Shipwrecked Hearts

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I cherished the elegance of the bouncy queen bed and let the flowery aroma of the silky fabric sooth my nostrils. I can feel the sun peeking through the glass door of the veranda. What a dream it was. Becoming a pirate, meeting this sexy and hunky pirate Maximo who happens to be the king of all pirates, then going to Anarchist Harbor, an ancient island he owns. What a flop.

Ano nga bang klaseng panaginip iyon? It felt so real, especially the overflowing emotions, the adrenaline rush, everything.

Bumangon na ako sa kama, kumunot ang noo ko sapagkat kakaiba ang interior ng kwarto. I don't remember my cabin in this cruise ship to be this large. Nagulat ako nang may kumatok, tumingin ako sa puting pintuan at kumunot-noo. My room's door was black, now it's white?

Bumukas ang pinto at pumasok ang isang babaeng nakasalong, I gasped in horror. "Para kang nakakita ng multo, Ms. Kara." Ngumiti si Pearl sa akin.

"I-I... I thought everything was a dream." And if it was, I should have never woken up. That dream felt like the best one, even though my life seemed to be on the line.

"Ganyan talaga kapag naninibago ka pa." Ngumiti siya sa akin, tumingin ako sa dala-dala niyang cart na may lamang mga pagkain. "I brought you breakfast."

I nodded. "Thank you." Tumungo ako sa coffee table at umupo sa sofa, isa-isang nilapag ni Pearl ang mga pagkain. Dahil nagugutom na rin naman ako ay nagsimula na akong kumain. "Ikaw? Hindi ka pa kumakain?"

"Hindi pa, Ms. Kara."

"Hmm, ayaw mong sumabay sa akin?"

Umiling siya. "It is forbidden and against the tradition. Hindi pwedeng makisabay ang housemaid sa kan'yang amo sapagkat hindi sila nasa parehong estado ng buhay." Pagpapaliwanag niya sa akin.

Kumunot ang noo ko. "I beg to disagree. We're all humans. I don't see the reason why people try to divide themselves with classes and systems. Aristocrats, middle class, poor. Damn all of it." Saad ko at saka kumagat sa hotdog. "Come on, Pearl. Sabayan mo akong kumain. Mas nakakaganang kumain kapag may kasama."

"I gladly decline the offer."

"I'm not offering you, I'm ordering you."

Halata ang gulat sa mukha ni Pearl ngunit ngumiti rin siya at tumango, "with pleasure." Aniya sabay upo sa sofa sa harapan ko.

Ngumiti naman ako at saka kami nagsimulang kumain. "And Pearl, it is only proper that you call me by my name, Kara. Okay?" Sasalungat na naman sana siya nang unahan ko siya, "again, that is an order."

"Sige po, Kara."

"And stop using po. I hate formality, let's just be casual if it's only the two of us."

"Sige, Kara."

I smiled, satisfied. "Better."

Nang tapos na kaming kumain ay agad na inayos ni Pearl ang mga pinagkainan. Saktong bumukas ang pinto, "Pearl."

Tumingin kaming dalawa sa pintuan at nakita roon si Maximo. Pearl curtsied as a respect. Mabilis namang naglakad paalis si Pearl dala ang cart.

Nang naiwan na lang kaming dadalawa sa aking kwarto ay sinara ni Maximo ang pinto. "You didn't tell me your father's a governor."

"How did you know?"

"Connections." Simpleng sagot ni Maximo. "There are perks of being me. Remember when I told you I had errands to run? I dealt with my connections."

"Ang sabihin mo, pinaimbestigahan mo ako. Tell me more about what you found out."

"Sure." Ngumisi siya at saka naglakad palapit sa akin, he didn't even deny my assumption!

I heard the deep footsteps of his combat boots as he came closer to me. "I found out that you were getting married and you got stood up and that your fiancé is gay. That your family didn't believe you and chose to send you away, in a cruise ship."

"You're like a stalker."

"It is only proper to know those, you're a part of my crew."

"Since you know me already, it is only nothing but proper to tell me also something about you." I smirked. "So, captain, tell me something about you." I challenged.

Tila malalim siyang nag-isip. "What do you wanna know?"

"Anything."

"I'm the king of all pirates, I own this island, I'm the captain of Renaissance Pirates, my eyes have different colors."

I did a mental pout, "I already know all those things."

"And apparently, that's all I am." Sagot naman niya sa akin.

Still not satisfied, I continued. "Okay, what about your family?" Naalala ko ang sinabi ni Pearl sa akin kaninang madaling-araw. Ang mga naninirahan dito ay mga nasa matataas na hierarchy, but she did not include Maximo's family.

I saw Maximo clench his jaw. It seems like I've asked something sensitive.

"Okay, don't mind." Pagbawi ko.

Ngumiti si Maximo sa akin, "I don't have a family." Saad niya. "Anyways, I came here to tell you that we're about to set sail and raid. Isa kang kapitana ng barko, right?" I nodded. "Let's see how competent you are as a captain. If you pass my standards with todays' raid, I'll make you a squadron leader. And if you don't pass, let's not get there." Ngumisi si Maximo, "starfish, I just want to tell you that the pirate council who keeps the order of the pirate world has decided that you prove yourself worthy today. Don't disappoint me now." He whispered to my ears.

Lumunok naman ako dahil sa bawat paghambas ng kan'yang mainit na hininga sa aking tainga. "Wait, I don't get it."

"They want you to prove yourself and to see how competent you are. Impress me, no, impress us. Use your background with ships and commanding for today. Don't worry, I'll be right beside you the entire time, to be your guide. As for now, you better go and take a bath. We'll be sailing in an hour. Marco will come and get you as I will be busy checking Treasure Trove."