Shipwrecked Hearts

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Sa sobrang daming problema ay hindi namin alam kung saan kami magsisimula ni Maximo. Ano ba ang uunahin namin? Ang pagsalba sa Treasure Trove at pagkitil sa buhay ng mga natirang traydor kasama sina Pearl at Eli? Ang paghanap kay Kid kung saang dako man siya ng mundo nagtatago? Ang pagsigurado sa seguridad ng buhay ng mga magulang ko mula sa kamay ng gobyernong nais malaman kung nasaan si Excel at paano makuha ang kan'yang dyurnal?

Come to think of it, isang linggo na lang ay eleksyon na. There's a tradition that is always held. There will be a presidential debate to all the running candidates for presidency to see their plans and all the sorts. This island is pretty much secluded from the actual civilization, so people here aren't to vote. This island isn't even a part of the country, this island is a country itself. They have a separate system of politics, something that is close to monarchy. Perhaps it is monarchy itself.

"Starfish, what do you want to handle first?"

"I choose my parents." Tumingin ako sa mga mata ni Maximo. He isn't wearing any eyepatch today. I somehow saw his pupils dilating. "Please, Maximo... their lives are in danger. Hindi man sila naging mabuting magulang sa akin, mga magulang ko pa rin sila."

And I know that as a fact... I can smell the danger that my parents are about to face. Only Maximo and I can face that danger. Only him and I can save them. They only wanted the best for me, and their best somehow wasn't the 'best' that I saw. It was a personal and subjective matter, which I just realized now.

"I understand your point. I know the feeling of losing your parents. I don't want you to feel the same," niyakap ako ni Maximo, sinandal ko naman ang aking ulo sa kan'yang matigas na dibdib. I felt his fingers coming the strands of my hair, "I'll respect your choice as my queen and right hand."

Ngumiti ako at saka ko pinikit ang aking mga mata. "So, when do we set sail to the main island?"

"Tomorrow's first light. I'll bring the best men with me." Nang natapos ang aming yakapan ay sinandal ni Maximo ang kan'yang noo sa akin. Kung may papasok dito sa silid kung saan nagpupulong ang mga lupon, tiyak iisipin nila na naghahalikan kami. I bid no mind, though. It was only Maximo that matters at this point of time, just him. As much as possible, I want to savor every moment I can get. "You have to sleep well, okay?"

"Okay."

Ngumiti siya at lumuhod. Kinarinyo niya ang aking sinapupunan at iniwan ito ng isang malambot na halik. "Good night, baby... or babies." He grinned. Namula naman ako. Hindi ko alam kung nagbibiro ba siya noong sinabi niya na gusto niya ng quadruplets, but seeing his face... he was deadly serious about it. "I'll walk you to your chamber."

Tumango naman ako. We walked side by side. Nakita ko ang toreng halos ilang araw lang inayos, ganoon kabilis ang mga manggagawa dito. Tila walang nangyari. Ang mga pasilyong dating puno ng dugo at mga bangkay ay malinis at makintab ang marmol. Iisipin mong tila panaginip lamang ang lahat ng nangyari.

Tumigil kami sa harap ng aking k'warto. Nagpaalam na si Maximo ngunit hindi ako umimik. Tumalikod na siya at akmang aalis nang hawakan ko siya sa kan'yang braso, stopping him on his tracks. He turned to face me, "what's the matter, Starfish?"

"Can't we sleep together?" I bit my lips. Halos kainin ko na rin ang aking mga sinabi. The words came out like muffled sounds. I don't know... I was too shy at this point. This must be the pregnancy talking, masyado na lang pabigla-bigla ang lahat.

Nakita ko naman ang ngiting biglang sumilay sa kan'yang mga mapupulang labi, "I thought you'd never ask that." He winked and changed his course. He walked with his big steps towards my room. "Come on, maaga pa tayo bukas."

~~~

"Starfish, wake up."

I moaned. Who the heck is waking me up? Can't this somebody see that I was having a great sleep? Kunot-noo kong minulat ang aking mga mata. Bumungad ang mukha ni Maximo na halos ilang pulgada na lamang ang layo sa akin.

Sinimangutan ko siya. Sinuklian naman niya ako ng ngiti. "Hey, you need to get changed. We'll be leaving in an hour. I already assembled the men and asked Nick to inspect the Royal Renaissance ship."

I hissed. "Ten minutes, please."

"C'mon, if you don't get up, I'll undress you myself."

Tila nabuhayan ako dahil sa kan'yang sinabi. Mabilis pa sa alas-kwatro akong bumangon, dahil sa pagkabuhol-buhol ng kumot sa aking katawan ay halos matisod ko ang aking sarili. Pinikit ko ang aking mga mata nang naramdaman kong babagsak na ako sa sahig, with my face first, I braced myself for impact.

Sa gitna ng isang segundo, naisip ko na sana isang cliché na eksena ito kung saan ang leading male ay sasaluhin ako. Ngunit nang imulat ko nang kaunti ang kanang mata ko, nakita ko ang mabilis na paggalaw ni Maximo, imbes sana na saluhin niya ako ay humiga siya sa sahig kung saan ako tatama.

Bam.

My face hit his hard chest. The fact that he was topless didn't help. My lips kissed his... the pinkish spot. "Starfish, walang gatas."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. I struggled to stand on my feet. Tinanggal ko ang kumot at saka binato ito kay Maximo. He just grabbed it with a hearty laugh.

"C'mon, sabay na tayong maligo."

I glared at him. "P'wede mo naman sana akong saluhin."

"Next time, I will." He winked.