Coastline From The Sky- (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 25

I know Arshed didn’t do anything wrong—unless, of course, he’s just lying, which is unusual for him. I know he won’t lie about such things, that is why I am so torn. Either I believe in him, or I will confront Jardine about it, and both will hurt me.

“Captain, don’t you want to go to the cafe?”

Nilingon ko ang pintuan ng flight deck nang marinig ko ang boses ni Devon. Pareho silang nakatingin ni Arshed sa akin—si Devon ay nagtataka, samantalang si Arshed, hindi ko mapangalanan ang emosyong naglalaro sa kulay asul nitong mga mata.

I shifted my eyes from Arshed to Devon.

“Ne?” (What?) wala sa sariling tanong ko.

Devon sighed and looked at Arshed’s direction, bago ulit tumingin sa akin.

“Sabi ko, hindi ba kayo bababa? Papunta kami sa cafe, ayaw niyong sumama?” ulit ni Devon kaya nilingon ko rin si Arshed na nakaupo pa sa right cockpit.

“Ah... susunod na lang ako. I have an important call to attend now,” saad ko at sinipat ulit si Arshed. Tumango si Devon.

“Okay. Ikaw, Officer Salvaleon, don’t you want to go outside?” Bumaling si Devon sa gawi ni Arshed, ganoon din ulit ang ginawa ko. His eyes were just staring at me—unbothered by Devon’s questions.

“We’ll be there together after Captain Yara takes her important call.”

I raised my brow at him and looked away before I pursed my lips.

Why does he look at me like that? E, hindi naman ako ang nagtatanong e.

Tumango si Devon. “Okay! We’ll be at the cafe, then,” saad nito bago bumaba ng eroplano kasama ang iba pang crews kasunod ng mga pasahero.

Naiwan kami ni Arshed sa loob ng eroplano. I didn’t hear anyone outside the flight deck kaya alam kong lahat ng crews ay nakababa na rin.

I heard Arshed cleared his throat. I swallow hard.

This is fucking awkward, him sitting beside me, waiting to whatever I need to do.

“You don’t need to wait for me, Officer Salvaleon. You can join them... I’ll just need to stay here for a while,” saad ko.

Hindi nagbabago ang paraan ng pagkakatitig ni Arshed sa akin habang sinasabi ko iyon, kaya nag-iwas ulit ako ng tingin at bumuntonghininga.

I don’t really know what I should do right now. I want to check my phone for an alibi, but I don’t feel like doing it anyway. Not when Arshed is watching every move I make like a fucking hawk!

Lumipas yata ang halos limang minutong walang nagsasalita sa pagitan namin ni Arshed, that’s why when he shifted from his seat and a growl slipped on his lips, I know he felt the same.

“How are you?” parang hirap na hirap na tanong nito sa akin. This is the first time since this morning that he asked me something that is not related to our job, and it makes me feel a little... emotional.

No one asked how I was doing these past few days, not even my family. Not even Jardine. He didn’t contact me yesterday about my flight, not even today after I left a ton of messages last night. And Arshed—asking me how I feel—somehow lifted the heavy feeling I have had since last night.

I felt so heavy last night when I heard from him that Jardine is cheating on me, that he thought we broke up already because he saw him kissing another girl.

It feels so unreal, but the sadness and unnamed emotion in his eyes showed me that he shared his sympathy towards me.

“I’m... fine, I think?” hindi siguradong sagot ko bago nag-iwas ulit ng tingin.