Shipwrecked Hearts

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"Maximo?"

He approached me with his long steps and nodded. Halata ang pagtataka sa kan'yang mukha kung bakit ako nandito. But I can see the recognition in his eyes, halata ring namangha siya sa akin.

"What you did was sexy." He chuckled as he looked around. The policemen were out cold on the cement. "We just got here then I heard a voice. You called out my name, I thought it was strange to hear your voice here since you're supposed to be raiding with Marco, but out of curiosity, I came to check out and I saw you, fighting, completely outnumbered. I was about to help you but it seems like you enjoyed. So I just watched and I thought I'd like to see what you got, and yes," tumigil siya sa aking harapan at saka nilahad ang kamay, I was still rooted down on the cold floor, tinanggap ko ang kan'yang kamay at hinayaan siyang alalayan akong tumayo. "You got me." Bulong ni Maximo sa aking tainga.

"There's something I need to tell you." Kinagat ko ang babang-labi ko. I know he doesn't know yet that Marco and his crew, and Pearl, they're all traitors.

"Okay, tell me. I'm curious why you're here."

Magsasalita sana ako para magpaliwanag nang biglang lumitaw si Meliodas, "Maximo, the car is ready." Tumingin siya sa akin at kumunot-noo, halatang nagtataka kung ano ang ginagawa ko rito. Pinasadahan niya rin ng tingin ang mga lalaking walang malay.

"Mag-usap na lang tayo sa biyahe." Aniya. I can feel my heart melting, ibang klase siyang mag-Filipino! I can't help but love his foreign accent and the way he speaks my mother tongue. It was lovely.

Maximo took my backpack loaded with weapons for me, I feel the weight banishing, ngumiti lang sa akin si Maximo. I can see his toned muscles flexing as he carried the weight. Then the veins. Wow. I can't help but smile, Maximo is right here. Right beside me. Destiny has brought us back together.

Sumakay na kaming dalawa sa likod ng van, sa gitna naman ay si Meliodas kasama ang isang lalaki, his face is familiar since he's one of the squadron leaders as well.

"Tell me." Maximo said. Saktong iyon ay nagmaneho na ang driver ng sasakyan. Where were we going? It doesn't matter, I guess. As right now, I should be telling Maximo the things he needed to know.

Kwinento ko ang lahat ng nangyari. Simula sa paggising ko kaninang umaga hanggang sa pagtraydor nina Marco sa akin. Maximo was unusually calm, ngunit nakita ko ang kaunting pag-igting ng kan'yang panga, he was mad. I can sense it. So I held his hand. Tinuloy kong magkwento, mula sa pagtakas ko kina papa papunta dito sa Algaya at ang paghabol sa akin ng mga tauhan niya, at ng mga pulis na kinalaban ko kanina. I told every detail.

Tahimik lang naman si Meliodas sa harap. I know he can hear me. Nakita ko siyang bumuntong-hininga, hinilot din niya ang kan'yang sentido.

"Well, he has shown his true colors. He's nothing but an enemy now. I'm going to deal with him later and take back Treasure Trove." Maximo's cold voice sent chills to my spine, tumingin ako kay Meliodas, he doesn't seem to be showing any sign of outrage, but I know deep inside, he was mad at Marco.

Maximo then looked at me with his eye and it seems like the coldness was molten into nothing, "I'm sorry if I was never there beside you during those moments, Starfish." I can feel the sincerity in his voice.

Pinisil ko ang kan'yang kamay, "what happened was inevitable, Maximo, hindi naman natin in-anticipate na ganoon ang mangyayari. It's okay now."

"No. It's not. I shouldn't have left you. I was too careless. I swear I won't leave you ever again." Determinadong pangako niya.

We were silent the whole trip. As I was slowly getting eaten by my curiosity, I broke the ice. "Saan tayo pupunta?"

"To where the dirty business lies." Maximo said, "it's quite dangerous that's why I decided it was best if you didn't come, but since I swore I won't leave you ever again, make sure you're always beside me. Even if you're a skilled fighter."

Ngumiti naman ako. All my worries were finally gone. My old family. Vanz. Everything. That's when I remembered, I was no longer Akira Kara, but Kira Renaissance. My family now is Maximo. Akira Kara is dead. Perhaps that is why I never felt at home when I was at the hacienda. That's why I was constantly seeking for the sea. For Maximo.

"Bakit naman delikado?" I asked.

"We're attending an underground auction, or rather, we are the ones in charge of the items to be auctioned. Expect that there will be gangs out there who'd rather resort to guns and blood than just simply paying with money to get the items."

Maximo and I talked. Tahimik lang ang iba naming mga kasama. Alam kong nakasunod din sa amin ang iba pang pirata. Tumigil kami sa harap ng isang matayog na gusali. Tila nawawala sa lugar ito sapagkat nasa gitna ito ng bukiran ng Algaya. I looked at the name of the building—Marina Restaurant & Hotel.

"The hotel won't be receiving any other guests besides us and those who were invited for the auction. We'll be staying at the topmost floor, the other half will be vacated by our crew. The auction will be done at the basement. It'll be tomorrow. But we came early to inspect the whole place up and make sure about its security."

I get it why this was the perfect venue for illegal auctions. This place doesn't seem so shady at all and it is at the middle of nowhere. No one would suspect it.

Pumasok na kami sa loob. We were greeted by the receptionist, a faint recognition hit her when Maximo removed his eyepatch, afterwards, sinuot niya ulit ito. Tumingin si Maximo sa kan'yang mga tauhan. "Do as what you all had been instructed during our voyage."

"Aye, Maximo." Sabay na sagot nila at agad silang naghiwa-hiwalay. Nawala sa tingin ko si Meliodas. It didn't matter. It is not like we have anything to talk with. Or perhaps there is, about his brother.

Sumakay na kami ni Maximo sa elevator. It was only the two of us. Dahil may proper lighting na ay ngayon ko lang napansin na madungis pala ako. It must be because of the fight I was involved. Marumi ang aking damit, malagkit din ang aking balat dahil sa pawis. I realized, wala pala akong dalang damit.

"Maximo, can I go out to shop for clothes that I'll be wearing tonight and tomorrow?"

"Isn't it that people are looking for you out there?"

Tumango ako.

"Then no, mag-uutos na lang ako ng tauhan na bilhan ka. What is it, exactly?"

"Um, a dress or shirt, whatever, then shoes and a slipper, please? Tapos, ano, um," I played with my fingers as I feel my cheeks redden.

"Tapos?" Maximo asked.

"Undergarments." I blurted out. I saw Maximo's upper and corner lip raise.

"Do you want to use my underwear instead?" Maximo whispered.

Tinaasan naman ako ng balahibo. "H-Ha? A-Ano ang pinagsasabi mo."

Biglang tinusok ni Maximo ang aking pisngi at saka siya tumawa, "silly you, I was only teasing." He chuckled, tila gusto ko nang lamunin ako ng sahig ng elevator dahil sa kahihiyan ko.

Bumukas ang pinto, thank God! Agad naman akong lumabas, "Kira, here's the key to our room." Aniya at saka niya binato ang keycard. Agad ko naman itong nasalo kahit na hindi nakatingin. "I'll just call someone to go and buy you clothes. As you seem to really need a shower, you can shower already."