THE PILOT'S FINAL STOP

CHAPTER 6 🥰

HABANG nagkukuwentuhan kami tungkol sa rehearsal, naalala ko bigla ang kailangan kong asikasuhin.

“Kuya…” I touched his arm gently.

“May kailangan akong gawin tomorrow morning.”

“What is it?” tanong niya habang abot tenga ang ngiti.

“I need to meet the owner of the island.”

Napahinto si Adrian for a second — not suspicious, just curious.

“Ha? Why? May problema ba sa villa?”

“Wala,” ngumiti ako.

“I just need to request an extension for my stay. Balak kong magtagal dito ng at least five days.

And I also need to file for an extended clearance para sa jet ko. Two days lang kasi yung landing permit.”

“Oo nga pala,” sagot ni Kuya, parang naalala niya bigla.

“Private airspace ’tong island. Yung estate owner ang in charge sa lahat ng permits.”

Elora nodded enthusiastically.

“Ang ganda dito, Elle. Sulitin mo na. Kami ni Adrian lilipad agad after the wedding — Switzerland honeymoon, remember?”

“I know,” I laughed.

“Kaya nga gusto kong mag-stay muna. This place is too good to leave agad.”

“Then perfect,” sabi ni Adrian, casual and cheerful.

“I’ll text him tonight. Madali lang kausap ’yon. Remember Frank? My bestfriend, kaibigan niya si Kier, actually.”

Napataas ako ng kilay. “Talaga?”

“Yeah,” sagot niya, shrugging.

“Actually si Frank ang nag suggest na dito gaganapin ang kasal highly recommended niya kasi bago nga lang. Nag start lang contraction nito 3 years ago. Ang bilis nga matapos. We’ve met several times."

“That’s good,” sabi ko, relieved.

“Kailangan ko lang ng proper clearance.”

Adrian chuckled and flicked my forehead lightly.

“Pilot ka talaga. Wala kang pake sa resort, pero sa permits, sobrang strict mo.”

“Of course.”

I grinned.

Elora wrapped her arm around me affectionately.

PAGDATING ko sa villa, halos sumandal agad ang katawan ko sa malambot na sofa.

The Haven was quiet at night — yung tipong katahimikan na hindi nakakatakot, kundi nakaka-relax.

Bukas na ang kasal.

Bukas na ang malaking araw ni Adrian at Elora.

Pero bago ako tuluyang makapikit, kinuha ko ang phone ko.

Una kong tinawagan si Keith.

Two rings lang — she picked up.

“Elle?” agad niyang sabi, may halong pagod pero buhay ang boses.

“Oh my God, you finally called! Nasaan ka?”

Napangiti ako.

“I’m in Palawan.”

Tahimik siya ng dalawang segundo.

Then—

“WHAT?!”

‘Yung tipong sigaw na parang may nakita siyang multo.

Tumawa ako nang mahina.

“Wedding ni kuya Adrian, remember? I flew here kanina. Nasa island kami —”

“Oh. My. God.”

Halata kong bumagsak siya sa kama or sofa somewhere.

“You left Bangkok tapos hindi ka man lang tumawag? Ghorl, ang sakit!”

“Drama queen,” natatawa kong sagot.

“Anyway… I’m staying here for a few more days. Five, maybe more. Gusto ko magpahinga after the wedding.”

I held my breath for a moment.

“Keith… makakapunta ka ba dito?”

Alam ko ang sagot.

Pero umaasa pa rin ako kahit barely possible.

Tahimik siya sandali.

Then a guilty sigh.

“Aww… Elle, I’m so sorry…”

Ramdam kong tinitignan niya ang calendar niya habang nagsasalita.

“Okay na si Mommy, don’t worry about that. Pero the problem is… my agency.”

“Tsk,” bulong ko. “What happened?”

“Binuhusan nila ako ng trabaho habang nandito ako sa Manila.”

Halos napaiyak ang tono niya.

“As in — ELLE — I have a HECTIC schedule for one whole week.

Runways. Shoots. Interviews.

I swear parang gusto ko nang mag-resign.”

I shook my head, smiling.

“Keith… you love your job.”

“Yeah but I also love beaches! And freedom! And YOU!”

I can almost imagine her kicking her blanket dramatically.

“Huuuhuuhu you’re relaxing in a private island tapos ako nagme-makeup call sa 4 AM bukas!”

Tumawa ako nang tuloy-tuloy, halos masamid.

“You’re so dramatic, Keith.”

“Hindi ako dramatic — I’m oppressed!”

Then narinig kong kumahol ang isang maliit na aso sa background.

“Oh my god, even Coco is judging me.”

Napangiti ako nang malambing.

“Don’t worry. I’ll video call you tomorrow after the ceremony. And… kapag gusto mo, puwede ka naman sumunod once matapos yung shoots mo.”

“Really?” bigla siyang nabuhayan.

“You’ll still be there?”

“Mm-hmm. Pero kailangan ko pang hingin yung permit sa island owner bukas.”

“Call me tomorrow, okay?” dagdag niya.

“At i-send mo sakin selfie mo wearing the bridesmaid look mo bukas.”

“Keith—” napailing ako.

“Ako ang maid of honor.”

“OHH.. YOU’LL BE GORGEOUS I’M SCREAMING—”

Naputol ang boses niya dahil may tumawag sa kanya sa background.

“Ay s**t, Elle wait, mommy is calling me. I need to go. I love you! Enjoy the island! Message me later!”

“I will. Love you.”

And the call ended.

MAAGA pa lang ay naglakad na ako papunta sa main building ng The Haven.

Hindi mainit ang araw, pero nanlamig ang palad ko.

Office of the Island Owner — 11th Floor.

Sabi ni Kuya, “Kier Withmore” daw ang pangalan niya.

And ang sabi niya alam daw niya na darating ako. Kasi naitawag na daw ni kuya Frank sa kanya kagabi.

May pagka-private, bihirang magpakita, at sa buong 11th floor siya lang ang occupant.

Exclusive floor.

May sariling pool.

May sariling living suite.

At sa dulo — ang opisina niya.

Pag-angat ng elevator, bumungad ang hallway na modern, tahimik, at sobrang linis.

I inhaled deeply and entered.

Pagbukas ng pinto ng opisina—

My world stopped.

And my stomach dropped so hard para akong inuntog ng nakaraan.

Seating behind a long black marble desk…

was him.

KIERRAN WITHMORE.

The man I swore I would never see again.

The man I tried to erase for three years.

The man who shattered something inside me in Isla Mahayhay.

For a second, neither of us moved.

Siya mismo—

nakatayo, naka-black shirt, sleeves rolled, hair slightly messy,

eyes widening like he just saw a ghost he never expected to breathe again.

I forced my expression to go blank.

My spine straightened.

My voice turned professional.

“Good morning,” sabi kong kalmado, kahit tumitibok ang dibdib ko nang marahas.

Lumapit ako, maingat, detached.

“I’m Arielle Zaragoza.”

Inilahad ko ang kamay ko.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Withmore.”

Hindi niya tinanggap ang kamay ko.

He just stared at it.

Then stared at me.

His jaw tightened.

Parang hindi siya makapaniwala.

Arielle, keep your composure.

So I snapped my fingers softly in front of him.

“Hello? Are you still there?”

Nagkurap siya, finally breathing.

“So,” he said slowly, voice low and disbelieving,

“your name… is Arielle.”

“Yes,” sagot ko agad. “And you are?”

His brows knitted sharply.

“Arielle,” he said in a voice that scraped against old wounds,

“Stop pretending. Alam mong kilala mo ako.”

I tilted my head innocently.

“Mr. Withmore, I meet dozens of people. Hindi ko—”

“Oh, please.”

He scoffed bitterly.

“Nakita kong nagulat ka the second you walked in.”

My heart dropped—

but my face stayed neutral.

“Yes, nagulat ako,” sagot ko calmly.

“It’s because napakabata at… very handsome pala ng owner ng island.”

He seemed caught off-guard.

A smirk twitched at his lips.

“So we’re doing this? Small talk and innocence?”

“I’m being polite,” I replied coldly.

His eyes darkened.

“Why are you lying?”

He stood up from his chair — slow, deliberate — and walked around the desk.

“Why are you pretending you don’t remember me?”

I clenched my fist under the table.

“I meet a lot of people, Mr. Withmore,” ulit ko.

“You can’t expect me to recall every—”

“Bullshit.”

His voice wasn’t loud.

But it was sharp enough to cut through the air.

“Arielle,” he said, stepping closer,

“you remember me. Three years ago. Isla Mahayhay.”

The name hit me like a blade.

But my face?

Untouched.

“No,” I said firmly. “I don’t.”

His breath hitched — not in anger, but in disbelief.

“You’re lying,” he whispered.

I looked straight into his eyes and delivered it with finality:

“I don’t remember anything about you.”

He froze.

Just… froze.

Like the words knocked the air out of him.

Arielle, stay calm.

"Why are you pretending that you don't remember me? Arielle, I know naaalala mo ako. How, can you forget me? I was the one who took your virginity."

“I’m still a virgin.”

His jaw clenched.

His eyes flickered with something raw — shock, guilt, confusion, denial.

“You’re lying,” he murmured.

“I would know—”

Silence.

He stared at me like he didn’t recognize the woman sitting in front of him —

confident, cold, untouchable.

“Now,” I continued, crossing my legs gracefully,

“About my clearance—”

“Wait.”

His voice dropped lower.

Rougher.

Almost pained.

“Before anything else, I need to know something.”

I sighed. “What is it?”

He leaned forward — Then mabilis na sinakop nito ang mga labi niya. Sa gulat ni Arielle naitulak niya ito at akmang sasampalin niya sana si Kierran pero nahawakan nito ang kamay niya.

"Arielle, don't you dare slap me, kong ayaw mo maulit ang nangyari sa atin noon. I won't hesitate Arielle because the truth is I really miss touching you. I still remeber taht day I really enjoy it Arielle. And I know you would enjoy it. too." Ngumisi ito at muli akong hinalikan.

Hindi ko maintindihan ang sarili ko, kasi hinayaan ko lang siyang halikan ako. My body tingled, I felt my body respinding to his kiss. Kahit anong pilit niyang pigilan ang sarili na tumugon sa halik nito. Natalo pa rin siya.

When I realized what is really happening itinulak ko siya ng malakas. "I have to go, no need for the extension of the clearance. Hindi ko na kailangan."

Pagdating ko sa door handle, he said one last line—

A line that froze me in place.

“Arielle… kahit magtago ka sa likod ng ngiti mo,

I know you remember me.”

I didn’t look back.

“I don’t,” I whispered.

Then I left his office.

And only when the elevator doors closed

did I allow myself to breathe—

shaky, uneven,

and terrified of what tomorrow would bring.

KIERRAN'S POV

Pagkalabas ni Arielle ng opisina, ilang minuto munang hindi gumalaw si Kierran.

Parang nag-iwan ng alon ang presensya ng babae — alon na tumama diretso sa dibdib niya.

Damn it.

He grabbed his phone and dialed Frank.

The call connected instantly.

“So? Dumating na ba siya?”

Napapikit si Kierran.

“…Arielle Zaragoza. Yes. She was just here.”

“Good. Sinabi ko na sa’yo kagabi, ’di ba? She needs clearance for her jet. Kaya pupunta ’yan diyan sa office mo. Don’t be an ass, Kier. Ayusin mo ng maayos.”

Tumaas ang panga ni Kierran.

“You told me she was Adrian’s sibling. You didn’t tell me—”

He stopped himself, realizing the weight of what he almost said.

“Didn’t tell you what?”

Kierran swallowed.

“…na magandang pala siya...”

May sandaling katahimikan mula sa kabilang linya.

Then Frank spoke, voice light but careful.

“Kier, Arielle is different. Hindi siya kagaya ng mga babaeng nakasalamuha mo dati. She’s smart, disciplined… and she’s basically running SkyLux Academy single-handedly in Thailand. She’s a top pilot, too.”

Napahawak si Kierran sa sentido niya.

“I know now.”

“Good. Then treat her accordingly. At please lang, Kier… don’t do anything stupid.”

A bitter scoff escaped Kierran.

Too late for that.

“Remember, Arielle is Adrian’s only sister. And she’s precious to him. Hell, she’s precious to me. Para ko na ’yang kapatid. So if you mess with her…”

Nagbago ang tono ni Frank — hindi biro, hindi patawa.

“…I’ll deal with you myself.”

Tumikom ang panga ni Kierran, hindi dahil natakot —

kundi dahil mas lalo siyang nainis sa sarili niya.

“Fine,” he muttered.

“Good. Now fix her clearance, and try not to scare her away. She’s only there for the wedding.”

At bago pa makasagot si Kierran, idinugtong pa ni Frank—

“By the way… hindi basta-basta si Arielle. Huwag mo siyang tingnan as just another pretty face. You’ll regret it.”

You have no idea, Kierran wanted to say.

Pero bago pa niya mabuksan ang bibig niya—

“Ingat ka, bro. And Kier…”

Pause.

“…don’t touch her.”

Too late, Kierran whispered in his head.

Tapos biglang naputol ang tawag.

NANATILI siya sa swivel chair niya, nakatitig sa kisame, after the call.

At para siyang binabangungot ng memorya ng halik kanina.

Hindi niya sinasadya.

Hindi niya plano.

Pero nang makita niya si Arielle—

ang babaeng akala niyang hindi na muling magaganap sa buhay niya—

his control snapped.

At ang mas masakit?

His body responded to her

as if three years hadn’t passed at all.

“What the hell is wrong with me…” bulong niya.

He thought Dianne was the woman he would marry.

He thought his life was already laid out.

Then came Arielle.

A one-night disaster.

A mistake.

A past he wanted to bury.

Pero ngayon na nakaharap niya ulit ito—

everything inside him shifted.

Everything he thought he knew…

collapsed.

“At ngayon na nakita na kita ulit,” he whispered to himself,

“And now that I finally know your name…”

A dangerous resolve settled into his chest.

“…Arielle Zaragoza, you’re not walking out of my island

without giving me answers.”

Or without him finally understanding

why she burned through him

in a way no one else ever did.