Kabanata 26
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“Captain?” A slow knock on my door brings me back to my senses. Hindi ako umimik. Hindi ko sinagot ang pagsambit ni Arshed sa akin. Nanatili akong tahimik na umiiyak habang nakaupo sa sahig at nakahilig sa pintuan.
I don’t even have the will to stand up and go to my bed, para doon umiyak.
“I know you heard me,” Arshed’s bedroom voice lingered in my ears again. Pero katulad ng una niyang pagsambit sa akin ay hindi pa rin ako sumagot. I am still crying silently.
“I won’t ask how are you, because I know, you’re not doing well. I just want to tell you that If you need me, please know that I am just across the room, waiting for your call,” he talked again. I even heard him sighed on the other side. “Don’t hesitate to knock on my door, okay? I’m one call away. I’ll be right there if you need me.”
After that, I didn't hear a single sound. Pero nang marinig ko kalaunan ang paglapat ng pinto sa kabilang kwarto, I know Arshed was inside his room already. Doon ko pa tuluyang hinayaan ang sarili kong umiyak ng may tunog.
My breathing hitch because of the nonstop crying. Sumasakit ang mga mata at lalamunan ko dahil sa walang humpay na pag-iyak. Alas dos na rin ng madaling araw nang tumahan ako kaya agad akong nagtungo sa banyo para makapagbihis.
I got my phone from my purse and finds Jardine’s number.
I stared at it for a moment before I decided to type a message.
‘I never thought you could do this to me, Dean. You already lied to me for how many times but I let it pass since I am lack of time with you. But you, cheated on me in the same place, the same air we’re breathing, never crosses my mind. You fucking ruined everything between us, Dean! You’re a fucking lier, cheater, son of a bitch!’
Nanggigigil kong pinagmasdan ang tinipa kong mensahe bago iyon gigil na senend kay Jardine.
I looked in the mirror and scanned my face. I got smudged make up and mascara on my face. My hair is a mess. My eyes were bloodshot from crying. Overall, I looked like a shit because of a man who doesn’t man up enough to be contented with one woman.
‘You cried for the wrong man, Carae. This isn’t the first time that someone broke you, the first one was the worst because you knew them as your family, but you stood up. Ngayon ka pa ba susuko at magmumukmok dahil lang sa isang lalaking laro pang pala ang gusto sa ‘yo?’
Never again!
I blew a loud breath when a lone tear escaped in my eye again. Agad ko iyong hinawi at naghilamos. Nagbihis na rin ako ng pantulog. Kahit na kumukulo ang tiyan ko sa gutom dahil hindi pa ako nakakapaghapunan, hindi na ako nag-abala pang lumabas ng suite para kumain. I am so drained to even walk out in this four walled room.
Nang matapos mag-ayos ay dumiretso ako sa kama at pinilit ang sariling matulog. Thankfully, I did. I really needed a sleep—a rest. May trabaho pa ako bukas na kailangan atupagin. It's a long flight, kaya kailangan kong bumawi ng pahinga.
When the morning came, just like what I expected, mugto ang mga mata ko dahil sa magdamag na pag-iyak kagabi.
I sighed and started preparing for my flight. Hindi na ako nakapag-jogging dahil mala-late na ako kapag ginawa ko pa iyon.
Pagbaba ko sa building ay dumaan muna ako sa restaurant na kadalasan kong kinakainan para makapag-agahan. Bibili na rin ako ng kape sa katabing coffee shop pagkatapos kong kumain.
I’m wearing my see-through sun glasses para hindi naman masyadong halata ang pamamaga ng mga mata. I can’t use my aviator sunglasses since there is no sun around. Nagkakapalang nyebe pa rin ang nakapalibot, kaya magmumukha lang akong tanga kapag iyon ang isinuot ko.
I sighed after I placed my cup of coffee on the cup holder.
Nasa loob na ng flight deck si Arshed at mataman itong nakatingin sa akin, sinusundan ang bawat galaw ko.
“How’s your feeling, Captain?” kalaunang tanong ni Arshed. Hindi ko siya nilingon. Nanatili ang paningin ko sa labas—nakatingin sa mga trabahanteng busy sa kani-kanilang trabaho. Marshallers were busy waving their bright orange illuminated batoon for their assigned planes. Passengers were busy boarding on the plane where they’re bound to. Engineers were busy checking aircraft that are scheduled to fly. Crews were walking back and forth from planes that come and go.
"Letʼs settle things down before we take off, Captain. I donʼt want you to maneuver the plane with a heavy heart,” Arshed added with his low, raspy voice, but full of gentleness on it. But just like what I did earlier, I didn’t give him a single glance.
Bumuntonghininga si Arshed pero nanatiling nakatuon ang paningin ko sa labas.
I look out the window and am mesmerized by the cockpit view—all whites around the alley with big airplanes on it.
Bumuga ako ng hangin at kinuha ang kape sa cup holder, and took a sip on it.
"Iʼm fine, Officer Salvaleon. Letʼs just prepare for our flight." I swallowed the lump on my throat even if my tears welled up in my eyes, bago ko binalingan si Arshed na matamang nakatingin sa akin. He nodded at me. Something in his eyes is telling me that he wants to say something but chose to keep it for himself.
As I took off the plane, my mind also did. Hindi ko maiwasang hindi isipin ang nangyari kagabi. From how Jardine lied to me, hanggang sa mga hinala ko dati sa tuwing tumatawag ito at hindi naman nagsasalita sa kabilang linya. Or maybe it was just an accident call kaya hindi ito nagsasalita. May isang beses na tumawag ito pero boses ng babae naman ang naririnig ko sa kabilang linya. I was just thinking that maybe it’s his comrade. I wasn’t expecting it at all. Akala ko talaga...
My eyes widened as I saw the fast approach of the birds towards the plane! It was fast and the bird strike was so heavy that it immediately affected the aircraft.
My eyes drifted on the radar when I heard it beeping.
Fuck! Not again!
“What was that?” rinig kong tanong ng isa sa mga pasahero.
“The bird strikes at the wind screen and the right engine,” Arshed murmured kaya tuluyan nang nakuha ang attention ko roon.
I saw the airplane’s right wing flamed. Tiningnan din iyon ni Arshed bago siya lumingon sa akin.
Fuck again!
I immediately contacted the tower controller to notify them about our situation.
“Mayday, mayday, mayday... this is Pilot Captain Carlisle Adria Rae Yara speaking... plane flight 86A bound for Istanbul, Türkiye... I have lost my engine due to the bird strike. I’ve lost my engine completely. I have no RPM right now and the plane’s right wing started to flame,” sunod-sunod na saad ko sa air traffic controller.
“This is Officer Martinez speaking... Captain Yara, are you still cleared for the visual approach?”
“Unfortunately, no, Officer Martinez. We’re flying over the coastline at the Pacific North Coast...”
“Can you tell me how many souls on board?”
“Yeah, yeah... we have 352 souls on board...” agarang sagot ko.
Gusto ko na lang sapakain ang sarili ko. I already reminded myself to stay focused on navigating aircraft today, but fuck happened and here I am again.
I know that ninety percent of bird strikes occur at or near an airport while a plane lands, takes off, or is at a low altitude. However, I also know that bird strikes also have been reported as high as 4,500m (15,000 feet) just like what happened to us now. The amount of damage the bird does to the aircraft depends on the size, weight, and speed of the bird and aircraft. The heavier and faster the bird is, the more potential damage there likely will be to the aircraft.
Ang sa sitwasyon namin ngayon ay malala! Maliban sa malaki ang ibon na sumalpak sa turbine ng eroplano, marami rin ang mga ito kaya mas malala ang damage noon sa eroplano!
“Is there any possible way that you can turn back the plane or land it?” Officer Martinez’s voice on the other line.
Bumuga ako ng hangin at nag-focus sa pagpapalipad. We’ve lost the engine completely and I can’t find any other way to land the plane safely.
My heart beats unusually. I blew a loud breath again before I decided what to do.
“I... can land the plane...” Arshed looked at me. Seryoso ang mga mata nitong nakatitig sa akin. Kahit na seryoso siyang nakatitig, halata naman sa mga mata nito ang pag-aalala at ang hindi ko maipaliwanag na emosyon na naglalaro doon.
“Are you sure about this?” Arshed asked me with his low, husky voice. Tumango ako. I don’t have another choice other than land it. We lost our engine, so what should I do? Stay in the air?
“Officer Martinez, I can land the plane in the ocean... that’s my only choice,” saad ko. Narinig ko ang pagbuga ng hangin ni Officer Martinez sa kabilang linya. May mga ibang boses rin akong narinig at sigurado akong naging abala ang mga ito sa paghahanda ng mga magre-rescue sa amin.
“It’s Captain Yara again?” rinig ko pang tanong ng kung sino man sa kabilang linya. I can clearly hear the disappointment in his voice.
Something tugged my heart because of it. That was the first time I heard someone mentioned my surname with disappointment. Hindi ako sanay. Naninibago ako. Sanay ako na laging pagmamalaki at puno ng paghanga ang maririnig ko tuwing sinasambit ng ibang tao ang pangalan ko, lalo na ng mga taong kabilang sa larangang aking ginagalawan. But what I heard earlier broke my confidence.
Maybe I am not really deserving of this and I was just forcing myself.
Nilingon ko si Arshed nang maramdaman ang kamay nitong magaang nakapatong sa kamay kong nakahawak sa Yoke. He has a small smile on his face, reassuring me that everything will be fine.
“You can do this... we can do this... I promise.” Arshed assurance made my heart beats doubled. “Güvenli bir şekilde inebiliriz... Bunu yapabileceğini biliyorum. Sana güveniyorum, Kaptan.” (We can land safety... I know you can do it. I trust you, Captain.”
My heart palpitates because of Arshed’s assurance. He trusts me so much... he trusts me about his life. I know that this is not the right time for me to feel emotional, but hearing him saying that he trusts me that I can land this aircraft safely, made my heart ache. This is all what I need right now. He’s all I need.
Tinangohan ko si Arshed, hudyat na siya na ang bahalang mag-anunsiyo para sa pag-landing namin sa karagatan, na kaagad naman nitong ginawa after he release my hand.
“Ladies and gentleman, this is Officer Arshed Ceasar Salvaleon, your co-pilot speaking... due to the bird strike to the wind screen and our engine, we need to have an immediate landing... at the ocean.”
Narinig namin ang sabay-sabay na pagsinghap at pagpa-panic ng mga pasahero, kasabay noon ang malakas na pag-alog ng eroplano.
“Everyone, brace for impact!” Devon instructed the passengers before I maneuvered the plane to land in the water.
I immediately shut the outer air vents to prevent water from seeping in and aim for calm waters. Just like what we have trained, I tried to do my best to keep the plane parallel to the waves and try to land tail down for a smoother landing. This is also to prevent the plane from breaking apart and ensure it will float.
I land the plane in the water, and it somehow at rest. I heard flight attendants direct the passengers to grab their flotation devices and evacuate the airplane swiftly. The evacuation slides were also deployed since it’s also double as life rafts.
I immediately sent out a mayday alert prior to the crash landing so help should be on the way. Though, I know, rescuers are already on site dahil sa tawag na ginawa ko kanina.
Nakita kong isa-isa nang nakalabas ang mga pasahero sa evacuation slide. Pati na rin ang mga crews. May nakita na rin ako sa ‘di kalayoan na mga speed boats na papalapit sa pwesto namin.
“Officer Salvaleon, help them out the passengers,” utos ko kay Arshed.
He looked at me. And I know that he’s thinking twice if he should follow what I said or not, but I am eager to get him out of here too.
“Come on,” untag ko sa kanya.
“Let’s go, Captain, let’s get out of here together, now.”
Agad kong inilingan si Arshed. “Mauna ka na. I still need to jot this down.” Umiling din si Arshed sa akin.
“Captain, I won’t go anywhere unless you’ll come with me,” puno ng pinalidad na saad ni Arshed kaya sinamaan ko ito ng tingin.
“Come on, Arshed, I’ll follow, I promise,” paniniguro ko sa kanya. I grabbed his hand and squeeze it a little tighter to assure him that I’ll follow right after him. “I promise,” I added.
Arshed’s jaw clenched, halata ang pagtutol sa mga mata nito.
“If you won’t follow me in five minutes, I’ll come back here and drag you out of this plane whether you like it or not, Captain.”
I nodded at him.
“You will, Arshed, you will.”
“Officer Salvaleon, can you help me out granny? She’s not able to walk her feet due to panic attack,” narinig kong saad ni Devon nang tuluyang makalabas sa flight deck si Arshed.
Palabas na sana ako ng eroplano nang makarinig ako ng kalabog sa banda ng comfort room, kasunod noon ang mahinang boses ng isang lalaking humihingi ng tulong.
Agad kong tinungo ang comfort rooms at pilit na binubuksan ang pintoan nitong na stuck, dahil na rin siguro sa impact ng pag-landing kanina.
“Hey, are you okay?” agad na tanong ko sa kung sinoman ang nasa loob ng c.r.
“I can’t open the door. And I saw the water slowly went in.”
Tiningnan ko rin ang inaapakan kong sahig ng eroplano at nakitang hanggang binti ko na nga ang tubig.
I tried to open the door again, and thankfully I did. Agad na sumalubong sa akin ang isang binatilyong nakasakay ng wheelchair at puno ng takot at kaba ang histura nito.
“Are you okay? Let’s get you out of here,” saad ko at tinulungan itong makalabas ng tuluyan.
Ramdam kong yumanig ang eroplano dahil sa paggalaw rin ng tubig. Unti-unti na ring tumataas ang tubig na nasa loob.
“I’ll carry you, okay,” saad ko.
“But I am heavy,” malungkot na saad ng binatilyo at na agad gumuhit rin ang lungkot na nararamdaman sa mukha nito. I smiled at him, assuring him that I can carry him.
“Compared to the dumbbells I carried in training, you are just a paperweight for me.”
Nang mai-angat ko na ang binatilyo ay agad akong naglakad papunta sa pintoan ng eroplano, kung saan ang evacuation slide. Nandoon na rin ang mga pasahero at ang iba ay na rescue na at nakasakay sa speed boat na naghahatid sa kanila sa safe na lugar.
The plane moved again.
“I’ll let you slide on the raft, okay. Just let your body slide down, and they will help you down there, okay?” saad ko. Nang tumango ito ay ginawaran ko pa ito ng ngiti bago dahan-dahan itong binaba sa slide.
The plane moved again, this time is stronger than the previous one. At sa isang iglap, rinig ko ang pagkatuklap ng kung anomang bahagi ng eroplano at diretso iyong bumagsak sa akin.
“Where is Captain Yara?”
“Carae!”
Narinig kung sabay na sigaw ni Devon at Arshed nang lumagabog ang eroplano.
I groan because of the excruciating pain in my back. Ang likod ko ang tinamaan ng natuklap na bahagi ng eroplano at sobrang sakit no’n. Sa lakas nga ng impact ay nagpigil ako ng hininga. Hindi ko magalaw ang katawan ko dahil sa sakit. Agaran din ang pagtaas ng tubig sa loob ng eroplano, at hindi pa man ako nakakalabas, tuluyan na itong lumubog... kasama ako.
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GorgeousYooo