Regressing Through the Apocalypse with the Third Male Lead-Chapter 28: Volume 2.

December 19, 2024

Panglao International Airport

3:35 pm

***

After almost two hours of travel, they could finally see land ahead. Freyah grinned at the sight of the land, that she hadn’t seen for a long time.

Mountains and hills stretched, the clear skies that were not polluted and the green areas filled with trees.

Though for her family living here, she had only been gone for 2 years.

Her heart couldn’t help but be excited. ’Mom, dad, everyone.’

"You seem to be in a good mood, Milady."

"Of course Your highness, this place is my family’s hometown after all." Freyah responded with a grin. Then the airport was almost in sight.

"This is also one of the best tourist attractions in our country. Many tourists from different countries go to this place especially visiting the famous chocolate hills." Freyah said with pride.

"A hills made of chocolates, that is indeed something fascinating. Is it natural?" Florence’s eyes gleamed with interest. "Or is it due to advanc ed technology that this world has? Is anyone allowed to eat those?"

"You have been quite the food enthusiast, your highness."

"Well of course, there are just so many delicious delicacies in your world that doesn’t exist in my world." Florence replied. "If this Chocolate Hills is something that a lot of tourist around the world came for, this must be very delicious."

Freyah chuckled at his words. "It can’t be eaten. Because it’s a landmass. It is just called like that, because it’s multiple hills combined closed to each other. And when summer came, it turned brown in color due to the dry season making it look like a bunch of chocolates."

"Oh that sounds a sight to see. But too bad it can’t be eaten." Florence chuckled.

"There are chocolate products that made chocolate hills as inspiration for tourist to eat. We can get you that one."

"Really?!"

"Yes. It is."

"Then I look forward to that."

Their conversation was cut off when the radio started buzzing.

Static noises.

"Hello..."

"Over..."

"Hello... Can you hear me, over?"

Freyah was surprised when she heard a very familiar voice that she hadn’t heard for a very long time.

"Hello, over?"

"Is someone there?"

"Over..."

"Aren’t you going to answer?"

Florence cutted Freyah’s momentarily gaze.

"Hello, this Captain Freyah Lima speaking, over. Who is this?"

"It’s really you! Ate Freyah!"

"Julie?"

"Yes! It’s me! Ate Freyah, Over!"

"Oh my God! Thank God you’re finally here! The world is really.... Static... Crazy... Static noises."

"I knew it! It’s... static... Ate Freyah!" There are background noises from the radio.

"I told you it’s her! She really arrived today!"

"Ate Freyah! Thank goodness you’re safe!" Mark, her second in line sibling, takes over the radio.

"Get out of the way!" Julie was back on the line. "Ate Freyah! We cleared the land way for you. So you can land the plane with no problems."

"You all. I told you that you should stay in the house."

"This is something you didn’t expect?" Florence chuckled at her surprise.

"No. Absolutely Not."

"Then how are you going to land this thing safely if ever?" Florence asked.

"I will turn the autopilot on at 5000 ft off from the ground. Then I will jump from the air, and cleared the runway myself. I even have a parachute with me. Then you will land the plane."

"Land the plane on my own? From the manual I read, it always needs two pilots to land a plane."

"Yes. That is correct." Freyah agreed without a doubt.

"Then is it too risky?"

"That is why, I chose to fly a relatively smaller private plane. Ideally, this plane can operate, even with one pilot. But due to standards and regulations, even if that is the case, they just still need two pilots."

"So in short, I’ll be fine?"

"Yes, you will be fine." Freyah gave him a thumbs up. "But since the landing area has been cleared off. Then we can just forget about that."

"And I felt more relieved that your plan is not the one that we are going to use. Really, I only fly this plane today, but you expect me to land it on my own. Though I admit that I can learn things fast. But you’re far too trusting of me, Milady. I want to be rewarded."

"A reward?" Freyah chuckled.

Their conversation was interrupted.

"Ate Freyah over. Are you going to land now?"

"Yes, we are, over." Freyah said. Then she started speaking on the intercom.

"Good afternoon passengers, this is your Captain. We are now commencing our descent into Panglao, Bohol. Please secure your carry-on items, fasten your seatbelts, and ensure your electronic devices are switched off. We are expected to land shortly at 16:00 local time, with clear skies. Thank you for flying with us today."

Then they started descending further to the ground.

"What reward do you want, your highness?"

Freyah asked then continued. "It should be something within my capability and resources."

Florence’s eyes beamed at her words. "Yes. It will be."

"Then what does his highness want?"

"The thing that I want is. I just wanted you to tell me the answer to something without being vague. But not right now. After we landed on this plane."

Freyah grinned. Somewhat she expected what the Prince would want to ask. But at the same time she was seriously confused. Seriously, he just needed to focus to returning to his world.

They were 5000 ft from the ground.

Then 2000 ft.

Then 500 ft.

100 ft.

When she was just 7 miles away from the runway, Freyah released the gear.

The plane shook as soon as the gears landed on the ground. But Freyah and Florence were able to smoothly manuevered it throughout the runway. Until they finally came to a halt.

"We finally arrive, everyone." Freyah said with relieved. They were finally in Bohol after a gruesome five days since the apocalypse began.

Then without waiting, she removed her seatbelt then ran out from the pilot’s cabin. She immediately opened the exit door of the plane. Then she looked around.

Her heart raced as she saw people running through her direction. She didn’t stop and ran towards them. "Mom! Dad! Everyone!" She jumped at them making them almost falling to the ground.

"I told you. You should just stay in the house."

"Freyah..." Her dad’s voice was softer and calmer than ever soothing her heart.

"Freyah, your finally here." Her mother’s relieved and worried voice. "Of course, we can’t just stay put at the house. Who will fetch you at the airport?"

"Ate Freyah. Sorry we can’t reply to your texts anymore. We tried, but it won’t just connect." Julie, Freyah’s fourth sibling said.

"Julie!"

"Mark!"

She gave them all a tight hug. She enjoyed that for a few more minutes... Until she was satisfied...

"Where is Luke and John?" She asked looking around for her youngest brothers.

"We left then at the house together with their aunt’s and uncles. They are still young and it is too dangerous to travel with kids at these moments."

"Auntie! Uncle!" Gwenette yelled from behind waving at them.

They also exited from the plane now. "Auntie, Uncle, *Mano po," Monica reached for the back of their right hands. She lowered her head a little and placed the backhand on her forehead.

"Mano po," Gwenette also reached for their hands and do the same as Monica.

"Monica, Gwenette... I’m happy that the two of you are alright. Your family is in the house right now. Then your dad’s and uncles..." Freyah’s mom said.

"Dad!"

"Uncle!"

Monica ran towards her dad and Gwenette ran towards her uncle.

"Freyah!" Freyah also saw her second uncle from her mother’s side approaching.

"Uncle Thomas!" Freyah also ran towards him and gave him a hug.

Everyone just looked with happy smiles on their faces at the reunion that was happening at the moment. But for Freyah, it was something else different.

It was something she longed for.

"You must have been all famished. We prepared some food for all of you." Freyah’s mom said then her eyes landed on Florence. "Oh my, what a gorgeous man we have here."

"I’m Florence, Madame." Florence reached for her hand and planted a soft kiss at the back of it.

"Oh my, it’s nice to meet you."

"Ehem..." Freyah’s dad fake cough then snatched Florence’s hand away from his wife. "I’m Alberto."

"It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sir." Florence said with a polite smile as he returned the handshake.

"This old fool." Freyah’s mom rolled her eyes. Then ran towards Freyah. "Who is he? Is he a model? Actor?"

Freyah chuckled when now Florence was being dealt with her dad and her siblings. "Yes, something like that."

***

Terminologies

Mano/Pagmamano - it is a Filipino gesture by "showing respect by placing an elder’s hand on one’s forehead". It’s also known as mano.

po - is a Tagalog word used to show respect when speaking to someone older or in a position of authority. It’s often used to end or punctuate a sentence.

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