Shipwrecked Hearts

Navigare 5

I couldn't sleep. Hanggang ngayon ay naglalaro pa rin sa aking isipan ang huling sinabi ni Maximo sa akin. Ramdam ko ang pamumula ng aking pisngi. Hindi ako mapakali, sobrang torete ako dahil sa kan'yang. Kaya naman bumalikwas ako sa aking kama at bumangon.

Naglakad ako patungo sa veranda. I slid the glass door of my room and went out. Agad namang humampas sa aking mukha ang maalat na simoy ng hangin. The sky was already cleared out, I can see the midnight stars gazing down at me and the crescent moon that touched the sky blue.

I looked down and saw the reflection of the night itself—with the calm scintillating waves giving a touch of distortion. Sumandal ako sa malamig na harang ng veranda at yumuko. I saw the ship slicing through the water and I saw my reflection.

As I savor the moment of solitude, I saw an island a few kilometers away. I can see its bright port, the red, yellow, and green lights. The ships sailing around it. Tila ang karagatan ay biglang napuno ng mga nagsisilakihang mga barko. They all has the same banners—a skull with an eyepatch—its eyepatch has an embroidery of a wildflower. Exactly like what the captain is using.

Then I knew it, all of this—perhaps the island even, is owned by no other than Alexander Renaissance.

"All hands hoay!" Narinig kong sigaw ni Maximo mula sa sundeck, narinig ko naman ang mabilis na paglakad ng mga pirata. I think they were all convening upstairs. Lumabas naman ako sa aking kwarto at nakita ko si Maximo, he was already wearing his eyepatch and the same Renaissance and pirate-ish clothes. "Avast ye!" He growled and all men stopped talking. Dumapo ang kan'yang tingin sa akin at ngumiti nang palihim. "We're nearing Anarchist Harbor. I've already signaled men on port to send us boats. I'd like the recruit on board with me along with the squadron leaders I've taken. Do you all get me?"

"Aye, Maximo!"

"Take your things now. Dismissed." Aniya sabay talikod. Agad namang gumalaw ang lahat. Take your things? I don't get what just happened. Can somebody explain to me?

"Why are you just standing there? Iiwan mo ba ang mga gamit mo dito sa barko?" Binaling ko ang aking Atens'yon kay Marco, nakakunot ang kan'yang noong nakatingin sa akin.

Tinaasan ko naman siya ng kilay, "bakit? Ano ba ang nangyayari?" Pagtataray ko.

"You see that island?" Turo niya sa isla na napapalibutan ng mga barko, "unless you're blind." He huffed. "That's where we live. That's our headquarters. Whatever you call it. Now, huwag kang tatanga-tanga at kunin mo na ang mga gamit mo kung ayaw mong iwan sila sa barkong ito. I told you before, temporary lodging mo lang ang kwarto na tinungo natin. Your permanent home is waiting there." Aniya sabay turo ulit sa isla. That was Anarchist Harbor if not mistaken.

Antipatiko! Pero kahit na, I'm still thankful that he took his time explaining, kahit man na medyo sarkastiko siya. I suddenly felt guilty for what I've done.

Bumalik ako sa aking kwarto at kinuha ang mga bagahe, pagkatapos ay lumabas na ako, nakipagsiksikan pa ako sa ibang mga pirata, tanging mga hawak lang nila ay kayamanan.

"Out of the way, mermaid!" Pagtulak sa akin ng isang pirata dahilan upang matumba ako. Kumuyom naman ang kamao ko dahil sa inis. Wala bang gentleman dito?! Hindi ba sila nabibighani sa kagandahan ko?!

Nang nasa sundeck na ako ay biglang may pumatong sa balikat ko, tumingala ako at nakitang braso iyon ni Maximo, he looked at me and smiled. "There you are. Come on." Kinuha niya ang dalawang maleta ko at saka niya ito binato mula sa barko. I gasped. "Don't worry." He insisted, naglakad kami papunta sa pinagbatuhan niya ng mga gamit ko at nakitang nasakto niya ito sa isang bangka na lumulutang sa ilalim.

He effortlessly swung himself towards the Jacob's Ladder, he looked up at me afterwards, "go on. I'll be right below you."

Taking all the courage in, I nodded. I've never been terrified of the ocean my entire life but because of the damn things that happened hours ago, things changed.

I nervously reclined myself on the ladder, I took slow, precise, and careful steps down. "Don't be nervous, Starfish. If you wanna get used to the pirate life, better get used to things like this. I won't always be there to save your ass."

"I didn't ask for you to save me!" Okay, I know. Sobrang ma-pride ko na. But all I have left is my pride.

"Fair enough." He mumbled.

Nang nasa bangka na siya ay inalalayan niya akong sumakay doon. May mga iba pang sumakay kagaya nina Marco at iba pang mga lalaki. Seems like I'm the only girl.