On His Roster (Aviación #1) Completed

9

Dinner

"Everyone!" Nathan suddenly beamed with excitement when all of us are already inside the lobby of the hotel. 

Natigil ang ibang kasamahan dahil sa pagtawag ni Nathan. 

"Capt. Legrand invited everyone for a dinner later at seven! Make sure that we're all gathered here in the same spot, okay?"

I scowl at Nathan, still confused about what he just announced. Akala ko ba may pupuntahan kami nila Nathan mamaya bakita biglang nagbago ang plano?

"Thanks, Capt!" All of the crews excitedly cheer for Hervé and they're all excited for later. Yung ibang lalakeng kasamahan naman ay nagpaalam nang umakyat sa kanilang assigned hotel room.

Nathan winked at me then talked to Hervé before leaving us in the lobby.

"See you later, Av!" singit ni Nathan bago tuluyan nnag umalis.

"We're on the same floor!" Dinara checked our room keys. 

"Just three doors away from each other." I added.

Naka abang si Hervé sa gilid ko kaya napatingin tuloy si Dinara sa kaniya while she hugged me tight.

"Ohh...i guess the climax you're waiting is happening tonight?" panunukso niyang bulong at nagawa niya pang tumawa.

"Dinara..." i gasped when i realized what she just tried to imply. Dinara smiled innocently at Hervé.

"Thank you for the invite, Capt! And see you later, Av." patuloy niya. "I'll leave you two." pinisil niya ang kamay ko at may pinapahiwatig na di ko maintindihan.

"Dont forget to call, okay?" I reminded her. 

"Yeah yeah!" she answered dismissively and waved a goodbye. 

Nauna nang sumakay si Dinara sa elevator. Inabot naman ni Hervé ang dalawang itim na luggage at nagsimula na kaming maglakad. Bitbit ko lang ang aking red na bag samantalang siya naman ay hila hila ang aming mga luggage. 

"You have something to do why Nathan suddenly invited everyone for dinner,"

"Usually us, cabin crews have different plans for lay overs while flight crews have their own groups," I continued.

He's always been aggressive when it comes to his approach. Always direct and straightforward about what he wants and what he demands. So, there's really no reason to be confused as to why he's here beside me or why he's being chatty every time he got a chance.

I think it's a good sign that he didn't make me feel confused at all or conflicted about what we're both starting now.

I guess that what made him stand out, he's different for me, he's got that different perspective on things. He's always been sure about what he does and what he wants to accomplish.

Na ibang iba sa mga nararansan ko dati sa ibang lalake. In my past i always have to question their intentions whether i'll take them seriously or what i will have to act on their actions.

Kaya siguro hindi rin ako sigurado sa mga relasyon na iyon kasi di ko rin naman alam kung saan ako dapat na lumugar sa buhay nila at sa relasyon na binibigay nila sa akin.

Now i know why i can visibly see where this is going. I know where i'm going to position myself in this relationship because he's mindfully guiding me and our not so colleague relationship.

I don't need to assume and just see things as they are because he is the one leading us on the path that he wants for us to progress and all i have to do is decide about what i really want and if it aligned with what he's planning.

It's like innate for him to lead and is really good doing it, that made me trust him more. Maybe because of his experiences in the past and his maturity to weigh things before making decisions.

May ilang lakad naman na nanglilibre ang isang captain and mostly sa kanila ay yung mga mababait sa team niya.

May iba rin na naglilibre kasi nagpapabango sa nagustuhang crew. Di ko na kailangan isipin kung anong klaseng generosity meron si Hervé.

"They will be suspicious if i will take a new hire out alone for a dinner and just like what you have said your friends already planned this for days. So, i got to make a solution. Hitting two birds in one stone. I get to have a dinner date with you without them questioning us."

"What they said is really true then,"

"Said what?" he raised his brows.

"Flight crew will treat the new hire that they have set eyes on." i know that i am right. Normal person will immediately go to his room to rest after a long flight and not stalk behind someone. 

He smiled smugly still paying attention to me.

"Le cose che un uomo fa per ottenere il tempo e l'attenzione di qualcuno. But dont feel pressured or indebted."

Another alien words i will never understand. Things i discovered about him lately is that he loved making me look dumb.

"Spending money is really not a problem for you, huh?"

"I worked hard for it so i can spend it however i want." he's so cool about it like he's aiming to be the best sugar daddy in the future.

I frowned at him. 

"You really don't have to do this." I know how hard flying is and what we have to sacrifice to be able to work and operate safely and that's the reason why seeing him make a decision to spend like this doesn't sit well with me.

His original plan was to only have a dinner with me and now he has to pay for everyone and spend what? thousands?

Siguro maliit lang na halaga iyon sa kaniya pero pinaghirapan at pinagtrabahuan niya iyon kaya medyo nakakahiyang isipin na gagastos siya para lang doon. At isa pa madami namang araw sa susunod pwede naman kaming lumabas kung gusto niya.

"If you're really concerned about it then don't worry I'll accept other forms of payment." he winked and grinned cockily.

My mouth dropped as i was taken aback by his suggestion. At ano naman ibabayad ko laman at kaluluwa?

"Just kidding." agad niyang bawi nang makita ang reaction ko. May halong kapilyohan pa rin ang kaniyang expression pero mas pinili kong isipin na walang malisya iyon.

He's holding my keycard that's why he knows what floor and hotel room number i was assigned for tonight. Una siyang bumaba ng elevator hawak pa rin ang dalawa naming luggage. I followed him and just walk beside him, hinayaan siya ang maghanap ng kwarto ko.

It's nice that i can just walk mindlessly and still be safe since he's with me. I don't have to worry about anything else anymore unlike without him i really have to be always prepared anytime and be alert, cautious to my surroundings.

"Since you're eager to keep me your secret i just have to do this to avoid making our colleagues have any suspicions about us." paliwanag niya.

Natawa ako hindi dahil hindi ako naniniwala pero parang hindi naman effective. 

"And yet you confidently keep on following me behind?" everyone kinda have an inkling about him and i because of what he did earlier. He stayed beside me instead of going with the other flight crews.

"Well, i'll try to not make everyone feel uncomfortable because of us. I will try to maybe refrain from doing anything that might cause a problem at work in the future but i am never going to be fake about my intentions for you. I will still do what i want while keeping everyone out of what we have,"

"I can't even imagine how you'll do that. You'll just do what you want and still be cautious about it...your actions i mean. Isn't it a bit confusing? You trying to be neutral about it." Ngumuso ako at inisip ang kaniyang sinabi.

"All because you want me to be your secret so bad," he said with his voice croaky.