Runways

Epilogue

Airports have a habit of being the happiest and saddest place to be in. It's a place where people leave, of love and family left behind beyond the departure halls, all of them waiting for their family and friends to come back. But despite these departures, the airport is also a place of excitement and longing, of open arms welcoming back family that they have missed for so long. Dani knows this–as a flight attendant, she shares with her passengers the fleeting feeling of departing and coming back.

She stared out of the glass windows, smiling as she watched the planes land on the runway, the feeling familiarly coursing through her veins. Dani held her baby in her arms, pointing the airplanes out to him. She snorted, not like he'd understand–he was only 6 months old.

"Baby, look," she pointed at an Icon Airlines aircraft, gliding through the runway. "Looks like Daddy's home! That's his plane."

The baby gurgled happily.

"Dani!" Kuya Lance called out, waving his hands to capture her attention. She smiled brightly, briskly making her way towards one of her very good friends. "Dani! Kasama mo si Captain Junior! Pakarga naman!"

Dani laughed, shaking her head at him. "Sama ka muna kay Tito Lance, baby," she cooed at the little boy, handing him over to Kuya Lance. "Susunduin namin daddy nya eh."

"Sakto lang dating nyo, kaka-land lang nila," Kuya Lance said, looking up at the arrivals board in front of him. He smiled at the baby in his arms, rocking him gently. "Junior na junior talaga ni James ang batang 'to. Pati dimples, nakuha o!"

"Wag mo na ipagkadiinan kuya," she grumbles playfully, making a face at him. "Wala na nga akong nakuha eh, kahit man lang tenga."

Kuya Lance laughed, shaking his head merrily. The airport PA system blared its announcements and he sighed, handing over the baby back to Dani's arms.

"Andito na si daddy mo," he tells the boy and Little James smiles gummily up at him. Kuya Lance nods at Dani, pointing at the arrival gate. "Mago-open na kami ng gates Dani. Upo muna kayo, sigurado ako magmamadali naman bumaba si James."

Dani nodded, settling themselves on one of the chairs located at the arrivals hall. The gates opened and she watched the steady stream of passengers course through the gate, all of them happily chatting and rushing to get home. She knew the feeling–being back on land and with family was so exhilarating–like a headrush, much like what all of their passengers feel when the plane lowers its landing gear, tires bouncing against the slick runway.

Her eyes flick towards a group of men and women, all clad in suit jackets and dragging wheeled suitcases behind them. One of them walked faster than everyone else and Dani laughed, shaking her head. James pulled on his suitcase, desperate to get to the gates quickly, ignoring the chortles his colleagues were giving him.

"Dani," James calls out, wrapping an arm around them. Their little boy gurgled happily as James takes him from Dani's arms. "Hi, little man! Miss mo si daddy?"

"Ano pa ba?" Dani said, wiping the drool off of their baby's chin. She stood up on her tiptoes, pressing a kiss on James' lips. "Pa-kiss nga. Tagal mong nawala, Captain."

"Na-miss din kita," James says, grinning back at her.

"Cheesy nyo oy," Gerri interrupts as she passed them, playfully squeezing her nephew's chubby thighs as she continued dragging her luggage. "Wag kayong gagawa ng kapatid dito sa airport."

"Si Gerri, parang kabute bigla na lang sumusulpot, no?"

Dani snorted, taking the baby away from his arms. "Pero benta naman siya sa yo, lalo na mga jokes nya."

James rolled his eyes at his wife when he heard someone clear their throat behind them. He whirled around, his eyes widening in surprise when he realized who it was.

"Tito Theo!" James exclaimed, hugging the elderly man behind him. Theo wrapped his arms tightly around James, hugging him for what it was worth. He pulled away and wrapped his arms around Dani, mindful of the baby in her arms.

"James, Dani," Theo nodded, smiling down at the small family in front of him. He could feel his heart constrict a bit at the thought of a what-could-have-been, but he brushed it away before it could fully consume his mind. James stepped forward, wrapping an arm around his shoulder. "K-kamusta kayo?"

"We're great, Tito," James murmured, turning to look at his wife and son. "Kayo po? Kamusta kayo? San kayo galing?"

"Umuwi ako ng Davao–actually, andun ako sa flight mo, Captain."

"Tito naman, sana sinabi niyo!" James shook his head at him. "Sana naman nabigyan ko kayo ng preferred–"

"Hindi na kelangan, James," he smiled at the man he treated like his own son, patting him on the shoulder. "It was a great flight, comfortable naman ako the entire time."

"Ay tito," Dani started, looking up at him. She lifted the baby up to introduce to him. "Um, anak po namin ni James..."

"Ito na ba ang apo ko? Nako, ang laki laki mo na pala," Theo asked, picking the boy up from Dani's arms. He held the little boy at arms' length, chortling in delight when he finally figured out what the baby was wearing. It was a onesie, printed with the design of a pilot's uniform. "Pinipilit ka na ba ni Mommy at Daddy mo na mag-piloto? Magsusuot ka din ba ng wings tulad ni Daddy mo?"

"Sana, kung gusto nya," Dani murmured softly. Theo cuddled the baby close to his chest, breathing in his baby scent.

"Anong pangalan?" He asked, looking up at the both of them. James smiled.

"Joaquin po."

Theo nodded, pressing a kiss on the top of the baby's head. "Joaquin," he whispers, letting the name fall from his lips. "Letter J din, parang ikaw, James. Bagay na bagay sa apo ko."

"Tito–" Dani holds on to his arm, smiling tenderly at them. "Yung full name po ni Joaquin..."

"O, ano nga pala full name?"

"Joaquin Matteo po," she whispered softly, watching the play of emotions on Theo's face. "Joaquin Matteo T. Esteban."

Theo smiled, kissing the little boy again. Joaquin Matteo. "Perfect."

THE END

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A/N: HUHUHU guyth, tapos na siya. Thank you to all those who read this story, I hope you enjoyed the short arc I made for Captain James Esteban and Daniella Tayao. Ang sakit ng love story nila, pero may kasiyahan pa din naman sa end. Hihihi.

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