Shipwrecked Hearts

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Mabuti na lang at nahanap kami agad ni Excel sa gilid ng talampas. My shoulders were shuddering because of the cold rain. Ramdam ko rin ang malakas na paghampas ng hangin sa aking mukha. From this altitude, I saw the gigantic waves striking against the stone edge of the cliff. It was petrifying, as if the waves are ready to devour everything that stands against its way.

Excel and I slid Maximo's arm into our shoulder. Inangat namin siya at giniya habang naglalakad pabalik sa s'yudad. "We need to get him to the clinic fast." Aniya. "Bumukas ang kan'yang mga sugat." Dagdag nito sabay turo sa tagiliran ng damit ni Maximo kung saan may mantsa ng dugo.

"True..." tanging sagot ko, halos matisod ako ng mga ugat ng punong nakataas. Idagdag mo na ang bigat ni Maximo na aking kaakbay sa mga sandaling ito. Ang kalupaan ay unti-unting napapalitan ng mga ladrilyo hangga't sa nasa mismong kalyehon na kami. Nakita ko si Avalon doon. She was struggling to remove the knot that kept her on her spot. Basang-basa rin siya dahil sa pag-ulan.

"Tanggalin mo ang tali, babalik na lang itong mag-isa sa kuwadra." Saad ni Excel, sumunod naman ako sa kan'yang utos. Saktong natanggal ang pagkabuhol ng alambre ay mabilis pa sa alas kwatro itong tumakbo pabalik sa kastilyo.

After that, we kept moving. Maximo was unconscious. Halos kinakaladkad na nga lang namin siya. I can feel the warmth of his body. Too warm for his own good. Alam kong mas lumala lang ang kan'yang kalagayan dahil sa kan'yang ginawa. But thank God his brain wasn't damage the way Excel said that there is a high possibility that it will happen. That's the only one thing I am thankful for.

Hindi naglaon ay pumasok na kami sa loob ng pasilidad ni Excel. Hindi ko pinansin ang basa kong buhok na halos dumikit sa aking pisngi at noo, gayon din kay Excel. Our clothes were dripping off with beads of water that seemed like tears that glinted because of the dimly lit light. Tumungo kami sa pribadong k'warto ni Maximo. I let Excel do her field of specialty in order to treat Maximo and all that, habang ako naman ay nagpatuyo.

I enveloped myself with the towel as I watched Excel. Pinagmasdan ko lamang siya na lagyan ng bimpo ang noo ni Maximo. She also changed his clothes and I won't even think of the chance that she also changed his wet underwear. He was peacefully sleeping on his bed. He was confined again, with the dextrose sticking through his vein.

Nang tila natapos na siya ay nagpaalam siya upang magbihis muna raw sa taas. I let her and stayed to keep an eye on Maximo. Baka mamaya bigla na naman siyang magising at magdisesyon na naman siyang lumabas nang walang paalam. Matapos ang halos kahalating oras ay bumalik si Excel.

"I prepared a hot bath for you." Aniya.

"Ha?"

"Follow me." Saad ni Excel, nagdalawang-isip akong tumingin kay Maximo. She seemed to notice that I don't want to leave him or keep my eyes off him. Ngumiti siya nang bahagya. "Don't worry, he's fine now."

Lumapit siya kay Maximo na halatang mahimbing ang pagtulog at nilagay ang palad sa leeg nito. "His fever dropped. He just needs a lot of sleep and a peaceful rest. His wound opened up because of his sudden movements, but I already cleaned it to avoid infection. I injected a healing booster on his body so that the duration of his healing time will be fast forwarded thrice." She seemed to notice that I wasn't convinced at all that Maximo is alright.

"And besides, you need to get yourself warmth. You're pale. Baka magkasakit ka, hindi maganda sa kalusugan mo." Right, hindi rin maganda para sa kalusugan ng anak namin ni Maximo...

Tumango ako at tumayo habang nakayakap pa rin ang t'walya sa katawan. Sa bawat paghinga ko ay nakikita ko ang paglabas ng puting usok. I remembered something because of it—when I was a kid, I pretended that I was smoking because of the white smoke that was coming out of my mouth every cold morning.

Naglakad kami palabas, doon ko nang napagtanto na nakabaliktad na ang busol ng pinto. The lock of the knob was from the outside, Excel gave me a playful evil smile as she clicked it close. "For your assurance."

Naglakad kami palabas sa pasilyo. We were greeted by the empty and dark lobby of the morgue and clinic. Tumungo kami sa hagdanan papunta sa pangalawang palapag. This must be Excel's house.

"I prepared you clothes and an unused underwear. I just hope it fits you perfectly since we seem to have the same body built." Hindi ako umimik, nakikinig lang ako sa kan'yang. Hindi pa rin mawari sa aking isip na ang kausap ko ngayon ang rason kung bakit nandito ako sa mundo, kung bakit may kakaiba akong abilidad kompara sa pangkaraniwang mga tao. So this is the power of Science, huh?

Giniya ako ni Excel papunta sa loob ng isang k'warto. Mula sa puting kama nito ay nakita ko ang mga kasuotan. Nakita ko rin ang banyo kung saan may lumalabas na hamog o usok, it must be because of the warm water and its contrasting effect towards the cold afternoon.

"Iwan muna kita para magpainit at maligo. Maghahanda lang ako ng tsaa." Excel stated, "if you need anything, just shout my name."

I nodded. "Thank you."

She gave me a weak smile, "you shouldn't be thanking me." She trailed off. Magsasalita pa sana ako nang tumalikod na siya at saka niya sinara ang pinto.