Splendiferous (Legazpi #1)

Forty-five

45.

"Good evening, this is Captain Dela Gente again, I would like to inform you all that we have already started our descent procedure into Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport. We expect to land at 19:35 as scheduled. It's currently 19:24 here in Madrid, while in Atlanta, where we started our flight, is 13:24. There's a bit overcast right now and the temperature is 21°C," I announced.

After landing the plane smoothly, I made an announcement again. "We wish you a pleasant stay in Madrid, Spain and we hope to see the satisfaction on your faces. On behalf of our crew, thank you for choosing Delta Air as your companion."

"Cap," Candice called me and beside her was my cute seven year-old boy. "Here's your boy. Nakakastress pakisamahan iyan."

"Mommy, what did Ninang Candice said last?" naguguluhang tanong niya pero bago pa ako makasagot ay inunahan na ako ni Candice.

"I said, you are a one cute little boy," Candice told him. "You're cute when you were small, but you're cuter as you grow."

"I'm not cute! I'm not a dog!" bulyaw nito at tumingin sa akin. "Mommy, make her go away!"

"Alam mo, buti hindi mo tinuruan mag-Tagalog iyan dahil sa Atlanta lang rin naman kayo nanatili. Jusko, baka mas masakit pa iyan magsalita kapag natuto ng Filipino language," bulong ni Candice sa akin.

"Xavier..." I called out to my son. "Xav, don't be mean to your ninang Candice. Say 'sorry.'"

"Huh?!" maktol niya. "I don't want. She called me a dog!" He ran away and he accidentally bumped to Airus, my co-pilot from the flight earlier and also, Candice's husband. "Ninong!"

"Hey Xav," Airus let out a chuckle and lifted him up. "Goodness, you're too heavy for a seven year-old."

"Ninang Candice called me a dog!" sumbong ni Xavier.

"I said 'cute!' What the hell?" Candice defended herself and looked at me. "Ibalik mo na nga iyan sa panahon na babago ko lang siya nakita noong five years old siya, mabait-bait pa. Habang lumalaki iyan, sumusungit. Kanina sa gitna ng flight, kung alam mo lang, humingi siya sa akin ng hot chocolate tapos itinapon niya lang sa damit ko." Itinuro niya ang uniporme niya ng flight attendant na may mantsa.

"Jeez, I'm sorry, Candice," I apologetically smiled. "Alam mo naman ang dahilan bakit ganiyang sumusungit si Xavier lately."

"Yeah. He's gone mad when you said 'yes' to Elijah four months ago."

She looked down at my hand before holding the one with the ring. "Have you told your brothers, father, and friends about this?"

"After naman ng stay natin dito sa Madrid ay hindi niyo na ako kasama ni Airus pabalik ng Atlanta. My next flight will be going to the Philippines, doon ko na sasabihin kila Arlszent," paliwanag ko.

"I could already sense that they'll be shocked. E, agaran ang kasal niyo ni Elijah doon. Panigurado sermon ka na naman kay Zent," natatawang sambit ni Candice. "Bakit ba kasi magdadalawang kasal pa kayo ni Eli? Isa doon at isa sa Atlanta. Why not, sa Atlanta na lang, grand wedding! You have the money naman, kaya mo nang sagutin ang sinumang gusto mong umattend na taga-Pilipinas."

"Kahit sagutin ko pa ang flight nila, may mga hindi rin makakapunta. Most of them engages in the business world, sobrang busy kaya isahang araw lang kung makapag leave," I said. "Ayos na rin iyon, para naman makapagstay ako sa huling pagkakataon sa Pinas bago ako permanente nang manatili sa Atlanta."