S I M U L A

　　Area Of Weather

　　This is not what I’ve imagined before after I graduated in college. All I thought is to get busy in preparing for my wedding, not in preparing myself for my flight. Well, this is my way of escaping reality. To escape is to be free for the meantime.

　　“Are you sure you were the one to maneuver the plane, Captain? You know I can make favors for you. And you have a fever. You're sick.” I rolled my eyes to Alec, ang magiging co-pilot ko ngayon dahil sa paulit-ulit na pangungulit nito sa akin.

　　Nakasunod ito sa akin habang naglalakad kami palapit sa eroplanong paliliparin ko ngayon. Ang A330 na ba-byahe patungong New Jersey. Mag-aanim na buwan ko na ito mula nang ma-assign ako sa Queen's International Airline.

　　“No need Flight Captain Lazer, I can do it more than what you can imagine. This is just a fever, malayo sa bituka to,” pagmamayabang ko rito kaya bahagyang natawa si Alec sa akin.

　　Sumabay ito sa paglalakad ko habang pahirapang ina-ayos ang pagbubutones ng uniporme. I shaked my head at tumigil nang nasa paanan na kami ng hagdan pa-akyat sa eroplano. Hinarap ko ito at ako na mismo ang nag-ayos sa butones nito sa kaliwang braso dahil halata rito na nahihirapan.

　　“Thanks, Captain,” nakangiting saad ni Alec sa akin kaya inilingan ko nalang ulit.

　　Nakapaskil sa labi ni Alec ang matamis na ngiti dahil sa ginawa ko. I rolled my eyes again and gave him a half shrug bago naunang umakyat sa eroplano.

　　“Move faster, Captain Lazer, don’t be such a baby,” naka-taas ang kaliwang kilay na utos ko dahilan para sa bahagyang pagsimangot nito.

　　“Aye aye, Captain.” Alec is grinning from ear to ear bago sumunod sa akin sa pag-akyat.

　　“This is your Pilot Captain Maisha Arachne Granada speaking, flight A330 bound to New Jersey Departure Area. At this time, I ask you to please put away all your electronic devices. We’re ready to takeoff,” I announced before I proceed to my takeoff procedure.

　　I winked and smirked at my co-pilot as he shakes his head after I announced. I raised my left brow to him, nagtataka sa inasta nito.

　　“I told you, I can do the announcement, Captain,” reklamo ni Alec sa akin pero hindi ko na ito pinansin pa.

　　Seryoso lang ako sa pagpapalipad ng eroplano nang sa di malaman na dahilan ay bigla akong nakaramdam nang kaba. This is not my first time in operating a plane, of course, magiging piloto ba naman ako kung ito pa lang ang unang pagkakataon. But this is my first time since I was assigned here that the plane’s radar is giving me a signal of the thunderstorms onwards. The sensors keeps on blinking as I prepare myself for turning southbound.

　　Why is the tower controllers did not warn us that there will be a thunderstorms in New Jersey?

　　“Area of weather,” nakakunot ang nuo ni Alec na bumaling sa akin. Tumango ako habang tinitingnan nito ang sensor na nagb-blink. I looked at him again before I speak.

　　“This is Pilot Captain Maisha Arachne Granada speaking. Due to an area of weather over New Jersey, we will be turning southbound toward Philadelphia’s Departure Area,” pag-iimporma ko sa mga tao sa control tower.

　　‘This is Officer Amya Meyer. I see you on my radar, Captain, I’ll keep an eye on you.’ Si Officer Meyer ang sumagot sa akin, ang head personnel sa mga naka-assign sa tower control.

　　I maneuvered the plane towards Philadelphia for the immediate landing. But before the plane could turn to southbound, the plane shakes as we heard a loud sound.

　　Nawalan na ako nang control dahil sa biglaang pagkapatay ng kuryente sa buong eroplano. I hear the panicky of the passengers and stewardess. My hand is shaking as I tried hard to manage the plane.

　　“Relax baby, I’m here,” rinig kong saad ni Alec malapit sa aking tenga pero hindi ko ito pinansin. Hinawakan rin nito ang kamay kong nakahawak sa monitors.

　　“I’ll manage the plane, take the right cockpit baby, I’ll do this.”

　　Napapikit nalang ako dahil sa tawag ni Alec sa akin. Kung hindi lang talaga emergency, hindi ko palalampasin ang pag tawag nito sa akin ng baby! Tsk!

　　Agad akong tumayo para lumipat sa right cockpit nang may narinig na naman kaming sumabog na nagpayanig na naman sa eroplanong pinapalipad namin. I remained calm, but my beating heart and aching head didn't help the situation.

　　“This is Flight Captain Alec Castriel Lazer, calling for the final and immediate boarding call.”

　　Seryoso na saad ni Alec habang nakatutok ang mata nito sa sensors. Hawak-hawak ko ang ulo ko dahil sa pagkakabagok sa upuan. Nahihilo ako pero pilit kong ina-ayos ang sarili.

　　This is not the right time for my f*cking aching head! Demm*t!

　　“Officer Meyer, connect me to Philadelphia Airport Center. ASAP!” Narinig kong utos ulit ni Alec sa mga nasa control tower.

　　‘Relax Captain Lazer, Captain Granada must be the one that operating the plane. Where the hell is she, huh?’

　　Halata sa boses ni Officer Meyer ang panunuya nito sa akin kaya napa-ikot nalang ang mga mata ko. If I wasn’t in this emergency situation now, siguradong binabara ko na ’yan ngayon! Tsk!

　　‘Just climb and maintain one two thousand for a minute, Captain.’

　　“Cleared direct to Ft. Wayne. Contact Philadelphia Center, one two four decimal six two. I’m going to have an immediate boarding! Move faster Officer Meyer! We’re running out of time! Demm*t!”

　　That was the last words I've heard from Alec before my head was banged again in the flight deck dahil sa isa na namang malakas na pagsabog. I saw Alec’s worried eyes look at me before my vision turns blur as I pass out.