Block Time

Block Time, also known as Block-to-Block or Hard Time, is the actual time an aircraft leaves the blocks and pushes back from the gate to the time it arrives (and is blocked in) at the gate at its destination.

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"Cheers!" We hold our glasses up and clink them as our eyes find each other. This reminds me of that first time that we've reunited again; and habang iniinom ko 'yong wine ko ngayon, hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa lahat ng ito.

Iniisip ko pa rin kung nananaginip ako hanggang ngayon. Pero ang daming proof na hindi ito panaginip...

"Hmm... The ham you bought is delicious, Yvonne," sabi ni Sage. "Lasang-lasa pa rin 'yong pagka-juicy kahit may halong mushroom sauce na."

"Weh? Eh ikaw rin naman talaga ang nagluto niyan," giit ko.

"Yeah. Seryoso ako. Here, take a bite." He holds out his fork to me, and I happily open my mouth to take a bite. All of this, him being here right next to me, and the taste of the ham as it melts in my mouth... Lahat-lahat talaga ay totoo.

Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na nagsimula lahat ng ito as a heartbreak healing flight. Tapos ngayon nasa isang high-class akong hotel, kumakain ng dinner na linuto namin ni Sage.

Almost twenty-hours pa lamang, pero pakiramdam ko ilang linggo na ang nakalipas noong umalis ako ng Manila.

Napaisip na naman ulit ako kung anong ginawa ni Sage noong napatawag siya kanina. Alam ko na may trabaho siya na kailangan alalahanin, pero ang selfish ko ba isipin kung naisip niya rin ako? Since habang nag-iikot-ikot ako kanina mag-isa, iniisip ko na sana kasama ko siya mamasyal. But seeing him happy noong nagkita kami kanina, I can't help but wonder why; and yet, I suppress asking him for more.

Napansin naman ni Sage na nakatitig ako sa kanya at agad niyang tinanong, "What's wrong?"

"Wala naman." Umiling ako bahagya. "Bakit?"

"Well, you've been staring pretty fixedly at me for a while now." He smirks.

"Uhm!" Namumulang maigi na naman ang mga pisngi ko. "Wala naman talaga. Napaisip lang ako na ang gwapo mo."

He looks surprised and he turns away as I notice his ears reddening. "And that's the only reason? I was really hoping for a slightly different answer..."

"A... different answer?" I blink. Ano pa ba ang gusto niyang maging dahilan kung bakit ako nakatingin sa kanya pwera sa gwapo siya?

"Nevermind." He clears his throat and proceeds back to eating, turning to me casually. "Anong ginawa mo ngayon?"

"Sightseeing. Ikot-ikot, ganoon. At kaunti na shopping. Though 'yong ham na 'yong pinakamahal ko na binili; hindi afford ng pocket money ko ang iba pang bagay pwera doon at sa mga few keychain and refrigerator magnet as souvenirs," sagot ko. "Ikaw? Kumusta noong napatawag ka?"

"Work, as usual. Well, mostly concerning myself as a board member than a pilot. Though noong natapos 'yong meeting, kailangan ko rin i-deal 'yong panunukso ni Cas."

"Cas?"

"My co-worker. He was the captain of your flight. He's a sarcastic guy, always ready to push at people's button. But I respect the guy. Isa siya sa mga dahilan kung bakit ako nagkaroon ng tapang na mag-confess sa iyo ng ganoon. Sinabihan niya ako na, 'No sky is ever the same on a given day. That's why, take the chance while it's in front of you.'"

Having a flight experience, too, alam ko na may pagkamadaldal ang mga flight instructors. Siguro dahil wala rin silang magawa during cruising or what, aside from staying alert and focus with the flight; those chitchats are acceptable para hindi antukin. And the way his eyes brighten up when he speaks about his work, it seems like he is indeed happy, and Cas, along with his batchmates, is an important friend and mentor of his.

"So... iyon pala ang nangyari talaga." Bahagya akong umiling na may ngiti. "It sounds like na close kayo."

"Yes. Aside sa mga batchmates ko, Cas is someone that I admire," he affirms. "After all, he is the captain that had released me from my line training."

I'm a little regretful na ngayon lang ako nagkaroon ng lakas ng loob na tanungin si Sage tungkol sa kanyang trabaho. Hindi ko napansin na knowing his career will lead me from understanding his cool exterior and the true person underneath it all.

And I hope, right now, more than anything, that I won't let him down.

Matagal-tagal ko na hinahabol si Sage, at ngayon, he's finally looking back at me.

Noong unrequited ang feelings ko sa kanya, I wanted him to like me so badly that my nerves were all but frayed. At ngayon na mutual na ang feelings namin, naisip ko kung may pagkakataon ba na I've let my guard down.

After all, the mystery of our almost perfect compatibility remains. Both of us still in wonder kung ano 'yong one percent incompatibility; initially thinking that the last straw was the fullness of physical compatibility. Will I really be able to make it through our first night together in one piece?!

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"Pwede mo naman iwan diyan 'yong mga pinggan," he tells me with a small smile.

"Okay lang. Saglit lang ito. Tayong dalawa lang naman ang kumain eh," sagot ko sa kanya habang hinuhugasan ang mga plato na ginamit namin.

After our fun meal together, we begin to clean up. And as I wash the dishes out of habit, I once again feel Sage's eyes on me.

He's been watching me for a while now. Mali ba ang way ko sa paghuhugas ng mga pinggan kaya siya nakatitig? Knowing him, though, sasabihin niya naman sa akin kung mali...

"Paniguradong pagod ka na rin pagkatapos ng pagtratrabaho kanina. Mag-relax ka na lang sa sofa or what," I offer.

"It's fine... I want to watch."

Tumawa ako. "Weh? 'Di nga?"

"Yes. Why not tulungan na lang kita na banlawan 'yang mga pinggan," he says as he draws next to me.

"Then, ibibigay ko na lang sa iyo kapag natapos ko na sabunin ang mga ito."

"Yes, ma'am!"

Even doing chores like this... ah, this is nice, too.

Compatible or not, doing something wtih the person you love is the best. I hum quietly as I wash, and sometimes, Sage stops what he's doing to look over at me.

By the time I am done with the last dish, I ask him, "Iyon na 'yong lahat, 'di ba? May nakalimutan pa ba tayo?"

"That's everything, Yvonne," sagot niya. Before I can even turn around, Sage pulls me into his arms from behind. And bago ko pa malaman ay tinanggal niya ang pagkakatali ng apron ko, at bahagyang hinubad iyon sa akin na para bang damit ko na mismo ang tinatanggal niya. Binulong niya sa akin, "This is in the way."

Naramdaman ko ang pagbilis ng tibok ng puso ko at ang pamumula ng mga pisngi ko. Kinakabahan at nahihiya ako.

He places his hands over my clothes, touching my waist and trailing my curves. When his finger shyly touches my collarbone and neck, I shiver and everything comes into sharp focus.

Wait, are we really a match? Hindi naman sisirain nito ang relasyon namin, ano? T-Teka lang... Kinakabahan talaga ako!

"Sage, teka lang," giit ko.

"Anong problema?" Sage's very obviously disgruntled as I stop his hand from moving any further. "Teasing me a little is fine, but there's such a thing as going too far. Hindi ko alam kung paano kontrolin ang mga nararamdaman ko... o 'di kaya paano maging gentle."

"Talaga?"

Kung magiging ganito kabilis ang lahat, hindi ko ma-aalign ang sarili ko mentally and emotionally sa kanya. Paano naman ang katawan ko sa lagay na iyon?

"Wala akong ibang gagawin dito, 'wag ka mag-alala," panunuyo niya. "Mas gugustuhin ko sa bedroom. Buhatin ba kita papunta roon?"

"Bago iyon..." Nagawa kong harapin siya at tumingin sa kanya ng diretso. "Pwede ba ako mag-shower?"

Hindi naman siya kaagad nakapagsalita at tinitigan lamang ako. Nagtatanong kung bakit.

"Of course, I want you to see me at my best..." I remark.

At that, tumango siya. "Yes."

"Thank you." Ngumiti ako sa kanya bago napabuntong-hininga. Before I even pull away completely, I let my hands trace the muscular lines of Sage's chest.

Medyo nadidismaya ako na patuloy ang pagpigil ko... Nararamdaman ko na unti-unti na rin ako trinatraydor ng utak at puso ko. Alam ko na walang halaga na patuloy pa na iwasan ang lahat ng ito!

I smile much more, putting my best smile to try and hide how shaken I still am underneath it all. Habang patungo naman ako sa banyo ay nararamdaman ko ang mainit na titig ni Sage sa akin, nakasubaybay habang ako'y palayo.

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A/N: A few more chapters left for Flight Deck, and FLIGHT series Book 3 is already prepared for start-up. Been quite busy this past few days world building for another WIP than continuing with the third book of the series, but hey... Today's a great day. Today marks the third anniversary of my first solo flight.

Time flies so fast. It is like just three years ago, I am all ready and confident that I'll be flying solo for the first time. I can assure you, at that time, I've never been quite too ready. I know, the very moment I woke up that day and prepare, I am sure that it was the day. And it was. Three years, and still my greatest achievement as a pilot.

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UPDATED: 11 June 2024 | 1223H

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