THE PILOT'S FINAL STOP

CHAPTER 5 🥰

AFTER 1 WEEK simula nong nag lunch kami ni Arielle heto ako ngayon busy sa office. Wala si Keith ngayon dito sa Bangkok kaya walang nangungulit sa akin na lumabas. Umuwi ng Pilipinas. Sinundo ng kuya niya at may sakit daw ang mother nila. Nalungkot naman ako sa nalaman kong yun.

Nasa gitna ako ng pagpirma nang biglang tumawag si kuya Adrian—ang super protective, very makulit, at minsan overdramatic niyang kapatid.

“Elle,” boses nitong puno ng excitement.

“Umuwi ka na. Ikakasal na ako.”

Natigil siya sa pag-aayos ng flight reports.

Parang huminto ang buong opisina.

“…Huh?”

Yun lang ang nasabi niya.

Narinig niya ang tawa ni Adrian sa kabilang linya—malakas, masaya, hindi maitago ang kilig.

“Yes. I’m getting married. Finally. And I need you here. Hindi puwedeng wala ka. You’re the maid of honor.”

Napapikit si Arielle, napangiti kahit pilit.

Maid of honor.

Of course.

“Kuya…” she sighed, shaking her head.

“You could’ve told me earlier. At di ba next year pa ang kasal niyo dapat?”

“Actually, buntis si Elora at ayaw kong ipanganak niya ang pamangkin mo na hindi pa kami kasal,” mabilis na sagot ni Adrian.

"What?, oh my God, I'm so excited kuya for you and Elora."

Elora Yutiengco

The woman who made my kuya smile like a lovestruck teenager.

The woman who tamed the once stubborn Adrian Zaragosa.

The woman who actually deserved him.

Arielle smiled softly.

“Fine,” sabi niya, kunwari napipilitan.

“I’ll come home.”

Narinig niya ang hiyaw ni Adrian — parang bata.

“I knew it! Elle, I swear, hindi magiging buo ‘tong wedding kung wala ka. See you soon! Prepare ka na. Love you!”

“Love you too, kuya.”

Pagkababa niya ng tawag, napabuntong-hininga siya at humawak sa dibdib niya.

Three years away.

Three years na nasa ibang bansa.

Three years na hindi umuuwi.

But for Adrian and Elora?

For the one person she loved the most?

Uuwi siya.

Kahit gaano pa siya kasanay sa buhay Thailand.

Kahit gaano ka-comfortable ang routine niya.

Arielle walked to her window, overlooking the busy Bangkok skyline.

The lights.

The chaos.

The comfort.

“This place has been home…” bulong niya.

“But family comes first.”

She straightened her shoulders.

Matapang.

Kalma.

Handa.

Time to go back.

Time to stand beside her brother on the most important day of his life.

A soft smile formed on her lips.

“Philippines,” she whispered for the first time in years,

“I’m coming home.”

MAAGA pa lang, nakatayo na ako sa tuktok ng SkyLux Aviation rooftop sa Bangkok, hawak ang maliit kong tablet habang chine-check ang flight permits papuntang Pilipinas.

Three hours lang ang flight from Bangkok to Manila, pero hindi ako dadaan ng Manila.

No.

I’ll go straight to Palawan.

Nasa private hangar ng Bangkok ang jet ko.

My baby.

SkyLux Velocity X9

— a sleek, silver-white 8-seater business jet with a swept-wing design

— twin engines glinting like blades

— a nose shape sharp as an eagle

— and a cockpit built exactly to my liking.

Lightning fast.

Silky smooth in turbulence.

A plane made for pilots, not passengers.

I ran a hand along its cool metal body.

“Miss me?” bulong ko, smiling softly.

Parang sumagot ang makina sa tahimik na huni nito.

This jet had been with me through countless skies—

over deserts, oceans, storms, and sunrises.

And now…

it would take me home.

Alone.

No crew.

No co-pilot.

Just me.

Just the sky.

Exactly how I wanted it.

The hangar manager approached me, bowing slightly.

“Captain Zaragosa, refueled and ready for departure. The weather is clear to Palawan.

Your route is authorized.”

“Perfect,” sagot ko, tumango.

Naka-flight suit na ako—black, fitted, with the gold SkyLux captain stripes glinting sa balikat.

Hair tied in a perfect low bun.

A look that always made me feel in control.

I grabbed my pilot bag and climbed the jet’s air stairs.

Pag-upo ko sa cockpit seat, parang humigpit ang dibdib ko.

Not in a painful way.

But in a way that said—

You’re going home.

I flicked on the systems.

Lights blinked to life.

The fan hum of the engines warmed my chest.

“SkyLux Velocity X9 requesting clearance for a private departure,”

I said through the headset.

“Cleared, Captain. Safe flight to the Philippines.”

I pushed the throttle forward.

The jet surged.

Accelerated.

Lifted.

And Bangkok…

fell away beneath the clouds.

Three hours.

Three hours of silence, blue skies, and the comforting hum of the engines.

Tahimik.

Malaya.

At peace.

I checked my phone—

8 missed calls from Adrian

3 from Elora

Napangiti ako.

“Hindi niyo muna ako makakausap,” bulong ko.

“Surprise ito.”

Minsan, masarap din asarin si Adrian.

I placed the phone back and focused on the skies ahead.

Philippines was one hour ahead of Thailand—

but time didn’t matter.

I was racing toward family.

Toward love.

Toward home.

After two hours and forty minutes, lumitaw ang emerald green silhouettes ng Palawan islands.

Hindi Manila ang una kong nakita—

kundi ang parang kwintas na isla series ng northern Palawan.

Coron…

Busuanga…

Dimakya…

Hanggang sa unti-unting lumitaw ang Isla.

Kagabi nag-usap pa kami ni Elora para idetalye sa akin ang venue ng kasal.

“Elle!” halatang excited at sabik.

“Na-send ko na sa’yo yung coordinates ng island. I swear, mapapamura ka sa ganda.”

Napangiti ako.

Typical Elora—hindi tinatago ang excitement.

“Saang part ng Palawan ‘to?” tanong ko habang nag-zoom in sa mapa.

“It’s called THE HAVEN ISLAND,” sagot niya.

Habang nag-uusap kami, tinitingnan ko ang satellite view sa tablet.

The island was enormous.

200 hectares.

Malawak.

Tahimik.

Paraisong parang hindi totoong bahagi ng mundo.

At hinati ito sa dalawang major zones:

3/4 — The Haven Resort

A high-end beach resort na sobrang exclusive.

Mga nakita ko sa mapa:

Overwater villas on crystal blue shallows

Infinity pools hanging over cliff edges

A rainforest spa hidden behind waterfalls

A private marina for luxury yachts

Multiple helipad

Floating sunset decks

And a glass underwater restaurant

Sobrang engrande.

Sobrang mahal.

Sobrang world-class.

Perfect for a luxury wedding.

1/4 — The Private Estate

Ito ang hindi open sa public.

A massive, restricted-zone area sa northern cliffs ng isla—

Makikita sa satellite image ang:

A huge rest house made of dark stone and glass

A private cove

Cliffside towers

A helipad

And a long stretch of untouched beach

A place that screamed:

Power.

Privacy.

And influence.

I exhaled deeply, closing my tablet.

So ganito pala kaganda ang lugar.

PALAPIT nang palapit ang isla.

A shimmering emerald set in the middle of a sapphire ocean—

iyon ang unang sumalubong sa akin.

Hindi ko mapigilang mapatingin muli sa tablet ko para i-confirm:

The Haven Island.

Home of the Haven Resort.

Home of a private estate I still knew nothing about.

At ngayong sandaling ito…

home rin ng kasal ng kuya ko.

Huminga ako nang malalim habang nagsi-set na ako for descent.

“Approaching Haven Island runway,” sabi ko sa headset.

“Requesting permission to land.”

Saglit na static.

Then a voice—

smooth, mahina, unmistakably trained.

“SkyLux Velocity X9, you are cleared for landing.

Welcome to The Haven, Captain Zaragosa.”

Ah.

So alam na nilang ako ’yon.

I lowered the gear.

The runway appeared—

a long white strip carved between coconut trees and white sand.

The ocean glittered on both sides, parang sinadya talaga itong i-design para sa mga pilotong tulad ko.

Parang… para sa akin.

The wheels touched the runway—

smooth, soft, almost perfect.

I slowed down, taxiing along a path bordered with flowering palm trees and warm yellow lights.

Paglapit ko sa apron, a team of uniformed staff was already waiting, standing in two perfect lines.

Wow.

Bumukas ang pinto ng jet, at isang banayad na hangin ang sumalubong sa akin—

amoy dagat, amoy halaman, amoy paraiso.

Nag-step down ako from the air stairs, at halos sabay-sabay silang yumuko.

“Welcome to The Haven, Captain,” bati ng isang babae in a soft teal uniform.

“I’m Mira, your guest relations manager. It’s an honor to receive you.”

Ngumiti ako ng marahan.

“Thank you. Medyo napagod lang sa flight.”

“We understand, ma’am.

We’ve prepared a private villa for you—overlooking the lagoon.”

Sabay turo niya sa direction ng resort grounds.

“And the groom and bride instructed us to let you rest first.

No rush. The island is yours.”

Napangiti ako.

Si Adrian talaga.

Concerned habang galit na galit na hindi ko sinasagot ang calls niya.

Si Elora rin—

thoughtful, organized, and always one step ahead.

“Please, this way, Captain,” sabi ni Mira.

Sumunod ako sa kanila habang isang porter carried my bag.

We walked through the pathway leading to the resort proper.

At doon ko nakita ang kabuuan ng The Haven Resort.

A world I didn’t expect.

A world na parang gawa sa mahal at mamahaling panaginip.

Overwater villas stretched across a pale turquoise lagoon.

Each villa had glass floors, private pools, and palm-thatched roofs that swayed with the wind.

Farther out, an infinity pool hovered above the cliff edge—

parang nakabitin sa langit.

A rainforest spa lay hidden behind a curtain of natural waterfalls.

At sa gitna ng resort, isang main pavilion made of wood, glass, and white stone shimmered under the sunlight.

Everything was exquisite.

Everything was intentional.

Everything whispered luxury.

At the same time…

the other side of the island—the Estate side—remained untouched.

Wild.

Quiet.

Mysterious.

A contrast I couldn’t ignore.

MY PRIVATE VILLA

Mira opened the door.

Isang malawak na suite greeted me—

all white, modern, with large glass windows framing the entire lagoon.

“Please rest first, Captain,” sabi niya.

“Your brother and Miss Elora are currently at the rehearsal hall. They will see you when you’re ready.”

Tumango ako.

“Thank you.”

“We’ll prepare refreshments outside,” dagdag niya.

“If you need anything, just press the panel beside the bed.”

And with a graceful bow, the staff left.

The moment the door clicked shut…

I finally breathed.

Tahimik.

Malamig.

Malinis.

I placed my flight cap on the table and walked toward the window.

The lagoon shimmered like liquid crystal.

Soft waves kissed the shore.

Palm trees danced with the wind.

And somewhere far in the distance—

on the northern cliffs of the island—

nakikita ko ang silhouette ng isang dark, imposing structure.

The private estate.

Stark.

Silent.

Commanding.

I don’t know why…

but looking at it sent a faint chill down my spine.

Not fear.

Not dread.

More like—

recognition?

No.

Impossible.

Hindi ko kilala ang may-ari.

Hindi ko pa siya nakikita.

Hindi ko nga alam ang pangalan niya.

I shook my head, pushing the thought away.

Tomorrow was my brother’s wedding.

Sobrang busy bukas.

Kailangan ko ng pahinga.

I lay down on the soft, white linen.

For the first time in years…

I felt safe.

I felt calm.

I felt home.

AFTER kong makapagpahinga, tinawagan ko agad si Kuya.

Sobrang excited ng boses niya, halos hindi niya ko patapusin magsalita.

“Nasaan ka na? Baba ka dito sa pavilion, dali!”

Napangiti ako. Same old Adrian.

Mabilis akong nag-ayos, nagsuot ng light linen dress, at naglakad papunta sa rehearsal hall ng resort.

Pagpasok ko—

“Arielle!”

I didn’t even have time to react.

Kuya had already wrapped his arms around me, lifted me off the ground, and spun me in the air like I weighed nothing.

“Kuya!” tawa ko, halos maiyak sa tuwa.

“Ilapag mo nga ako! Nahihiya ako!”

Pero tawa lang nang tawa si Adrian, parang batang nanalo sa school competition.

“My baby sister is home! FINALLY!”

Nakasandal si Elora sa doorway, hand on her stomach, smiling like warm sunshine.

“Oh my God, Elle,” sabi niya habang naglalakad palapit.

“You have NO idea how happy I am that you’re here.”

Sinalubong niya ang yakap ko—malambot, gentle, parang yakap ng ate na hindi ko nagkaroon.

“You look so good, Elle,” bulong ni Elora habang hinahaplos ang braso ko.

“Grabe. Iba talaga aura ng pilot. International pa.”

“Mas maganda ka pa rin,” sagot ko, nakangiti.

Tumawa siya.

“Asa ka pa. Preggy glow lang ’to.”

Kuya held her waist, proud, protective, soft in a way I’d never seen in him before.

“Elle,” sabi ni Elora, eyes sparkling,

“bukas may glam team for all the bridesmaids… BUT—”

She held up a finger.

“Because you’re special, ang HMUA ko… siya rin ang gagawa sa’yo. No questions asked.”

Napakurap ako. “Ha? Elora, hindi naman—”

“Nope,” sagot niya, tapik sa balikat ko.

“You’re the maid of honor. You deserve the best. And honestly? I want us to match.”

I burst out laughing.

“Oh my God, Elora.”

Kuya looked at us with that soft, quiet joy na hindi ko pa nakikita sa kanya ever.

“You two are going to look perfect tomorrow,” sabi niya, halatang kinikilig.

“Hindi ko na alam kung sino mas excited—ako o si Elora.”

“Tayong dalawa,” sagot ni Elora, sabay kindat sa akin.

I hugged them both, pulling them close.

In that moment…

the island felt even more beautiful.

The sunset felt warmer.

The wind felt softer.

And for the first time since I landed—

I felt truly home.