Katabatic Wind

Katabatic Wind is a wind which occurs when the air in contact with the slope of a hill is cooled to a temperature lower than that in the free atmosphere, causing it to sink. In short, katabatic refers to a cold flow of air traveling down hillsides or mountainsides.

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The towering five buildings that comprised the high-end and luxurious Verity Pasig was a known project of the Verano Development Corporation around this part of the city. Actually, Verity is about the company's top-tier brand which offers residential-style luxury; hindi lang sa Pasig, but in many other different parts of the country. Nakikita ko lang ito dati sa mga advertisements through pamphlets and kapag napapadaan ako sa mga areas kung saan may Verity, I know that it made a name of its own to be a popular expensive condominum. And...

Sage is telling me that he lives here?!

"Come on," he ushers me through the gates, onward to wherever tower his room is.

"W-Wait, hold on," giit ko kaagad, sabay hawak sa braso niya para pigilan siyang magpatuloy.

"Bakit?"

"Kakain tayo sa labas, ano?"

"Well, that was the initial plan," he answers, "Pero sa oras na ito, panigurado na puno lahat ng kainan. Hindi naman natin ma-eenjoy 'yong mga overcrowded na restaurants."

"Totoo, pero..."

"At sino ba may kasalanan kung bakit tayo nauwi na naman sa ganito?"

Hindi niya naman kailangan ipaalala pa iyon sa akin. "Well, it's really—"

Huminga siya ng malalim. "Alam ko na may kasalanan din 'yong restaurant sa nangyari. Pero sino ang nagpa-reserve at hindi man lang kinonfirm by phone?"

I bite my lower lip. "...Ako."

"Then, take some responsibility."

"Then, I'll look for another place. Panigurado na madami-dami pang choices na malapit dito."

"At sinasabi ko na sakit lang sa ulo iyon." Ngumiti siya at hinawakan ang kamay ko na nakakapit pa rin sa braso niya. "'Di ba sabi mo gusto mo talaga makilala kung sino ako? The best way to do that is to come to my place." Noong hindi naman ako kaagad nakasagot, at paniguradong halata na problemado at nahihiya ako, dagdag pa niya, "Natatakot ka ba concerning our almost perfect compatibility?"

I blink. "Ano?"

"Natatakot ka na maiwan mag-isang kasama ako, ano?" Umiwas siya ng tingin at bahagyang humina ang boses niya noong dinagdag niya, "Hindi ka naniniwala noong sinabi ko na gusto kong makilala ka at ma-inlove ka sa akin ng tunay bago lahat ng iyon?"

Hindi ako kaagad nakasagot. Ngayong sinabi niya iyon, ngayon ko lang din na-realize na kapag sumama ako sa condo niya, totoo na kaming dalawa lang ang nandoon. Tama naman siya na ganito ang magiging reaksyon ko kung hindi ko iniisip kung ano ang nararamdaman niya.

"Don't you want to see where I live?" he asks.

Alam ko kung saan nakatira si Sage at ang pamilya niya back then when we were in high school. Alam ko na may kaya ang pamilya niya, pero hindi ko inisip na makakayanan nilang makabili ng ganitong high-end condo para sa kanya. In short, pinaghirapan ito ni Sage marating; kaya tinutukoy niya ito as "his own home". And I truly wanted to know him.

I nod. "Gusto."

"If that's the case, I'll show you." He reaches out to hold my hand again, giving it a firm squeeze for a second before smiling at me and walking me in. "May mga bagay na gusto kong makita mo."

Iyan! 'Yang ganyang pananalita niya ang mas lalong nagpapakaba sa akin. Siguraduhin niya lang talaga na hindi niya ako pinagloloko!

Unfortunately, getting cold feet now is probably what Sage wants from me. So I get myself together and follow after him, his hand still holding mine, like I own the place.

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"Make yourself comfortable," remarks Sage after switching to his slippers, hands a pair to me, and switches on the lights, blanketing his suite in bright and warm light.

Good Lord...

My eyes widen at the sight. Well, simula noong pumasok kami sa vicinity ng Verity, hanggang noong hinatak niya ako sa Tower 4 at sa magarbong lobby, hanggang sa elevator at sa 43rd out of 57th floor, and dito sa kwarto niya... Everything screams "luxury". His room is nothing short; obviously high-end furniture decorates a living space that is far too big for one person. It is way above what I imagined, pero hindi dapat ako masanay sa mga ganito.

Hindi lang gwapo si Sage. Airline pilot tapos high-end pa sa lahat. Hindi nakakagulat na confident na confident siya na he can get any woman to fall for him.

"Wait out here for a bit," Sage adds after removing his jacket and placing it on the back of the sofa. "Take a seat wherever. Kung gusto mo manood ng TV, nandiyan lang din 'yong remote. Or if gusto mo lang makinig ng radio. And for the Wi-Fi password, nasa may ibabaw lang din ng router. In short, make yourself at home."

"Ah, yes. I'll do—"

Hindi niya na ako hinintay makasagot. He just disappears behind another door, giving me no time to ask him about anything else. I didn't pry him to figure out kung saan siya pumunta; in fear that I'll find myself inside his room or what. After all, looking down the hall, there had been four doors. Guess, I'll just need to stay here and pray that he won't be leaving me waiting for long.

But the clock keeps ticking. Nagawa ko na makita 'yong Wi-Fi password niya at nag-scroll lang sa Facebook at Instagram. At kinakabahan na ako kung bakit medyo matagal.

Hindi naman siya nag-shower, ano?! Or whatever he was preparing for! Masyado na naman akong nag-ooverthink. Tama nga siya, mas kinakabahan pa ako kaysa sa kanya.

I sigh heavily and tuck my phone back to my bag. This time, I look around the adjoined living room and dining area. The windows are all floor-to-ceiling, and with the curtains shove to the side, the view of the skyscrapers and the Rizal mountains with almost twinkling lights are visible in the horizon. There's even a balcony na nakakahiyang puntahan without Sage's permission, maging 'yong respective hall na pinuntahan niya before disappearing to one of those doors. And there's another separate room, leading to who knows where, close to the entrance door. Straying my eyes from that door then to the TV set, then to his CD collection of The Beatles, my eyes then land to a large fish tank.

Dahil sa curiosity ko na tawagin iyon na 'fish tank' kahit wala namang isda, linapitan ko tuloy 'yong aquarium. And though there's not a single fish in there... are those crabs?

Two large crabs with bluish-purple shells with orange legs move languidly in the tank.

Aww, ang cute. 'Di ko alam na nag-aalaga pala si Sage ng mga ganito. I wonder if they have names...

I tap a finger against the glass, earning no response from them. After all, crabs are known to be introverts and like to be alone. Hindi ko nga lang alam if they are easy to be kept as a pet for Sage to choose them, and hindi ko alam na may oras pa si Sage para mag-alaga ng mga pets; given that if I remember correctly, he had been always interested with cars and owns his own repair shop. But then, for him to work as an airline pilot means that he only serves as a manager and has people working for him, huh?

Halata naman na patuloy pa rin siya sa pagiging hands-on sa talyer. Sinabi niya rin iyon sa kanyang profile sa Venus Match about his interest with cars, and also, sa mga naka-frame na pictures na nakapatong sa may cabinet malapit sa aquarium. Halos lahat naman ay group pictures. May pictures siya na kasama ang mga tauhan niya sa talyer, halata dahil sa background; and may iba naman na naka-uniform siya bilang piloto kasama ang kanyang mga kaibigan o classmate dahil bilang na dalawa pa lamang ang bars nila, at same faces din ang nasa isa pa na nadagdagan naman ng isa pang bar.

Naalala ko naman bigla 'yong mga documents at mga libro na nasa coffee table. Tinitigan ko lang ang mga iyon kanina pero ngayong tinuon ko ang pansin ko roon ay nahalata ko na puro tungkol sa aviation. Pamilyar ang ibang documents sa akin—mga print-outs ng mga old flight plans, load sheets, specification lists and emergency procedures ng Airbus A320 and A350, and detailed schedules and route notes scribbled all over it. In the middle of it is the familiar series of terminal area charts from Manila to wherever.

And he's still so serious with both study and work...

Having a fair share with the troubles of flying, alam ko kung gaano kahirap maging isang piloto. Manatili nga lang na current ang lisensya, mahirap at magastos na; since iyon ang ginagawa ko to ensure that I am having an annual proficiency check. What more sa airlines, sa mga nalalaman ko, na aside from the annual proficiency check, may airline check din every six months.

During high school, alam ko na madalas nag-skiskipped ng classes si Sage at talagang troublesome. However, he keeps his grades good, and I know that he'd strived to be better noong senior year namin dahil gusto niya raw magkaroon ng madaming choices with the courses. But then... he changed his preferences at the last minute na kahit hindi niya gusto mag-Economics ay iyon ang pinili niya sa UST, tapos ako naman ay nag-nursing.

Ang layo ng course na tinapos ko para mauwi ako bilang isang air traffic controller. After graduation, may nag-offer lang sa akin na sumubok maging ATC, pumasa sa mga tests and interviews, kaya ito. Napamahal na sa akin ang aviation na hindi na ako nag-licensure sa pagiging nurse; na kahit medyo nagagalit ang parents ko noong una ay napruweba ko naman sa kanila na masaya ako sa trabaho ko. At ang mapabilang sa maliit na percent ng industry. Kaya maging flight training ko a few years back ay galing din sa sarili kong bulsa.

Reveling in the warm nostalgia, I aimlessly pick one of the books—Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge. This respective book is familiar as it helped me throughout my flying course to understand the basics. And for Sage, an airline pilot, using it as a reference still, means that it is very helpful as a refresher. However, when I browse its first pages, a cluster of pictures had been placed between, causing me to stop and hesitate.

I take the bundle as it appears to be commemorative photos of some kind. A much younger version of Sage in his uniform, one bar as epaulettes in the pristine white with the embroided logo of Wright Aviation Academy; mukhang first picture na naka-uniform with such a hopeful smile. Group photos followed it with other student pilots that were, no doubt, his batch mates, since ganoon ang flight training ng WAA. Naalala ko 'yong ibang faces mula doon sa naka-frame na pictures, and it seemed like mga pina-print ni Sage ang mga ito. May iba na pictures nila na hindi naka-uniform at imbis na nasa eroplano or nasa ramp area ay may hawak-hawak na mga shot glasses or bote ng alak. The pictures evolve with them having one bar, then two bars and then three bars; photos of him na kasama ang mga flight instructors niya until mga solo pics niya, and then to the simulator of the A320 and to his colleagues in the industry.

Aside from that, I realized na mukhang totoo nga ang sinabi ni Sage dati sa akin na kilala niya, personally, ang CEO and President ng Royal Orient Airways, that most sought bachelor of the country and heir to the Verano Group of Companies—Nikolai Verano. Hindi ako makapaniwala noong una na mag-kabatch sila or close sila, since madalas na-fefeature sa mga magazines and news si Mister Verano; the very reason why I know too that he's very much taken.

Based naman sa pictures, it appeared like Sage's connection with him and the rest of their batchmates remained. There had been latest ones. To add, the most latest ones involved them during a wedding event for them to be in their best formal garbs. And aside from those with him along his batchmates, may iba rin na kasama niya ang mga naging passengers niya both in the airport, in the plane or on the ramp. And the way he so plainly smiles in every picture is so unfamiliar to me.

He can smile like this, too, huh? Medyo unfair na hindi niya pinapakita sa akin ang ganito ka-natural niya na ngiti... Pero kapag naman pinakita niya, siguro ay—

"Hmm?"

A very pleasant smell hits my nose just then. And when I listen intently, I hear a crackling, searing sound from beyond the door down the hall...

Ano kayang ginagawa niya doon? Sabi niya lang sa akin na hintayin siya, at mas lalo lang akong na-cucurious.

I remain firm and stay on my place, shuffling the pictures back and return the book. Once a bit more time passes, roughly more than an hour since we've arrived, the door opens.

"Sorry kung pinaghintay kita ng matagal," Sage remarks, all the while wearing an apron and bringing out multiple plates of food to the dining table.

"Whoa." Nag-lag pa ang utak ko ng isang minuto bago ako kaagad tumayo at linapitan siya. "Ah! Tulungan na kita."

"No, okay lang. Go ahead and sit," he urges me before returning back, probably to the kitchen, where he had been shuffling for who knows how long to prepare dinner for the two of us, and just as I take a seat, Sage returns with two bottles of wine, no longer wearing an apron.

I suddenly wish to see him cooking...

"This white wine will pair well with the herb-grilled chicken, cajun shrimp and chicken pasta, and oriental sesame salad," he explains, popping one of the bottles before serving me and his glass. "'Yong isa naman ay perfect para sa blue cheese and dried fruits. Ito yung mga food sa restaurant na gusto mo kainan tonight, 'di ba?"

I blink at him, watching him clearly unmoved about how casual he appears to be right now. "Well, oo... Pero hindi ko iniisip na gagawin mo lahat ng ito. Para sa akin ba lahat ng ito?"

He grinned, visibly teasing. "I wouldn't go that far. Ginamit ko lang kung anong mayroong ingredients at wine. Nothing much." He reaches out a hand to me. "Anyway, akin na 'yong plate mo."

"Ah, thanks!" Inabot ko naman sa kanya ang plato ko at binigyan niya ako ng servings ng bawat food na inihinanda niya. Mabuti na lamang at ganoon ang ginawa niya dahil kung hindi, baka mapadami ang kuha ko sa isa at hindi ko na matikman 'yong iba.

Noong ibinigay niya sa akin ang plato ko ay sinabihan niya ako, "Go on. Eat up."

"Thank you," sagot ko ulit at unang tinikman 'yong pasta. "Hmm... this cajun pasta is amazing! Parang luto naman ng isang professional cook. And..." Tinikman ko naman 'yong chicken. "Maging itong chicken is a nice balance of being crispy outside and juicy inside... Anong ginawa mo para maging ganito kalambot ito?"

"Salt water lang, walang special or what." Tumawa naman siya habang linagyan niya ang plato niya ng equal serving kagaya ng sa akin. "As long as you have the food, equipment, and know-how, any home can become a restaurant. Well, according sa mga chefs na kilala ko. Madami akong natutunan sa kanila, maging mga kalokohan."

"You mean mula sa mga ka-batch mo noong flight training?" tanong ko. Panigurado naman kasi na hindi niya makukuha ang mga ganitong skills sa mga tropa niya noong college, but based sa mga nakita kong pictures niya with his batchmates, it seems like they are quite too close during their deployments. "Sorry, nakita ko 'yong mga pictures mo with your batchmates. I just guessed na it is through them."

"It's fine. And yes, it is through them kaya masasabi ko na mas gumaling ako sa pagluluto."

"And also, sorry, for doubting you back then," I add at tinitigan niya naman akong maigi. "I mean, noong una nating pagkikita ulit. Noong sinabi mo na kilala mo ang may-ari ng Malyari."

Huminga siya ng malalim. "Okay lang din iyon. Alam ko naman na mahirap paniwalaan. Dahil din kay Nikolai at sa batch kaya medyo gumaling ang memory ko pagdating sa pagkain."

"Hindi na nakakagulat na madami kang alam na restaurants na for sure ay nag-seserve ng high quality foods. Well, baka during deployment niyo noon, 'di niyo kilala ang fast foods dahil kay Mister Verano. 'Di ko ma-imagine na kumakain siya ng ganoon."

"That, though better imagine na kumakain rin siya ng fast foods. Siguro dahil sa amin, or precisely, dahil kay Yumi. But sadyang masipag din iyon. Kahit siya ang pinakabata sa aming boys, mahilig din magluto. Kaya natuto rin ako. And guys who can cook are usually pretty popular." He sports a wicked grin. "A guy like me, also good in the kitchen? Alam ko na mas prefer ng mga babae iyon ngayon. Girls go weak for that unexpected soft side."

I blush and nod. "Yes... A big yes, as a matter of fact."

"Masyado ka namang honest. Pwede mo naman sabihin na hindi totoo kahit papaano."

"Trust me, gusto ko. Pero wala akong maisip. You're just too perfect."

Clang.

I can swear that I almost jump from my seat. I look up, cautiously, at the sound of the cutleries being slammed back onto the table. Doing so, I make eye contact with Sage, who've stopped eating, and looks at me with an empty stare. I gulp in hard and whispers, "Uhm, Sage... May problema ba?"

"Maging ikaw..." He scoffs bago niya iniwas ang tingin niya. "I thought... I thought that maybe, at least, you would be different."

Anong ibig sabihin no'n?

The easy smiles from earlier had vanished from his face. Right now, I'm at a loss when faced with the utter emptiness of his expression.

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A/N: A belated happy birthday to Flight Deck's male lead, Capt. Sage Nathaniel Martinez. His birthday is set on the 19th of April, so happy birthday!

So... I've uploaded two chapters two weeks ago because it had been Holy Week last week. Aside from minimizing my time with the internet for that week, I've also been in a road trip of North Luzon with my parents and younger sister. Yes, we've traveled about 1,500 kilometers for five days from Cavite to Manaoag, Pangasinan to Baguio, Benguet to San Juan, La Union to Bantay, Ilocos Sur to Bangui, Ilocos Norte to Tuguegarao, Cagayan and back to Cavite. It had been an adventure in heading to the extremities of Luzon's northern mainland and all the way back home; and also getting to see places that I've been flying overhead and had last seen roughly a decade ago like that of Pagudpud; and seeing those beautiful and old churches. How about you? How did you spend last week?

Anyway, vote, comment and share! 👀 Also, follow me on twitter @23meraki for more updates, trivia about the story, aesthetic boards, and etc. Love, love, love! <3

UPDATED: 24 May 2024 | 0517H

#FLIGHTseries02 || #FSFlightDeck