Shipwrecked Hearts

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Nagpaalam si Maximo at hinayaan akong magpahinga, he said he has recovered and he needed to take charge. Mabuti na lang at bago sumabog ang barko ay naka-dive siya papunta sa tubig, somehow, the water ensured he didn't burn, but since it was fast, he never got the chance to breathe, causing him to lose consciousness due to lack of air.

Pinikit ko ang aking mga mata. I can feel the heaviness of my body, maybe I am just really tired. I've been too reckless trying to save Maximo. It was a good thing Charles got my order correctly and carried it out flawlessly. I suddenly felt lightheaded as the waves of consciousness take me to neverland.

"Aki, I love you." Hinalikan ako ni kuya sa gilid ng aking labi. "You know that, right?"

Ngumiti ako. "Opo, kuya. Mahal na mahal ko rin kayo." Tugon ko.

Kuya's smile widened, but somehow, it didn't reach his eyes. "Kuya, is there something wrong?" I pouted.

Umiling si kuya. "Nothing's wrong." He suddenly held my hand. "Nothing."

Napamulat ako. Ramdam ko ang pagkirot ng aking ulo, siguro dahil sa bigla kong pagkagising. I tried to recall my dream but failed to. What was that all about?

Bumukas ang pinto at bumungad si Maximo, "we're home."

Tumango naman ako at bumangon na, sumunod ako kay Maximo, lumabas kami sa cabin at sinalubong kami ng aming crew, they all saluted as we went down towards the border of the island where the ship was finally anchored. Mula sa baba ay nakita ko ang kabuuan ng Double Deck, it was badly damaged. I can see holes that were temporarily covered by the maintenance team. Perhaps we really needed the retreat to strategize.

Retreating doesn't mean you are defeated. And basing on the things that happened today, Maximo and I— we aren't really invincible. No matter how extraordinary we are, or he is, he will still be a human. We're all humans. We have our own boundaries, something that keeps us within the horizons of reality.

Dumiretso kami agad sa palasyo. Si Maximo ay humiwalay sa akin upang kausapin ang pirate council patungkol sa pagtatraydor din ni Meliodas. Napagdisesyonan ko namang tumungo sa aking chamber para maligo. I can feel how sticky my skin was already after I dived into the ocean to save Maximo.

Sinalubong ako ni Mermaid sa pasilyo, "Ate Kira!" Niyakap niya ako sa aking binti, ngumiti naman ako at lumuhod upang pantayan siya. "Ate, bakit parang hindi pantay ang buhok n'yo?" Aniya sabay kuha ng ilang hibla ng buhok ko.

Naalala ko na nadaplisan ng kalaban ang buhok ko. "It's a long story." I mumbled.

"Talaga? Sige, kwento mo na, Ate!"

"You're too young to hear such a gore." I reasoned out kindly.

"I love gore!" Tila kumislap ang kan'yang mga mata, halatang nagpapakyut na siya sa akin kaya naman bumuntong-hininga ako. Mahirap tanggihan ang bata!

"Mermaid, as much as I want to tell you, I can't. I don't want your mind to be corrupted at such a young age, okay?"

"If I were you, I won't underestimate that kid." Lumingon ako nang may isang lalaki ang biglang nagpakita. I am not sure who he is, but looking at his fine suit and how he can walk freely around the palace, I am guessing he is one of the pirate captains who swore allegiance to Maximo. He bowed to me elegantly, "Joziah, milady." He grinned, showcasing his perfect set of teeth. "I'm the captain of Revolution, I swore allegiance to the Order and I've got a hundred ships under my command." He introduced.

"Maximo has thousands." I smirked.

Ngumiti lamang si Joziah. "Kuya Ziah!" Napatingin ako kay Mermaid nang bigla siyang tumakbo papunta sa lalaki at hagkan ito.

"Hey, Mermaid." Ngumiti ito sa bata.

Pumeke ako ng tikhim, "what do you mean I shouldn't underestimate her, by the way?" I asked, tinuro ko naman si Mermaid.

"She has killed before." He said in a serious voice. I looked at Mermaid, that innocent and angelic face? No. I won't believe it. "In fact, Mermaid just killed a guy today."

"Kuya Ziah is telling the truth, Ate Kira." Ngumiti pa si Mermaid. Is this supposed to be a joke? If it is, it's not funny. It's so bad!

"What do you mean she just killed a guy today?" Kumunot ang noo ko't tumingin ako kay Mermaid, tinignan ko siya nang mataman—there was no sign of wavering, as if everything was true. Okay, why is it like I am believing this lie? I mean, I am not that gullible.

"Exactly what it means." Joziah grinned, pulling me back to the threads of reality. "This little devil is a perfect assassin which is why she is an asset to Maximo's chessboard. May dahilan kung bakit gusto si Mermaid ng ibang mga pirata. She showcases an ability that is far from normal, a very extraordinary and rare gift. Her voice can hypnotize when she sings. I heard your case is the same."

"Hehe." Mermaid smiled wider. Halata ang tuwa sa kan'yang mukha dahil sa mga papuring binibigay sa kan'yang ni Joziah.

It seems like this guy knows a lot of things, especially the secret between my ability to detect the weather. He must be someone who knows. I should ask him sometimes, but right now, my curiosity is eating me away. I just needed to know...

"So, who is this guy you are claiming she killed?" I asked.

"Meliodas."