Artificial Horizon - A César Fernando Basa x Reader story

XXXVII - Point of No Return

A place on route where the aircraft does not have enough fuel to return to the starting place.

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After ensuring that my tears are all gone, with César trying to lighten up the mood by chuckling and teasing me about being much like a crybaby, we gather around the dinner table just like the first time that I've met his parents in this dreamscape. This time, however, all the foods that are laid down on the table are those of his favorite ones. And also, compared to the semi-serious and semi-playful mood from last time, it is all seriousness and heaviness right now.

Of course, the discussion of what César had gathered while on the field for almost twelve hours had been the imminent topic. It is some sort of intelligence that he shares with us; after all, according to him, it is bound to be revealed sooner or later. And for him, no matter how confidential the issue may be, it only gives him much more inclination to share it for all of us to be prepared as it is crucial for everyone's survival still.

"Twenty-one ships were damaged, according to the intelligence from the United States delivered to the Philippines; among that number were four battleships that were sunk, another four damaged, three light cruisers and three destroyers. Even planes were destroyed by the bombing of airfields nearby, too. Wala pa po silang exact numbers regarding sa mga casualties but it keeps piling up since it is Sunday morning sa Hawaii at the time of the attack," César explains. "America had been honest that they are caught off guard. According to American officials sa Zablan, they are preparing for a possible attack. 'Di lang po nila inaasahan na Pearl Harbor ang magiging first target ng mga Hapon. With a crippled naval force, hindi na po kami umaasa na makakatulong kaagad ang Amerika sa mga nangyayari na rin dito sa bansa."

Neither I nor his mother had the strength to ask the dreaded questions. Though I know that it is no hidden fact that we're aware how deep in the waters the entire country is right now, it seems like there is still a need to hear it from him for us to believe that this is all not just some long nightmare.

Only his father has the courage, that the father and son are the ones conversing about the latest news that even the radio stations can't share so easily. Whether the reason is to minimize an already chaotic country or not to look at America as a weakling actually has no impact to anything; what is going on behind the scenes is definitely what is much more important right now but is currently suppressed.

"How about dito sa Pilipinas?" his father inquires cautiously. "America had already announced war against Japan, kaya hindi na maipagkakaila na ganoon din ang Pilipinas. So... are there any attacks now?"

César stops eating for a moment and hesitantly answers, "Simultaneously, with the attack on Pearl Harbor, Northern Luzon was bombed by Japanese planes. It continues on. Kahit hanggang makaalis po ako kanina ng Zablan, reports keep on arriving of heavy bombardment. Especially po sa Iba at sa Clark. Lalos na halos lahat ng mga eroplano na nandoon. Kung mayroon mang matira na pwede pang gamitin, hindi rin po magagamit dahil binomba rin ang mga runways. Those bases are under the control of the Americans; that means, the planes there are much more advanced. But every moment po na binobomba ang mga airfields, the more and more na nawawalan ng possible aerial superiority tayo at ang mga Amerikano para makalaban." He takes a shaky breath before adding as he frustratedly runs his hand through his hair. "Wala pong magawa ang kahit sino, habang halatang-halata na plinaplano po ng mga Hapon ang pagsakop sa Pilipinas."

Some sort of sadness crosses his expression; definitely not just because of how losing seems to be within sight than winning at such a moment, but because of the casualties that are growing in number by the minute and for planes to be lost while on ground than fighting in flight. For some reasons, I finally now understand that thinking that César has; regarding the possibility of him dying because of a plane crash. I think, for any airmen, it is painful to see perfectly and well-maintained flyable planes just be bombed and to burst into flames than to show how superior it could be in combat. It's like losing a buried gold in a shallow grave that when it rains, leads it to be washed away somewhere else.