Steady winds which blow on the side of the sub-tropical highs nearest to the equator; reliably blow east to west just north and south of the equator.
In the Philippines, Amihan refers to the season dominated by the trade winds.

* * *

December 1st, 0800Z (1600LCL)
Aircraft registration: Airbus A321-231 | RP-C9918¹
Departure: RPLC | Clark International Airport, Pampanga, Philippines
Arrival: RPMD | Francisco Bangoy International Airport, Davao, Philippines
Flight route: RPLC - OLIV2E - OLIVA - W16 - MIA - W11 - MCT - W8- JOFER - JOFER1 - RPMD
(RPLC - OLIVA 2E - OLIVA - VOTAS - MIA - BANOS - PABLO - CONDE - SAGRA - MOLOC - MANOK - MCT - DAHOY - BOHOL - YAYIN - BALIN - GONIL - JOFER - JOFER 1 - RPMD)²

"(Y/N), sigurado ka ba na secured and ready for shoot 'yong mga installed na GoPro sa flight deck? Alam mo naman na ikaw ang assigned para sa mga iyon," Kathleen, the head of our promotion department, inquires for the nth time. I know that she only wanted things to be smooth-sailing, given that the vibes might be equated to that of a vacation of twelve days to tourist destinations in countless parts of the country; for us, it is still work.

"Yes, ma'am," I answer at once as I connect the last of the cables for the six GoPros present in the flight deck alone—three of such views are focused on the view outside, and three are directed to the happenings inside the cockpit. "Kailangan ko lang, ma'am, hintayin sila capt para sa connection ng GoPros sa kanilang mga headsets; then, hit the record at once bago maupo sa pwesto ko."

She nods in response before leaving me behind in the presence of Robert, Cirila and Marius, the chief mechanic, the flight dispatcher, and the ramp agent assigned for this flight, respectively. Despite not having to work in the same field as theirs, being on the happenings of the industry itself, it is only common for us to be courteous with one another; and I suddenly feel out of place being in their presence, and in a location I definitely seldom visit compared to them.

"Mukhang star-studded ang crew nito ngayon, ha?" I heard Robert whispering to Marius, and he winces when the latter elbows him slightly.

"Masisisi ba natin, eh para ito sa anniversary promotion next year," Cirila remarks before checking her papers once more. She turns to me with a smile and asks, "Miss (L/N), right? Talagang magaling mamili 'yong team niyo ngayon ng mga dapat mapasama sa promotional shoot. Pero himala na nagawa niyong mapilit si 'Face of the Airline' para sa ganito."

"'Face of the Airline' talaga, Cirila?" inquires Marius. "Every time na nalalaman ng mga passengers na siya 'yong FO, madalas nagkakagulo."

"Bakit? Kasalanan ba talaga niya na mas pinili niya mag-piloto kaysa manatiling superstar? And now, for the first time, nagawa siyang mapilit ng airlines para sa promotional shoot na ito. 'Di ba ayaw niya nga ng publicity tulad nito aside sa mga photoshoots na pinahintulutan niya?" Cirila asks another time.

It is obvious that they know one another for a long time already; and also the subject of their conversation. To begin with, I am just a new member of the promotional team that I don't know much about how the choosing of desired actors before had been. But I'll be honest to say that during the initial stage of the planning, I already have the same person in mind to be part of this shoot.

Back then, I remember the team doubting if they should extend the invitation to him once more to join the promotion. And since I am the newest member, I've been made the scapegoat to send the e-mail. Everyone didn't have much hope as they've tried doing so for years ever since he became part of the airlines, and all they managed to set compromise with him were pictorials and nothing as almost as trivial as this. However, for some reasons, the 'Face of the Airline' agreed.

"Ah, Robert, Cirila, Marius," a cheerful man's voice greets them from outside the overcrowded cockpit. He is audibly a happy man for him to laugh. "Nagsisiksikan naman kayo diyan na parang ayaw niyo magpapasok. Alam niyo namang maliit lang ang 321."

The three of them turn to the direction of the small entrance and fluster as they greet in unison and move out of the way, "Ah! Good afternoon po, capt!"

"Kayo talaga, 'wag nga kayo magkumpulan diyan. Promotional shooting na nga lang, tapos mag-cause pa tayo ng delay." A middle-aged man, roughly in his late forties or early fifties, walks in dressed in the pristine pilot's uniform with his flight bag and sees me standing behind the captain's seat with the folded jump seat pressing against my back. He is definitely Capt. Porfirio Zablan, no doubt. "Ah. Isa ka sa mga bata ni Kathleen, ano?"

"Good afternoon po," I immediately reply with a quick bow of my head and a nervous laugh. "Yes po, capt. I am (Y/N) (L/N), junior member of the PR team. Excited to work with you po."

Visibly a happy man, he waves a hand and laughs heartedly. "Talaga bang excited ka na makatrabaho ako or nito ni Elian." He suddenly looks behind him and grows confused as he searches for the man he mentioned of. "'Yong batang iyon talaga. Akala ko nakabuntot sa akin."

"Capt. Porf, nasabihan ako ni Capt. Elian na mag-360 inspection na raw siya," a younger man, dressed in a flight steward's uniform, squeezes through the three other people earlier on just to inform the man I am currently in conversation with.³

The captain sighs heavily and mutters under his breath, "Sabi ko nga. Ako itong CM1 and pilot flying." After dropping his flight bag, he ushers a hand for the chief mechanic, flight dispatcher and ramp agent for the papers they have with them. "Oh, siya. Akin na 'yang mga dokyumentong dala niyo. Matutuktukan ko 'yong si Elian, at parang madaling-madaling makaalis."⁴

The underlying comment right there that I could sense are the words: "Porket 'Face of the Airline'."

I bite my lower lip, remembering the very man in flesh as our flight's first officer throughout this promotional shoot. I will be honest to say that I am one out of the many others who've been infatuated with the man himself, apart from the strong fanbase he acquired during his days as a popular basketball player for Ateneo. Hells, he is two years my senior and it didn't occur to me that upon getting this job, I'll be finding him out of the roster of pilots and for him to be dubbed their poster boy.

"(Y/N), right?"

I blink and turn my attention back to the pilot-in-command, realizing by now that it had been only the two of us in the flight deck, and there had been the familiar buzz of passengers embarking from the other side of the slightly opened door. "Yes po, capt?"

He is in the middle of his paperwork but he hands to me his headset as if knowing the details of what I'll be needing to do here before proceeding to my seat.

"Oh, yes." I carefully take it, attach the necessary cables, and hand it back to him. "Ito na po, capt. Thank you po."

"Pagpasensyahan mo na 'yong si Elian," he says. "Madalas lang talagang may topak."

"Ah, naiintindihan ko naman po, capt. Wala po kayong dapat ipag-alala. Isa po 'yon sa mga attitude na attributed po sa kanya sa Ateneo," I assure.

"Shit. Ikaw 'yong sinasabi ni Kathleen na Atenista rin? Na baka dahil kapwa kayo Atenista kaya tinanggap ni Elian 'yong offer." His eyes widen as he seems to connect the dots himself. "Quiet lang tayo kay Elian."

Hindi niyo po kailangan mag-alala, capt, I almost blurt out. Hindi naman po rin kami talaga close, and I doubt na ako ang dahilan kung bakit niya tinanggap 'yong promotional offer.

"Good afternoon, capt," the nearest flight steward, the same man from earlier, greets from the other side of the door amidst him welcoming passengers on board.

"Good afternoon, Sal," the newly arrived man greets in return just as the flight deck's door swings open again. "Mukha talagang full-packed—"

And fuck it all. First Officer Elian Basa, the Face of the Airline, strides in the flight deck with his flight bag and coat in one hand and a brush of a hand through his well-kept hair, all in the glory of the pristine uniform of a pilot underneath the standard light green reflector vest, visibly from the ramp after the necessary 360 walk-around inspection underneath the afternoon heat. And double shit as our eyes are the first ones to make contact.

"Yeah. Especially with the promotion team taking up the business class, too," answers Capt. Zablan. "And you probably didn't need any introductions with one another. Si (Y/N), Atenista, kagaya mo. Mahiya ka na naghihintay siya para sa headset mo, at baka masayang lang 'yong maaga mong ramp inspection na 'yon pa maging cause of delay natin."

I lower my gaze as I am the first one to break the eye contact. Of course, I am shy to stare at such a face, because I will certainly find myself blushing too much if I did. And so, I keep myself scarce as they converse about other flight information to take note of, even when he gently offers his headset and I return it back to him after securing the rest of the cables. After a test of the working speakers and microphones at their ends, I finally hit the record button of the GoPros installed, repositioning them to focus as necessary; wherein two of the cameras are to be focused on both the pilot's faces then I realize that Elian had been watching me through his peripherals, making me insecure.

"Okay na po ang lahat, capt," I inform Capt. Zablan. "Balik na lang po ako after the flight, but if magkaroon man po ng concerns, pakisabihan din po kami kaagad."

"Ah, we'll definitely be fine," he laughs. "And also, (Y/N)..." He presses a finger against his lips with a small smile.

"O-Of course, capt," I answer and smile in return. Before heading out of the flight deck, I notice that Elian seems curious of what secret I and Capt. Zablan share that he isn't aware of; as it is visible on the slight frown that graced his features as I leave.

* * *

I remain under Elian's scrutiny, though he didn't say anything to approach me at all when I come to the flight deck upon our arrival at Davao to recover all the GoPros installed. Whether he asked Capt. Zablan about it or not isn't my concern anymore, and we're really not friends or even acquaintances at all; except for the fact that we're schoolmates and currently working in the same company, though in different departments.

However, it truly makes me insecure when I try to avert my attention away from him most of the time. That even though we are seated away from one another during the dinner with the rest of the team who'll be with us for the next twelve days of shoot, I can feel that he will often steal glances at me through my peripherals. It is enough to send shivers down my spine about why he is being a little suspicious. And to somehow unwind a little before heading to bed for an early start tomorrow, I decide to head to the hotel's rooftop to capture a good view of the city and the night sky.

Yeah, curse my luckiness to only revel in the tranquility of everything and only to find the bump on the destination—the former celebrated Ateneo Blue Eagles varsity player turned first officer is taking some sort of a smoke break at the rooftop than in other convenient smoking areas around the hotel. And it is very much awkward to leave at once just because of me finding him here.

"Ah, the Rookie," he mutters when he realizes that it is me who've recently arrived to disturb whatever solace or silence he is dwelling here with his cigarette. "'Yong Atenista rin according kay Capt. Porf. Para namang kilala ko lahat ng naging estudyante ng Ateneo; 'di ko nga kilala ang nasa buong batch namin na katulad ko na nga rin ng course. Paano pa sa ibang year at department?"

"Uhm, hello? Nandito ako at narinig ko 'yong buong comment mo," I wave a hand to make him know that I am still very present. With a pressed smile, I am a little glad that it is him who've dared to open the conversation not to make this anymore awkward than it actually is. "And hindi ko naman ineexpect na makikilala mo ako. Pero siguro aware ka kung sino ako since you've addressed me sa e-mail. Unless, nakalimutan mo na, but I am doubtful since you consider me as 'the Rookie'. The rookies take the fall or be the scapegoat with the invitations, after all."

"I guess I've just saved you then," he remarks before taking a puff of smoke and turns to face me, leaning then his arms on the railing behind him. "Simula noong pumasok ako sa company, kinukulit ako ng PR Team to live up the name as the 'Face of the Airline'. You're lucky then that you're the rookie noong tinanggap ko para tigilan lang nila—niyo—ako."

I am aware that there is something strange about Elian ever since his college days. No matter how popular he may be, not just because of his skills in sports, but as well as his intelligence and that face, he remains an enigma and a private person with everything he can keep. Rumors has it around Ateneo then that he is not only elusive, but aloof; and that trait somehow makes him even a well-desired bachelor. Fuck it that I've also fangirled of him back then.

"If that's the case, on behalf of the PR Team, thank you, First Officer Basa. And it's starting to cause trouble to me na kaya ka pumayag is dahil pareho lang tayong galing Ateneo. Hindi na ako magugulat kung may mas malala pa silang assumptions," I explain, sighing heavily as I cross my arms and lean on the railings, looking on at the view of the lighted and less busy streets of the city. "But you've explained naman ngayon 'yong reason mo for accepting this promotion, and I'll then consider myself lucky."

"Rookie," he calls for my attention seconds later.

"Hmm?!" Before I know it, he is already placing his coat over my shoulders that seems to truly paralyze me on the spot. My mind hits 404 error not found.

He leans closer to my ear and whispers, "Para mas lalong may pag-usapan sila."

I flush. I know that I did because against the cold weather, my cheeks warm. By the time that my brain, somehow, manages to process what just happened, FO Elian Basa walks back in.

* * *

"Holy shit," I mutter by the time I returned to my room. I close my eyes, calm my nerves and breathe in deeply; erasing what happened from my mind. Only if I can. But gaining my bearing again and opening my eyes, I can still feel the presence of his coat on my shoulders. "What the fuck..."

I've told him the truth. Yeah, when I've sent that e-mail to him roughly three months ago, everyone in the team didn't raise their hopes because it will be a rejection again. I'll be honest that I didn't expect his reply at all; and yet, he agreed and here we are on this shoot. And giving his coat to me right now... what on Earth is he planning to do? Is he really trying to bury me alive with an onslaught of potential questions about what is truly going on between us?

I fold and throw the coat on the empty side of the bed and lie down. Biting my lower lip and staring at the ceiling, I weigh my options in thinking that I didn't acquire his coat at all. I can keep it from the others and simply return it when I am given the opportunity; but I fear that he will be asking for it in the presence of others and flare up the entire rumors.

Whining, I ask myself in the darkness of my room, "Tangina naman kasi Basa." I close my eyes again, frowning slightly. "Ano ba talagang binabalak mo?"

Fuck it all. I want to know. I hate the fact that I am all once again reminded of how I've pinned on him from afar back then during college. Both of us are older now, and I like to say that I've matured; but double shit that gone are his boyish charms and now replaced by that of manly charms. And behind that irresistible handsome face, it isn't too late to assume that he is a man of mystery.

Chirp. Chirp.

Hmm? Birds? My ears perk at the sound. Huwag mong sabihin na may nakapasok pa na ibon sa kwarto...

Chirp. Chirp.

But there is the sound again of birds chirping in the morning. And not to mention that it is quite bright, when I know too well that I lie down on the bed in the darkness because of my own frustration of trying to understand the strangeness of that man. Yet, behind my closed eyelids, I can swear that it is already morning.

Morning?! Nakatulog ba ako ng 'di ko namamalayan, at 'di man lang ako nagising sa alarm ko?! Hindi ko naman pinatay 'yong daily alarm ko, so... Wait.

A warm and callused hand touches my temple to brush away a strand of hair, and caresses my cheek gently and lovingly.

Pero mag-isa lang ako sa kwarto, ha?!

I open my eyes at once, and in seconds, my eyes widen at the sight.

Leisurely watching me, lying just so close next to me, is a half-naked Elian himself, greeting me with a warm and genuine smile, "Good morning, (Y/N)."

* * *

A/N: Vote, comment and share! Whatever you do means a lot to me, and I am really wishing for some feedback! Today is also our dear friend's ninth day of passing. Praying that his soul is finally at peace.

A few list of flight trivia to share!
1. You might be curious about how the story started with such details. To be honest, RP-C9918 is really an Airbus A321-231 and a real operational aircraft of Philippine Airlines.
2. Wondering about those weird names for the flight route? Well, they are the waypoints planned and plotted according to the published high altitude en-route charts. And it is actually the simplified version, as you could probably compare based on the enclosed detailed one which mentions navigational waypoints. As also seen, it starts and ends with the departure and arrival airport; but after and before those, respectively (OLIV2E and JOFER1) are the published airport charts as the Standard Instrument Departure (SID) and the Standard Terminal Arrival (STAR), the latter being used to align an aircraft to its approach for the runway in used.
3. 360 walk-around inspection is the first things on the checklist. As follows, a pilot checks the needed documents of the aircraft (Certificate of Registration, Certificate of Airworthiness, Radio License, Operating Handbook, Flight Plan, and Flight Manifest) are on board the plane; then a visual check of the aircraft's exterior like the lights, wings, fuselages, tires, and empennage in search of possible wears, before checking the electrical equipment, gyros and computer-based systems on the flight deck. For smaller planes, it is a requirement to drain a few of the fuel for any water that could be mixed since it is a no-no, and it is possible to see that the primary controls (ailerons, elevator and rudder) are free in movement; but such could also be check based on the control column or yoke that the movements are free and correct.
4. You might not realize it but pilots are never late as they reported to headquarters three hours before the flight for the pre-briefing, wherein the Captain and the FO decide to equate the workload among them. It is consistent of them to consider the Captain as CM1 and the FO as CM2; primarily, they were to do some tasks first accordingly before then doing other tasks as PF and PM. They are to decide then who'll be the "Pilot Flying (PF)" and the "Pilot Monitoring (PM)"; and the first job order of the PM, after the necessary acceptance of the aircraft and allowing the boarding of passengers as the duties of CM1 and CM2, is to have the 360 walk-around inspection, and the PF to prepare the cockpit for their flight. However, if the crew were in a rush, like transit ones, majority of the tasks are then divided further on.

Chapter title: Trade Winds. As mentioned, trade winds refers to the Amihan season in the Philippines; which the country experiences from the start of October until the end of March, and December, just as the date the chapter is set, is the midpoint of the season. It is the, after all, the month wherein the trade winds are evidently felt by the cold night and morning breeze. Additionally, despite being considereed as a "steady blow", I'd like the parallel that it is also a start of 'something', especially as a first chapter.

Follow me on twitter @23meraki for more updates and trivia. ;)
#CFBArtificialHorizon