After taking me through all the check-in procedures, with only a few minutes left before boarding, he still insisted that I cancel the flight and go back to a hotel with him…
Marco, my thoughtful husband, decided to come with me even though he had no work to do in Cebu. He said, “I want to travel with my wife, and we can take this chance to enjoy a little time together.” I felt happy and loved because of his concern, so I agreed.
The trip went smoothly. I finished my work early, and the two of us spent the entire afternoon walking around the city—visiting Magellan’s Cross, strolling near Fort San Pedro, enjoying local food, and taking photos to remember the moment.
That evening, we went to Mactan–Cebu International Airport to prepare for our 9:00 p.m. flight back to Manila. After completing check-in, there were about 20 minutes left before boarding. Marco and I sat in the waiting area, holding hands and chatting happily.
Suddenly, Marco looked at me with a serious expression. He said,
“Ana, what if we cancel this flight? I want to take you to a nearby hotel.”
I was stunned, thinking he was joking.
“What are you talking about? We’re about to board. Why would we cancel now?”
But Marco held my hand tighter, his voice pleading.
“Ana, please trust me this time. I have a bad feeling. Let’s go back to a hotel and rest for the night. Can we take another flight tomorrow?”
I started to feel anxious. Marco wasn’t the kind of person who joked about things like this, and I could see real worry in his eyes. Even though I didn’t understand what was happening, I agreed. We went to the ticket counter, canceled the flight for personal reasons, and booked a room at a hotel near the airport.
On the way to the hotel, I asked,
“Love, why did you suddenly want to cancel the flight? Is something wrong?”
Marco just shook his head.
“I’m not sure, but I feel like this flight isn’t safe. I don’t want to take any risks with you.”
That night, we stayed at the hotel, had dinner, and watched a movie, trying to relax—though my heart was still full of questions.
The next morning, just as I woke up, Marco turned on the TV. A news report made me freeze in shock: the flight we were supposed to take the night before had suffered a serious technical problem shortly after takeoff. The plane had to make an emergency landing at Davao International Airport. Thankfully, there were no casualties, but all the passengers were terrified.
If we hadn’t canceled the flight, we would have been on that plane.
I looked at Marco, tears streaming down my face.
“How… how did you know?”
He pulled me into his arms, his voice trembling.
“I didn’t know, Ana. But while we were sitting at the airport, I felt extremely uneasy, like something was warning me. I couldn’t let you be in danger.”
I held him tightly, overwhelmed with gratitude for having a husband who always puts my safety first.
The next day, we flew back to Manila on a different flight—safe and peaceful. From then on, I learned to trust Marco’s instincts even more, and to cherish the love he has for me.
The story of the canceled flight became an unforgettable memory in our marriage, reminding me that sometimes, unexpected decisions can save an entire life.