THE PILOT'S FINAL STOP

CHAPTER 12 🥰

“NAPAGOD KAGABI?”

OH. MY. GOD.

Napapikit ako nang mariin.

“Kierran… don’t.”

Mariin kong bulong, halatang nahiya ako.

Pero the man behind me

HAD THE AUDACITY

to laugh softly against my skin.

Halos matunaw ang utak ko sa kiliti.

“Napagod daw,” he repeated,

this time mas malambing, mas teasing,

mas nakakainis.

Ramdam ko ang ngiti niya sa leeg ko.

“Baby, if only your Kuya knew…”

he murmured,

voice brushing every nerve ending I had.

“…kung bakit ka hindi makasagot kagabi…”

“Tumigil ka,” I hissed,

kahit namumula na ang mukha ko.

Pero mas humigpit pa ang yakap niya—

braso niyang naka-lock sa bewang ko,

at yung binti niyang parang kadenang nakadagan sa hita ko.

He wasn’t letting me go.

“And this?”

His hand slid higher on my waist,

fingers brushing the side of my ribs.

“This is not pagod from sight-seeing, baby.”

“Kierran…”

Mas lalo kong tinakpan ang mukha ko ng kamay ko.

“Hindi nakakatawa.”

He chuckled again.

Low.

Masama.

Sexy.

“That wasn’t a complaint,” he whispered.

“I’m actually impressed.”

Nag-turn ako to face him,

pero nakadikit pa rin ang katawan namin—

skin to skin.

“Impressed?!” bulalas ko, shocked.

He looked at me through half-lidded eyes,

messy hair,

bare chest pressed against mine.

“Hmm,” he said, brushing my cheek with his thumb.

“Dahil sa energy mo kagabi.”

“I HATE YOU.”

“You didn’t hate me last night.”

“Shut up—”

“Actually…”

he leaned in, lips brushing my jaw,

“…you were begging.”

I slapped his arm.

“KIERRAN!”

He caught my wrist mid-air,

gently—

para bang alam niyang nagtatampo ako pero hindi talaga galit.

Then he pulled my hand down to his chest,

keeping it there.

“Relax, baby,” he murmured warmly.

“I’m teasing you.”

“You’re embarrassing me.”

Bulong ko, halos pabulong na iyak sa hiya.

“Good.”

He kissed the back of my shoulder.

“Para maalala mo kung gaano kita pinagod.”

I buried my face in the pillow, dying.

He laughed again—

that deep, morning laugh

that vibrated through his chest

against my palm.

“Arielle,” he whispered,

gentle but sinful,

“if you think napagod ka kagabi…”

He pulled me closer,

naramdaman ko ang init niya fully.

“…we’re not even done yet.”

My heart stopped.

AND THEN STARTED AGAIN—

too fast.

Too loud.

Too dangerous.

THE moment matapos ni Kierran ang pang-aasar niya,

nag-decide ako—

Kailangan kong makatakas ng kama.

Kailangan kong huminga.

Kailangan kong makalayo sa init niya.

Kailangan kong mag-compose ng dignity ko kahit konti.

So slowly…

paunti-unting tinanggal ko ang kamay niya sa bewang ko.

Konting gap lang.

Konting espasyo.

Then I slid my leg out from under his.

Very carefully.

Parang ninja.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

he murmured, eyes still half-closed.

“Bathroom,” sagot ko, very defensive.

“And away from you.”

“Hmm?” he answered sleepily,

pero may ngiti na sa labi niya.

“Why away from me?”

“Because,” I said, slowly sitting up,

hikaw-kumot-para-hindi-masilip-niya-ang-bu—

Too late.

Nahulog ang kumot.

Hubad ako, siya rin,

and we both paused.

For one full second.

Then—

We both burst out laughing.

Like actual, stupid laughter na parang mag-jowa na sanay makita lahat ng baho, hiya, ka-walangya-an sa isa’t isa.

“Oh my God,” I covered my face.

“Wala man lang akong dignity!”

“Wala nga,” he teased casually, nakahiga pa rin like a king.

“Pero hindi mo rin naman ‘yan kinailangan kagabi.”

“KIERRAN!”

He laughed louder, tuwang-tuwa sa pagpa-purple ng mukha ko.

I grabbed a pillow para takpan ang sarili—

Pero bigla niya akong hinila.

As in, one strong pull.

“Ack—! Kierran!”

Nahulog ako pabalik sa kama, diretso sa dibdib niya.

Nagulat ako pero hindi ako nag-jerk away.

He wrapped both arms around me,

parang bear hug

na walang balak pakawalan kahit kelan.

Still laughing, he whispered—

“You're not escaping.”

“Bitawan mo ako—”

“No.”

“Kierran, seryoso—”

“Arielle,” he said, tightening his hold, voice warm but possessive, “…you really think makakatakas ka sa’kin?”

Napasimangot ako pero nakakatawa.

“Gusto ko lang pumunta ng banyo!”

“Tsaka ka na pumunta,” he murmured.

“Five more minutes.”

“Hindi ako bata—”

He shifted a little,

pinulupot pa ang isang binti niya sa akin,

pinagdikit kami nang mas mahigpit.

“Fine,” I grumbled,

“five minutes lang.”

“Good girl.”

“Oh my—stop calling me that.”

“No,” he teased again.

“I like it.”

Tumawa ulit kami pareho.

As in actual, warm, stupid laughter

na parang hindi kami dalawang taong halos nagkainitan kagabi hanggang mawalan ng ulirat.

I stared at him for a second.

Magulo ang buhok niya.

Mapula ang labi ko sa halik niya.

Mainit ang dibdib niyang nakadikit sa akin.

Hubad kami pareho.

And weirdly…

wala na akong hiya.

As in zero.

Wala na ring awkwardness.

We’d seen everything.

Ginawa na ang lahat.

Wala nang tinago.

Wala nang natira.

Wala na talagang ikahihiya.

He looked at me with half-awake eyes and a tiny smile.

“Arielle…”

“Hm?”

“Don’t leave the bed yet.”

Bumilis ang t***k ng puso ko sa sobrang lambing ng tono niya.

“Kierran!”

He looked up.

And smiled.

A real, soft, dangerous smile

na parang sinasabi:

“I like waking up with you.”

And just when I thought titigil na kami sa drama—

His hand slid sa bewang ko…

Hindi bastos, hindi marahas.

Just warm.

Gentle.

Pero may halong pamilyar na apoy.

“Baby,” he hushed,

“five minutes lang.”

“Why five?”

“Because,” he whispered, brushing his lips on my cheek,

“after five minutes… I’m not letting you go.”

And this time…

hindi na ako tumawa.

Hindi rin ako tumutol.

I just whispered back—

“Five minutes… then I’m taking a shower.”

He smirked.

“Then I’m joining you.”

“NO—!”

“Yes.”

“You’re impossible.”

“I know.”

He pulled me closer,

brushed a soft kiss on my shoulder,

and whispered against my skin:

“Get used to it.”

“Kailangan ko maligo.”

Pero bago ako makalakad papunta sa shower room—

Kierran grabbed my wrist.

Gentle, pero enough para huminto ako.

He looked up at me.

Eyes dark.

Half-smiling.

Half-sinful.

“Tumatakbo ka na naman.”

“H-hindi ah—”

“Arielle.”

His voice dipped.

“Kung aalis ka ng kama na ganyan ang itsura mo…”

He looked down my body slowly.

“…I won’t survive.”

Napalunok ako.

I turned away, flustered, and walked toward the bathroom.

The moment the water hit my skin…

napapikit ako.

Kailangan ko linisin ang isip ko.

Ang katawan ko.

Ang lahat.

Pero parang sinadya ng universe ang timing—

Kasi bago pa ako makapikit ng tuluyan—

Click.

The bathroom door opened.

I froze.

Si Kierran nakasandal sa pinto.

Still naked.

Still dangerous.

Still him.

And that stare…

“Baby.”

My knees almost gave out.

“I wasn’t done with you.”

“K-Kierran, please—maliligo lang ako—”

Hindi pa siya sumasagot.

He just walked forward.

The steam wrapped around him.

Parang slow motion.

Paglapit niya—

Hinawakan niya ang baba ko.

Tinaas niya.

Pinatingin niya ako sa kanya.

“You really thought after last night…

that I’d let you shower alone?”

My breath caught.

“K-Kailangan ko lang mag—”

Hindi ko natapos.

He stepped inside the shower. Water hit his skin. Hair dripping. Chest glistening.

At parang sinindihan ang buong paligid.

He pinned me gently against the wet tile— not rough, not aggressive, but with a hunger na matagal niyang itinago.

Mainit ang katawan niya kahit malamig ang tubig.

He leaned in.

His lips brushed mine.

Soft.

Teasing.

Nakakabaliw.

“Arielle…”

His breath hit my mouth.

“I still taste you everywhere.”

I clutched his shoulder.

“Kierran…”

“Hmmm?”

“This is wrong—”

“Then why,” he whispered, nipping the corner of my mouth,

“are you shaking for me again?”

Napahinga ako nang malalim.

The shower water slid down our skin.

Steam rose around us.

Bodies wet.

Breaths hot.

He kissed me.

Hindi banayad.

Hindi safe.

Hindi simple.

Kung hindi—

Desperate.

Parang gutom na gutom na matagal na siyang pinigilan.

His hands cupped my face.

Then my waist.

Then he pulled me flush against him—

Skin to skin.

Heat to heat.

No space left.

I moaned into his mouth.

His lips devoured mine, parang halik na nagtatanggal ng hininga, ng utak, ng control.

Hands traveled down my back.

Water ran between our bodies.

Steam blurred everything except him.

“Arielle…”

He said my name like a warning.

Like a plea.

Like a curse.

“I need you again.”

My knees buckled.

And this time—

hindi ko siya tinulak.

I grabbed the back of his neck, pulled him down, and kissed him back— just as hungry, just as desperate.

Our backs hit the tile.

Our breaths tangled.

His hands explored my waist, my hips, the curve of my body—

Maya maya umabot ang mga kamay niya sa hiwa ko. He inserted his middle finger and began to pump it in and out.

"Ahhh... Kierran... "

Inindayog ko na din ang balakang ko para salubungin ang kanyang daliri na walang habas na naglalabas masok sa hiwa ko.

He lifted me slightly, water cascading down our intertwined skin. Lumuhod siya sa tiled floor at sinakop ng kanyang bibig ang kaselanan ko. Sarap na sarap ito sa pagkain sa skin. Wala naman akong ginawa kundi ang umungol ng umungol.

“I told you,” he whispered,

“I wasn’t finished.”

I whimpered, habang nakasabunot ako sa buhok niya.

“Kierran…”

His mouth was continuously stimulating my jewel.

I can't take this anymore.

"Kierran I"m going to c*m,

I'm near, shit.. ahhh Kier..."

“Baby…”

His voice was barely a growl.

I came in his mouth and he swallowed it all.

I gasped.

And the world dissolved into heat, water, and him—

Kierran smile at me, habang dahan dahan na tumayo at sinakop muli ang bibig ko.

"You taste so good baby."

Then he lifted my left leg and entered me slowly.

Hindi ko alam kung gaano katagal kaming naglapat, naghalikan, at nagyakap sa ilalim ng shower —

pero nang bumalik ako sa sarili ko…

Nakahawak ako sa balikat niya, hingal na hingal.

Si Kierran naman, nakasubsob sa leeg ko, parehong humihingal na parang nauubusan ng hangin.

Parang sabay kaming nawala, sabay ring bumalik.

His forehead pressed to mine.

Our breaths tangled.

Our hearts racing in the same wild rhythm.

He whispered, voice low, rough, undone:

“Baby… that was… insane.”

Hindi ako makapagsalita.

All I could do was hold him tighter, para bang mahuhulog ako kung bibitaw siya.

For a moment, we just stayed there —

bodies pressed together, water running over us,

na para bang binubura ang buong paligid

except sa dalawang taong hindi na makakabitaw.

Then…

Dahan-dahan siyang umangat at hinaplos ang pisngi ko.

“Come here,” he murmured.

Kinuha niya ang sabon

at sinimulan niyang sabunan ang balikat ko,

ang braso ko,

ang likod ko…

maingat, mabagal, parang pangalagaan niya ako,

hindi dahil kailangan —

kundi dahil gusto niya.

I slapped his chest lightly, nahihiya.

“Kierran… kaya ko ‘yan.”

“No,” he said simply, with that deep, quiet certainty.

“I want to do it.”

His hands gentle but sure, touches soft but claiming.

Ako naman ang dumampot ng sabon.

Hindi ko alam kung paano ako nagkaroon ng lakas ng loob —

pero sinimulan ko ring sabunan ang dibdib niya.

“Baby…” he breathed, eyes darkening again, “…don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like you want to start round two.”

Napalunok ako.

“Kierran, um… tama na muna.”

He laughed quietly, resting his forehead on my shoulder.

“Fine. For now.”

---

AFTER THE SHOWER

Pagkalabas namin sa banyo, binabalot ko pa ng towel ang sarili ko

nang biglang may nakita akong hindi dapat nandito.

Ang luggage ko.

Buong suitcase.

Nasa gilid ng room.

Bukas na.

“Wait—

WAIT.

Kierran?!”

Napalingon siya habang nagsusuot ng fitted grey shirt.

“Oh, that,” nakangisi niyang sagot.

“I had it moved here.”

“HA? BAKIT?!”

He shrugged with infuriating calmness.

“What’s the use of another room…

kung dito ka naman natutulog?”

I blinked.

Speechless.

Brain dead.

“Kierran—! Hindi ito villa ko! Hindi ako dapat dito! Ano ‘to?!”

Lumapit siya sa akin, mabagal, deliberate.

He took the towel from my hand and wrapped it properly around my body himself.

“I just don’t want you waking up alone in some other room…”

He paused.

“…when I want you waking up beside me.”

OH. GOD.

My heart stopped.

My lungs forgot their job.

My legs nearly melted.

“K-Kierran…”

He brushed a wet strand of hair behind my ear.

“Relax. Hindi kita pinipilit tumira dito.

Pero habang nandito ka sa isla…”

His thumb stroked my cheek slowly.

“…I want you close.”

I hated how much my chest fluttered at that.

---

GETTING DRESSED

After drying off, nagbihis kami.

I wore a soft white sundress from my suitcase —

the one I didn’t remember packing.

“Seriously, Kierran…

did YOU pack my stuff?”

“I supervised,” he said casually.

“Your staff packed it.”

“My staff—? Kierran!”

“What?”

He smiled, smug, dangerous.

“I needed you here.”

I swear, gusto ko siyang hampasin —

pero gusto ko rin siyang halikan.

Problema talaga itong lalaking ‘to.

---

THE FLOATING RESTAURANT

“Halika,” sabi niya, holding my hand.

“May pupuntahan tayo.”

“Huh—saan? Breakfast?”

“No.”

His smile deepened.

“Something better.”

Lumabas kami ng villa, and he guided me down a private pathway toward the water.

And then—

I stopped walking.

My breath left my chest.

Because floating on the clear turquoise water

was the resort’s exclusive dining platform:

A glass deck

surrounded by gentle waves,

with a single elegant table

set for two.

White linens.

Gold cutlery.

Orchids.

Candles.

And the entire ocean glowing beneath it.

Para siyang fantasy scene sa movie.

“Kierran…” I whispered, stunned.

He stepped behind me, arms sliding around my waist.

“You like it?”

“Like it? Kierran this is—

This is insane…

it’s beautiful…”

I turned to him, wide-eyed.

“A-ano ‘tong ginagawa natin dito?”

He looked at me, eyes soft but intense.

“This is breakfast, Arielle.”

Pause.

“Just you and me.”

My heart stuttered.

Then he leaned down, brushed a kiss on my temple, and whispered—

“Welcome to my favorite place.

And today…

gusto kong makasama ka dito.”

My knees nearly gave in.

Because the problem wasn’t that he was sweet.

Or thoughtful.

Or dangerously irresistible.

The problem was…

I was starting to like it.

Like him.

Like this.

And that terrified me more than anything.