhang mas naging kalmado ka. Mukhang mas masakit pa pala iyon. Sinabi mo talaga iyon kay César? Na binibigyan mo na siya ng basbas mamatay?"

"Alam naman niya ang ginawa niya, at sabi rin naman ni Godofredo na kahit sinong piloto ay alam na delikado iyon. Eh 'di totoo lang talaga na gustong-gusto niya na mamatay. Kung anu-ano pang kasinungalingan ang sinasabi niyang gusto niya akong pakasalan, tapos gusto niya na rin pala talaga mamatay. Pakasalan niya sarili niya."

"(Y/N)... Hindi ko sasabihin na hindi delikado ang ginawa niya. Nandoon ako sa field kanina, and narinig ko, kagaya ng iba, ang mga pinagsasabi nila sa radyo. Maging pagkababa nilang lahat, at kung paano sila pinagalitan dahil sa nangyari. Nakausap ko rin si Tonio, at aminado siya na delikado nga ang ginawa ni César, pero nasabi niya rin na ginawa lamang ni César kung ano ang sa tingin niyang tama. Last minute judgment and quick evasive maneuver, sabi niya pa. At hindi lang din talaga aaminin ng iba, pero... kung may isang piloto ang makakagawa ng ganoon na hindi man lang nag-crash ang eroplano, sabi ni Tonio, si César lang ang makakagawa no'n."

"Industrial Chemistry?" I suddenly remember reading it through his framed diploma, before being addressed by his father, telling me, "Yeah. Industrial Technology Major in Chemistry. With honors pa. Sinong mag-aakala na pipiliin niya magpiloto?"

I know time and time again that it takes brains to be a pilot. Flying might be easy, but the theory behind it all and the decision-making in-flight are additional requirements of pressure. I know as well that he is definitely smart, if not a genius to be branded; hence, he knows everything he needs to know with the concept of flying like the back of his own hand. Perhaps, with his own bachelor's degree, in a sense, he certainly finds a plane like something he can deal with, too.

And knowing that he is praiseworthy for being considered by other pilots to be one of the few to manage to survive such a dangerous maneuver and walk out of it makes me smile to myself of how proud I can be of him. I remark, "Malamang. Matalino siya."

"And..." Clara chuckles lightly as she transfers to sit on the vacant space of my bed, placing then her hands to where my shoulders are, and leans closer. "Paniguradong grabe rin ang will ni César to survive. Kaya kahit naging delikado, nag-survive pa rin siya. With the plane. Unscathed."

I slowly pull the blanket off my head and stare at her with a little pout. I know that I am a mess right now for her to giggle.

"Alam ko na tinadtaran at kinatay mo na si César ng galit mo sa nangyari. Pero... pagkatapos ng suspension, alam mo naman panigurado na mas kailangan niya ang suporta mo ngayon." She reaches out to brush my tears. "Kaya tama na 'yan. Tapos na ang shift natin, at hindi ka nga hinahanap ng iba, pero pinapatawag ka ni Kapitan Villamor."

"Clara naman. Bakit hindi mo kaagad sinabi?" I immediately sit up from the bed, brush off my messy hair, and wipe out the remaining tears from my cheeks and eyes. "Mapapagalitan ako panigurado no'n."

She laughs. "Easy, girl. Pinapahanap ka lang naman niya sa akin, at hindi rin naman ako nagmamadali noong hinahanap ka. Panigurado namang alam niya na ako ang dahilan kapag natagalan kang puntahan siya."

"Tapos ngayon kailangan kong hanapin kung nasaan siya." I move out of the bed and start fixing myself up to appear presentable as much as possible. "Mga ilang oras na ba noong sinabihan ka niya na hanapin ako?"

"Hmm... mag-dadalawang oras na, siguro? Hindi naman kasi siya mukhang galit na kailangan kitang hanapin kaagad. At noong sinabihan niya ako, nakasalubong ko lang din talaga siya, at mukhang naalala niya lang na gusto ka niya makausap kaya alam ko na hindi ganoon ka-importante o ano man." She volunteers to fold my blanket for me and ushers me to head on once she sees me all fixed up. "At mag-iingat ka sa labas. Medyo madilim na. Kung wala siya sa kanyang opisina, paniguradong nasa may hangar siya!"