Shipwrecked Hearts

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It's been a week already. Today is the day where Maximo gets discharged. Well, he should still be confined but he was stubborn and kept reasoning out that he has a lot of works to do—first, the paper works that are probably piled up on his office, second, he misses raiding and I cannot agree even more. Dahil makulit siya ay pinayagan siya ni Excel, in one strict condition, he avoids doing strenuous activities and only engage in light movements and of course, take his prescribed medication on time.

Sinabi na rin ni K kay Maximo na siya si Excel. She explained her side of the story, that she has nothing to do with the parents' death of her genetically designed subjects. That it was a plot of the government in finding the link that connects them to hers, to find her and steal her formula which she has long burnt, and those papers—they only remain in her head now.

Gaya ko, nahirapan si Maximo sa pagproseso ng lahat. But it all made sense to him on the part that he saw this tiny boat floating in the middle of nowhere, with a lady on board—with sunburnt skin and dry-cracked lips that looked pale.

Going back to reality, I really am struggling trying to tie the ribbon on my back to officially leash this dress that I personally picked on the walk-in closet. I don't know but there is this crave to be fashionable at all times which is not like me since I only care how I look seldomly.

Kaya naman abala ako sa pag-aayos sa aking sarili sa harap ng dresser. I should look very presentable to this special day. Halos pagpawisan ako habang tinatali ang aking bestida sa likuran nito. If only Pearl or Mermaid was here... I cannot believe I lost the only girls I considered as someone dear to me. Especially Mermaid.

Bumuntong-hininga ako at binaling na lamang ang iniisip. This day shouldn't be spoiled. I plastered a smile on my face, but it didn't reach my eyes somehow, because after the discharge of Maximo, we proceed to the burial of Mermaid whose real name is Serene.

My eyes traced the velvety fabric of the black dress I picked. The geometric shapes embroidered on each tip. The dress was fit but not too tight, this is why I chose this, because I feel comfortable in it. Pagkatapos ay inayos ko ang aking buhok at nagsuot ng itim na sombrero. S'yempre, hindi mawawala ang sinturon na puluhan ng aking mga matutulis na sampung punyal. After all the things that happened, you'll be paranoid to the point that you're going to keep weapons with you to feel a little bit safe.

Nang matapos akong mag-ayos ng sarili ay biglang bumukas ang pinto. I saw Nick poking his head in, "hindi ka ba tinuruan na kumatok muna?" Suddenly, it felt like Marco all over again. I remember his childish banter before. How he said knocking was a waste of time and how he calculated so damn fast.

"I'm sorry, Kira." Aniya, but he didn't look sorry at all. I felt his pungent gaze checking me out. Siguro naninibago siya dahil ngayon lang ako nagsuot ng itim na damit. I am not even sure I picked the style that complimented me very well. He raised both his eyebrows and puckered his lips in contentment, "I'll knock next time. But let's go, Maximo is waiting."

Halos nalaglag ang panga ko sa aking narinig, "what? He's already out?"

"Yeah." He shrugged. It seems like I was too engrossed with picking the best dress that I forgot the time. Silly me. "He's at the lobby, he asked me to come and fetch you since he cannot really move that much for now. Mermaid's funeral starts at 10, it's 9:40 already." He was gently telling me to move fast. I can smell that in his tone like it was a matter of fact.

Tumalikod na siya at umalis, tila sinasabing sundan ko siya. Nagmadali kong sinuot ang aking sandals at lumabas na. Sinundan ko siya papunta sa malawak na lobby kung saan nakita ko si Maximo. He was wearing a black tuxedo. The simple and plain one—he looked regal in it, as if no matter how unadorned the clothes he wears, he can manage to make it all look so grand. My eyes landed on the black cane he was holding on, up to his black eyepatch.

Lumapit ako sa kan'yang. Habang naglalakad ako palapit ay pumapasok sa aking ilong ang kan'yang amoy. Tila naramdaman niya ang presens'ya ko at binaling niya ang tingin sa akin. His eye seems to enthrall me and my being, ngumiti ako. Tila bumagal ang oras sa mga sandaling ito. Naglakad siya palapit sa akin. We were gradually closing in our distance. When we were in front of each other, we did not talk. We simply exchanged glances like it was our first time seeing each other.

"Starfish."

"Maximo."

"Let's go."

He offered me his hand and I genuinely accepted it. I didn't need to ask where. Mermaid was a special girl not only to me, but for Maximo as well. She's the little sister I never had.

We walked side-by-side. May karwahe namang naghihintay sa labas ng kastilyo. Sumakay kami roon. Sa gitna ng biyahe ay ramdam ko ang malalim na pag-iisip ni Maximo. Hindi ko mawari kung ano iyon.

"A lot of things happened, huh?"

Tumango ako at saka binaling ang tingin mula sa bintana papunta sa kan'yang. "to say a lot is an understatement."

Maximo chuckled darkly, "I swear I'm going to kill Kid, Starfish." May bahid ng galit sa boses ni Maximo. He was suppressing it with his coldness. Nakita ko ang pamumuo ng kamao niya sa kan'yang dalawang mga kamay, tila nagpipigil. "He killed his daughter, that bastard."

I understand how he feels. I understand why he was mad. Gusto kong magsalita, ngunit tahimik lang ako. Hindi ko alam kung paano mapapagaan ang pakiramdam Maximo. I am not good at comforting other people. I cannot really empathize well, and mostly, when I try to say something, I end up hurting others and making things worse.

Kaya naman napagdisesyonan kong hawakan na lang si Maximo sa kan'yang kamay upang ipaalam na hindi siya nag-iisa rito. Na andito ako upang tulungan siya sa pagbitbit ng mga karga niyang problema.

Tumigil ang karwahe sa gitna ng sadsaran ng mga bapor. Lumabas ako at nakita ang karagatan na walang bahid ng kahit anong mga barko. It seems like the island cleared itself of the ships. "Where are the ships?"