Shipwrecked Hearts

Navigare 38

Umupo kami ni Maximo sa dalawang silyang nakap'westo sa kabisera ng mesa. Tumingin ako sa lahat ng mga tao, they were all man of power. I was the only lady in the room, somehow, it made me worried. After all, every man in this room has the aura that demanded respect. They are all powerful. Tumingin ako kay Maximo. I was overwhelmed by the aura he was manifesting—it was godly. He removed his eyepatch and put it down on the table. Afterwards, he tapped his fingers, creating a rhythmic beat.

"Let's all start. I'll cut the chase. You're all gathered here today to decide on the punishment that Marco and his crew must be charged with while considering all the crimes he has committed, the degree of it, and all that."

"He is your right hand." May isang matandang boses ang umalingawngaw, it's one of the pirate councils.

"Anastasio, Marco is already an exile, he no longer belongs to the hierarchy of the order. That means he is no longer my right hand." Maximo explained. "Do not worry too much on the order as I've already announced an election amongst the pirates who is deemed fit to be my right hand, but as of now, there comes a higher priority, and that is how we deal with Marco."

"Bago iyan, alam mo ba kung nasaan siya nagsusuot?" Tanong ng isang lalake.

"I've already gathered all the necessary intel for this matter. What's left is to decide whether he lives or die." May nilabas si Maximo sa kan'yang papel. "Here are the crimes he has committed. First, he broke his oath, making him a traitor to me and my crown. Second, he has abducted my queen." Hinawakan ni Maximo ang aking kamay, "used her for trading, attempting to kill her. Third, he has stolen one of my ships, the Treasure Trove. In accordance to our law, he is denounced for capital punishment, I will not shame his honor by declaring that he must be hung, but a suitable yet honorable death—to walk the plank along with his crew."

I gazed at Maximo's stoned face. I know he was trying hard to hide his true feelings, but I can see it in his eyes, he was mad and sad. Marco, after all, is one of his most trusted friends, he wasn't named the right hand of the king for nothing. It must pang his heart to an extent I can never think of. Then he decides to stab him on his back.

"Everyone in favor of letting him walk the plank, raise your hands." Maximo asked. I looked around and saw Meliodas at the corner, his hands balled into a fist. When he saw me looking at him, he looked away and walked out of the room.

Everyone in the room raised their hand, except me. Tumingin naman silang lahat sa akin. "Starfish?" Maximo asked, "your vote is crucial in this matter."

I debated inside my head whether I should or not. Kumuyom ang kamao ko, galit ako kay Marco, of course, but I also understand why he did that. We all do things we never ought to do when we are angry. Siguro nadala lang siya sa kan'yang emos'yon.

'But that doesn't change the fact that he tried to kill you.' My mind whispered. "What is your vote, our queen?" Tanong ng isa sa mga council.

"I... I..." humugot ako ng malalim na hininga, it seems like I am facing one of the hardest decisions. I've already expected this to happen. So, what will I choose? "I think it's better to opt for a life imprisonment along with the other traitors."

"And why is that?" Maximo asked, not in a challenging way. For a second, I thought he smiled. He seems relieved.

"Walking the plank is too easy. Life imprisonment is harder than dying. That'll give Marco more time to think of his actions, his conscience and guilt will surely eat him to the core, for life, until his death."

"Well, then, you heard the queen. Those in favor of her suggestion, raise your hand." Isa-isang nagsitaasan ng kamay ang mga nakaupo.

May nagbilang sa mga nagtaas, "it's a tie." Saad nito.

"Nah, I haven't voted yet." Maximo smirked, "I vote for life imprisonment."

"Well then, life imprisonment it is." Saad ng isa sa mga council. "We leave this matter unto your hands, Maximo." Saad ng pinakapangulo ng council, tumayo na silang lahat at lumabas.

~~~

It's been an hour since the meeting and since it was decided that Marco and his crew will face life imprisonment. Maximo discussed towards the chosen pirates the plan for capturing Marco while ensuring he won't die, of course, I was one of the chosen ones. The operation will be conducted tomorrow, at first light. According to Maximo, Marco failed to side with the Sea Brigands, saying they have no room for a traitor like him. Hindi ko alam kung saan niya nakuha ang impormas'yon, but I am guessing, may espiya siya sa loob ng kalaban.

Apparently, there is a tracker placed on Treasure Trove, well, all Maximo's ships have. That is to keep track. Dahil nauuhaw ako ay napagdisesyonan kong uminom. Lalabas na sana ako nang bumukas ang pinto at bumungad si Meliodas. "I heard what you did at the meeting."

"I saw you around the corner but you left."

"He's still my brother, you know. I couldn't stand standing there while y'all plan how to deal with him." There was anger in his voice, ngunit mas nangingibabaw ang lungkot. Alam ko naman na, all this time, he has been acting tough, like he doesn't care about Marco, but deep inside, he was dying while worrying how he is doing and all that. I know nothing can justify the means of Marco. Nothing will. Only justice for what he has done. I guess Meliodas is trying to understand that by pretending that he somehow, doesn't care.

"Marco is still a child, that's why I keep calling him li'l bro. Because he acts like one sometimes. Letting his feelings control him rather than controlling his feelings instead."

"I know." I patted Meliodas on his shoulder to comfort him, that's all I can muster to say. I am not good with comforting other people. I am not relational.

"He's the only family I've got." Meliodas' voice cracked, "thank you for suggesting life imprisonment instead of capital punishment." At this point of juncture, Meliodas was talking to me as a brother. It made him so vulnerable. I wanted to say something, to comfort him, but no words came out of my mouth anymore. "I really am thankful." I simply smiled while letting his words sink in into my thoughts. He shouldn't be thanking me for it—it's worse than death. The worst. Death is better than being imprisoned for your entire life. At least, your agony won't be prolonged—at least with death, you can finally rest in peace, either in heaven or hell.

And that's when I realized... That perhaps, I truly am a psychopath. Deep inside. Perhaps, perhaps.