Skyline Whispers

Prologue

They say the sky is the limit.

But for me, it's always been the goal.

Ever since I was a little girl, I've dreamed of soaring above the clouds—of airports, aisle lights, and that quiet hum of an airplane right before takeoff. I used to think the sky was where dreams lived—just floating up there, waiting for someone brave enough to catch them. I'd stretch my arms and whisper to the wind- balang araw, ako naman ang nandoon.

And now, I am.

I'm Reign Annysha Cuevas—flight attendant, dream chaser, and sky dweller. Isang babae na dating nangangarap lang, ngayon ay lumilipad na sa himpapawid. For 28 years of existence, nakapag-serve na ako sa daan-daang flights at nakatungtong na sa mga bansang pangarap ko lang noon.

We're halfway through our journey from Dubai back to the Philippines. Maayos ang lahat—yung usual na ingay sa cabin, tunog ng seatbelts, mga pasaherong pagod pero excited sa byahe. This is my usual routine. 

I moved down the aisle with practiced grace, checking on passengers, offering refreshments, answering questions. 

Everything was smooth, until I reached 22C. May isang foreigner, mid-40s maybe, reeking of expensive cologne. Humingi ito ng tulong para i-adjust yung screen niya, kaya lumapit ako. Sanay na akong mag-assist, but what I didn't expect was his hands brushing down my back- too deliberate to be accidental.

"Sir," I said, keeping my voice steady, "please don't touch me."

He just smirked, eyes dropping to my nametag. "Reign. Beautiful name. You should sit with me for a bit. We could talk... and relax."

Napakapit ako ng mahigpit sa cart. Huminga ako ng malalim. I've dealt with this before, but it never gets easier. And before I could even react, a firm voice cut through the tension like a blade.

"That's enough."

I turned around. Half in panic, half in relief—and then... time stopped.

It was him.

Dion.

And then our eyes met.

For a moment, I couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. The noise around us faded, muffled by the roaring in my ears. He stood there, looking so refined in a button-down shirt with a lanyard that read Civil Engineer. His stance hadn't changed—confident without being arrogant, grounded like nothing could shake him.