THE PILOT'S FINAL STOP

CHAPTER 4 🥰

TATLONG taon na naninirahan si Arielle sa Thailand—

isang bansang hindi naman niya inakalang magiging tahanan,

pero unti-unti… naging kanlungan.

Bangkok had become her sanctuary.

Sa gitna ng ingay ng lungsod, sa bilis ng galaw, sa init ng araw—

doon siya muling natutong huminga.

Hindi niya ginustong iwan ang Pilipinas.

Hindi niya ginustong lumayo sa kuya niya.

Our parents died when I was in my first year of college.

Isang ordinaryong gabi.

Isang tawag na hindi namin inasahan.

Isang car accident na kumitil sa buong mundo namin.

Si Adrian—kakagraduate lang noon.

He had dreams.

Plans.

A whole future lined up neatly in front of him.

Pero lahat ng iyon…

ibinaon niya sa lupa noong araw na nawala si Mommy at Daddy.

From that moment, my brother became—

My father.

My mother.

My protector.

My home.

He worked.

He sacrificed.

He took the world on his shoulders habang ako nalulunod sa lungkot.

He handled the business.

He held SkyLux together.

He built the Academy while making sure I continued school.

He never dated.

He never had time for himself.

He chose me.

He chose responsibility.

And SkyLux—our parents’ legacy—became his entire life..

Pero pagkatapos ng Isla Mahayhay, pagkatapos ng gabing iyon…

kailangan niyang pumili kung alin ang mas mahalaga:

Ang manatili sa mundong paulit-ulit siyang pinapaalala ng sakit.

o

Ang simulan ang panibagong buhay kahit hindi niya alam kung saan siya dadalhin nito.

Pinili niya ang pangalawa.

As the co-owner of SkyLux Airways, naging base niya sa Thailand ang SkyLux Aviation Academy—ang pinakamalaki at pinakamodernong training facility nila sa buong Southeast Asia.

At sa loob ng tatlong taon, naging siya ang:

pinakabatang academy administrator,

top instructor ng advanced pilot training,

at isa sa pinaka-hinahangaan ng cadets dahil sa disiplina, talino, at tahimik na tapang.

Pagod siya araw-araw.

Pero ’yon ang klaseng pagod na kayang bayaran ng accomplishment.

Kung hindi siya nasa academy, nasa langit siya—literally.

Nagbiyahe siya sa buong mundo bilang main captain ng mga premium routes ng SkyLux:

Singapore. Tokyo. Dubai. Frankfurt. London. Toronto.

Mga rutang mas mataas ang demand, mas challenging, mas malayo.

She simply didn’t need to go back yet.

Not when the world was finally big enough to lose herself in.

Not when she was still rebuilding the pieces she lost.

For three years, her life had structure.

Routine.

Quiet.

A kind of order she needed to survive.

Walang drama.

Walang multo.

Walang kahit sinong hahawak ng direksyon ng buhay niya kundi siya mismo.

Arielle Zaragoza was exactly where she needed to be.

Not healed — but whole enough to move forward.

And for three years,

everything was quiet.

Simple.

Under control.

“Arielle.”

Napatingin siya mula sa laptop nang biglang bumukas ang pinto ng opisina niya — walang katok, walang paalala — at isang babaeng may maiksi pero eleganteng buhok ang tumambad.

Keith Withmore.

Sharp suit. Iced coffee sa dalawang kamay.

Laging parang may board meeting kahit simpleng araw lang.

“You,” nakataas ang kilay niya, “don’t even pretend.

Wala ka man lang panahon para sagutin ang telepono mo. My God, Arielle, give yourself a break.”

Umupo si Keith sa guest chair na parang executive office niya rin iyon.

“Halika,” tuloy niya, lips quirking into a small smile.

“Kain tayo sa labas. May bagong bukas na restaurant — may specialty nilang Khao Soi at Pad Kra Pao.

Alam kong paborito mo ’yun.”

Arielle couldn’t help but laugh.

Of course Keith would know.

She was one of the few people who could talk to Arielle without formality — someone who didn’t see her as Captain Zaragoza, or Administrator, or co-owner of SkyLux —

but simply as Arielle.

And every time Keith barged into her office like this, Arielle remembered the very first time their paths crossed.

FLASHBACK

SkyLux Airlines – VIP Lounge

Tatlong taon na ang nakalipas, isang araw pagkatapos ng Isla Mahayhay.

Ang VIP lounge ay tahimik — warm lighting, buttery leather seats, polished marble floors.

Ang amoy ng premium coffee at croissants ang bumabalot sa paligid.

Pero kahit gaano kaganda ang lugar,

hindi nito kayang punan ang lungkot na bitbit niya.

Galing siya sa bahay ni Evan.

At kagaya ng gabing iyon sa Isla…

wala rin siyang pinaniwalaan.

“Akala ko ba mahal niya ako…” bulong niya habang nakaupo sa isang sulok.

“Bakit ayaw niya maniwala sa’kin…?”

She tried to hold it together.

Pero pumutok din ang luha — tahimik pero malalim, parang hinugot mula sa ugat ng kaluluwa niya.

At doon siya nakita ni Keith.

Isang babae na hindi niya kilala.

Tall, poised, sharp-featured, pero may kakaibang softness sa mata.

Keith walked toward her without hesitation.

“Hey…” mahina nitong sabi, hindi nangingialam, hindi mapilit.

“Are you okay?”

Arielle shook her head, unable to answer.

Keith didn’t push.

Instead, she sat beside her — at hindi nagsalita.

Hindi nagtanong.

Hindi nag-demand ng paliwanag.

She just stayed.

And somehow… that presence alone made Arielle breathe a little easier.

They stayed there for almost an hour — silent, steady, grounding.

No judgment.

No probing.

Just two women sitting in a quiet corner of an elegant lounge…

and for the first time since the nightmare began, Arielle felt seen.

Before Keith left for her own flight, she simply said:

“If you ever need a friend, Arielle…

I’m here.”

Akala niya di na sila muling magkikita pero nagkahulatan pa sila nong magkita uli sila sa Bangkok Airport.

At doon nagsimula ang hindi niya inakalang pagkakaibigan.

A friendship she didn’t ask for —

but exactly the one she needed.

PRESENT DAY

“Earth to Arielle.”

Kumaway si Keith sa harap ng mukha niya.

“Arielle Zaragoza, don’t tell me you’re overthinking again.”

Napailing siya, half-smiling.

“I wasn’t overthinking. I was… remembering.”

Keith sighed, stood up, and pulled her by the wrist.

“Come on. You work too much.

Let’s eat before you start analyzing the meaning of life again.”

Tumawa si Arielle, kinuha ang blazer niya, at tinapunan ito ng biro:

“Fine. But you’re paying.”

“What else is new?”

Keith rolled her eyes playfully.

“I always pay.”

"Excuse me, are you joking?"

"Joke," sabay angat ni Keith sa daliri niya na naka peace sign.

And just like that,

for the first time that day…

Arielle felt a little lighter.

THE restaurant Keith discovered was a small modern bistro tucked in one of Bangkok’s quieter streets — warm lights, soft jazz, minimalist interiors with touches of gold. Very her. Very… Keith.

Pagkapasok pa lang nmin, may nakahandang table na. Of course.

When Keith Withmore wants something, she gets it.

Umupo kami sa isang booth near the tall window overlooking the busy city — motorcycles, tuk-tuks, tourists, businessmen.

Bangkok in motion. My new life in motion.

“Finally,” sabi ni Keith habang inaalis ang sunglasses niya, “nakalabas din tayo sa kulungan mo.”

I raised a brow. “You mean my office?”

“No,” she smirked. “I mean your self-imposed exile.”

Napatawa ako. Keith always knew how to pull me out of my head.

Palagi siyang ganito — straightforward, brutally honest, but never unkind.

“Order ka na,” sabi niya. “I already asked them to prep the Khao Soi. Para sa’yo ’yon.”

“Thank you,” sagot ko, genuinely smiling.

Habang naghihintay kami, napatingin ako kay Keith — sa natural niyang poise, sa Tahitian-pearl earrings niya, sa aura niyang parang pinaghalong runway confidence at quiet empathy.

Pareho kaming twenty-six.

Pareho kaming may dalang bigat na hindi kailangang ipaliwanag.

At kahit ilang taon pa lang kami nagkakilala, parang matagal na kaming konektado.

May mga taong gano’n talaga — once their path crosses yours, your life changes a little.

“Naalala mo ba,” sabi ko habang naglalagay siya ng chili flakes sa iced tea niya, “noong una tayong nagkita?”

She paused. Looked up at me. Then smiled knowingly.

“Of course,” sagot niya. “You were crying so hard akala ko may namatay.”

“Well…” Nag-angat ako ng kilay. “In a way. Something did.”

Hindi nagbago ang ekspresyon ni Keith, pero ang mga mata niya — lumambot.

She knew. Without me needing to say anything.

“I’m glad I left the house that day,” she said quietly.

Tumawa siya — hindi malakas, pero may bahid ng pilyang pag-iwas.

“I was annoyed at my brother that day.”

Keith shrugged, eyes glancing out the window as if replaying something.

“Nothing worth repeating. Not today.”

Alam ko ’yon — kapag may hindi siya gustong balikan, hindi niya sinasabi.

And I respected that.

Just as she respected my silences.

Maya-maya, inilapag ng waiter ang pagkain namin — steaming bowls of Khao Soi, fragrant, rich, with crispy noodles on top. Comfort in a bowl.

Keith clasped her hands together dramatically. “This is heaven. I swear this dish saved my life more times than meditation ever did.”

Napailing ako, natatawa. “You’re very consistent.”

“I’m a model, Arielle. Consistency is survival.”

She flipped her hair playfully.

“Besides, kailangan ko pa ring mabuhay sa harap ng camera.”

“Right,” I chuckled. “Keith Withmore — Thai-Filipina-American model, runway queen, food enthusiast, and my self-appointed therapist.”

“Exactly.” She winked. “And don’t you forget it.”

Habang kumakain kami, naisip ko kung gaano na karami ang nangyari sa loob ng tatlong taon.

She became a rising model in Thailand — major campaigns, fashion weeks, magazine covers.

Ako naman, naging isa sa pinakamalakas sa SkyLux — training, flying, rebuilding my future.

Dalawang magkaibang buhay.

Dalawang magkaibang mundo.

Pero somehow…

nakahanap kami ng iisang lugar kung saan pareho kaming humihinga nang totoo.

“Keith,” sabi ko softly, playing with my spoon, “thank you… for that day.”

She looked at me — not with pity, but with the kind of sincerity rare in this world.

“You don’t have to thank me,” sagot niya.

“Some people enter our lives for a reason. I think we were meant to meet.”

Napatigil ako.

Not because of what she said —

but because of how true it felt.

Sa dami ng tao sa mundo, sa dami ng pwedeng mangyari sa isang araw…

What were the chances that two twenty-three-year-olds —

both dealing with quiet storms, both searching for a foothold —

would cross paths in a VIP lounge on the worst day of my life?

Keith took a sip of her drink, then smirked at me.

“I’m glad you didn’t run away from me.”

“I almost did,” sagot ko, laughing.

“Well, good thing you didn’t.

Or else wala kang Keith Withmore ngayon.”

And something about that…

something about her saying it with such certainty…

made me feel strangely warm inside.

KATATAPOS ko pa lang humigop ng sabaw ng Khao Soi nang biglang nag-ring ang phone ni Keith sa mesa.

Loud. Persistent. Parang urgent.

She stared at it, rolled her eyes dramatically, then looked at me.

“Oh God,” she groaned. “Ano na naman kayang kailangan ng kuya ko? Kahapon pa ’to tumatawag.”

Napangiti ako, amused. “You didn’t call him back?”

“Of course not,” sagot ni Keith, leaning back with her signature sass.

“I was hoping he’d get the hint.”

Natawa ako. “Keith…”

“I’m serious!”

Pinakita niya sa akin ang caller ID. (Kuya K)

“Pupunta raw siya dito sa Bangkok. And guess what—”

She pointed her spoon at me like it was a weapon.

“Gusto pa niyang sa condo ko tumuloy. The nerve.”

“Ang laki-laki ng bahay ni Grandma. Bakit kailangan pa sa space ko? Do I not deserve peace?”

Tumunog ulit ang phone.

Mas matindi ngayon. Parang may deadline.

Keith put her palm to her forehead dramatically.

“Ugh. This man. He’s going to give me wrinkles.”

Napailing ako, laughing.

“You should answer before he shows up here in the restaurant.”

“No,” sabi niya calmly. “He would never—”

Ring.

Ring.

Ring.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Keith.

“I swear if he appears behind me right now…”

She reached for her phone.

“Fine, fine! I’ll answer before he summons a helicopter.”

She swiped the call open.

“WHAT?”

Her tone was flat.

Zero patience.

Peak Keith.

Hindi ko marinig ang kabilang linya, pero kita ko ang biglang pag-iba ng expression ni Keith — mula sa inis, napalitan ng pagkabigla.

“What do you mean you’re already here?”

Napataas ang boses niya.

“Where is ‘here,’ exactly?”

Pause.

Napakurap si Keith.

“You’re at my condo? My condo? As in, inside?”

Nanlaki ang mata ko.

“Oh my God.”

Keith turned slowly to me, expression caught between horror and disbelief.

“Arielle. My brother broke into my condo.”

Bumuga ako ng tawa na hindi ko mapigilan. “Hindi siya nag-break in. May duplicate keys siya, ’di ba?”

“That’s not the point!” Keith whispered harshly.

“The point is—he’s inside my condo. Sitting on my couch. Eating my strawberries. Like he owns the place!”

Tumango-tango ako, trying not to laugh.

“Well… technically, he is family.”

“I’m disowning him,” she declared.

Pero bago pa siya makapagpatuloy, may sinabi pa ang kuya niya mula sa kabilang linya — at biglang nawala ang sass ni Keith.

Her posture straightened.

Her smile faded.

Her eyes turned serious.

“Wait… what?

Why?

What happened?”

Nagtagpo ang mga mata namin.

For the first time since we sat down,

Keith looked genuinely worried.

She ended the call slowly and exhaled.

“Arielle…” bulong niya.

“We need to go.

My brother… he didn’t come here for a casual visit.”

My heart tightened.

Something was happening.

And whatever it was…

It wasn’t small.