When Love Strikes

ONE

Just look how far they’ve come. Kung hindi dahil sa kahigpitan ng ama ni Strike, hindi sana siya ngayon ang may-ari ng isang paliparan, hindi isang piloto at hindi isang trilyonaryo.

Nakatingin siya sa kabuuan ng napakalawak na airport habang humihithit ng sigarilyo. Pinagmamasdan niya ang batang pamangkin na nagmana rin ng ilang bahagi ng shares kahit na hindi naman ito puro na isang Cibrian.

Sila na lang dalawa ang natitira sa lahi nila na lihitimong anak at apo sa tuhod ni Señor Tyron Cibrian. May dalawang anak ang matandang mayaman, siya na anak sa tunay na asawa at ang ama ni Vander, sa isang kerida.

Mas matanda pa nga sa kanya  ang ama ni Vander pero sa ina niya kasal si Tryon. He inherited almost hundred percent of all the businesses and properties while Vander has the supporting ownership. May mga ari-arian din na nakapangalan dito pero majorities ng lahat ay sa kanya.

Minsan din niyang  binalak na takasan ang makinang na mundo na kinalakihan niya. He needed privacy. He needed to find himself when he found out that his father had a mistress before his mother. Maswerte lang ang nanay niya dahil iyon ang pinakasalan kahit na ang totoong mahal ay ang nanay ng kuya Donavan niya. He may have had inherited it all but never the love that he wanted to have or feel. He was always the supporting actor, the supporting character. He was not the lead. When his brother died, his father fell apart. Doon na nag-umpisang magpabaya as sarili si Tryon at siya ay itinuwid ang sarili. He was done being a rebel and he stopped being a rebel when his mother died. Doon naman din nag-asikaso ang ama niya na ayusin din ang sarili.

Rebelde silang lahat. Babaero silang lahat.

Initsa niya ang sigarilyo at bumuga ng usok. Lumapit siya sa pamangkin na si Vander. Isa na itong aircraft maintenance. Kung hindi niya ito ginabayan, wala itong silbi ngayon.

He received a nice smile from his nephew, showing him thumbs up.

“Striker 02 is now ready to fly with us back to Philippines.” Nakangising sabi ni Vander kay Strike.

Tumango-tango siya at tumaas ang gilid ng labi.

“Good job, Vand. Change now and you have to  fly as soon as you’re  ready. I’m  giving you ten minutes  to prepare. I'm going. Dad is expecting us.” Aniya rito saka ito tinalikuran.

“Wait, Uncle. What? Just  like this? What will I get as soon as our planes land? Come on, I need p*****s. It’s been a month. I’m  stuck here. My d**k needs refreshment.”

“One week vacation, one week supplies of free p*****s. Deal? Just show your ass first to your most beloved Pops.” pumihit siya saglit at inarkuhan ito ng kilay.

Lumaki ang ngisi ni Vander sa kanya at imahe ng kapatid niya ang rumirehistro sa tuwing ngumingiti ito nang ganoon. Halos magkamukha rin naman sila, iyon lang ay medyo may pagka-millenial ang hitsura nito. Ang buhok nito ay blonde ang kulay, which is natural, at devil cut ang gupit. Hindi  ito mukhang lisensyado dahil nakahikaw sa dalawang  tainga at rugged kung umasta, but he still looks so handsome as ever. He can never be mistaken as a pure blooded Cibrian, not just his pair of brown eyes. Hindi nito namana ang mga mata sa lahi nila na parang mga kristal na asul ang kulay. Mana ito sa ina na isang Fil-Mexican, kahit na sa morenong kulay ng balat.

Vander has tattoos on his arms. He’s  not respectable at one glance but damn because his face could ruin a thousand p*****s. Hindi man ito kagalang-galang sa paningin, nakakaakit naman itong tingnan. Halata na isa itong palikero at mahilig sa babae.

Strike is also like Vander. They don’t  differ from each  other. Medyo may edad lang siya kumpara rito. Bente singko ito habang siya naman ay trenta y tres. Mas kagalang-galang siyang tingnan. He’s  actually  rugged but in a respectable way, more yummylicious than ever. Wala siyang tattoos sa nakalabas na balat niya pero mayroon siya sa may puson; it’s CP inside a hexagon. It resembles the logo of his company, Cibrian Pillar which has six-corners well built glass towers. His father has the same tattoo and even his ancestors.

He has set of nice and beautiful crystal blue eyes.

“Thanks Uncle." Kindat nito sa kanya  kaya tuluyan na siyang umalis.

“I’ll see you when your plane lands.” He lifted his hand as a goodbye.

His flight is waiting for him.

Sumakay siya sa eroplano at parang mga binidburan ng asin ang mga flight attendants niya. They usually see him  yet still nothing  changed. Simula umpisa nang maging piloto siya sa sarili niyang airlines ay ganoon  ang inaani niyang atensyon mula sa mga kababaihan. They wriggle because of his billion dollar-killer smile; p***y killer, to be precise.

Ngumiti siya sa lahat ng pasahero at ang mga nasa hulihan o nasa private cabins ay alam niyang nakikita rin siya. They have monitors. Besides, moderno ang lahat ng eroplano niya, walang luma. Kung may luma man sila, nakadisplay lang iyon sa mga ports para sa isang public show. Iyon ang  mga unang  pundar na eroplano ng mga magulang niya.

Bata pa lang siya, pangarap na niyang lumipad, but nothing beats when he f***s a p***y. He tends to fly to the nth level and none of his planes could  bring him to such place, only the depths of women’s core and depths of their mouth.

Strike stood formally, pressing his lips together before he speaks. “Hi!” his baritone voice echoed.

 Normal na niyang ginagawa iyon  sa lahat ng flight niya para maibsan ang nerbyos ng ibang pasahero. He assures them that they’ll be safe and he’ll  be their pilot. Umaani ng magagandang komento ang Cibrian Airlines dahil bali-balita na pogi ang chief pilot at mabait pa. They’re  magnetizing passengers and they’re on top of the chain.

He’s  the lord of the empire and he does his best to retain his empire’s position.

“I’m your chief pilot, Cibrian, T.S.” he points at his pin. I’m  not the owner today, I’m just your pilot. And I will keep you safe along the flight so relax and don’t  be threatened by minor turbulence. I can handle things and if the plane crushes, I’ll  go first with  it.” Ngumiti  siya kaya napangiti rin ang mga pasahero.

“Don’t hesitate to ask assistance if you need something.  We have the humblest and kindest  attendants in the Universe. Let’s fly safely.” He signed of the cross and kissed his platinum cross pendant.

“Damn, he’s hot.” Kagat labing sabi ng isang blonde sa harap niya kaya lumipad dito ang mga mata niya.

Nakabungisngis ito, katabi at laking gulat niya nang mapagtanto kung sino ang babae.

It’s  Beatrice Pratt, his best friend.

Isa itong tour guide sa America pero mukhang ito ang magto-tour ngayon sa Pilipinas.

“Hi handsome.” Kindat nito kaya nailing siya. “I’ll  see you after the flight.”

Naiiling niyang  ibinalik ang  mga mata sa lahat.

Akala niya kung sino. Pinagti-trip-an na naman siya ng kaisa-isa niyang babaeng mahal.

“I’ll  see you, booty.” He winks  at her and waved his hand to everybody.

Tumalikod siya para pumunta na sa pilot’s cabin.

At least relaxed na ang ambience at kahit may nerbyos ang ilan. Hindi iyon maaalis pero kahit paano  at alam niyang nabawasan naman.

Paglapag ng eroplano, domestic flights na lang muna siya at hindi international. Magpapahinga rin siya at pansamantalang uupo muna sa trono niya sa Cibrian Pillar. Hindi iyon kasing tayog ng pinakamataas na building sa buong mundo, na nasa Dubai pero hindi  matatawaran ang perang pumapasok sa kumpanya niya. CP his handling his four airports all around the globe, one in Asia, one in Europe, one in Australia and one in United States. His father targeted the most beneficial continents in the world but the heart of their business is in Philippines because his father’s ancestors lived in Philippines though they’re not Filipinos. Ang ina niya ang Filipina at kwento no'n noong nabubuhay pa, kaya iyon ang napili ng mga magulang ng Papa niya ay dahil sa pagiging maasikaso at hospitable. His mother had the kindest heart of all but she died in lung cancer.

Kahit noong mga panahon na pasaway siya sa eskwelahan, hindi siya no'n sinukuan. Grade  two pa lang siya ay nanghahalik na siya ng kaklase niyang babae pero parating present ang ina niya  kapag ipinatatawag ng Guidance  Counselor. Na-kick out siya dahil sa pakikipag-suntukan, naroon pa rin ang ina niya. It was always his mother because his father was not home. Wala iyon parati, iyon pala ay nasa ibang babae. Kaya rin siguro naging rebelde siya dahil nakita niya kung gaano kamartir ang nanay niya. She was holding  on to the marriage and said that  she never wanted a broken home for him. Kahit na ilang ulit niyang nakita sa sarili niyang  mga mata ang ginagawa ng Papa niya, pinatatahimik siya ng nanay niya. And rage ate him until he never knew himself anymore. He tried drugs and alcohol. Lumayas siya nang hindi na niya matagalan, graduate  na siya ng college noon at nag-top na sa Aeronautical Engineering exam. Noon lang dumating ang ama niya dahil proud  sa achievement niya pero kinagabihan ay lumayas siya.

Ilang buwan siyang nagliwaliw sa Pilipinas hanggang  sa isang umaga ay nagising  siya na nasa eroplano na, papauwi sa UK.

His mother was in the hospital, diagnosed for having a severe lung cancer, fatal.

Sising-sisi siya, hindi alam kung  anong gagawin dahil wala siyang alam. Itinago ng Mama niya ang lahat sa kanya.

And that night after his insobriety, he found his mother lifeless. Inalis no'n ang sariling oxygen supply, leaving him a note that he must never feel incomplete, that he’s loved and her love for him will never perish though she already ended her life.

Strike touched his mother’s picture in his wallet.

“Miss you, mom.” Aniya na nagsilbing inspirasyon niya para maging matagumpay at patunayan na siya ang karapat-dapat na maging tagapagmana, at hindi ang papagmukhain na anak sa labas kahit na siya ang legal.

Though he is not contesting anymore, he was and he had lived contesting for his father’s love. Kahit na ang Mama niya ay namatay na parang umaamot ng pagmamahal at atensyon. Namatay na lang iyon at noon lang nasilayan ang mukha ng ama niya sa loob ng dalawang buong araw. Parang sila ang namuhay na sampid dahil hindi sa kanila naglalagi ang ama niya.

And it’s still painful deep inside. Everything  and every  wealth that surround him don’t necessarily make him happy, perhaps they do but still not enough to fill up those days when he needed a father  but he was not around or had never been around.