THE PILOT'S FINAL STOP

CHAPTER 9 🥰

AFTER ng reception, nagkayayaan na magpahinga ang lahat. Pero bago kami tuluyang maghiwa-hiwalay, kinausap ako nina Kuya Adrian at Elora sa kwarto nila sa isla.

Fresh pa ang kilig nila, parehong naka-bathrobe, parehong parang ayaw matapos ang araw nila. Ramdam ko ang excitement at saya sa mukha nila — the kind of happiness na bihira ko lang makita kay Kuya.

“Elle,” bungad ni Kuya, “paalis na kami bukas. Early morning flight to Switzerland.”

Napataas ang kilay ko. “As in madaling araw agad?”

Tumawa si Elora, halos hindi maitago ang kilig. “Yes. Ang aga, pero sulit. Honeymoon namin ’to.”

Naglakad ako papasok, crossing my arms. “Gamit niyo ba ang jet, Kuya?”

“Of course,” sagot niya, mayabang ang ngiti. “Pero hindi ako ang magpi-pilot.”

Nagulat ako. “Talaga? Why? Ayaw mo?”

Kinindatan niya ako.

“Hindi ako puwedeng mapagod. Mas gusto kong mapagod sa asawa ko.”

Nasuklian ko siya ng tawa — as in tawang hindi ko napigilan.

“Kuya, please. Newly married pa lang kayo pero rated SPG na agad?”

Nag-blush si Elora habang tinatampal ang braso niya.

“Huwag mo ngang idamay si Elle!”

Pero nakangiti rin siya — sobrang in love, sobrang masaya.

After a few laughs, biglang naging gentle ang tono ni Kuya.

“Elle, no need for you to wake up early tomorrow. Ayaw na rin namin istorbohin ka. Gusto naming magpahinga ka.”

Tumango si Elora, eyes soft.

“We’ll visit you in Thailand soon. Promise. Pero for now… stay here muna. Enjoy the island.”

Napatingin ako sa kanilang dalawa — happy, peaceful, fulfilled.

And for the first time in a long while… na-feel ko na okay lang na hindi ako tumakbo.

Okay lang magpahinga.

Okay lang huminga.

“I will,” bulong ko, smiling softly.

“Enjoy your honeymoon. You both deserve this.”

Nagyakapan kami ng tatlo — warm, tight, genuine.

At habang naglalakad ako pabalik sa villa ko, carrying the quiet of the night and the soft crash of waves… hindi ko maiwasang maramdaman:

This island…

This moment…

This peace…

was just the calm before another storm.

Because somewhere out there, on the same island…

was Kierran Withmore.

And I wasn’t ready

—at all—

for whatever came next.

PAGLABAS ko mula sa kwarto nina Kuya at Elora, tahimik kong tinahak ang pathway pabalik sa villa ko. Malamig ang hangin, may kasamang halimuyak ng dagat at bulaklak. Dapat diretso na ako sa cabin… dapat.

Pero may isang bahagi ng isla ang agad na pumukaw ng atensyon ko.

Soft lights.

Warm music.

Golden glow.

A bar — pero hindi ordinaryong bar.

Parang floating lounge na ginawa mula sa dark wood at glass, nakausli sa mismong gilid ng lagoon. The entire place glimmered under the moonlight. May fairy lights sa kawayan, soft jazz in the background, at napakagandang ambience na parang inaakit ang kahit sinong dadaan.

I stopped walking.

And before I could even think twice, my feet turned toward it.

Paglapit ko, mas lalo akong na-amaze.

The bar looked like a secret getaway—open, breezy, intimate. May mga lanterns sa bawat sulok, nagre-reflect ang ilaw sa tubig. The kind of place where people forget their worries… or drown them.

Then I made a decision.

“For tonight,” bulong ko sa sarili,

“Arielle Zaragoza gets to breathe.”

I walked in confidently, sat on a velvet stool, and ordered something light.

“Just one drink,” I promised myself.

But one drink became two.

Two became… well, more than I planned.

At hindi ko alam kung dahil sa pagod, sa emotions, o sa kaninang tensyon na ayaw kong balikan — pero ang bilis kong naka-relax.

Too fast.

The music changed into something upbeat, warm, inviting.

Before I knew it…

I was dancing.

Barefoot on the smooth wooden floor, hair down, dress swaying with the breeze. The lantern lights kissed my skin, and for the first time in years… I felt carefree.

I laughed with strangers.

I swayed with the rhythm.

I let go of everything — the stress, the fear, the confusion.

“For tonight… just tonight…”

I whispered as I twirled lightly,

“I deserve to feel alive.”

Pero hindi ko namalayan —

napapasobra pala ang iniinom ko.

At the moment na umikot ako sa dance floor…

my vision tilted slightly.

The lights blurred into soft halos.

My laughter came out breathy.

Oops.

I steadied myself on the bar counter, cheeks warm, heartbeat light and fluttery.

“Okay… medyo naparami,” sabi ko sa sarili ko, tumatawa nang mahina pero mahina na rin ang tuhod.

I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to regain balance.

KIERRAN'S POV

AT THE BAR

“Kier, how are you? Kung hindi pa kinasal si Adrian, ’di pa tayo magkikita-kita,” sabi ni Burn habang umuupo sa bakanteng upuan sa mesa nila. Hawak niya ang whiskey, nakangiti tulad ng dati.

He leaned back in his seat, relaxed on the outside, kahit may humahampas na pagod sa loob niya mula sa buong araw.

“I’m good,” sagot niya simply.

“Matagal-tagal na rin mula nang huli tayong pumunta sa bar at uminom,” dagdag ni Carl bago tinunga ang laman ng baso nito.

Kierran nodded slightly, eyes scanning the entire bar — dim lights, warm lanterns, soft music. His bar. His island. His territory.

“That’s great,” sabi niya, more out of courtesy than anything else.

“May balita pala ako,” singit ni Frank, swirling his drink lazily. “Nakausap ko si Dianne.”

Napatingin si Kierran, jaw tightening almost imperceptibly.

“She said na-miss ka raw niya. At…” Frank paused, raising a brow, “…baka nga makipagbalikan siya sa ’yo. Kasalanan ko kung bakit kayo nagkahiwalay noon kaya naman inalam ko kung babalik siya. And yes — next month daw.”

Kierran exhaled sharply.

“Ahh. Actually, I'm not intere—”

Pero natigil siya.

Parang may humila sa paningin niya.

Parang may sumipa sa dibdib niya.

Because from across the bar…

a familiar silhouette caught his attention.

Long hair.

Soft dress.

Barefoot on the wooden floor.

And a bottle of rum beside her.

Arielle.

He froze.

Hindi dahil lasing siya — pero dahil hindi niya inaasahan ang tanawing iyon.

“What the—”

His brows met sharply.

What was she doing here?

At bakit parang… hindi na siya steady?

“Sabi ni Dianne—” tuloy pa rin si Frank, clueless. “—baka mag-ayos kayo. So—”

“Excuse me.”

His voice was tight.

Controlled.

But his body was already standing.

“Kierran? Saan ka pupunta?” tawag ni Burn.

Hindi niya sinagot.

Hindi niya kayang umupo roon habang pinapanood si Arielle na lasing na parang walang pakialam sa mundo.

He crossed the floor in long strides, jaw clenched, eyes fixed on her.

Paglapit niya sa gilid ng bar, nakita niya mismo—

She was holding a bottle of rum.

Hawak, pero halos walang laman.

“Stop drinking,” sabi niya, boses mababa pero malinaw.

Kinuha niya agad ang bote mula sa kamay niya—

At napamura siya nang maramdaman ang bigat nito.

Walang laman.

“Shit.”

He stared at her, disbelief flashing in his eyes.

“Ano’ng tingin mo sa alak? Tubig?”

Dahan-dahang nag-angat ng tingin si Arielle.

Her eyes were glossy.

Her lips slightly parted.

And her words—

soft but sharp in that drunken slur—

“What are you doing here, gago ka?”

She pushed weakly at his chest.

“Umalis ka nga.”

Kierran felt something dangerously unfamiliar tighten in his chest.

She was drunk.

And not just tipsy — fully, recklessly, beautifully drunk.

And the thought of her being this vulnerable…

because of him?

Hindi niya matanggap.

He leaned closer, voice low, steady, possessive without meaning to be.

“I’m not leaving you like this.”

Arielle scoffed softly, eyes heavy.

“Hindi kita kailangan,” she mumbled, turning away.

“Hindi kita kailangan sa buhay ko…”

Her voice broke into a soft laugh — or maybe a soft cry.

He rolled his eyes and handed the empty rum bottle to the bartender.

“Ilang bote na ba ang nainom ng babaeng ’to?” tanong niya, trying not to sound as alarmed as he actually was.

Napangiwi ang bartender. “Naku, Sir… marami na po. No’ng una, pa-shot-shot lang, pero nung tumagal… hindi ko na mabilang.” Nag-lean ito forward, mahina ang boses. “Girlfriend n’yo po, sir?”

“Oo.”

He didn’t know why he said it.

Hindi niya rin alam bakit parang automatic lumabas ang sagot.

Pero sa sandaling iyon… it felt right.

“May konting away lang kami,” dugtong pa niya, almost convincing himself.

“Ah, ganun po ba…” Tumango ang bartender, mukhang naniniwala. “Jose, pakilista mo na lang sa account ni Sir Kier lahat ng nainom ng babae.”

“Kopya, Sir Kier.”

Hindi na niya pinatagal.

Hinawakan niya si Arielle sa braso — firm, protective — at marahan pero may diin na hinila patayo.

“Bitawan mo nga ako!” sigaw ng dalaga, pilit ipinipiglas ang braso niya. “Ano ba?!”

She stumbled a little.

God, she was really drunk.

“Shut up,” naiiritang sabi ni Kierran habang hila-hila siya palabas ng bar.

“Para kang hindi babae. What the hell are you doing here at this hour?”

Without missing a beat, Arielle shot back, slurred but sharp:

“Malamang… umiinom.”

Then she glared at him, eyes blurry but defiant.

“Bakit ka ba nandito? Ang mga gagong katulad mo dapat nasa impiyerno.”

He froze.

Talagang… impiyerno?

He turned to face her fully, jaw ticking dangerously.

“Tawagin mo pa akong gago…”

His voice dropped low, dark, threatening—

“…hahalikan kita.”

Arielle’s lips curled into a slow, drunken smirk.

Not scared.

Not intimidated.

NO.

She leaned closer.

“Halik?” she whispered, mocking him.

And before he could warn her, she closed the remaining distance—

Her body pressed flush against his.

Soft curves meeting his hard lines.

Her breath hitting his throat.

Her warmth sinking into him like fire.

His entire body reacted instantly—violently.

Damn.

He sucked in a breath, eyes darkening.

“Stop,” he muttered, voice strained.

But Arielle just tilted her head, lips brushing the corner of his jaw—

intentional or accidental, hindi niya alam.

Pero sapat para mabalewala ang hininga niya.

“Oh, come on, Kierran…” bulong niya, pabiro pero may bahid ng katotohanan.

“You know you can kiss me anytime.”

Her fingers slid lightly along his shirt, gripping the fabric.

Her eyes half-lidded.

Her smile wicked.

“Hindi mo na ako kailangang takutin pa.”

Bumaba ang tingin niya sa bahagyang nakaawang na labi ni Arielle—soft, flushed, inviting in the most dangerous way.

He swallowed hard.

Because when his eyes lingered too long,

his body reacted…

slowly, involuntarily, undeniably.

Damn it.

“Go on,” Arielle teased, voice low, slurred, seductive in a way she probably didn’t even realize.

“Kiss me, Kierran. Hindi ba doon ka naman magaling?”

Her words hit him straight in the gut.

Napapikit siya sandali, pinipilit pigilan ang sarili.

This woman…

This intoxicating, stubborn woman…

was seconds away from undoing the last bit of control he had.

Ipinilig niya ang ulo—almost violently—then hinawakan siya sa pulso.

Ayaw niyang magpadala.

Not when she was drunk.

Not when she wouldn’t even remember this tomorrow.

He pulled her gently but firmly toward the Resort Shuttle cart waiting outside.

“Ihahatid kita sa villa,” he said, voice clipped, controlled.

Walang imik si Arielle—rare, considering how sharp her tongue usually was.

She simply slid into the passenger seat, legs crossing, hair tousled, cheeks flushed from alcohol.

Too tempting.

Too beautiful.

Kierran exhaled slowly before taking the driver’s seat.

He started the cart.

Pero ramdam niya ang tingin ng babae sa tabi niya.

Sinulyapan niya ito—and caught her staring directly at him, her gaze soft but unfocused, like she was memorizing every angle of his face.

“Kasama ko ang mga kaibigan ko nang makita kita,” he muttered, eyes on the dimly lit road.

“I got worried when I saw you were drunk.”

Mapaklang tumawa si Arielle, leaning her head back, eyes half-lidded.

“Bakit naman?” she murmured.

“It’s not like you cared.”

Ouch.

He tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

He cared.

More than he should.

More than he admitted.

More than he understood.

But all he said was—

“Ewan ko.”

Arielle chuckled softly, shaking her head.

“Kierran, baby…”

She leaned closer, her shoulder brushing his arm, making his breath catch.

“Siguro nga lasing ako, pero hindi ibig sabihin n’on ay kailangan ko na ang tulong mo.”

His jaw clenched.

“Arielle, marami ka nang nainom. Baka kung ano’ng mangyari sa ’yo.”

Napatingin siya saglit, catching the way her lashes fluttered.

“Paano ka makakauwi?” he added, voice lowering.

“At sinong nag-aalaga sa ’yo kung hindi ako?”

Her lips parted.

For a moment— a very long moment— neither of them spoke.

Only their breaths filled the space between them, warm, shaky, unsteady.

The Resort shuttle cart hummed quietly through the palm-lined path,

moonlight catching her hair,

wind brushing their skin.

And the whole time…

Kierran fought every urge to pull her closer.

To touch her.

To give in to everything she was stirring inside him.

But he kept his eyes forward.

He wasn’t going to kiss her tonight.

Not when she would wake up not remembering how badly he wanted to.

Not when he wanted her sober—

aware—

and choosing him.

Even if she claimed she never would.