Morning Mist

Morning mist is a mist which usually disappears before midday, as the result of warming from the sun.

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Preceded by: FLIGHT LEVEL Flight 1.55.1 - Prime Meridian

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SUMMARY:
New Year was always linked to new beginnings. For the Bonifacio and Verano families, it was very much like that for this year starter.

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Nikolai's POV

31 December 2020. City of Makati.

Napangiti ako noong nakita ko ang caller ID: Moya zhena. I didn't hesitate to answer it at once, and tuck my freehand in my trousers' pocket. "Hey, Krasavitsa."

"Hmph," kaagad namang sagot sa akin. "Hindi kaya."

"Nag-prapractice lang," giit ko.

Huminga siya ng malalim. "Anyway, sabi mo sa akin sabihan kita kapag nandito na si Dale at Lucas. At kahit text lang dapat ay sinabihan nila rin ako na tawagan ka na lang daw. Sabi mo raw kasi."

May isang lumapit sa akin na babae at may tinanong, pawang sinesenyas lamang dahil may kausap ako ngayon. Maging sagot ko sa kanya ay nauwi rin sa mga senyas ng kamay.

"Yes, yes," I agree. "I want to speak with you throughout your ride."

"Hmm... are you excited to see me, or miss mo na talaga ako?" panunukso niya na halatang may ngiti if ever I'll be seeing her right at this moment.

I stand in front of a sidetable where a glass vase is filled with her favorite red roses and white stargazer lilies. All of the vases though sa buong suite are filled with such combination. Bahagya kong hinawakan ang isang rosas. "Both," sagot ko sa kanya. "Magpapaampon na sana ako sa inyo after ko mag-celebrate ng Christmas kasama ang pamilya mo."

"Hindi mo kailangan magpaampon. Mas mukha ngang anak ang turing sa iyo nila Papa at Mama kaysa sa akin eh," giit niya.

"Back to you. Ganoon din pakiramdam ko kung paano ka mas tinuturing na anak nila Papa at Mama, at parang mas magkapatid pa kayo ni Yana."

"So... care for a switch?"

"No. I don't want to be your brother." I chuckle lightly before tucking my freehand back to my trousers' pocket. "I've got much bigger plans than that."

"I wonder how big those plans of yours are."

"The biggest one I'll certainly be making in this life."

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Phoe insists na wala na kaming pagkwekwentuhan if we stick to the phone all throughout her way here to meet me. Though medyo paranoid lang ako na baka may mangyari sa kanya, which is too common and had always been the case, I know that she is also on the safe hands when I've asked Lucas to pick her up with Dale. Kahit na mas magiging kampante ako kung si Ron, mas strikto si Ron na manatiling personal bodyguard ko; hence, Lucas and a few others were those I've decided, with the approval of my parents, to be under Phoe's heed after tonight. While Dale, being my driver... we can say that he'll be needing to deal with us two.

In the event that... well, everything goes as planned.

I've predicted that mula sa bahay nila hanggang dito ay mga one and a half hour drive. Enough time para mabusisi kong maigi na walang kulang at walang labis sa lahat ng mga inihanda ko. Mula sa decor, sa mga bulaklak, sa ambiance, and maging sa napagdesisyunan kong dinner. Mabuti na lamang talaga at nagawa kong makuha ang permission ng mga magulang ko at ng mga magulang din ni Phoe.

Ako naman ang laging nagpapaalam sa mga meetings and dates namin na ganito. Pwera na lang noong isang beses na sinurpresa niya ako sa London noong birthday ko a few weeks ago. Hindi naman nakakagulat na nakapagpaalam siya sa parents ko at kay Yana before she flew to England for that surprise birthday party; but still, himala pa rin sa akin na pinayagan siya ng parents niya mismo. Anyway, my girl had been working wonders as always.

A week ago, I celebrated Christmas with her and her family. It was during that time na nakausap ko ang parents niya about my plans for us to have a date. It is New Year's Eve, kaya medyo duda pa ako noong una if they'll agree. However, they allowed me. Since bihira na nga lang daw kami magkita ni Phoe ever since natapos namin ang flight training last September and I started my university degree sa London. Especially by next year na pareho na kami ni Phoe magiging busy; since naka-receive na siya ng interview schedule with one of the airlines na pinasahan niya ng résumé.

It was few minutes after eight in the evening noong sinabihan ako ni Ron mula sa pagkakaupo ko sa may sala na kaka-report lang daw sa kanya ni Lucas na they're around the block, napatigil lang saglit ng stop light. Bigla naman akong kinabahan at napabuntong-hininga na lamang ako upang pakalmahin ang sarili.

I've informed Lucas countless of times. Maging ang iba pang mga tao na aware with this regarding sa kung ano ang dapat gawin. Kaya hindi ko dapat mamroblema about encountering any problem. Perhaps, the reason that I've been edgy was due to the fact that what rests in my pocket seems to be quite too heavy.

I rub my hands together and tell myself that this is what I've planned and wanted to. Whatever happens, it might end today and be the beginning of something else. I try to be optimistic, wishing that my sincerity will be enough.

The silence lingers for a second before Ron calls for me with a nod, an indication that in less than a minute, the elevator she's in will reach this sixteenth floor. Afterwards, Ron takes it as his queue to exit the room, leaving me alone with the musicians at the dining room—string quartet to amplify with the setting and the mood just enough for dinner.

Bahagya kong sinuklay ang buhok ko bago kuhanin ang malaking bouquet ng mga paborito niyang bulaklak—mga bulaklak din na makikita sa bawat vase sa penthouse. Wala namang bago, sadyang ganito lang talaga ang madalas kong ginagawa para sa kanya; at alam ko na hindi pa rin siya nasasanay. She has the rest of our lifetime to get used with it.

The heavy doors from the hallway leading to the foyer make me tensed up a little, and have the quartet positioned to start at once with their practiced symphonies. And as I wait next to the staircase by the foyer leading to the upper floor, flowers on hand, I'll be honest to say that I keep falling in love with her all over again. Way much deeper and ardently than I've already though of when I've last saw her. It is true that you keep falling in love everyday with the person you consider to be the one truly meant for you.

I could not stop thanking the Heavens as long as I lived for being so lucky.

She stands about six feet away from me. Face touched with the littlest faint of makeup that heightened her natural beauty; since alam ko naman na hindi siya mahilig sa mga iyon, and I love her still.

Kung ano man ang nakahanda kong sabihin sa kanya ngayon ay nawala lahat sa alaala ko, at ang nagawa ko lamang sabihin ay, "Hi." Kahit ganoon, hindi ko naman mapigilan ang sarili ko na hindi mapangiti at bahagyang mamula.

She chuckles lightly. "Hi."

I slowly close the distance between us, bearing the bouquet I am still holding on for her. Mas lalo namang lumawak ang ngiti ko noong malapit na kami sa isa't isa at ibinigay sa kanya ang mga bulaklak na tinanggap naman niya. "You are very beautiful tonight, zolottse."

Kaagad kong napansin ang pamumula ng kanyang mga pisngi at bahagya niya inamoy ang mga bulaklak. "T-Thank you." At pabulong niyang dinagdag, "Kailangan ba talaga lahat ng ito? Parang sobra-sobra ito para sa New Year's Eve."

Hinawakan ko naman ang kanyang kamay at inalalayan siya palapit sa mesa kung saan ibinaba niya ang bouquet. Hinayaan niya akong tulungan siyang tanggalin ang suot-suot niyang trench coat, na siyang binili ko sa kanya a few weeks ago noong nasa London kami; dahil sa pagka-excited niya raw na makapuntang England upang sorpresahin ako noong birthday ko ay nakalimutan niya raw na winter sa Europe. At mabuti na lang din talaga na nag-coat siya papunta rito dahil paniguradong mas madami lang ang magkakagusto sa kanya.

Because underneath that dark trench coat, she is wearing a fitted white dress with thin strap sleeves.

Never ko naman pinagbawalan si Phoe about sa mga pwede at hindi niya pwede suotin. I take it that she has the freedom to express herself based on what she wears, and it is actually a guy's problem if things lead to one thing then the other. If I end up falling head over heels in love with her every single time, paano pa ang iba? Pakiramdam ko tuloy nagiging possessive ako, and I even tell her all about that since the beginning of our relationship.

Back then, she only laughed at me and said, "The same goes with me. Ganyan din ang nararamdaman ko kapag may mga ibang babae rin na naiinlove sa iyo."

I find out that we're just really perfect for one another.

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Right after an already casual and intimate dinner between us, and naiwan kaming dalawa ni Phoe sa suite, may mga two hours pa kaming hihintayin bago mag-midnight to greet the coming New Year.

Last Christmas, noong nag-celebrate ako kasama ang family niya at pinayagan naman kami ng parents niya na mag-celebrate together ng New Year's Eve, sinabi sa akin ni Phoe na I can do all the preparations. Request niya lang is for us to watch a movie—Notting Hill—to be exact.

"Favorite nila Papa and Mama," she told me. "Parang Roman Holiday, pero may clearer happy ending."

And even with all that, we still have about half an hour of waiting para sa New Year. The movie's credit had finished scrolling and no one from the two of us had shown any indication of moving away just yet. Funny how we've started watching the moving side by side, to end up now with her leaning on my chest, the two of us leisurely sitting on the sofa across the now black screen of the television.

"Ano madalas ginagawa niyo sa mga ganitong oras?" kaagad niyang tanong sa akin. "'Yong habang naghihintay kayo ng alas dose?"

"Hmm... Sali't salitan na mahjong, poker or billiards. Kapag walang bakante sa isa, may panigurado na open sa kabila," I answer. "Family celebrations aren't as quiet as this with mine. Lalo na noong mga bata pa kami ng mga pinsan ko. Ngayon, medyo busy na 'yong iba kaya a little goes along with maturity din. But I enjoy this quietness, too. Especially that I got to spend the turning of the year with you."

She giggles. "Mabuti nga hindi sila nag-schedule ng video call, eh. Baka mga busy rin kasi 'yong iba."

"Balita ko 'yong iba nakapasok na kaagad sa airlines. Nagsisimula na raw sila ng training, 'di ba?"

"Yes. And mas lalo akong kinakabahan sa interview." Bigla siyang lumingon sa akin. "Sa four na iyon. Mas lalo tuloy akong kinakabahan."

I reach out to place a hand on the crown of her head and smile. "'Wag ka kabahan." Bahagya ko siyang hinalikan. "Alam kong kaya mo iyon. Interview na nga, oh. Just be yourself, and they'll realize how genuine you are with your passion to be one of their pilots. Kung ako rin ang airlines, tatanggapin din kita kaagad-agad."

"Bias ka lang kapag naging operational na ang plano mong airlines. Kilala mo na ako, eh."

"Hindi ako magiging bias when I am just being honest. I've known you for two years already. I've seen how truly passionate you are."

"Magiging bias pa rin." Bahagya siyang tumawa. "Dahil alam kong mahal mo ako."

I laugh, shaking my head. "You're getting bolder, zolottse."

She pouts. "Bakit? Hindi ba totoo?"

"Totoo. That's why I said that you're getting quite bolder, indeed." I lightly kiss her again. "Come on. We're down to the last ten minutes of this year. Wala tayong makikitang fireworks kapag dito. Mas maganda 'yong view sa bedroom. There's even a balcony upstairs."

Kaagad siyang namula at nauutal na sinabi, "Makikita rin natin dito, 'di ba? At tsaka, kapag nasa kwarto, mas gugustuhin ko ng humiga at matulog."

"Less than ten minutes na nga lang talaga. At kakausapin kita para 'di ka makatulog kaagad." I move away from the couch, stand and offer a hand to her. "Come on. I swear na talagang mas maganda roon ang view."

She didn't hesitate to take my hand though and I hold on to her as we walk from the living room to the stairs up to the penthouse. She stops for a moment upon reaching the top floor, seeing the French doors leading to the balcony. But she let me take her to the master's bedroom, with its opulent and luxurious interior design, and French doors of its own leading to the balcony as well.

In the dim light of the room, the lights from the cityscape illuminates everything as it cast a play of shadows. I am being honest to say that the room offers a much better view with the balcony and windows that buildings across had been further away than just be separated from us alone by a street below.

True to what she said earlier, she let go off my hand and head straight to lay down by the foot of the bed with a relieved sigh. "A well-spent dinner and movie," she starts. "Hindi naman boring kung ganoon ang magiging year-ender natin pareho, ano?"

I smile, head on to the other side of the bed and lay down parallel to her. "Preview na ba ito kung paano ang year-ender natin sa future?"

Ipinaling niya ang atensyon niya saglit sa akin. "Hindi ko alam. But this one might be my best, kahit gaano kamukhang boring or quiet ngayon."

"I prefer the quietness. It got me thinking of how the past year had been. Makes me reminiscence as well. All about you. Us."

Phoe scoffs. "Kung maririnig ka ng ibang tao, baka sabihin na sa akin lang umiikot ang mundo mo."

"Mukha bang hindi?" I counter, rolling on bed to align and hover over her, causing her to look up at me. "In the next few minutes it will be a new year. Another year with you. Do you think it's about time that we're to be honest with how this year had ended up to be?"

"Try me."

I prompt my elbow against the mattress, lean my cheek against my knuckles and look down at her. "Well... if I were to be asked when I've actually known that I fall in love with you, it is with no doubt and hesitation to say that I continue falling in love with you every day. So, it will be that." I smirk. "Since the first day we met until this very moment, I continue falling. Way much deeper than yesterday, much more every second of today, and greatly more fathomless tomorrow."

"Poetic," sagot ni Phoe and closes her eyes. "Kung sa ibang pagkakataon lang, iisipin ko na nagpropropose ka na."

Bahagya akong tumawa. "Hindi mo naman ako hahayaang magpropose lang ng basta-basta, 'di ba?"

"Totoo."

"And you'll never want something extravagant with it, too."

"Yes. That's why, just make it some sort of a..." And when she opens her eyes to look back at me, her voice trails off, clearly off guard.

I chuckle lightly. "Surprise?"

"Xav... 'wag mo akong niloloko," she replies as her eyes start to water.

"I'm serious, Phoe," I affirm, taking a quick look for a second to the ring inside the red box that had been in my possession for months already; after a few days in Paris for Yana's debut at the Le Bal des Débutantes, and a short trip to have it designed. "I love you. Every choice I've made and every path I've taken ever since first meeting you, especially for the past year that we've been together... all of it is for our future together. That's why, I am asking you as a man in love, taking this moment as an opportunity... Captain Mayumi Phoebe Cadaval-Bonifacio, will you marry me?"

The first of the many fireworks sparkle and glitter in the dark sky. It is followed by another, before the entire cityscape had been filled with different colors. And I'll be betting that it had already strike midnight.

"You know..." Phoe laughs and brushes away the few tears threatening to fall. "Kahit naman spontaneous, dapat nakaluhod ka na nagtatanong niyan sa akin."

"To be fair, ganito man ang position natin ngayon, nakaluhod naman din ako. Well, almost."

She reaches out to touch my hair, and in every passing second as the sky brightens, I could swear that I am slowly losing hope, afraid that she'll be turning me down. However, she speaks up, "Hindi ko alam if nasabi ko na sa iyo ito dati, but... Xav, you are all the love that I've prayed and dreamed for my entire life. Now, you are all the love that I want and need."

"Phoe..."

"That's why." Ngumiti siya bago tumango. "Yes, Xav. Yes, of course, I'll marry you."

Kaagad nawala ang takot at kaba na nararamdaman ko noong narinig ko ang naging sagot niya. Waiting for her reply now had made me worried, but not when I've been waiting for such moment for a long time already.

Five times. Five times ako humingi ng pahintulot ng kasal sa kanyang pamilya bago tuluyang mag-propose. Early on in our relationship, sinabihan ako nila Papa at Mama na mahalagang tanggap ng bawat pamilya ang relasyon namin; and nabanggit din sa akin ni Phoe na sa panahong mauwi sa ganito ay kailangan masigurado ko munang tanggap ako ng pamilya niya. Kaya nauwi sa limang beses kong pakikipag-usap sa kanyang pamilya para pumayag sila sa binabalak kong ito.

First meeting them noong simula naging kami; doon nagsimula lahat, at hindi na nakakabigla na masabihan akong masyadong maaga pa para pag-usapan iyon. That was last January, just a month noong naging kami ni Phoe. The second had been my second meeting with them, a month after the first, and it had ended the same. It was followed just a month and a week later, and nararamdaman ko na nagmumukha na akong atat para sa kanila sa pagiging makulit sa pagtatanong. Medyo noong kumalma ako sa pagtatanong regarding a marriage proposal o siguro dahil makulit lang din talaga ako kaya medyo gumaan na rin ang loob nila na seryoso talaga ako back then noong nag-dinner kami kasama ang families namin right after ng graduation last September. And natanggap ko na ng tuluyan ang pagpayag nila noong nag-Christmas ako kasama sila.

"You have our blessings, Nikolai," her father told me over a midnight drink before Christmas ended. Smiling at him, he added, "Just remember that I was the first man to love her. So love her more than I do for all of time, anak."

That's why, this. Not really truly spontaneous, just like us.

I move away from the bed just as she sits up and admires the fireworks for a moment before focusing her attention back to me when I take her hand, kneeling on one knee right in front of her just as she had mentioned earlier. And she allows me to slip the diamond ring through her finger, kissing her knuckles afterward that only intensifies her blush. "This is a mark of you being my long-term investment, moya zhena."

Mas lalo pa siyang namula. "That's... You've been practicing that nickname for too long already... have you always think of this moment since then?"

"Even before that," sagot ko. "And I really think that you should be used with it now You've already earned that nickname since the start; and I've been calling you sometimes, too, 'di ba?"

"I just..." Tinignan niya saglit ang kamay niya na ngayo'y suot-suot na ang singsing, at huminga siya ng malalim. "I think I'll not get used with it. Shocks... Hindi pa naman talaga ako nakatulog at nangangarap, ano?"

"Not yet. I said earlier na hindi kita hahayaang makatulog ng basta-basta lang, 'di ba?" I lean closer to her, kissing her cheek lightly. "We're stuck with one another. So, you certainly have the rest of your lifetime to get used with it, moya zhena."

Her fingers trail my shoulders, slowly moving to touch my cheeks for me to look at her intently. "I'm really going to marry you."

"Yes." I laugh.

She bites her lower lip for a moment before adding, "So, I hope that when we're old, wrinkled and loud, you will tell me that picking me was the right and happy choice."

I smile and lean closer another time, kissing her faintly. "You'll always be, moya zhena. Captain Bonifacio, you're the only one I envision to be my wife."

Kaagad niya namang pinagtapat ang mga noo namin bago ko pa siya mas lalong mahalikan. "And Captain Verano, I love you," sambit niya at tumawa. "Happy New Year, mon mari."

"Happy New Year, and I love you, moya zhena," I greet back before she finally allows me to kiss her another time.

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"You didn't tell me," giit ni Phoe habang naghihintay kami ng elevator.

"About what?" tanong ko.

"About this dinner. Nambibigla ka na naman, eh." She brushes her hair another time with her fingers. "And it seems na ako lang talaga ang walang alam sa lahat ng balak mo na ito, ano?"

I scoff. "Sabi ko nga sa iyo kanina, nakalimutan ko rin, at naalala ko na lang din kanina noong tumawag si Ron para sabihin 'yong tungkol sa mga pinahanda ko na damit para sa atin. And nagkaroon pa rin naman tayo ng at least two hours to prepare."

"Not enough. At hindi ko rin nasabi kala Papa at Mama ang tungkol dito." Huminga siya ng malalim at tinitigan muli ang singsing na suot-suot niya. "Tapos sasabihin mo sa akin na alam na rin nila. At hindi lang sila ang naghihintay sa atin for this dinner. But maging 'yong buong pamilya ko hanggang sa mga tito at tita ko, and sa mga pinsan ko. Ni hindi ko nga rin alam na umuwi ang mga kamag-anak ko sa father side and si Kuya Migs for this. Same goes for your side of the family. And sinabi mo pa na hindi lang basta-bastang dinner sa restaurant, but the ballroom, really?"

"It's my parents' idea, okay? An intimate engagement party with our immediate families."

An elevator finally stops and we enter in with just us, and I press a button to where we are to head.

"Should I be expecting more?" tanong niya sa akin. "I already expect your side of the family will be an overwhelming one sa family ko. Kahit ba sa inyo itong Alethea..."

"That's the purpose of this. To strengthen the ties. And if there's something that you should be preparing is sa kung anong gift ang ibibigay ng pamilya ko sa iyo being an acceptance to the Verano family," I add.

"Pwede ko ba tanggihan?"

"No. It is a gift for the bride."

"I think I can handle a million, or even an Audi car, or a house and lot."

Napatawa naman ako doon, at kaagad siyang tumingin sa akin. "Phoe, we're talking about five."

"Five million? Five Audi cars? Five house and lots?" She shakes her head. "That's too much."

"I mean, five percent."

Her eyes widen at that.

"Five percent of the stocks of the Verano Group of Companies," I clarify before offering an arm at her, watching just as we draw closer to our floor. "That will be more than those five million, five Audi cars, and five house and lots."

Phoe slowly links her arm to mine, and seems to be taken aback by the value and cringes. "Well, that's too much. Truly."

"Not much to be given since you're to marry the heir to all of it," I remind just as the elevator halts, its doors open and the two of us walk out of the hall to head to the Sky Garden reception hall. As expected, bodyguards of our family, along with hotel staffs, had lined the hall leading to the room of tonight's dinner.

"To add, mayroon din ako nito," she mutters, acknowledging the presence of the ring—a four carats diamond ring by Cartier that I've personally chosen and designed with their experts to set perfectly to hers. Bahagya naman siyang tumingin sa akin. "Magkano kaya ito kapag pina-appraise ko? One million?"

"'Di ko alam," sagot ko.

"Magkano mo ba binili?"

"Hindi ko alam, moya zhena."

"Ikaw ba talaga bumili nito?"

"Oo naman. Sino pa bibili niyan?"

"Eh, bakit hindi mo alam kung magkano?"

"Hindi ko na inalam kung magkano."

She scoffs. "Xav... Cartier ito."

I nod. "Yes, I know. I personally have it designed for you. A four carats diamond ring."

"That means..." She gulps in hard by the time we stop right across the doors leading to the Sky Garden. "This probably costs more than one hundred thousand dollars."

I sigh heavily and place a hand over hers to calm her down. "Anything for you, moya zhena. A future with you is more than any of these."

She presses her lips to a thin line for a second before smiling softly at me. "Hindi ko kailangan ng mga iyon, Xav. I am already the happiest to be the woman you wanted to spend forever with."

"Then, let us receive the blessings and wishes that those we love had prepared for us," I tell her. "Captain Bonifacio... Moya zhena, I can't wait to spend the rest of my New Years with you."

My long-term investment and future wife chuckles lightly. "Me, too. To a lifetime of New Years with you, Captain Verano."

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Continue with: FLIGHT PLAN Closing Flight: Flight Plan