Shipwrecked Hearts

Navigare 24

Naramdaman ko ang pagbagal ng takbo ng barko, tinanaw ko ang bintana mula sa aking cabin at napagtantong nasa isang port kami. Nakatulog pala ako. Bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Marco. May hawak siyang posas. I rolled my eyes, he didn't need to tell me. As it is a waste of time to protest, hinayaan ko na lang na posasan niya ako.

Inutusan niya si Kanoy na hawakan ako sa aking braso upang siguraduhing hindi ako tatakas. Right. We're finally getting out of this ship he has stolen from Maximo. So this is the port of Sta. Klara. Somehow, this place seems abandoned. There were other ships around but they seem old and dysfunctional.

Okay. So we're at an abandoned harbor. Quite a shady place for trading.

Naglakad na kami palabas. The sundeck was still wet from the heavy rain. We went down using a wooden bridge, thank goodness it has a barricade on each side.

Biglang tumunog ang hawak ni Marco na telepono. Sa tabi naman niya ay si Pearl na tahimik lamang. Damn traitors and snakes. "We've arrived. I'm warning you, Mikhael. No dirty business or else. I'll fucking put a bullet into your daughter's skull."

As if teasing, Marco put the phone on loudspeaker, enough for me to hear papa's response. "I know." I can feel how worried he is because of his voice. Papa. I can feel my heart melting. How much I adore him is nothing comparable. But then, after listening to all the bad things he has committed, I am left confused to how great he truly is.

"Good. Now, where shall we negotiate?" Marco asked. Tinignan niya lamang ako at saka nginisihan.

"There is a warehouse located at the center of the abandoned harbor, I'm here. I have the relic with me. Now, I want to hear my daughter to make sure."

"Aye, aye." Marco said in his bored tone. "Say something, babe." He winked at me. I saw how Pearl cringe. Well, I cringed too.

"Papa?"

"Hija?" Papa's voice raised in anticipation. "Did they hurt you? Tell me!"

Sasagot pa sana ako nang takpan ni Marco ang aking bunganga, "well, you've got your request and heard your daughter's voice. We're coming to the warehouse." Pagkatapos ay tinapos na niya ang tawag.

Sinamaan ko na lang ng tingin si Marco. "Huwag ka masyadong masabik. We're walking slowly towards your death, remember? Well, unless you change your mind while you still have time to do that."

"No." Matigas na sagot ko.

He shrugged. "Fine, suit yourself."

Muli kaming naglakad patungo sa warehouse. Ilang sandali ay nakita ko na ang bubong nito. Halatang luma na sapagkat nilulumot at ang pinta'y kumakalas na. Gayon din sa lahat ng mga sirang barko.

Nakita ko ang mga nakahilerang itim na kotse sa paligid. All of it is papa's property. Nang nasa loob na kami ng malaking bodega ay nakita ko si papa kasama ang kan'yang mga armadong tauhan. Naglabas na rin ng armas ang mga tauhan ni Marco.

"Mikhael Kara." May bahid ng galit sa boses ni Marco, "how I've waited for this moment. To see the killer of my parents."

Please deny it, papa. Please... linawin mo sa aming lahat na hindi ikaw ang gumawa nito.

"I should have killed you and your brother too when I had the chance. It was a big mistake to let you live out of mercy." I looked at papa in disbelief after he said all those words, those words that confirmed how dangerous and evil he is. That this highly man I saw before in him was nothing but a scapegoat. Tumingin si papa sa akin, "hija, I'm saving you. I promise."

Somehow, those words sounded sweet and loathsome. I can't look at him without feeling a little sense of disgust, but he is my father and he truly cares for me. I should not judge him for whatever wrong he has done, right?