Chapter 67

When you were kids, have you ever wished to fly?

Have you ever caught yourself gazing up at the slow moving thing above the sky? Did you ever hope that someday, you'll be up there feeling the happiness and freedom of air? Have you ever wished for that overwhelming feeling?

Have you ever imagined yourself flying? Have you ever wished that you're given a chance to fly? Maybe some of children back then would wish to ride on a plane, seated with their parents while being served by foods and drinks.

But mine was different, yes I was still young back then and haven't experienced the painful past, but I have already noticed that most of the time I have this different taste compared with other children.

And I considered it as a gift.

"Behati! Tingnan mo may eroplano, dyan sumakay si Daddy papuntang ibang bansa!" One of my playmates waved her hand calling his daddy.

"Kapag lumaki ako, gusto ko rin sumakay sa eroplano."

I tried to hold my hand up, reaching the tiny image of the airplane above us. I wonder how this thing fly up? I wonder how it manage to fly considering the fact that it was made by purely metal.

It was hard making the damn kite fly made of plastic, but this thing is really amazing. I should study this, I should study this.

"Ikaw rin ba Behati? Gusto mo rin sumakay sa eroplano? Masarap sigurong lumipad." I smiled, still following the path of the airplane.

How I love talking with my fellow innocent kids, if I could just think simply like them. But I was born to think deeply, I was born awake right before my parent's eyes.

I heard that studying aeronautics was quite expensive and it's too impossible for my family to afford that.

Maybe, well maybe. I have this funny dream of mine. Hindi naman masama ang mangarap sa katulad kong bata.

I maybe this kind of mind, but still I am a child. Dreaming something impossible.

"Yes, of course. I would love to, but I want to be the pilot. The pleasure of sending people in their home will make me happier." I said, proudly.

Hindi ko pinangarap na basta na lang umupo sa eroplano habang walang ginagawa. I would love to fly with reasons.

At alam kong sa bawat lipad ng isang piloto, hindi lang kanyang sariling rason ang pinanghahawakan niya sa kanyang paglipad.

Behind his wings were the reasons why people were leaving their love ones for a far away journey.

Nakangiti akong lumingon sa kalaro ko. Masyado nang malayo ang naiisip ko.

"Wala na tayo sa school Behati, stop speaking English!" I laughed.

"Tayo na, laro na ulit tayo." Hinawakan ni Apple ang kamay ko at sabay kaming tumakbo.

When I saw my cousin Alys, I immediately removed my hand from her. Ayokong nagseselos si Alys, gusto niya kasi ay lagi akong sumama sa kanya.

From that day, when I see blue all I can remember was the blue sky and the airplane responsible for bringing people home.

The pilot.

And who would expect that I'll be one? Sinong mag-aakala na isang simpleng bata mula sa Tacloban na minsang nangarap ng imposible, naiwan, lumuha at nag-isa ay isa na ngayong ganap na piloto.

I can still remember how I looked up above the sky adoring the shade of blue, panahong ipinipikit ko ang aking mga mata para damhin ng hangin na parang inililipad ako.

A pilot that I considered impossible.

Who would expect that I'll marry one?

Isang piloto na siyang tinitingala ng lahat.

Now that I met him, hindi lang eroplano ang naaalala ko sa tuwing napapatanaw ako sa bughaw na kalangitan.

It was his eyes, his beautiful blue eyes just like a priceless jewels that can't be bought by millions or even billions.

The whole courier plane made an immediate transparent scenery were we can clearly see the outside beauty of space.

All I thought were stars, but I can't see any star that shines brighter than his eyes. If I could stare in his skylike eyes forever, I would gladly embrace it until my eyes could no longer see.

I have a shorter wedding aisle compared to other brides from different part of the universe, but the intimidating ambiance between space made me feel that I've been walking for a half an hour still mesmerize by his sapphire globes looking at me with so much love.

I'm calling all the stars in the universe, I want to them to witness that I got the brightest and the sweetest taste of sky.

I got Rylandrien Peter Armstrong, ang kaisa-isang lalaking niyayakap ng mga bituin ang nag-iisang lalaking may asul na mga matang higit sa kislap ng mga bituin.

Inilahad niya ang kanyang kamay sa akin nang sandaling tumigil ako sa paglalakad, we're an inch close.

When he reached me he gently bowed down kissing the back of my hand with his eyes closed.

"Shall we my bride?" ngumiti ako sa kanya at marahang tumango.

Sabay kaming humarap kay Commander Sanders habang nasa gilid namin si Graham Bell na nananatiling nakangiti.

"They forgot this, Commander." May inihagis si Graham Bell kay Commander Sanders.

Pansin ko na may hawak itong bagong badge mula sa UASA, gold badges that signifies our rank and position.

Si Commander Sanders mismo ang naglagay ng aming mga badge habang nanatiling magkahawak ang mga kamay namin ni Pedro.

Ilang hakbang palikod ang ginawa nito nang matapos siya at isang malakas na tikhim ang kanyang ginawa.

"Dearly beloved, we have come together to witness the universal wedding of Commander Armstrong and Lieutenant Monzanto, with this space plane, the planets and yeah one, two humans."

"Cut the intro, Commander Sanders. Tsss," iritadong sabi ni Pedro.

"I won't make this any longer since patience isn't working with every pilot in UASA, just always remember that marriage is only one thing. Love." Tipid kaming ngumiti ni Pedro sa sinabi ni Commander Sanders.

Kapwa na kami humarap ni Pedro sa isa't-isa na hindi man lang inihihiwalay ang aming mga mata.

"So now you Monzanto, do you take this man to be your husband? do you promise to love him and to comfort him, to honor him, and keep him in sickness and in health, in prosperity and adversity, as long as you both shall live?"

"I do, Commander."

"What about you Armstrong? Do you take this woman to be your wife? Do you promise to love her and to comfort her, to honor her, and keep her in sickness and in health, in prosperity and adversity, as long as you both shall live?"

"More than I do, Commander."

Hindi na kumalma ang tibok ng puso ko habang nakatitig sa kanya. Hindi ko alam na ganito pala kasarap sa pakiramdam ng isang babaeng kinakasal.

It isn't about the venue, the people around you, the wedding dress and not even the music but the mere presence of someone you loved.

"Now, just give your wedding vows and put the ring. This is my damn first time Armstrong," kapwa kami ngumisi ni Pedro sa sinabi ni Commander Sanders.

Inilabas na ni Pedro ang aming singsing.

Ako ang unang kumuha ng singsing at inabot ko ang kamay ni Pedro.

"I did not prepare any wedding vows, you always surprised me Peter. But I want you to hear this, because I will not repeat this words." Dahan-dahan ko nang isinusuot sa kanya ang kanyang singsing.

I can't help but my tears are flowing like a river. Hindi ko mapigilan, hindi ko mapigilan.

"With this ring, I promise to shower you with love and I'll make you drown that you can't even survive for my love. I'll be a good wife, a friend and of course a mother. My eyes are always open for you, when you're about to close your eyes, my ears will always here for you if you refuse to hear endless noise and my hands are always here to caress you when you're feeling down. I promise that you won't ever imagine again, because I'll give you the every reality you've wishing for. I love you so much Commander Armstrong, beyond the numbers of the stars from the universe."

Pedro warmly smiled at me while wiping my tears. Kinuha niya ang aking singsing at dahan-dahan niya na rin itong isinusuot sa akin.

"See it? My hands are shaking Behati. I can't still believe that I got the Earth's woman of hope, now, my woman, my wife, officially mine." Muli niyang sinalubong ang aking mga mata.

"With this ring, I promise to love you forever and I want to tell you that I'm already drowned enough that survival can't be possible. I'll promise to make you happy, I'll give you smile, laugher and beautiful memories. But I might give you tears but I'll assure you that my love will always surpass the pain, my love for you will be your cure, you safe haven, your toughest weapon and your comfort. I'll always be loyal to you, you are now my world, my universe. With the heavenly bodies as our witnessed, I am giving you the every rights for me Lieutenant. This Commander is now submitting himself to you. I love you so much baby and now the every bit of me is yours, Behati."

Hindi na nawala ang mabilis na pagtibok ng puso ko. Wedding is really amazing.

"Bride and groom, you have expressed your love to one another through the commitment and promises you have just made. Now, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss—"

Hindi na namin pinatapos ni Pedro ang sasabihin ni Commnader Sanders, kusa nang lumapat ang aming mga labi sa isa't-isa.

We kissed a lot of times, but a kiss from a husband is something new and sweet.

"So?" he asked arching one of his eyebrow.

"How many hours left before the freaking asteroid bother us?"

"We still have 18 hours left," he whispered.

"Come on, this courier plane has a room. Just go there, we don't tolerate lovey dovey in navigation room." Commander Sanders waved his hand.

Ibinigay ko ang bouquet kay Graham Bell.

"Find a woman after this mission, Graham Bell."

"I will,"

"Stop the talking, let's go." Hindi na ako nagulat nang buhatin ako ni Pedro.

Nang sandaling makalabas kami ng navigation room, kapwa kami napamura pero agad rin kaming tumawa sa isa't-isa nang lumutang ang aming katawan.

Gaya ng unang beses na pagkikita namin sa loob ng UASA.

Pedro positioned himself on top of me, he held my face until our lips touch each other again.

"Baby in the outer space, Mrs. Armstrong?" I rolled my eyes.

"Yes, our first baby in outer space."

Muling naglapat ang aming mga labi at hinayaan naming pansamantalang lumutang ang aming mga katawan.

Let the universe witness the undying love of the woman of hope.

--

VentreCanard