Shipwrecked Hearts

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I cried myself to sleep. Perhaps because of the exhaustion as well. The familiar room I grew up with felt so bizarre, it felt like it wasn't home anymore. Naalala ko ang aking chamber sa palasyo ng Anarchist Harbor. I only stayed there for a week—but it felt like it was a place in my heart where the number of years I've spent here wouldn't compare.

Tumingin ako sa malaking bintana ng silid, napagtanto ko namang gabi na. I was feeling hungry, too, kaya napagdesisyonan kong bumaba muna sa bahay at tumungo sa kusina. I'm sure nandoon si Lola Asuncion at abala sa pagluluto. I smiled. Right. Sabik na akong kumain ng mga luto niya.

I was about to pass the living room when I saw papa and mama, may kasama silang iba pa. Kumunot ang noo ko nang mamukhaan ko ang bisita. Si Tito Naharis, the father of Vanz. What is he doing here? Wait, there's someone else. I think it's his wife, Tita Vanesa.

Kumuyom ang kamao ko nang nakita ko si Vanz na kasama nila. Fucking closet ass. Don't be deceived by looks, I tell you. He's gay, I know it. The videos I saw, him, sucking a man off doesn't lie, especially that there is a small mole right on his upper lips.

"Don't worry, Vanz, we're locking Akira up to make sure her security." Saad ni papa. Halos malaglag ang panga ko dahil sa aking narinig. What the hell are they talking about? They're gonna lock me up? Isn't that the same with being a hostage?

So, my family will hold me as a captive, is that it?

"Now that she is here, we'll pursue the marriage." Tugon ni mama. Halatang nasasabik na dahil sa kan'yang boses. Sumilip ako mula sa madilim na pasilyo, it's obvious they didn't know someone was watching. Me. But that's better, I want to know what their plans for me are. "Though her mental health is not well, she was after all, abducted. We need to get her psychologically checked."

What. The. Hell. Ano ito? Itatrato nila akong baliw?

"Dapat nga, tita." Vanz chuckled. Gay ass. "Mamaya ipagsigawan na naman niyang bakla ako." Bakit hindi ba? Utot mo. "Dapat nga magpasalamat siya at papakasalan ko siya."

"Haha. Oo nga." Pagsang-ayon ni mama.

Tumikhim si papa at tumingin silang lahat sa kan'yang. "Kailan plano ituloy ang kasal?"

"As early as possible." Sagot ni Tita Vanesa, tumango pa si Tito Naharis na tila ito ang pinaka-obyos na gawin. "Though as you said, we need to make sure she is mentally well."

"What happened to her, by the way? She mysteriously disappeared at the cruise ship. It was also reported that all items like jewelries and money were gone too." Tito Naharis said.

"Let's not talk about that anymore, Don Naharis." Ngumiti si papa nang may pagdadalawang-isip. "Ang mahalaga ay nagbalik na siya."

Vanz shrugged as if it didn't matter. I looked at him and felt nothing but disgust. Sino ang iniisip niya sa tuwing naghahalik kami noon? Goosebumps. I have nothing against gays, but I hold a grudge against gays like Vanz, who uses other people as scapegoats.

If only my phone wasn't destroyed by Maximo, ikakalat ko ang kan'yang scandal! Bakit nga ba hindi ko pa kinalat noon? Ah, right. Masyado akong nabulag sa pagmamahal. Putanginang pag-ibig na iyan. But then...

Maximo. The sudden thought of him made me feel hollow again. I sighed. Where was he? Pinikit ko ang aking mga mata at naalalang ang sinabi niyang dirty business ay magaganap sa Algaya.

Bumalik ako sa huwisyo nang magsalita si papa, "I'll excuse myself now, everyone. Kakausapin ko pa ang mga tauhan ko na bantayan si Akira, she'll be guarded 24/7. We don't know if there are still people out there after her, or if they have already brainwashed her and that she'll escape. This is why we seek for professional help. And don't worry, we'll lock her up."

"Isn't that too much?" Tita Vanesa's voice was touched with concern. I rolled my eyes. Isn't she asking the obvious already?

Nang mag-sink in muli ang sinabi ni papa sa aking utak ay tila sumikip ang dibdib ko, tila nakalimutan ko na ang nadarama kong gutom. Mabilis sa alas-kwatro akong umakyat papunta sa aking kwarto. I locked the door.

I was calm and composed. Naglakad ako papunta sa aking wardrobe, hinagis ko sa malamig na marmol ang mga damit ko roon, sa pinakababa ay nakita ko ang mga armas ko. They were all gifts from papa.

Kinuha ang itim na bag sa tabi at nilagay ang lahat ng pwedeng kunin na magkakasya sa bag. Grenades, daggers, handguns, telescope, rope, traps, and others. I zipped it close. As I was still wearing my pirate suit, I slid a gun around my waist with its jacket.

It's obvious. I'll fucking leave this hellhole. And here I thought my parents will finally see my worth after all the days I was gone, I was wrong. Mas lumala sila. Especially papa. I despise him with all my heart.