Shipwrecked Hearts

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 "Kira, don't you want to go to the dining hall and have dinner with Maximo?" Pearl asked.

Umiling ako, "I can't walk properly. My... private part, it feels sore."

Pearl seemed to be amazed, "wow, so it did happen." Tumango pa siya, nilapit ni Pearl ang kan'yang mukha sa akin, as if waiting for me to tell a story.

"Pearl, I can read your mind. No. I won't tell you what happened."

Lumabi siya.

"Okay, I won't go into details. But yes, we had sex."

Ngumiti si Pearl, halatang tuwang-tuwa. "On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 as the lowest and 10 the highest, how good was he?" 11? I chuckled. "I see." Tumango pa si Pearl kahit na hindi pa ako sumasagot. It seems like the answer was already embedded on my face, perhaps.

Saktong iyon ay bumukas ang pinto. Bumungad naman si Maximo, he was on his night suit, may hila-hila siyang cart ng pagkain, "starfish, are you sick?"

"Maximo, she's sore down there." Tinuro ni Pearl ang aking pagkababae. My jaw dropped, kulang na lang ay lamunin ako ng kama, nagtago ako sa aking kumot. I heard Maximo chuckle, "Pearl."

As if getting what Maximo wants, I heard Pearl storming off the room, leaving me and Maximo alone.

Narinig ko ang paglapit ni Maximo sa akin dahil sa tunog ng cart, "come on, let's eat together." Nanatili akong nakatago sa loob ng aking kumot, "starfish, you don't have to be shy. Come on."

I bit my lips, tila sinusuyo ako ng boses niya. At ako naman si gaga, laging napapasubo. Lumabas na ako sa aking kama. "There's salmon, tuna salad, chicken casserole, and more."

Somehow, the smell made me realize that I was indeed, hungry.

"I'm sorry for being a hassle. I should have went to the dining hall to save you from the trouble."

"Ano ka ba," ngumiti si Maximo, fuck! Did he just speak in Filipino? Damn! Hot! "You're my queen now, you're not a hassle for me." Damn, you're melting my heart! "Plus, it's my fault why you can't walk properly. I'm sorry. I should have been gentler. I will next time."

"No!"

"What?" Kumunot ang noo ni Maximo.

"I mean, no, don't worry about me. I can manage next time."

Maximo chuckled. "So you want it rough?"

Kinuha ko ang unan ko at binato ito sa kan'yang. Agad namang sinalo ito ni Maximo, he was laughing. "I was just kidding, okay?"

Ramdam ko ang pamumula ko. I can't believe he can make me lose my composure!

"Anyways, I have an errand to run at Algaya tomorrow, it's sudden. I'll be sailing there using a registered ship to avoid suspicion of terrorism and all that. I'll leave you and Marco to take charge of the looting, okay?"

"So you're going to the mainland."

"Yeah, I need to. Dirty business." He shrugged, "as much as I want to take you with me, I can't risk it. This mission is very dangerous. I might have a crossfire with random pirates along the way."

"What dirty business, exactly?" Tinignan ko si Maximo sa kan'yang mata, he was wearing his eyepatch once again.

"It's a secret." Maximo smiled. "Well, that's what I want to say but... let's just say it involves trading." I nodded.

"I'll miss you, Starfish." Ngumiti ako sa kan'yang. "We'll be sailing as soon as the sun rises tomorrow." Lumapit si Maximo, he glanced at me then came closer, close enough for him to peck a kiss on my forehead. "I'm going to entrust you to Marco the entire time I am gone." Nagulat ako nang bigla siyang humiga sa tabi ko. "May I sleep here until I sail North, Starfish?" I smiled at him and nodded.

"Thank you." Patagilid siyang humiga, he was facing me. I can't help but face him too while we were laid down. Pinikit ni Maximo ang kan'yang mata, I saw his long eyelashes that framed his almond-like eyes, he's so beautiful.

From the distance, I watched him. His soft and tender breath, nagulat ako nang dumapo ang kan'yang kamay sa aking braso, side-hugging me.

"Good night, Maximo."

He moaned and pulled me closer, then he snaked his other arm beneath me, now fully hugging me. My face was already lying on his muscled chest. I can smell his scent, he wasn't wearing a perfume. But he smelled like of a sunflower garden. It was heavenly.

"Good night, Kira."

And the next thing I knew, I woke up early in the morning with the side of my bed, empty and cold. No sign of Maximo.