Sasakyan
"On behalf of the Clear Sky Airline, we would like to welcome you to the Ninoy Aquino Terminal Airport. We will be arriving at the gate momentarily,"
Euphoria. Bliss. & Heaven.
Hindi naman ito ang unang beses pero ganun na ganun pa rin. Same fucking feels. Pakiramdam ko'y nakalutang pa rin ako sa alapaap. Literally and figuratively.
"The outside air temperature is a pleasant 29 degrees with a light wind coming from the north. We hope you had a pleasurable flight and may you again consider Clear Sky Airline for your future air travel needs. We are gratified that you chose to fly with us today and wish you a good evening."
My heart was still beating in too much glee. The contentment and satisfaction were overflowing. So this is how it feels to reach your dreams. I'm definitely livin' THE dream.
The plane have already landed safely but my nerves are still hyped up. Not with nervousness but with too much joy. It was just my second time to fly with an Airline Transport Pilot License but it feels like I've been doing this forever. It was as if I was born just to do this.
Masigla kong tinanggal ang hearing protection na nakakabit sa tainga ko. Agad kaming nagbatian ng mga co-pilots ko. We commended each other for such a smooth flight.
"Seriously, though. You really are rocking the pilot uniform, Captain! Mas ma-appeal ka pa sa mga FA natin," Khal beamed at me.
Natawa naman ako sa kanya. "Bolero! Kainis,"
Nanlaki ang mata niya. "Uy, seryoso!"
Napailing-iling na lang ako. Dahil sa pagkasabik na makauwi ay hindi na ako masyadong nakapagtagal pa roon. Nang tignan ang oras sa relo ay agad na akong nagpaalam sa kanila.
"Uy, excited umuwi para makwento ang first big airline experience," biro pa nila.
I laughed. "Actually!" pagsang-ayon ko nga.
Kinawayan ko na silang lahat at nagmamadaling lumabas. I was almost jumping on my way to the parking. Akala mo ay batang paslit at hindi 24 years old!
Pero ang saya kasi talaga sa pakiramdam. Parang kailan lang ay Private Pilot pa lang ako na tanging private planes ang napapalipad hanggang sa naging Commercial Pilot. Kumikita at nakakaipon naman na ako nang malaki noong mga panahong iyon pero hindi lang naman kasi basta magka-pera ang gusto ko. I want to upgrade even more. Because my dream was to fly for the major airlines, carrying hundreds of passengers with me.
And so for years, I worked my ass off just to pass through all the requirements in order to qualify. It all paid off considering how my academic performace and background went. Napakalaki ng naitulong noon. Kaya sa murang edad ay naging Captain na agad ako kahit pa sila Khal na co-pilot ko ay kasabayan ko lang naman noon.
And my very first big airline flight destination was Siem Reap, Cambodia. Itong pagbalik naman sa Pilipinas ang naging pangalawa.
I feel so fulfilled. It seems like my heart is going to explode because of too much happiness as I walk through my car. I was still smiling as I settled on my seat.
Ang daming nangyari. Ang daming nagbago.
My phone beeped.
Gaya na lang nito.
My smile grew wider as I look at the text message.
Spencer Donovan:
Touched down safely?
I instantly typed for a reply.
Ellie Madeline:
YES OMFG
Spencer Donovan:
Haha
Spencer Donovan:
Total flight hours?
Ellie Madeline:
3 HRS & 12 MINS!!
Spencer Donovan
HA
My lips parted. That's the sound he makes when he's mocking me. That's the sound he makes when he's about to flex something.
Spencer Donovan:
My SR - MNL trip just took 3 flat hours :P
He really freaking sent it with the sticked-out tongue emoji.
Ellie Madeline:
NO WAY
Ellie Madeline:
I DONT BELIEVE U
Spencer Donovan:
Haha you bet
Napanguso't napasimangot ako.
Ellie Madeline:
HNGG BRB ILL DRIVE HOME FIRST
Itatabi ko na sana ang cellphone ngunit may pumasok pa ulit na reply.
Spencer Donovan:
Take care
Spencer Donovan:
Call later
Spencer Donovan:
Or tom
Spencer Donovan:
I know you'd wanna share abt your airline exp anyway
Napangisi ako. That's true. Ang dami kong gustong ikwento. Nangangati ang dila kong dumaldal.
I texted back an okay to him before finally driving home. It was quite a short drive. Siniguro rin kasi namin nila Uncle na sa bandang Pasay na bumili ng bahay. It's convinient that way since I'll always be going and coming from NAIA for work. Sakto rin naman dahil sa Maynila nakakuha ng trabaho ang mga pinsan ko.
"Aba, nandito na ang Piloto natin!"
Binaba ko pa lang ang bintana ng sasakyan ay narinig ko na ang sigaw ni Lola. Uncle was opening the gate so I can enter the car to the ramp.
I immediately went to hug them when I got out. I was even jumping like a lunatic.
"Anong feeling, Ellie?" Sienna enthusiastically asked.
"Solid!" was the only thing I can instantly think of.
Tumagal pa kami sa may labas dahil sa pangungumusta nila. They helped me carry the souvenirs I got for them on my very first out of the country airline trip.
Nagsalu-salo kami ng hapunan sa hapag. Ni hindi pa 'ko nagbibihis dahil gutom na rin sila kakaintay sa pagdating ko. At feel na feel ko rin naman ang uniform ko.
"Pero grabe naman 'yun, Ellie. Bakit may lipad ka na naman agad bukas?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Uncle.
"Hapon pa naman, Uncle. Tsaka sa Palawan lang 'yun. Wag kayong mag-alala sa susunod naman hindi na ganun ka-hectic. Medyo mas mahaba na yung intervals ng bawat flight ko," I assured them.
"Oh siya, dapat pala ay maaga kang magpahinga ngayon. Wag ka nang masyadong magpuyat," suhestiyon niya.
Tumango-tango naman ako.
Kaya naman nang matapos kumain ay agad na akong umakyat sa kwarto ko. Naglinis lang ako ng katawan at dinama na agad ang kama ko. Ni hindi ko nga namalayang mabilis akong nakatulog.
Maganda ang gising ko kinaumagahan. Walang alarm na gumising sakin at kusa lang akong bumangon ayon sa body clock ko.
Naka-tambay pa ko sa living room kasama sila Nash nang ilang oras bago nagdesisyong maghanda na para sa trabaho.
Mga bandang alas-dos ay nagdesisyon na 'kong umalis.
"Ingat palagi, Ellie ha." paalala ni Lola.
Sila Uncle at ang mga pinsan ko ay nagpaalam na rin. Sobrang laking tulong pala talaga kapag malapit lang sa trabaho mo ang bahay na inuuwian mo. Ni hindi ko namalayan na nakarating na ko. Bonus pa na hindi ko kailangang umalis nang masyadong maaga sa pinanggagalingan ko.
Binabati ko ang mga nadadaanan kong pamilyar na mukha sa Airport. Hindi ko pa suot ang cap ko at naka-ipit lang iyon sa pagitan ng siko at bewang ko.
Nang biglang maalala na hindi ko na nga pala natawagan si Spencer kagabi ay nilabas ko ang phone sa bulsa para i-text siya.
Nakatuon ang atensyon ko sa screen ng telepono at akmang magtitipa na roon nang mabangga ako sa isang matigas na pigura sa gilid.
"Sorry," I instinctively said.
Awtomatikong bumagsak ang mga mata ko sa nahulog na gamit niya sa sahig. I bent down to reach for it. Sumisilip mula sa passport ang plane ticket. Nang mapulot iyon at makatayo ako ay agad na naagaw ang atensyon ko ng naka-bold font na flight number doon.
CB143
Wow.
This is the flight that I'll be commanding today. What a coincidence.
"Sir Zaid?" a voice called.
I stiffened.
My breathing hitched.
I slowly turned my head upwards.
My heart beat instantly raced. I parted my lip so I can catch my breath.
There's no doubt. It's him.
It's Zaid.
Naabutan ko siyang tila kanina pa tamad na nakatingin sa akin. Umangat ang kilay niya sa matagal na pagtitig ko.
"Tara na ba Sir?" dinig kong pag-aya ng kung sino.
But my eyes were glued to the one in front of me. To the one I haven't seen for years.
His brow remained arched at me in wonderment. When I didn't do anything, he then gently reached for the things on my hand.
"Excuse me," he nonchalantly said.
He didn't bother throwing me another look as he turned his back on me. Nilapitan niya na ang dalawang naghihintay na kasama at naglakad na sila papalayo sa akin.
Naiwan akong nakanganga. Nananatiling nakalahad sa ere ang mga kamay.
Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala.
I just saw Zaiden Pierce face to face. Upclose. Flesh to flesh. After how many freaking years.
I feel like my soul is floating.
I suddenly remembered his flight details.
Napalunok ako habang iniisip na sasakyan niya ako mamaya.
I mean, sasakyan niya ang eroplanong papaliparin ko mamaya.
The mere thought of it was enough to make my insides quiver.