My Lovely Peril

My Lovely Peril (2)

Our crewmates are back. We've checked the whole cabin if it's clean and safe for the passengers. The flight from Singapore to Manila will be 3 hours and 50 minutes. At last, this never-ending in-flight mission will finally adjourn.

After the passengers boarded and all standard measures were set, the plane again safely took off. I'm carefully examining the cabin for potential irregularities or passengers that might need assistance, but of course, my eyes will never miss my sweet heart.

"...Downtown kinaladkad ang QC, kami may ari nito, 1103 Hev Abi, yung syota mo ginawa kong preso..."

The annoying song played again. Who the f*ck wants that song to be played again and again?

Naalerto ako nang tila may kumausap sa kanya mula sa katapat niyang row. Agad akong pasimpleng lumapit mula sa likod nila. Medyo nakahinga ako nang maluwag nang makitang isang batang lalaki lang pala ang kausap niya at nagbigay ito ng sa pagkakaalam ko ay isang fortune cookie. Ngumiti siya at nagpasalamat sa bata.

She cracked the fortune cookie and it was divided into two, showing the paper of fortune inside it. She read what it says and from my point of view, it reads, 'Look at the IFE to see your future.' My forehead creased as I try to comprehend what it means. IFE.. in aviation term, that's In-Flight Entertainment.

She again baffledly looked at the boy who gave her the cookie, and then slowly looked at the IFE screen in front of her.

'Time Check: It's 3:45. Give us the code before it happens. Your 1 hour starts now'

Kapansin-pansing sa lahat ng IFE ay sa harap niya lang ang naiiba ang ipinapalabas. Ilang segundo siyang nakatulala sa screen bago tuluyang nawala ang message na nakasulat dito. Tinignan niya ulit ang batang lalaki. Tinignan niya rin ang kasamang katabi nito sa row na isang matandang babae. Parang Chinese ang nationality ng mga ito. Sa mukha ni Faye ay halatang natatakot na siya ngunit pinipilit niya itong itago.

"W-Who gave you this fortune cookie?" she calmly asked the little boy.

"I don't know him. He gave it to me in Singapore and told me to give it to you."

"Is he in this plane with us?"

"I don't know."

"Can you describe him for me, please?"

"I haven't seen his face, but he's wearing black all over. Black hat, mask, and long puffer coat."

Unti-unting nawalan ng ekspresyon ang mukha niya at ilang saglit lang ay naging seryoso. Nilukot niya ang maliit na papel, kinain ang fortune cookie, at tumingin sa relo niya.

I look around as restlessness fills me. Good Lord, I still remember our training lesson for security threat codes. Telling the time out of nowhere is a secret code for bomb threat. The first objective would be to find that man, if he's on this plane, and then search for where the bomb is located. I didn't expect this to be fre*kin' hard.

Marami akong tanong sa isip ko ngayon tulad na lang ng, ano ang code na dapat niyang ibigay? At bakit sa kanya hinihingi 'yun? Sino ba siya? Sino ba silang mga nagbabanta? Gaano kahalaga ang code para sa kanila na kaya nilang ipagpalit pati ang kaligtasan ng lahat ng pasahero sa eroplanong ito?

I already checked the passengers one by one on all units, but I've seen no one like the little boy described. I feel so naive to think that the man will be on this plane if they're planning to blow it up. So stupid to also think that he will wear the same attire. If they were able to pass the message to her, it might be that this plane is being hacked at the moment. How possible is it to be hacked if the hacker is on land or if the hacker is here with us? Godd*mn technology dupe!

Napatingin ako sa oras. Sampung minuto na ang lumilipas. 50 minutes na lang. Kapag naghihintay ako matapos ang trabaho ay napakatagal ng isang oras, pero pakiramdam ko, sobrang bilis nito ngayon. Kung pwede lang ang time freeze na ginagamit kapag naglalaro ng taya-tayaan ay kanina ko pa ginamit para maproseso muna sa utak ko ang mga nangyayari.

"Excuse me!" she said while raising her hand, of course, to call an attendant's attention.

Lalapit na sana si Dos dahil mas malapit siya sa puwesto ni Faye pero para akong nag-sprint papunta sa kanya para maunahan si Dos. Batid kong tungkol ito sa nangyayari ngayon kaya't wala munang dapat makaalam. Napahinto naman si Dos at nginisihan pa ako bago muling tumalikod.

"Do you have this?" she handed me again a piece of paper.

'Someone wants to blow up this plane. We need to find the bomb.'

I groped for the pen that I remember putting in one of my pockets. I found it in my patch pocket and quickly wrote my response.

"We only have these. You can choose from the quality ones, Ma'am." ibinalik ko ang papel sa kanya.

'Why are they doing this? For sure there's an easier way to stop this.'

"Thank you. This is a lot. I guess I'll think of it first." saad niya sabay pakawala ng pekeng tawa.

She stood up while bringing her MacBook and gave me a meaningful stare while she walks towards the lavatory. I waited for a few seconds and followed her. As expected, the lavatory is not locked, giving me entry. I quickly locked its door and turned to face her.

"What is this all about?" agad kong tanong.

"Wala na tayong oras. Ibibigay ko sa kanila ang hinahanap nila pero kailangan nating mahanap kung nasaan ang bomba. Wala akong tiwala sa kanila." mabilis niyang sabi habang nakaupo sa saradong toilet bowl at nagkakalikot sa MacBook niya.

"Gano'n ba sila kasama para gawin nila 'to?"

"Sa totoo lang, hindi ko talaga pwedeng ibigay ang code dahil ang trabaho ko at ang kaligtasan ng bansa ang nakasalalay rito. Pero gagawa ako ng paraan para hindi nila ma-access. Ang kailangan nating gawin ay mahanap ang bomba para sa kaligtasan naman ng mga tao rito. Kaya kong pigilan ang pagsabog kung malalaman natin kung nasaan."

"Hindi ko naiintindihan kung para saan ang code na 'yan."

"Kung ni-report mo na kasi 'to kanina pa sa mga pulis, e'di sana nahuli na sila sa Singapore palang no'ng tinangka nilang i-h****k kanina ang eroplano!"

"Hindi ko 'yun pwedeng gawin. Dahil hindi 'yun ang nakalatag na plano."

"What f*cking plan are you talking about?"

"Hindi 'yun ang mandato sa'kin. Hindi nila ako pinapayagang magsumbong. Ang tanging papel ko lang dito ay protektahan ka."

She stopped typing and looked at me, "Who are you?"

"I have the same question for you. Anong meron sa'yo at bakit kailangan kitang protektahan?"

We both froze and glared at each other for a moment.

"Why don't you just f*cking send a distress signal to the captain for authorized inspection?" she blurted.

"Mas delikado 'yun! Paano kung nandito ang tauhan ng nagbabanta sa'yo? E'di malalaman na nilang nagsumbong ka! Lalong malalagay sa alanganin ang eroplanong 'to!"

She let out a deep sigh, then pulled up her iPhone. She tapped on something and position its microphone near her mouth, maybe to record something.

"I will give you the code, but let me know first where the bomb is located." she firmly said then tapped on something again on her phone.

I went out of the lavatory and hurriedly walked to unit 2. I grabbed Jinieca's arm, brought her to the Galley, and locked the door.

"Nasa'n ang bomba?"

"H-Ha? Anong sinasabi mo-"

"Wag mo na 'kong lokohin, Jinieca!" I almost shouted, but I toned down my voice so anyone wouldn't hear what I was saying, "Nasaan ang bomba?"

"Hindi ko alam ang sinasabi mo, Archer."

"Narinig ko. Narinig kong katawagan mo sila bago ang flight. Akala ko simpleng banta lang 'to sa buhay ni Faye, hindi ko alam na may ipapasok pala kayong bomba rito. Kailangan kong malaman ngayon kung nasa'n 'yun bago tayo mamatay lahat dito." pabulong kong asik sa kanya.

"H-Hindi ko alam."

Nagsimula na siyang umiyak, "Hindi ko alam kung nasa'n 'yun."

"Ano?"

"Ni hindi ko sila kilala, wala akong alam tungkol sa kanila. Binayaran lang nila 'ko para makalusot sa security. Pero hindi ko alam na may bomba."

Napahawak ako sa sentido ko. Sa puntong ito ay hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko. Kung hindi pala alam ni Jinieca kung nasaan ang bomba, saang lupalop ng malaking eroplanong 'to ko mahahanap 'yun? This is so f*cked up!

"Sorry, Archer.. Sorry..." dinig ko pang sabi niya bago ako makalabas ng Galley.

4:15 PM.. 30 minutes left...

Naglakad ako ulit nang mabilis sa aisle at papunta na sana ng lavatory para muling kausapin si Faye pero napahinto ako dahil may lalaking kumakatok doon at tinatanong kung may tao ba.

I stepped back and walked heading to the deck. The time is running so fast and my heart is racing. I saw Faye walking on the aisle already and before she approaches her seat, she bumped on me and indistinctly handed me a paper again.

'I already gave them the code that they want, but I still don't know where the bomb is, if there's any.'

I helplessly walked back and forth on the aisle, thinking what would be the next step. I need to weigh the consequences and obviously, I need to prioritize people's safety more than anything else. Isa man sa misyon ko ang mapa-landing ang eroplanong 'to sa Pilipinas, kung ilalagay nito sa kapahamakan ang lahat ng tao rito ay wala na akong magagawa, kailangan na nitong makalapag sa lalong madaling panahon. Wala sa bokabolaryo ko ang pagsuko, pero mukhang kailangan ko nang gawin. F*ck this first mission!

I was about to report the bomb threat when I heard the annoying music once again, but this time, it's not coming from a phone or a music player but from a human.

"Downtown, kinaladkad ang QC, kami may ari nito, 1103 Hev Abi stupid, tindig mo ako nag-imbento..."

He continues to sing it as if it's a demonic chant. His eyes are bloodshot and lean, has a too skinny face, but his body's a mesomorph that it is possible for him to throw two persons using one arm.

"...Sa dalang doobieng pinaghihimay, salapi 'di pinaghihintay, ten toes downtown 'di mapilay.. 'di mo maaagaw 'pag ako nag-iingay, 'di n'yo maaagaw 'pag kami nag-iingay..."

Nakatayo siya sa tapat ng emergency door. Ang dalawang pasaherong nakaupo malapit doon ay parehong tulog. Hindi siya tumitigil sa pagkanta. Hindi ko maintindihan ang liriko ng kanta pero hindi ako makagalaw. Nagising ang diwa ko nang makitang nagsuot siya ng wing goggles. Doon ko lang din napansin na nakasuot pala siya ng complete skydiving gear at sa malamang ay may parachute din itong dala sa likod niya. Alam kong malayo ang posibilidad na mabuksan niya ang emergency door dahil sa pressure pero sa pangangatawan niya ay ayokong magpakampante.

Agad ko siyang sinugod nang makitang i-di-disarm niya na ang emergency door. Napatumba siya na kumuha ng atensyon ng mga pasahero.

"...Cash rules everything around me, cream, pe-pe-pera parating.. benta tas alis, buhay tema parang chess, mas pipiliin ko ma-deads kung buhay ko'y 'di gising..."

Nagpapambuno na kami pero hindi pa rin siya tumitigil sa pagkanta. Halos magdilim ang buong paligid nang masuntok niya 'ko sa mukha. Sh*t! Ang gwapo kong mukha!

Nakadapa man ako sa sahig pero naaaninag ko siyang binubuksang muli ang emergency door. Mabillis kong sinunggaban ang dalawa niyang kamay mula sa likod kaya't muli siyang napahiga. Siniko niya ako sa sikmura na nagpaigtad sa'kin sa sakit. Nasa'n na ba ang mga pinag-aralan kong fighting skills? Bakit 'di ko magamit?

"...Nilagyan ng finesse pati sauce, ako paamuhin magdala ka ng cross.. pinagsasampal ko sa mukha nila gaano ko kalupit, ngayon palad ko ang daming paltos..."

My eyes grew bigger when I saw him pointing a gun at me. He's standing while I'm lying on the floor and suffering at the 'suppose-to-be' little pain I got from him. The panic from passengers becomes louder upon seeing the gun. What will you do now, Archer? What's next?

"Kuya! Tumigil ka na sa kaadikan mo!"

"Oh.. Hi, sistah."

F*ck! Sa wakas tumigil ka na rin sa pagkanta!

I saw Faye standing a few feet away from us, nagging the gunman, "Hanggang dito ba naman manggugulo ka pa rin? Tumigil ka na! Wala ka nang nagawang matino sa pamilya natin!"

Wait.. Are they related to each other?

"You already gave us the code, so let me fly high like a butterfly, my dear sistah!"

"I-Ikaw?"

"This plane will go boom in no time, and I wanna say my final goodbye to you."

I took advantage of their conversation and snatched the gun from him. I tried my best to pin him down, but he's too strong. I hit his head with the gun and that made him a bit dizzy, that gave me a chance to let him lay down facing the floor. I placed both his arms at his back.

"Nasa'n ang bomba?" pasigaw ko nang tanong sa kanya.

He let out a devilish laugh, "Downtown, kinaladkad ang QC, kami may ari nito, 1103 Hev Abi, 'yung syota mo ginawa kong preso..."

"Manahimik ka!"

"...Dito sa gilid ko usapang presyo, 'di ka uubra masyado akong presko..."

Pinaulit ulit nya ang lyrics na kanina ko pa naririnig dito sa eroplano. Sa sobrang pagkairita ko sa kinakanta niya, sobrang sarap niya nang pilayan.

"...Downtown, kinaladkad ang QC, kami may ari nito, 1103 Hev Abi, 'yung syota mo ginawa kong preso..."

May ibang mga pasahero nang sumasaling bugbugin ang lalaki para mapaamin kung nasaan ang bomba habang sinusubukan naman silang pigilan ni Dos at ng ibang flight crew. Parang hindi siya natatablan. Tawa lang siya nang tawa at kumakanta na ngayon ay iisang phrase na lang ang pinapaulit ulit niya.

"...Downtown, kinaladkad ang QC, kami may ari nito, 1103 Hev Abi, 'yung syota mo ginawa kong preso..."

Hinagisan ako ni Faye ng handcuffs na agad kong ikinabit sa magkabilang kamay ng lalaki. Pati ba naman 'to meron ka, baby girl?

"3 minutes left!" sigaw ng lalaki sabay pakawala ulit nang malakas na tawa.

Nakita ko si Faye na nagpapabalik-balik siya nang lakad sa aisle at mukha na nga siyang magandang baliw sa sobrang lalim ng iniisip. Nang makalapit si Dos sa amin ay ako naman ang tumayo para mag-pacify ng mga pasahero.

"Downtown.. 1103..." dinig kong sabi ni Faye sa pagdaan niya.

'Wag mong sabihing nahahawa ka na sa kabaliwan ng lalaking 'yun?

"Na-i-report na ang bomb threat, pero napakalapit na natin sa Philippine Airport." I said to her while tapping her shoulder, seemed like she didn't hear anything and just continued walking.

Faye roamed around the economy seats while counting with her fingers. She then pointed her fingers on the rows as if she's counting them. She stopped at the third row and looked at the old American man sitting by the window.

"Mr. Town?"

The man responded, "Yes?"

"Please excuse me!" she quickly inserted her body underneath the row where Mr. Town is seated.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

Sumiksik ulit siya upang makalabas naman, "I'm extending your life, old man." dala niya ang isang bagay na lalong kinatakot ng lahat.

I can now hear the tick of the time bomb. She ran towards her seat at full speed and pulled her MacBook while passengers are screaming in panic. The explosive is now counting down from 15 seconds.

"Just cut the wires!"

"Throw it outside, mthrfckr!"

"Ma'am, kailangan po natin 'yang ilagay sa least risky part ng plane." Cecilia interrupted.

Faye calmly replied, sitting on the floor and just focusing on her MacBook screen, "How do you that for f*cking 13 seconds?"

"Guys, please, 'wag muna kayong makialam." saad ko sa mga kapwa ko attendants.

Distress embedded the whole cabin. For a short period of time, I heard the sincerest cries and prayers in this whole d*mn life.

5 seconds left...

Napaupo na lang ako at napapikit. Biglang natahimik ang lahat ng nasa malapit sa'min.

"It stopped." dinig kong mahinang sambit ng isang lalaking pasahero.

Napadilat ako.

"It stopped!" sigaw ng batang lalaking Chinese national.

I leaned closer to look at it.

00:00:03

Natahimik ang buong eroplano. Lahat ay nagsitinginan sa direksyon namin, tila naninigurado kung maayos na ba ang lahat.

"We're saved!" biglang sigaw ng isang Indiano na naging kasunod ng hiyawan at palakpakan ng lahat.

She looked at me with a blank expression. I smiled and gave her a hug. I know, I should've ask for her consent first but I hope she understands that I'm just happy.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have begun to descent into Manila. Please turn off all portable electronic devices and stow them until we have arrived at the gate. In prepation for landing in Manila, be certain your seat back is straight up and your seat belt is fastened. Please secure your carry-on items, stow your tray trable, and pass any remaining service items and unwanted reading materials to the flight attendants. Thank you."

We helped the passengers settle after the dreadful situation before landing. Though it is not considered an emergency landing, we still pacified them by ensuring their safety until the arrival.

Sabelle then executed the landing announcement. Nang mai-park na ni Captain ang eroplano ay nagsimula nang mag-assist ang mga crewmates ko sa mga pasahero for deplaining via stairs. Nagpaiwan si Faye at hinintay na maubos ang lahat ng pasahero.

Hinahawakan ni Dos ang gunman sa magkabila nitong balikat. Hanggang ngayon ay tumatawa ito habang nakaposas at salita nang salita ng kung ano anong hindi namin maintindihan. Buti na lang talaga at hindi na siya kumanta nang mapigilan sa pagsabog ang bomba, kung hindi ay baka hindi ako nakapagpigil at makakasuhan pa ako ng abuse of authority sa pagbugbog sa kanya para manahimik.

Nang makita ko si Jinieca ay agad ko rin itong hinawakan sa balikat. Umiiyak siya. Alam kong nasilaw lang siya sa pera kaya niya nagawang maging kasabwat ng mga kriminal. Hindi siya nakaposas at hindi ito considered as arrest dahil hindi ito isang kaso ng flagrante delicto kung kaya't hindi ko siya pwedeng hulihin ng walang warrant. May mga kailangan pang iproseso para hulihin siya ng mga pulis.

Bumaba na kami sa eroplano. Nasa hulihan namin si Faye. Nag-aabang na sa runway ang mga pulis, bomb squad, at syempre pa, ang mga kapwa ko NBI agents.

Kita ko mula sa taas ng hagdan ang ngiti ni Atty. Labilles, ang Head Agent namin. Sa pagbaba namin ay tinurn over na ang mga suspect. Nag-bow naman si Dos at sumama na sa ibang mga crew sa safe area habang inaalis pa ang bomba sa eroplano.

"Atty. Diason, I'm glad to see you safe and sound!" bati ni Atty. Labilles sa nasa likod ko. Tumabi ako upang mas magkausap sila.

"Thank you, Attorney. It's nice to see you again."

They shook hands with each other while I astonishingly stared at them.

"Did you gave the code to them?"

"Yes, a fake code as usual."

Atty. Labilles giggled, "You're always doing a great job even if it's not your mission."

"As always, Sir!"

"What's your plan with your half brother?" Atty. Labilles asked and slightly lean his face pointing the crazy man in the car.

She rolled her eyes, "That jerk's always busted. Nothing to do with a drug addict anymore. Let the law do the needful, and as much as possible, I don't want him to see outside the bars again."

Atty. Labilles nodded, then directed his attention to me.

"Dela Peña, I'm sorry for I haven't formally introduced to you our best Senior Investigation Agent, Atty. Faye Eleanor Diason."

I was dumbfounded. Now it makes more sense why they assigned me to protect her.

"Congratulations, Dela Peña. I'm safe and I'm not even had a single scratch, so it's a mission success! I hope to see you succeed in other missions in the future." Faye said while smiling and offering a hand shake to me which I, of course, accepted.

"T-Thank you."

"Hey, I know you're both tired, so our victory party will be tomorrow night at 6 PM. See you, both!"

Ginawa na ng ibang agents ang trabaho nilang imbistigahan ang eroplano. Ano't ano pa man, ang alam ko ay buhay kami at masaya.

Tinignan ako ni Faye, "You know why they just showed you my picture for your mission? That's because they want you to do your own research. You should've done an intricate research of the background of your mission. It's not just tell and do, you should make a deeper sense of its purpose. Marami ka pang dapat pag-aralan. Kamuntikan ka nang pumalpak."

I frowned. I know, I gave a weak performance in this mission, but I promise to give my best next time.

"Kadalasan sa mga agents na hindi ko sinasadyang makasama sa misyon nila, nahahalata ko agad na agent sila kahit pa anong galing nilang magpanggap. Pero ikaw, hindi ko nahalata. Hindi ka halatang NBI agent."

Hindi ko alam kung compliment ba 'yun o another insult eh.

"But don't worry. It's your first mission, you are yet to face hundreds of harder missions in the course of time.. and you're yet to learn a lot."

Ngumiti siya na siyang ginantihan ko rin.

Marami akong nalaman gaya na lang ng tungkol sa code. Ang code pala na 'yun ay si Atty. Faye lang ang tanging nakakaalam sa buong bansa. Naging undercover siya noon at nagpanggap bilang isa sa mga tauhan ng pinakamayamang kriminal na may malaking sindikatong nagpapatakbo ng mga ilegal na operasyon, gaya ng drug dealing, illegal firearm trade, at exploitation. Ang code ang magbubukas sa kinalalagyan ng lahat ng yaman ng lider at lahat ng impormasyon kung saan nag-o-operate ang mga illegal transactions nila.

Dahil sa hacking skills ni Atty. Faye ay nagawa niyang mabago ang code bago tumiwalag sa sindikato at lumipad ng bansa. Plinano ng sindikatong makuha sa kanya ang code bago siya makarating sa Pilipinas dahil alam na ng lider nila kung sino talaga siya at sa oras na makabalik ito ng bansa ay ang pagsusuplong sa sindikato ang susunod nitong hakbang.

Hindi pa tapos ang misyon ni Atty. Faye at alam kong marami pang death threats ang kahaharapin niya. Napakadelikado pero ano naman? I am willing to be with her even if the sun and stars, or heaven and earth collide. I am willing to love her even if the dangers of hell challenge me to death.

Ang cheesy ko na naman 'no? Pumayag kasi siya makipag-date sa'kin eh. Kaya alam kong sa kasalan na 'to papunta. Eh saan pa ba? Hindi ko na 'to pakakawalan. Sisiguraduhin kong habangbuhay na 'to at walang makakapigil sa'kin.

**~~~WAKAS~~~**