Cool air which flows downwards as a rainstorm approaches; air which flows rapidly down the lee side of a building, mountain, etc.

* * *

December 6th, 0600Z (1400LCL)
Aircraft registration: Airbus A321-231 | RP-C9918
Departure: RPVM | Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Cebu, Philippines
Arrival: RPVP | Puerto Princesa International Airport, Palawan, Philippines
Flight route: RPVM- KANO2A - KANON - TR2 - BCD - TR6 - IOO - W17 - ZENNY - ZEN2 - RPVP
(RPVM - KANO2A - KANON - BCD - IOO - PIKAN - OCORO - NOYAN - MARAN - ZENNY - ZEN2- RPVP)

Thankfully, my health seems to have improved after that tea and conversation with Elian. The dream I have from the other day had settled somehow, and no longer troubles me to think that I am like some psycho to ogle Elian just because of being reminded of César. Additionally, with how my most recent dream ends to be, I feel much lighter with no further troubles.

To be honest, I feel much more at peace than I've ever been since this promotional shoot begin and the dreams start to haunt me in a way that I swivel on and off reality and the dreamscape.

Somehow, I finally get a good grasp that there's really a very huge boundary line between the two. Hence, I remain living in the dreamscape on how it had been going on there; and after that conversation with Elian during the Loboc River Cruise, I gained a greater understanding of him as a person. If ever the others are to talk about it, I take in that I shouldn't be troubled by them as I am not doing anything wrong.

Or rather, neither I nor Elian are doing anything inhuman. If they want to add some meaning to it, then I am letting them. It is quite such a huge improvement when things had smoothened and became clearer.

For today, our schedule had been fully-packed. After catching up the ferry ride back to Cebu early in the morning, we proceed on with a scheduled flight to Puerto Princesa. And to maximize our time, everyone agrees to have some shooting scenes captured by the afternoon, choosing the few touristy spots that are close to the city such as the Mitra's Ranch and Baker's Hill.

Ever since that conversation with Elian, it had been apparent that we've managed to break the strangers' zone that whatever awkwardness there is between us finally falls away. In short, it becomes easier for us to address one another, and my colleagues, definitely seeing a much evident display of interaction, finally stop in purging me for what is going on. I am grateful of that; leading for both I and Elian not to answer questions of why we're usually talking whenever there is nothing to be done.

A much more evident example is how when we often find the last remaining seats to be seated with one another, we tend to open to whatever conversation we can discuss about. Usually about Ateneo, on whether we know a mutual friend or whatsoever. That is enough for me to have a good grasp that he is indeed a close friend of Fermin Fernando, that friend of mine's boyfriend who've been giving those Negros treats; but I didn't inquire more whether he had been the one offering such thing to be given to the other's girlfriend or the likes. And aside from that, we keep some tabs wrap underneath; like what did I actually feel about him back then, and what is the exact meaning behind his words from before.

"As I've told you, I am always looking at you, and I see you."

After taking a quick promotional shoot at Baker's Hill and buying some treats, both the flight and cabin crews asked to be left behind there for a moment as I and the rest of the PR Team head on to Mitra's Ranch to settle our clearances and set up our equipment for the continuation of the shoot. It is only acceptable as during the shooting, the rest of us in the PR Team had already managed to buy some goods, while they remain under the spotlight and the work.

It didn't take long, after all, for them to arrive after a few minutes; as both locations are actually less than a kilometer away from one another. And as some sort of instinct, my eyes are easily in search of Elian, watching him for quite a long time, I guess, for me to only look away when he realizes me staring at him, to which he offers me a small wave and a smile.

Yeah, definitely not only good for my heart... But actually, a quick turn of events if someone is to take note of everything.

I flush like a teenager who've just seen her crush, and I continue on with aiding a colleague in setting up the lights. After a few minutes, by the time I am done, I and a few others part of the team head closer to the pavilion, which also stands as a viewing deck of the entire ranch, where the two pilots and the flight stewards are at the moment, while the focus are turned to the flight attendants.

As the cameras roll, I place my backpack on one of the benches and take a seat myself. Most of my colleagues are watching the shoot, while Capt. Zablan and the flight stewards are also looking at the production that seems to cause the flight attendants with Clara to suddenly grow shy than to be encouraged. At that time as well that Elian himself draws closer to where I am, leaning his arms against the pavilion's railing as he looks on the view.

Despite not addressing and facing me at all, he turns his question to me when he says, "Ayos ka na ba ngayon?"

"Ah, yes," I answer with a nod. "Kailangan ko lang talaga ng pahinga."

"Huwag mong pilitin ang sarili mo kung masama pa rin ang pakiramdam mo," he adds.

"I am precisely much better now compared to yesterday. So, yeah, I am fine. At sa tingin ko hindi ko rin talaga maitatago kung masama ang pakiramdam ko," I insist.

"Hmm..." He smiles a little. "Yeah, I guess so."

Afterwards, silence settles between us after that short exchange of words. I then move away from my seat and stand right next to him, watching this time how the promotion is doing and realizing at once that I better be down there to offer whatever help I can give than just to dwindle away. I am about to excuse myself from him when he suddenly says something that I'll be considering to be out of the blue.

"The weather seems like it's playing tricks with us," he comments as he keeps his eyes drawn to the sky. "Mukhang uulan."

I can't help but to also look up at that. True that it is cloudy but not that angry dark gray cloudy that will often denote a higher possibility of rain. Not to mention that during our flight earlier, it hadn't been turbulent at all and is actually a smooth one. I tell him, "Sabi ni Google, thirty percent chances of rain lamang. Noong nasa Davao nga, sabi niya ninety percent chance of rain, pero hindi man lang umulan."

He is already scrolling through his phone as he scoffs. "Yeah. At iyon pa rin ang pinapaniwalaan mo kahit na nagkaroon na ng ganoong prediction at hindi pa rin nangyari 'yong ulan, favoring then the small ten percent chance na hindi?"

I flush at my own embarrassment. "Well, I am not a weather girl para makapagbigay ng prediction about the weather. That's for the meteorologists to deal with."

"And us," he remarks before reading on through his phone. "Hmm... Wind from the north at eight knots. Few clouds at two thousand feet, and broken at ten thousand feet. Temperature twenty-six, dewpoint twenty-two. Seventy-nine percent chance of rain. Twenty-nine decimal ninety-four inches of Mercury or one-zero-one-four hectoPascal." He then turns to me. "With that close difference between the temperature and dewpoint, there's a much greater possibility that it will rain."

"Hmm... Yeah. Definitely, we should've inquired either you or Capt. Zablan para sa prediction ng weather. Dahil sayang naman kung hindi matatapos lahat ng kailangan i-shoot tapos biglang uulan lang din." I press my lip to a straight line.

"I know, Rookie, that it is quite disappointing. At hindi ko naman sinasabi na kailangan na itigil 'yong shoot. But then, just keep yourself sheltered from the rain. Baka mag-relapse 'yong masamang pakiramdam mo," he reminds me.

Before heading off to the shoot itself to find myself useful, I reply, "I am quite a pretty good runner, so you have nothing else to worry about."

* * *

But as what Elian had predicted, roughly just twenty minutes later, the rain indeed falls in buckets. Just thirty minutes since the photoshoot itself started, and the entire team struggle to take all the equipment out of the spot and everyone immediately sought shelter in the pavilion itself.

I am not the only one drenched from head to toe, but ensuring that the expensive equipment be saved out of the rain is a priority. Heck with even saying that I am a pretty good runner when it had been quite a struggle to at least carry those equipment, and dismantle them in the process for easy take away if necessary.

Even the rest of the flight and cabin crews help us in running off the equipment from the rain; despite it being completely out of the contract and agreements for the photoshoot itself. And with all of this, there is definitely no way that we can continue this photoshoot here even if the weather clears or whatsoever.

From where I am ensuring that the equipment are all recovered and dried out with whatever towels we've brought with us, I hear Kathleen apologizing to Capt. Zablan, Elian and the rest of the cabin crews. As the boss, she should've checked the weather herself and handled such damage control. It just so happens that neither from Capt. Zablan or Elian told the rest of the team about the weather prediction they have as we are only dependent of what weather Google will be saying about. Or rather... I guiltily know of what could be the weather in the next few minutes just as what Elian had mentioned, but I keep my mouth shut about it.

Akala ko magbabadya muna siya na parang ambon lang. Hindi ko naman alam na magiging biglaan 'yong pagbagsak ng ulan!

Capt. Zablan laughs a little to assure Kathleen, saying, "Okay lang 'yon. Hindi rin naman maprepredict ganoon kadali ang weather, at passing rain lang din by the looks of it. Pero hindi naman tayo makakapag-shoot ng ganito na kabasa ang mga damit nating lahat, ano?"

One of our colleagues had been quick to instantly be carrying towels after towels for everyone to dry off. As agreed among the team, the promotional shooting will not continue with how everyone appears to be draping themselves with a towel.

I am still in the middle of drying most of our equipment by the time I receive a towel for myself. However, my focus had been on the items we have at hand that letting them all drenched will not be any good. Despite having the files already with us from the previous days, keeping them in good condition for the succeeding days is necessary.

Clicking my tongue, I angrily whisper to myself, "Kainis naman oh. Pabigla-bigla na lang 'yong ulan. 'Di bale kung nagparamdam muna ng pag-ambon eh!"

"Rookie," I hear Elian calling for me, and then be immediately draped overhead with a cotton fabric. I almost drop the camera I am holding in my surprised. As I cradle the device close to my chest and pulling away from my head whatever he had placed, I realize that it is the dark short-sleeved button-down he had been wearing above his plain white inner shirt. He adds, "Wear that."

I frown at him, recognizing that even that the button-down is drenched wet, and I look at him if he is seriously asking me to do so despite its state or wanting to make a statement to everyone around us right here of how things definitely escalated between us. "Huh? Pero hindi naman kailangan. May towel naman—"

He frowns at me as he stops drying his hair for a moment, letting the towel drape on his shoulders as how his white plain shirt clings to his sculpted figure. He then takes the camera and the handy towel from me to dry the device out himself, causing him to focus at his work on hand and look away from me. "Just... Just put it on already. Kahit na may towel ka. Kapag 'di mo 'yan sinuot, sisiguraduhin ko na wala ka sa passenger manifest pabalik ng Manila."

I pout and narrow my eyes at him, truly unsure what is his intention behind asking me to do so. As he will not explain anything more to me and indeed proceed in helping the rest of our colleagues with the drying, definitely their ears perking as what he just said and eyes witnessing what just transpired, I finally give up fighting and did as he had asked of me. The dark short-sleeved button-down also clings onto my skin, and a quick drying of my hair, I also let my own towel drape over my shoulder. I click my tongue and take the drying towel from him and the camera lens he is currently wiping. "Okay na? Para namang matatakot ako maiwan since hindi naman ikaw 'yong kapitan, at si Capt. Zablan ang may last say. Panigurado na hindi papayag si Capt. Zablan na maiwan ako."

"Hmm... Will you even dare?" he challenges, almost scoffing.

"You really dare to—"

"Elian!" Capt. Zablan instantly calls for him, stopping me from saying what else I want to say. Both of us look at where he is seated right now with the rest of the cabin crews and Kathleen, definitely helping as well in drying a few other equipment close to them. Capt. Zablan waves a hand for him to come closer, and ever the dutiful first officer, Elian did so.

I sigh heavily, trying to calm down my nerves then and focus with the work on hand. Right at once, both Ellen and Lara are quick to replace the space Elian had vacated. Drying a few devices themselves, they are grinning from ear to ear when the onslaught of interest finally catches up with me. It seems like I've just been lucky that they are yet to dare question me about it, when they're definitely itchy to do so.

"'Oy, (Y/N)," Ellen chides with a knowing smile. "What was that just now?"

"Panigurado naman na narinig niyo." I chew the inside of my mouth. "Pinapasuot sa akin ito, eh basa na nga. Tapos binantaan pa ako na tatanggalin ako sa passenger manifest pabalik ng Maynila kung hindi ko gagawin 'yong pinapautos niya."

"Aba, aba... Mukhang may iba talagang lihim 'yang si 'Face of the Airlines', ha," adds Lara with a giggle. "Mukhang sa iyo lang talaga walang meaning, pero sa kanya, halatang mayroon."

"Magugulat pa ba dapat tayo? Eh kita naman kahapon, hindi ba? Ang sweet niya na nag-aalala pa," Ellen remarks. "Nakiusap nga na matapos na kaagad lahat ng kailangan i-shoot na kasama siya, and kung pwede ba na bawasan. Tapos, akala naman natin na dahil stressed na siya. 'Yon naman pala, para damayan si (Y/N)."

Wait... Ano raw?

Both of them look at me, right afterwards, as if they've seen a ghost. Their eyes are wide, definitely surprised with my own evident shocked, too. Because, if ever that is the case, then I don't know that at all.

Lara then nervously laughs. "Uhm, hindi mo alam ang tungkol doon, (Y/N)? Akala namin sinabi niya sa iyo... But it definitely appears right now na hindi..."

Looking back to everything that happened for the past few days between me and Elian... Everything is definitely strange, but after that conversation yesterday, I thought that we're getting a good understanding of one another. From how strange he acted at the rooftop in Davao that led for me to have possession of his coat, to that only intention to return the said coat to him in Cebu but ended up leading me to come with him in Negros for the sake of delicacies, and then to that tea offered to me in Bohol, and this...

"I think..." Ellen begins a few seconds later as she stares at me. "I think alam ko na kung bakit niya pinapasuot sa iyo 'yan. He's definitely being a gentleman towards you, (Y/N). Or rather, especially to you."

I blink and then lower my gaze to see that due to my drenched shirt, due to it being white cotton, it almost becomes transparent for my bra to be a little quite visible. I duck, draw the borrowed button-down to cover myself up along with the towel, and I flush.

'Yon ba talaga ang rason niya? Kaya hindi niya rin ako matitigan kanina sa mata noong tinatanong ko kung bakit?

I take a quick peek at where Elian is right now, busy himself along with the others. But it seems he realizes that I am watching him for our eyes to catch one another. I am the first one to look away as my blush reddens.

"Grabe ka, girl, ha!" The two of them are now giggling like teenagers fangirling in a way that they seem to be much more excited about it than I do.

Ellen draws closer to my ear and whispers with an audible hint of glee, "Mukhang bihag na bihag si Mr. Face of the Airlines, (Y/N), ha. Now, it's definitely not just something."

* * *

A/N: Vote, comment and share! Whatever you do means a lot to me, and I am really wishing for some feedback!

A few list of notes to share!
1. Meteorology is one of the many subjects that we pilots study in quite a depth. Of course, flying means having to deal with weather than it is with driving; hence, it is crucial to make meteorologists out of us, too. However, our ground instructor told us that he was teaching us how pilots are supposed to know meteorology; in short, the relation of weather to flying compared to just be some weather reporters and the likes. It didn't end with just knowing the types of clouds, but also knowing how the Earth itself was made and the aftereffects of too many natural forces. Detecting the movements of wind and clouds also predict possible weather phenomena, and having a clear knowledge of existing weather itself in relation to flight is essential; especially that you aren't always allowed to just climb high above the clouds to avoid them or just be beneath the clouds or simply just push through the clouds. There goes what type of flight we'll be having; from a Visual Flight Rules (looking on waypoints and landmarks from the ground) or to Instrument Flight Rules (depending on the readings of instruments, which, on its own has its own separate type-rating).
2. How can we somehow predict the weather? Aside from reading too many navigational charts and maps, there are too many weather charts and maps to read on, too. Not only that, weather reports always come early on upon receipt of the station, which is delivered in a rotation and the most often had been every hour changes (the METAR). Aside from that and some gut-feeling, learning meteorology takes experience, too. For once, an immense rain during the night has a greater chance that it will be a clear and good weather the following morning; stillness of the wind on ground is often regarded as unstable air which would mean building weather high above; overcast cloud cover will usually bring rain; and variable and gusting wind conditions also mean impending weather. But, mostly, it is being attuned to the right stations to give weather reports; and most often PIREPS (Pilot reports) are consistent as it is a report given by pilots actually flying through such weather phenomena to give warning to the others.
3. METAR or the Meteorological Aerodrome Report is the one that Elian had read on in this chapter. Not all airports have a METAR report; usually only applicable for international and domestic airports operating with an airliner. These reports are routinely published and updated every hour to give insight of what to expect in the current and succeeding hour since its release. Of course, it starts with the ICAO airport code, followed by the date and time. It contained following informations such as wind, visibility, cloud ceiling, temperature, dewpoint, altimeter setting, QNH, and significant weather phenomena. Trust me, it is much more accurate than what weather reports say.
4. Temperature and dewpoint relation, as Elian also mentioned, is something that also gives hint to us of some chance of precipitation. We all know what temperature is, and for us, it also means what to expect with the readings of the altimeter setting in relation to the readings of altitude in flight; but dewpoint may be a strange bit for the untrained ear. Dewpoint is the air temperature at which air can hold water vapor until it finally fall in buckets. So, if temperature and dewpoint reports are too close to one another, there is a tendency of precipitation. Just roughly two or three degrees of Celsius is enough to expect some showers; equal temperature and dewpoint definitely means rain. And not just rain, but a heavy one.
5. Passing rain is a type of precipitation that comes in a bucket that you'll think it will last for a long time. However, as it name suggests, no. Usually, this happens because of the strong winds above the atmosphere that, as it rains, pushes the clouds in a different direction. It usually lasts for about twenty to forty-five minutes, but it really starts in quite a splash than the usual first trickle of drizzle.
6. Passenger manifest is part of the too many documents that pilots ensure to be onboard the aircraft. Not to mention that it is part of a bigger document known as the "Flight Plan". For smaller training flights, flight plans have a part where names of the crew and everyone on board are to be listed; but for the airlines, they have a list of it all. And not just any list, but even the seating chart of the passengers are mentioned. As a general rule, the first name to be listed is that of the pilot-in-command, then that of the first officer, then down the order of the chain of command. Passenger manifest are then listed in alphabetical order with a matching seat number next to them. This, along with many other documents, is signed by the pilot-in-command and the flight operations officer (flight dispatcher) before the flight itself, ensuring that they received a copy. In any event of an accident, the flight operations officer takes all the documents essential to that flight, along with that passenger manifest. Elian's comment about having the Reader removed from the passenger manifest is not questionable. Pilots have full command of the aircraft; that they even have the right to arrest any unruly passengers and order anyone out of the plane if they want to. Hence, Elian indeed has the power to remove the Reader from the manifest; given that Capt. Zablan, who is the pilot-in-command and the only person who has greater authority than him, agrees to his reason why. But, of course, there has to be a reason why a pilot wishes one to be out of his flight; not just because he wants to or he personally hates the said person.

Chapter title: Downdraft. It is just one phase of the turbulence, because there's also its counterpart which is the updraft. And no, it is usually not the pilot's movements that causes that sudden return to altitude during turbulence. Downdraft and updraft are always together like some wave; and pilots usually have a method to anticipate it and do what is right to control it. The only reason that it seems like pilots don't act on it, is because of the autopilot, who will just maintain the altitude and not decide the aircraft's power; which is definitely the key element for turbulence. Adding a bit more power allows the pilot to have more control to compensate for the sudden loss and gain of altitude and speed during turbulence. Anyway, for now, this chapter is a downdraft. Because, it seems like whether or not the Reader wants Elian's attention, she is to be at the receiving end of it all.

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