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Does love conquer all, or does it submit to reason?
According to studies, plane crashes are extremely low—a meager 1 per 3.7 billion flights, the number of which include local and international flights.
Unfortunately, out of the thousands of flights that day, theirs crash.
Nobody informed anybody that the co-pilot had been exhibiting psychotic depressive episodes for several months before this particular flight. He has a history of it a few years back but has been able to secure a medical certificate stating his fitness to work, provided that he continues his medication. Several months before this flight, however, he has been consulting the airline’s medical team and psychiatrist because he feels his decreasing mental fitness to perform his duty as co-pilot. But because the number of pilots in their airlines has been dwindling due to piracy and migration to other countries, his mental fitness has not been taken into careful consideration. Their pilots have been forcibly scheduled to take several long flights without ample rest. The physical and mental stress negatively contributed to the co-pilot’s already faltering mental health. He misses his family terribly. The lack of sleep, lack of communication from his support group, and overall treatment of the airlines to their personnel have slowly taken a toll on the co-pilot.
The pilot-in-command has been oblivious to the state of being of his co-pilot until today. He notices how his usually calm, soft-spoken, and well-mannered co-pilot fidgets and speaks loudly—too loud to be normal. He thinks that the co-pilot may have taken in a few more cups of caffeine and power drink because of their hectic schedule and dismisses the odd behavior. But being the experienced pilot as he is, he keeps an eye on his co-pilot silently.
While the co-pilot’s medical history is known to all, as all need to be aware of each other’s medical background, none of them are truly aware of the gradual relapse of his psychotic depressive behavior—until it’s too late.
* * * * * *
It is probably their 20th trip to Europe, but she still feels so excited. She holds onto her husband’s arm tight and smiles brightly. They board on business class, and stewards assist them with their carry-on bags.
As they take their seats, she tells her husband of 30 years to take the window seat. He smiles at her as he pats on her arm. They snuggle until they hear the crew advise them to put on their seatbelts and prepare for take-off.
As they fly several thousand meters of altitude in the sky, stewards allow the business class passengers to go to the bar and have some snacks. They, however, choose to remain seated as they softly talk to each other.
“I have a surprise for you when we get to Helsinki,” he says, his wrinkled eyes sparkling with delight.
She giggles softly and says, almost above a whisper, “And I have a surprise for you when we get to Oslo.”
He kisses the back of her hand. Of course, he felt very happy he married her. He never would have thought that they would remain married for this long. All of his other wives left him after being married to him for two years. She has been his third wife, and his last wife, for that matter.
He remembers how they met like it was yesterday. Time indeed flies fast when one is having fun. Fifteen years his junior, he has been married twice with four children, two from each marriage.
His first wife left him for another man because she said that he never had time for his family. In his defense, he was just 24 years old when he married. His first wife was his high school sweetheart, and he thought that his first love would be his last love. They have two kids, who had been forcibly taken away from him by his first wife when they divorced, saying that he wouldn’t be able to “emotionally” fend for the children. His first divorce broke his heart twice—first, by his first love, and second (which was more painful), by the fact that he couldn’t see his children because he was “emotionally unavailable.”
He completed his university degree in Unified Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. As a fresh graduate lacking industry experience, he needed to start at the bottom of his company, which chose to take a chance on him by hiring a fresh graduate like him. He earned a decent amount of money but needed to extend his working hours to gain more experience in his field. He didn’t deny that he seldom spent time with his family, but all for good reasons. His first love, his high school sweetheart, whom he thought understood and supported his dream, later on during their marriage, decided that time was more important than money. What was worse was that his first wife’s growing resentment towards him was fed toward their children, who later on decided to resent their father as well. Because he was “emotionally unavailable” to them, they became emotionally unavailable to him, too.
He lost his kids to a messy divorce. He financially supported the kids and sent them birthday greetings every year henceforth, but he was never invited during his kids’ graduations and, eventually, their marriage. They became estranged for the longest time, but he exerted every possible effort to reach out to his kids. For his kids, it was his guilt that drove him to run after them, and they just easily chose to ignore him and feed on their resentment. But for him, it was merely a father’s love.
When he was 33, more than six years after his first divorce, he decided to marry again his girlfriend of several months. It was a whirlwind romance. He thought he learned from his first marriage. They were together for 10 years before they got married, then divorced shortly after. This time, he thought that dating didn’t matter, so he jumped on his second marriage without much thought.
He chose not to tell his second wife about what happened with his first marriage because he thought it didn’t matter. He thought that he must be emotionally available to his family this time so they wouldn’t leave him like the first did.
And so he was there for them every second they needed him. He went home at 6:00 PM on the dot and not a minute late. He turned down company parties and get-togethers to be with his family instead. He left work early to be with his children’s plays, soccer games, and other school activities. His second wife, on the other hand, nagged him about how all of his peers got promoted in two years while he remained in his position. She said the children needed more, and he needed to earn more money to pay bills and send them to good schools. Although he argued that what he was earning was more than enough for them to have little savings, his second wife wanted an upgrade on their status of living. She said that her friends—who were mostly the wives of his colleagues—had branded bags and drove luxurious cars, while she only drove a Hyundai; she wanted an Audi or a Tesla. He sighed and said he was the one earning money, but he drove a Toyota.
His second wife took none of that and gave him an ultimatum that if he didn’t get a promotion in the next six months, she would leave him and the kids.
He didn’t (get a promotion), and she did (leave him and the kids).
He was now a single dad at 36 years old with two kids aged three and one.
He was at his lowest point because he couldn’t afford to get a nanny while maintaining the mortgage of the house. He thought about losing the house to get a nanny, but then his kids’ lives were there in the house. It was near their school, and their neighbors were their friends.
He was trying his best to make ends meet to support his kids financially and emotionally, maintain the house mortgage, and hire a nanny. It wasn’t easy.
He was at his lowest point for about two years when he met her. His kids met her first. They were in their preschool when it was “Take Your Kids to Work Day.” She was an intern in their company, whom he hadn’t noticed before, but she noticed him immediately. “I like his vibe,” she told her friends. She was aware he was divorced and a single dad. She was waiting for the right time to introduce herself to him without scaring him away.
She worked in another department, under Programming Languages and Software Engineering. She wasn’t exactly brilliant, but she wasn’t dumb. She was a total bombshell, though. Her curves were the envy of her peers, and that elicited lustful stares from both boys and men. That probably attracted her to him. He seemed to be a total gentleman, and she never caught him staring maliciously at her or any of their female colleagues. He would greet everyone politely, regardless of their gender and position. He spoke softly and never cussed despite being in a high-pressure environment.
It was “Take Your Kids to Work Day”. Her natural blonde hair and blue eyes must have caught the attention of his then three-year-old daughter because she told him that there was “Barbie in the other office.” His daughter forced him and her older brother to look for Barbie. She was even more amazed when they found Barbie wearing black-rimmed glasses sitting in front of a computer. When his little girl saw Barbie, she fondly exclaimed, “Barbie,” while running towards her. Barbie glanced up from her computer and beamed at the little girl. He wondered if Barbie got this attention from little girls a lot. “Barbie” was glad she can finally have some of attention from him.
Soon, he and Barbie became more acquainted with each other. He learned that Barbie’s real name is Barbara McGill. Barb supported herself for college through student loans and odd jobs in cafes and playing mermaid and a live doll at children’s parties. She was very pretty, young, and determined. Divorced twice in his dad’s body, he could only sigh every time he saw her. She was almost half his age, hot, and determined to follow her dreams. He knew that boys, her contemporaries, were head over heels for her, and if she were to make money for her looks (outside children’s parties, that is), she could definitely earn more money and pay off her student loan in a night. But Barb didn’t care to do any of that. She wasn’t the type who would dwell in parties. She spent most of her time doing odd jobs and doing her homework. She had always wanted to be in computer programming, and nothing stood in her way to achieve her dreams. She couldn’t rely on anybody else but herself, but there were some things that she wasn’t willing to give up just so she could finish college. She hadn’t been in a romantic relationship before because she found people her age immature and irresponsible. She thought that boys her age wouldn’t understand her and would only demand her time. But having seen him, Barb knew that they were meant to be. She was willing to wait until he was ready for her.
They found out that Barb lived a few blocks away from them. Every weekend, she volunteered to babysit his kids while he spent time at work. She, on the other hand, just wanted to use his (high-end) desktop and WiFi while she did her homework and watched over the kids. She didn’t ask for money but “free use of facilities.” He insisted on paying her and still allowed her to use his things. Sometimes, she would accept it; sometimes she wouldn’t. But when she did, he would find them (Barb and his kids) in the kitchen, cooking or baking kids-friendly dishes. “That’s what I learned to do with kids during parties,” she would say. He would love to run his fingers through her wavy, blonde hair. A million things were running in his dirty mind on how he could fog up those black-rimmed glasses sitting on her nose.
But of course, he wouldn’t do it—he couldn’t. She was a decent girl, hardworking and diligent, and he would not, in any way, exploit her economic condition. His colleagues had consistently told him how Barb had her hots for him, but he easily dismissed it. His colleagues, though, also warned him that the likes of Barb would only take his money and burn his pocket. Apparently, according to them, Barb had a reputation for dealing with men if she really needed some cash.
Barb was aware of that reputation. It was both a blessing and a curse because boys and men approached her with caution. She thought it was a curse because she thought that he wouldn’t want to do anything with her. If there was some way she could tell him that the rumors about her were just that—rumors. Then maybe, just maybe—he would want her.
After several months, his kids grew very close to Barb. He, initially over-protective over his kids, suddenly found himself allowing them to go to the park without any doubt that Barb would kidnap his kids. Or worse, sell them to her patrons. At the back of his mind, he knew the things his colleagues told him about Barb, but at the same time, he really felt that Barb wasn’t like that at all.
They kept things formal at the workplace, though, to prevent any memo from HR addressed to them for inappropriate behavior. (He, who had been alone and loveless for years, could only sigh when he saw her spending time with his kids. It was like an aphrodisiac how gentle she had been in handling his kids. She would smile at him gently, then winked at him. It was cute and hot at the same time.) A lot of their colleagues gossiped around them, and some even gave him a warning that the likes of Barb would only rob him of his hard-earned wealth.
After Barb’s internship, they continued to communicate with each other unbeknown to their colleagues.
Ever since Barb became friends with his kids, he suddenly felt more relaxed. He hired nannies on weekdays and Barb would come to their house every weekend to look after the kids. He was even able to join the weekend seminars and out-of-town conferences, with Barb regularly updating him about the kids. His kids seemed happy and at peace with Barb, too.
He got promoted a little less than two years, and he saved enough to buy off his mortgage. Barb was almost graduating and juggling several odd jobs. But she still babysat his kids during weekends while using his desktop and WiFi for free.
He came home late one Saturday, not expecting Barb to be there at his house. She was so heavily concentrating on the desktop screen that she didn’t notice him enter the front door.
“Oh, I thought you left when the kids fell asleep. Sorry to keep you here.”
“It’s not a bother. I’m finishing my project due on Monday, and I didn’t realize the time. But I checked out on the kids a few minutes ago. I also turned on the baby monitor so I can hear them when they awake,” she smiled at him. “Even if they’re not babies anymore, I still feel the need to know how they are sleeping.”
He couldn’t help but smile back. He walked to his bedroom to drop off his briefcase and went back to his desk where Barb was. “How much more time do you need?”
“Just a few more moments. Why? Do you want me to go?”
“Not really. I just think that it may not be safe for you to walk alone this time of the night.”
“It’s only 9 o’clock, grandpa. Do you know how many 24-hour convenience stores are lined up in this block?”
“Oh,” he replies, ashamed. “I thought that young ladies are often preyed on.”
“You’ve got it twisted. Young ladies prey on vulnerable, rich, single dads like you,” she winked maliciously. He gulped.
“I don’t know what you meant by that.”
“Of course you do,” she beamed at him maliciously. She can only flirt on this level with him. Maybe because she knew that he wouldn’t budge. “Or maybe you want me to spend the night here? I’m all for it, too.”
He sighed heavily and walked back to his room. “Lock the door on your way out,” he said. He felt his face heat up. He can only control himself up to a certain level. He needed Barb to leave immediately, or...he didn’t want to think about it.
Several more months passed; the kids were growing up and started looking at Barb more than their older sister. Barb was with them during school activities and made sure that they were having a nice day, even on days when she wasn’t babysitting them. Barb and the kids called each other regularly, and the kids even asked Barb to help them with their homework. In between her university and odd jobs, she always found herself with a little extra time for the kids.
On the day of her graduation, Barb asked him and his kids to attend the ceremony with her. The kids were very happy while he was curious. He asked Barb about her family. He found out that Barb was from an abusive background, with her stepmom hurting her when her dad passed away. She ran away from home at the age of 14, and she stayed at the shelter for several years, helping out in taking care of smaller kids until she was deemed old enough to fend for herself.
He gave Barb a high-end laptop as his family’s graduation gift. “I guess you don’t want me using your desktop anymore,” she told him.
“You can still come to the house during your free time,” he replied.
“Of course I will. I will just not use your desktop anymore, but I still need a WiFi connection. And you have a pretty stable subscription,” she chuckled.
“We’re going to summer camp,” said his oldest. “When we come back, we will build a tent in the backyard so we can see the stars with you.”
“Oh, that’s a great idea! I would love to be invited to a sleepover. I never had one before.”
“Don’t worry, Barbie. We can have sleepovers many times after summer camp. I will paint your nails!” exclaimed his little girl.
“And what would I do when you have sleepovers?” asked the older boy.
“You can eat the pizza we ordered,” chirped Barb.
The kids were excited and already looking forward to the days AFTER their summer camp when they still hadn’t been off to the camp yet.
Barb then approached him and whispered, “You have to be ready to take me when the kids are away,” she giggled softly, her face turning red. She really couldn’t believe it. Oh, the audacity!
He wasn’t sure why, but he felt scared, nervous—he couldn’t tell. Were the rumors about Barb true? What was he feeling about it? Excitement? He wasn’t also sure why, but he really felt that Barb had been pinning on him for quite some time. And he was right. Barb did invite him to “take” her while the kids were away. All the words of his colleagues echoed back to him. Was Barb merely taking his trust and then burn his pocket? Incidentally, Barb never mentions financial difficulty or how some of her loans or bills were unpaid. She never missed to pay her rent, too. Or, maybe, he thought, it was all part of her plot, so he would remain clueless as to her financial status.
Barb called him a few days after her graduation.
“Hi,” she started. “I finished all my submissions at the university, and I’ve been cleared. I’m off from work at 6:00 PM. Would you like to take me to dinner?” Barb mentally facepalmed herself. It wasn’t at all she practiced.
“Um...” he couldn’t seem to find the words.
“If you’re busy, I understand,” Barb sighed. “I’m going to hang up now.”
He finally mustered the courage to talk. “Where would you like to eat?” It was just dinner, he thought to himself. How malicious his thoughts were! Barb wasn’t a dirty woman.
“Let’s just do takeout, and we can eat in my apartment.”
“Yours?”
“Yeah. My roommate bugs me a lot. So I told her you’re my boyfriend. And she wouldn’t believe me.”
“Why would you say I’m your boyfriend? Why wouldn’t you get a real one?”
“Well, you wouldn’t want to be my REAL boyfriend, so I made you my fake one.”
“So, how long have we been together, then?”
“Two years.”
He gulped as his eyes widened. “That long, huh?”
“Yeah, that’s why she’s having doubts,” she laughed. “My break’s over. See you in a jiff, Love.” And with that, she hung up.
He didn’t know what would happen or why he said yes. Maybe because his virginity has reformed in the five years he hadn’t had sex. Maybe he wanted to have sex—just sex. Maybe he wanted to know, to re-feel, how it was to have sex. Maybe he forgot already. His maybe’s were countless, and the possibilities were endless. He was nervous and excited. He felt like he was a teenager all over again, going on his first date. Maybe this was how he felt when he knew that he would lose his virginity tonight.
A few minutes before 6:00 PM, he found himself waiting inside his parked car a few meters away from the employees’ exit. Right on the dot, Barb went out of the door, immediately spotting his black Toyota Camry. (He hadn’t upgraded his car because he felt emotionally attached to his Camry.) She walked towards the car with a big smile on her face. There was no trace of angst or nervousness on her face. What a professional!
“Hi. I’m really glad you came,” she said as she took the passenger seat next to him.
He smiled sheepishly. “I know a place that does takeout. Is Chinese okay with you?” He drove slowly out of the parking lot towards the main street. “It’s not far from here.”
“As long as it comes with YOU,” she laughed hilariously. Barb high-fives herself for her pick-up line.
He chuckled. “Is that how youngsters woo their lovers? I’m so old, I’m behind the trends.”
“Is that why you haven’t got a girlfriend for almost 6 six years? You forgot how to hook up?”
“I don’t do hook-ups.”
“Yeh, me, too. It’s a waste of time. If I were in a relationship, I would invest time and effort. Have you noticed how much I invested in you?”
“You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into. You should get yourself a decent boyfriend.” He found the Chinese takeout place and parked carefully. He went out of the car to open the door for Barb. Barb sighed and thought, Nobody ever opened the door for me before. She almost cried with happiness.
He carefully put out his hand so Barb could take it before getting out of the car. She was bubbling inside for all the right reasons. They walked towards the entrance, and he stopped to open the door for Barb again. Barb bit her lip and smiled shyly.
They walked towards a booth, and the waiter immediately handed them the menu. Barb scanned the prices and gasped, “The prices here are worth my daily wage!”
“I won’t ask you to pay.” He said softly, blushing a little. “I reckon this would be our first date in the two years that we’ve been together. I might as well make this worthwhile. For all we know, you might break up with me tonight. Two years is my maximum expiration for relationships.” He paused. “So, what do you want for dinner?”
“I have no clue what these are.”
“Do you have any allergies or preferences? Beef, cheese, seafood?”
“I just prefer you.”
He laughed. “I’d fuck you good if you tell me what’s your favorite.”
“I like a wanton, fried rice, and shrimp,” she answered immediately.
He laughed again. “Good girls get rewards tonight.” He called on the waiter and ordered their food for takeout. She was ready to explode!
For some unknown reason, Barb became restless and horny—extremely horny. There was something about his shift in mood that turned her on very quickly.
“I’m crazy about you. What would you like me to be as your girlfriend?”
“You’re very straightforward. All of my ex-wives are highly opinionated. I guess I liked women in control. But you? I don’t know you yet.”
“What?! You haven’t paid attention to me in the more than two years we’ve known each other? That hurts, you know.”
“I mean, why are you pinning on me? Are you trying to fool me? Gain my trust? And then afterward, you would sell my kidney in the black market?”
“Probably, but I want to use you up first. I want to make sure that I suck you dry before I sell your kidney. I don’t think you can do me good with your internal organs missing.”
He didn’t know if he would laugh or cry. Her audacity, her frankness, her dark humor—these all intrigued him very much.
Their food arrived, he paid for it (while Barb was grimacing throughout), and as they walked towards the Camry, Barb reached out for his hand and interlaced her fingers with his. “Our hands fit perfectly. Like they’re made for each other.”
“This hand held two hands before you.”
“But mine don’t make you feel like theirs did, do they?”
Oh, she was quick-witted and very beautiful. He opened the car door for her and put the takeout box in the back seat. He went inside the car and drove cautiously to her apartment. They chatted with small talk.
But he could no longer ignore the beauty beside him. Her breasts were supple, and her jeans shaped her long legs well. Her snickers were old but clean, and she tied her blond hair in a ponytail. He could see her delicious neck, its contours, and veins pulsating against her smooth skin. He shook his head and prayed. He didn’t want to go to Hell.
But Hell came in such a beautiful package, and it presented itself in front of him, up for grabs.
They reached the complex, and he parked his car in the driveway. He got out of the car first, opened the door for Barb, and took out the takeout boxes. When he turned around, Barb was still there, behind him, waiting for him with a smile on her face.
This might be the death of him, he thought. For all he knew, Barb and her roommate would poison him and sell his liver to the underground market. He would never see his kids again.
“If you think this is not a good idea, there’s still time to back out, you know,” he said to her.
“No. I’ve made my decision. I’m having you tonight. There’s no other chance better than this.”
They entered the apartment and were immediately greeted by a pink-haired lass, whom he learned was Barb’s roommate.
“Good evening,” he said. “We brought Chinese takeout. We hope you enjoy eating them with us.”
The pink-haired girl gasped in awe, “Oh. Such a gentleman. I’ve never met one before.”
“Hey,” Barb warned. “I’ve marked my territory. Go find yours.”
The roommate stuck out her tongue while diverting her attention back to him, “Hi, daddy.”
He blushed, but internally, he got really scared. The roommate looked at him like she was ready to devour him.
“You know what,” Barb said, frowning. “We’re going to have dinner in my room. We’ll leave yours here.”
“No, but I want to talk to daddy more,” her roommate argued. Barb grabbed his hand in one hand, took the takeout box with the other, and led him to what he believed was her room. It was small and neat, with everything organized. Her bed cover was black with little white flowers. The pillowcases matched the bed cover. The blinds were soft hues of yellow, and the walls were decorated with wallpapers of gold and black. There was a small desk, and Barb put the takeout boxes there.
“Sorry for that,” Barb told him as she led him to sit on her bed. “And in this bed, you will fuck me tonight.”
“I’m really getting scared of you.”
“So, how was the result of your routine medical checks?” Barb asked, and he immediately understood what she was implying.
“I have no HIV/AIDS nor any venereal disease. My blood sugar is borderline pre-diabetic, but I’m still at a normal level. My cholesterol is high, but nothing a good exercise and diet can’t fix. I’m relatively healthy for my age of 41.”
Barb opened the takeout boxes and practically shoved the food in his mouth. She chomped her dinner away, too. She kept stuffing his mouth with food and made him drink water once in a while so he wouldn’t choke on his food.
“The dinner is delicious. We still have some left in case we get hungry later.” Then Barb led him to the small toilet and bath inside her room and pointed at the two toothbrushes there. “I bought a toothbrush for you,” she giggled. “Let’s brush our teeth before we fuck, yeh?”
He took his time brushing his teeth, and while he was looking in the mirror, he saw Barb preparing some towels and shirts. He turned around only to see Barb standing too close to him.
“You’re taking too long to brush your teeth, Love. Hurry up so we can bathe.” He finished brushing his teeth and saw Barb keeping their toothbrushes on the shelf.
“Together?” He asked nervously. He was married twice before, what the hell? Why was Barb making him nervous like this?
“Yeh. We do foreplay there.”
“It seems like you’ve done this before.”
“No. I PLAYED THIS IN MY MIND many times before.” Barb calmly took his hand and lightly pushed him to the shower.
“I feel like I’m being coerced.”
She slowly took off his shirt, unbuttoning it while looking straight into his eyes. He was so mesmerized, and the blue of her eyes reminded him of sunny days. After she removed his pants and boxers, he found himself so shy that he needed to cover his groin. She, however, took off her shirt and pants, and when she took off her lingerie, he felt like he would have a heart attack. He had never seen blond pubs before. He turned around so he would stop staring, and he felt himself growing hard.
Barb opened the shower and lathered up his back. It smelled like chamomile and lavender. He felt relaxed and closed his eyes as he felt gentle fingers massage his scalp. Suddenly, he felt lips touch his, and as if some power had taken over him, he became burning with passion and kissed Barb back. They made out in the shower, and after they rinsed, he carried a naked Barb to the bed and continued kissing her. He was rock-hard now.
She pulled away minutes later and said, “I think you should know before we go any further,” Oh, there it is, he thought. She’s going to rob me. She would drug me and sell my kidney. He wouldn’t see his kids again.
He sat up and looked at her intently. She looked down as if coy, “I’m a virgin.”
“Oh. Then, you should probably lose it to someone you really care about.”
“Yeh. That’s why I invited you tonight. You see, I got accepted into a small company in New York. I might leave after the kids come back from the camp. Well, we’ll do our sleepover first. I asked the company to give me 15 days to clear up my jobs...you know, tie loose ends.”
He didn’t know what to do. He kissed Barb again and stood up. “Good luck with your job. I will look forward to the sleepover.” He picked up his clothes from the bath and redressed, leaving a distraught Barb.
Barb cried for the rest of the night, trying her best to be discreet because she wouldn’t want her pesty roommate to know.
He didn’t see Barb after that and the week after. He was internally struggling, and he was confused. He knew he did the right thing by not having sex with Barb, but he couldn’t understand why he felt so bad about it. He really felt it would be unfair for Barb to lose her virginity to him when they didn’t even have a real relationship. In his mind, he kept reminding himself that he did the right thing. Making love for the first time was a special thing to be shared with a special someone. He knew that Barb might have a crush on him, but that was all he was to her—Barb’s crush.
Barb was true to her words that they did have three sleepovers the following week, his oldest putting up a tent so they could watch the stars at night. The second sleepover was mainly about doing girly-girly stuff with his youngest and the oldest, eating pizza, and watching scary movies with them. The kids had tons of fun with Barb. For the third sleepover, it was a routine of putting the kids to sleep and Barb saying goodbye to them. She explained about her job acceptance in New York but promised the kids she would FaceTime them every chance she got. The kids acted so maturely, and he was very proud. While they all cried, all were calm and agreeable.
But his mind and heart couldn’t be pacified.
Barb came to him after the kids fell asleep. “I hope you can visit me sometime in New York.” She came closer to him. “And I hope you can let me kiss you.”
“Barb...I’m not the best option for you,” he said, remembering his two divorces with two estranged wives. He blamed himself for his failed marriages. Barb deserved someone better than him.
“My flight is tomorrow at 5:00 AM. I will leave now.” She walked to the door, then paused. “I think I’m in love with you.”
“It’s just a phase, Barb. Your daddy issues may have triggered your attraction.”
“My issue is I’m in love with someone who won’t love me back. I hope me being away in New York will make you realize how much you like me...maybe, love me even.”
Barb went out the door and left.
She had been away for several months and had continued to FaceTime the kids several times a week. All the while, he was thinking of Barb and how she wouldn’t even ask about him (he was always listening to their conversation.) Barb wasn’t paying attention to him anymore, and he thought he was right to assume it was just a phase.
All the months she was away, ignoring him but continuing to talk with his kids, he felt...as if he missed her. If his legs were double-jointed, he would have kicked himself in the face for letting go of Barb. Her eyes were like the sky on a sunny day, her smile like the sun...he always felt at ease, comfortable, and at peace when he saw her.
He wanted to love her, but he just thought he didn’t deserve her. She deserved someone better. He couldn’t bear the thought that he would ruin someone as special as Barb. His ex-wives did a pretty good job of making him feel like the divorces were all his fault. He accepted that he had never been a good husband, so all he did was do good as a father to his kids.
Months turned to a year, and he was completely sure that Barb would’ve forgotten him by now. He was sad, but his consolation was at least his kids continued to talk to Barb several times a week, even if it were just for a few minutes of talk.
He took a leave from work and decided to clean the house and do a garage sale because he thought that his kids would enjoy it. As he was in the grocery store, he saw his second ex-wife, the mother of his two kids. He immediately felt threatened that she would take the kids away from him, and they would begin to hate him, too. His second wife publicly berated him as soon as their eyes met, despite him walking away inside the grocery store, away from her as fast as he could. She continued to follow him around and made a scandal.
Little did he know that Barb was in the same grocery store and witnessed the entire scenario. She got back from New York because the company allowed remote workers. Barb was very sad in New York and missed the kids so much. She stayed in New York for a little over a year, but the time and distance didn’t take her mind away from him. She was truly in love with him.
Barb looked at him with love; she missed him so much. Although he didn’t want her, she wouldn’t let somebody treat him like that. And she did what anybody in love would do—save him from the monster in the form of his ex-wife. Barb knew little about his life, but his kids told Barb everything they knew from what they heard from their father’s friends. The kids didn’t hate their mom; they just loved their Dad.
Barb pulled up her shirt and tied it around the middle of her ribcage so her belly button showed. It was fortunate that she didn’t do her laundry, so she had no choice but to wear her ultra-skinny jeans that were positioned at the bottom of her dresser. She walked towards him as if she owned the catwalk. She strutted down an aisle, waiting for him to see her. When their eyes met, she beamed happily at him but pitied him when she realized how sad his eyes were. Internally, he was jumping with glee. He missed her and wanted to make sure that he rectified his regrets.
This was just an odd time for a reunion.
“Hi. You missed me?” Barb whispered to him as she approached him. “You can thank me later in the way I want you to.” And with that, she kissed him right on the lips. His eyes widened but Barb had her eyes closed. “I missed you so much,” she giggled sheepishly. She interlaced her fingers with his as they walked away together towards another aisle, leaving his ex-wife in awe. They conversed while walking around the store, completely forgetting about his fuming second ex-wife. The hag didn’t even ask how the kids were. She left shortly after when she realized she didn’t have the power over him as she did before.
“We don’t even have a cart,” she said to him. He woke up from his trance and uttered a soft thanks.
“Thanks won’t do, big boy. You know what I want.”
“You should get someone your age.”
“And settle for immature boys? No. I have my eyes on someone.” She looked at him intently. “Come on. What is it about me that you don’t like? I’m really good with kids!”
“Your future. Aren’t you scared of your future with me? I’ve been divorced twice already.”
“But we will stay married until the end of our days.”
True enough, finding themselves on this plane, they are on their trip to Europe to celebrate their 30 years of marriage. The kids have settled down, and though they never got kids of their own, his two kids from his second marriage have been more than enough to make them feel like a complete biological family.
They sit side by side on the plane, fingers interlaced with each other. “You were crazy about me,” he chuckled, remembering how she pinned for him for more than two years.
“Yes, as a matter of fact, I was. No. I am,” Barb smiles back, her blue eyes sparkling. Age hasn’t taken away the sparkle in her eyes every time she looks into his eyes. They might have gotten older but the love is still there.
They fell asleep for some time until they are awakened by a very tumultuous turbulence. Barb look at her husband who is still peacefully sleeping. “What is going on?” Barb asks no one in particular.
“Turbulence,” answers the person seated closest to them.
There are no announcements from the cockpit, and no stewards can be seen.
Barb holds his hands tight. She realizes he’s awake but barely moves.
Suddenly, they feel the plane flying downwards at an unusual speed. And then, as if the pilot regains control, the plane stabilizes for a few minutes. The oxygen masks fall off, and the crew instructs the passengers to wear the masks. He gets on his mask and helps Barb wear hers. There are tears in her eyes. She knows this is bad, and he knows it, too. Inasmuch as they want to go to Europe, they have a feeling they won’t be able to.
His surprise for her is the sapphire bracelet whose color reminds him of her beautiful, blue eyes. Her surprise for him is a short trip to the mountains where they can silently renew their vows to each other. He hates walking, Barb knows that, but every time she urges him to do some exercise, he always says yes. He can’t say no to her. Besides, Barb already made arrangements that the trek to the mountains is no more than a kilometer.
Always and forever. Barb knows she is not his first but she is his one, great love—which is better than being first. She is his last love.
But the surprises are spoiled now. The plane flies upside down, and they find themselves looking at their feet dangling in mid-air. They can hear the commotion in the cockpit and then a big, loud explosion. The plane feels like rapidly spiraling downwards. The shouts and cries of the passengers can be heard amidst the announcement from the cockpit. The voice that towers above the screams is calm and professional—no cusses. The plane momentarily stabilizes again, as if the pilot has regained control.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. Brace yourselves.” The passengers hear the pilot sighs heavily. “We are afraid we can’t serve coffee or tea tonight.” Silence.
That’s all the pilot says. Carry-ons in the overhead compartment fall randomly around. Barb turns to face her husband. With their oxygen masks on, her words are inaudible to the already diminishing hearing of her husband. She looks at him lovingly. His eyes look nervous, scared—hers aren’t. Hers are full of love and serenity. He looks back at her and as if stares are words, they once again profess their undying love for each other. He holds her hand tightly. He’s no longer afraid to go. His life started very hard, and there were numerous times when he struggled physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially. But Barb is his lucky star—his guiding star. Everything started to fall into place when she appeared in his life.
Barb is not afraid to go, too. Hers hasn’t been an easy life but everything turned out to be for the best because of him. She is willing to experience all those hardships again if it means she will meet him again. There is not a single regret in her mind.
His only regret, on the other hand, is that they didn’t meet sooner.
As if on cue, they both remove their oxygen masks at the same time and lean forward to each other. Their lips meet, and they pull away after a few seconds. They wear their masks again and lean back on their seats.
“We will be landing at the nearest airport for an emergency landing,” the pilot announces. Screams slowly die down as everyone holds on tightly, looking at each other as if seeing their loved ones for the last time.
They think about their kids. But they are relieved to think that they are leaving them with good values and a good amount of money so they won’t have to financially struggle like they did when they were younger.
“We are near the Scandinavian Mountain Ranges, and we called the tower in Oslo to take us for an emergency landing. Please keep your seatbelts worn.”
All passengers hold their breath as the shaky flight prepares for landing. No one knows what is happening in the cockpit but the flight seems to have stabilized.
“Twenty minutes before landing.”
They smell vomit and carry-ons move around the floor of the plane.
“Ten minutes before landing.”
Barb closes her eyes as she feels the fingers of her husband still clutching hers. Their skin wrinkled but the force of the hold remain the same.
“Five minutes before landing.”
Just when everyone seems to calm down and expects the best of the situation, suddenly, the plane flies sideways, its right-wing crashing against the runway. Screams of agony are heard, and luggage fly around. The high impact almost slices the plane in half. Explosions are heard, and fire is everywhere. Barb feels the fingers clutching hers loosen, and when she tries to turn her head towards her husband, she can’t move. She tries to move her hand, her shoulders, her legs—she couldn’t. She tries to continue breathing but feels something heavy presses against her chest.
He turns around and doesn’t see Barb beside him. He notices many people have been jettisoned away from the plane. He removes his seatbelt and crawls but suddenly stops when he realizes that the plane has been split open. Thick, black smoke prevents him from seeing clearly, and he coughs. He can’t breathe. He calls on Barb. He highly doubts that Barb can hear him amidst the little explosions and the screams. He keeps on coughing but continues calling Barb’s name. He sees a silhouette approaches him as he continues coughing before everything turns black.
He opens his eyes and sees white light and a white ceiling. There are hoses attached to his arms, and he hears the monitor beeping. His head really aches. He turns to his side, and he sees Barb lying on a bed beside him. She has her eyes open. Her arms dangle to the side, and he reaches out to touch her hand. He interlaced his fingers with hers.
“Love,” he says, almost above a whisper.
“Love,” she responds. “I can’t move my neck...my body...can’t feel...and I... can’t breathe,” she coughs vigorously.
“Don’t talk anymore. Know that I love you. My only regret is that I haven’t met you sooner.”
“...love you...,” she replies. “M’regret...can’t turn m’head...want to...see you one last time...” she inhales deeply. “I won’t...last much...longer. M’chest...feels heavy...M’barely catching...my breath...But I need to tell you...to let you know...you have always been...my one...and only...I love you—”
He feels Barb’s grip, the warmth of her hands, and he cries silently. The agony he feels in his heart equals the pain he feels in his head.
“My head hurts a lot, like, it will explode any minute. But I like seeing you, your blue eyes always remind me of the sky on a sunny day. That’s how you always made me feel—like every day with you is a sunny day.”
If Barb could only nod her head, she would. This isn’t what she has in mind when she plans for them to renew their vows in Oslo. She smiles a little, but she hopes that he can see her. At this point, she doesn’t know if she still has control over her body.
They silently lie down for a few minutes, hands holding each other.
Medical staff checks on the numerous patients in the emergency room when beeps call their immediate attention. They run towards the elderly couple and check their vitals. They perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation but to no avail.
The physician shakes his head and declares, “Time of death—9:23 PM.”
* * * * * * *
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world...
It is a sunny day. The sky is blue, and fluffy cumulous clouds are scattered happily.
“Aaaahhhhh, my water bag broke,” she bellows at her husband. “You gotta move. MOVE!”
“Yes, yes, I know. I got all the bags. And the supplies. NOW, LET ME DRIVE IN PEACE! I don’t want the both of us to end up in the emergency room.”
The young couple drive to the hospital, and the wife immediately received appropriate medical attention. She finds herself in the delivery room. The pain in her belly is constant, and she can feel her contractions.
“Hey,” the nurse tells her. “You need to give birth now, but we have a full house today. I hope you don’t mind sharing the room with another patient. We have more than enough medical staff to attend to the both of you—”
“I don’t care. Just let me give birth—”
“OUT OF THE WAY! This baby’s coming out!”
Both the nurse and the wife turn their heads to see a mother shouting like she’s ready to rip anybody’s head off who stands in her way.
“Isn’t she in anesthesia?” one of the medical staff asks.
“Oh, you bet I am. So you better let me bring out this baby, or YOU WON’T FEEL A THING,” the mother threatens.
Two medical teams prepare the equipment and tools for the wife and the mother. The latter is calmer now, while the wife concentrates on feeling her contractions.
“Push,” the obstetrician instructs.
The mother and the wife don’t know who says what to whom, so both push.
“Push,” and once again, they did. They both scream at the same time as they feel babies come out of them. The newborns—a girl for the wife and a boy for the mother—cry at the same time.
“Time of birth,” the obstetrician declares, “9:23 AM.”