Shipwrecked Hearts

Navigare 6

"Go." Utos ni Maximo sa mga lalaking may hawak na paddle. They nodded and started paddling harmoniously towards the island. Magkaharap kami ni Maximo, I can see him eyeing the island, his island. Pagkatapos ay tumingin siya sa akin, umiwas naman ako dahil sa hiya. I was caught staring at him. "Welcome to your new home."

I nodded, no words came out of my mouth.

Nang nasa port na kami ay isa-isa kaming bumaba, "welcome to Anarchist Harbor, my paradise." Alexander said proudly.

Tila kumikinang ang isla, it seems like an ancient city of ruins, there were fairy lights everywhere. And people. It feels like travelling back in time because of their fashion. All took me back to the era of renaissance. Ang napansin ko rin ay hindi na lang ako ang nag-iisang babae dahil may mga ibang babae na tila naghihintay. Napansin ko rin na may mga piratang tumakbo papunta sa mga naghihintay at niyakap sila.

"I thought I was the only pirate girl in your crew?" Tanong ko kay Maximo habang hinihila ko ang dalawang maleta.

"You are." He answered. "The ladies here are either the daughter of my crews or their wife. Either way, they're family of my men. They're not allowed to sail, they must only stay here."

"What made you make me a part of your crew?"

"You'll know in time. As for now, I still have a lot of errands to settle." May sinenyasan si Maximo na isang babae. "Pearl." He greeted.

"Maximo." Ngumiti ang babae na may salong. Tumingin siya sa akin, "who is this?"

"My recruit."

Tila may gulat sa mukha ng babae ngunit agad din itong napalitan ng ngiti. "I see—you've already chosen." She noddded and looked at me with a big smile. "Ahoy, matey. At last we've met. This is what I was trained for. By the way, I'm Pearl."

"Akira Kara."

"Ms. Kara, I'll be your handmaiden."

"What?"

"You heard her right." Maximo said. "Now, Pearl. I'll entrust to you my starfish as I have to deal with something."

"With pleasure, captain." Pearl smiled, pinanood namin si Maximo na umalis kasama ang dalawang pirata, the one I recognized as Marco.

Kinuha ni Pearl ang dalawang maleta ko. "Ako na sa isa."

"No need, Ms. Kara." Ngumiti ito sa akin. She somewhat reminded me of my nanny whom I've grown up with, though younger. Tila madre ang porma ni Pearl, she hid her hair with the silver fabric and she wore a cross pendant.

"I insist." I chuckled and took the other baggage. "And please, just call me Kira. That's what my friends normally call me."

"Ms. Kara, I'm not your friend but your handmaiden. Now, if you must please, follow me to your new chamber." She smiled and stormed off, sumunod na lang ako sa kan'yang. Medyo pataas ang aking nilalakad at may mga bahay sa paligid, the ground was made of bricks, it seemed like we are in the middle of a city. Nang lumingon ako ay nakita ko ang karagatan at mga barko.

The place is truly like a paradise. Who would have thought pirates were civilized and they recognize the beauty of ancient times?

"Please don't wander off. You might get lost." Ani Pearl. She's too stiff and rigid, I told myself. Siguro madre nga ito. But what's a sister doing with pirates and lawbreakers?

I let my eyes roam around as we walked. I saw vendors around, shops and boutiques, jewelry shops, clothes, and many more.

"It's midnight and the place is lively."

"Yes, Ms. Kara. That is because trades like barter happen mostly at night. That means new items. And the pirates often sail during the day and return at night with silver and gold and other treasures."

I nodded. "Where are we actually going?"

Tinuro niya ang pinakatuktok ng lugar at nakita ko ang tila isang palasyo. I can see its four tall towers with the Renaissance banner. The walls protecting it seem impenetrable.

"D'yan ako titira?"

"Yes."

"With whom?"

"With Maximo, Ms. Kara."

"Siya lang ba ang nakatira d'yan?" Tanong ko habang lumalapit kami.

"No, squadron leaders and those of the high hierarchy like the pirate council live there. A handful of handmaiden and servants like me also live there and a few thousand guards."

Tumango na lang ako. Habang lumalapit kami ay mas tumatayog ang mansion or whatever you call it. "Pearl, who exactly is Maximo?"

Tumigil siya sa paglalakad at nilingon ako. "You came here and did not know? So that means you also don't know why you're here?"

"Why? Sino ba si Maximo at bakit ba ako nandito?" I mean, okay, I'm a pirate now. But why? Bakit ako lang ang nag-iisang babaeng pirata sa crew ni Maximo?

"He's the king of all pirates and he has chosen you."