Shipwrecked Hearts

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It's been a week. It took me days to be fully toured around the fortress of Morti Pier. This stronghold is designed to withstand attacks. Its high walls were built to endure cannons and all sorts. Compared to Anarchist Harbor... this island is more or less, a military fort.

"Bibisita ba si papa?" Tanong ko kay Kid habang naglalakad kami. We're inspecting the ships docked around the harbor. I recognized most, carrying the badge and seal of my father's Marine Sky Corp.

This explains the illegal activities of my father's corporation. Because all this time, Sky Marine Corp. has been an undercover or alias of the Sea Brigands in the actual world, to have their ships move freely around the seas and no one suspecting that it is nothing but a crew of pirates. My father is truly a brilliant man.

"Nah, he's busy recovering. Don't you remember? He got shot by... by the enemy." Kid trailed off the last words, "well, not an enemy, I mean, not an enemy now." He looked at me with his almond-shaped eyes.

"Oh?" I acted like I just found out about it. Even if deep inside, it is already killing me, knowing that I almost killed my father. By accident. Hindi pa ba tapos magplano sina Pearl at Marco? Hindi ko na kaya pa ang isang araw dito... it's already a week, isn't that more than enough time for them to make up a plan?

"Don't worry... at saka isa pa, this is not the place for dad. His domain is the mainland, and soon... he will rule the entire country. Isn't that great?" I faked a smile and nodded, acting like a totally agree. "That's the reason why he left me in command of this fortress, of the Sea Brigands. I run the Sea Brigands and he runs the undercover Sky Marine Corp." I know, I am not stupid not to conclude that after connecting all the dots.

"The election is coming soon. He needs to be out there, with his campaign... so he can win." Kid added. Oh, my father will surely win... all the other candidates has been murdered by his own volition. He is the only remaining candidate for the presidency... even the president himself has been killed. "And since there were certain circumstances. The country is at loss of a president... at dahil malapit na ang halalan, imbes na ang bise presidente ang pumalit sa pwesto ay ililipat ang araw ng halalan sa mas maagang araw. Instead of next month, it will be next week, a day after the president's burial."

"May our president rest in peace." I said solemnly... may he rest in peace along with all the other victims of the crossfire, along with Mermaid and Excel... along with all the innocent lives that suffered from the grasp of my family's hands.

"True to that." Kid answered. "I'm leaving you, Aki. I have to go and do what a pirate has to do."

"You mean raid ships, loot treasures, and all sorts?"

"Oh, you know your thing." Kid smirked, "yes, perhaps, but that is not my case."

"Ano ang ibig mong sabihin?"

"Well, raiding ships is a part of it, but... more likely, I'm going out there and kill. Kill and steal. That's Sea Brigands motto."

My jaw dropped... but I regained myself afterwards, fast enough for Kid to even notice. His standards and Maximo's are very different. Kid is just rotten to the core.

"Is there a need to kill?"

Ngumisi si Kid, "yes... I'll teach you when I come back. After all, dead men tell no tales."

I must admit, he was right... but he doesn't need to teach me how to kill... because I've killed more than a hundred before. I've killed enough to deserve the depths of the fires of hell. Thinking about it makes me think that, somehow, or maybe indeed, I am a psychopath.

Tumigil kami sa harap ng isang barkong kulay abo. Sa tabi naman nito ay namukhaan ko ang barko... Treasure Trove. Sa loob nito ay nakita ko ang pamilyar na lalaki... Marco. He was busy tying the rope of the flag while giving commands to his crew. So, he has become a part of Sea Brigands, now, eh? I wonder if he already knew that Meliodas is already dead.

"I'm off now." Kid waved his goodbye and went aboard the ship. His crew saluted at him stiffly. I smell fear from them. I guess Kid and Maximo are different in some ways people see them too... Maximo is respected, Kid is feared. There is a significant difference between the two concepts.

"Start the engines. We're about to go wreck a ship." Umalingawngaw ang boses niya mula sa kubyerta. Sumandal siya sa barandilyas ng barko at saka tumanaw sa akin pababa, "I'll be back tonight. Do you want anything?"

I want you to die.

I smiled and shook my head. "Have fun."

He winked and nodded. "Oh, sure, I will. I love you." I love you... dead.

"I know." I grinned at him. Don't expect me to tell that to you because the only man I will love with all my heart is Maximo!

Narinig ko ang pag-andar ng barko kasabay ng paglabas ng usok mula sa tsimenea nito. Ang senisadong usok ay tila mga ulap na unti-unting lumulutang sa ere. Kasabay nito ay ang paggalaw ng barko papunta sa karagatan. Pinagmasdan ko ang halos itim na tubig na nilalayag nito. The water here is polluted... compared to the waters of Anarchist Harbor... very blue and clear.

Kasabay ng paglisan ni Kid ay ang pagkaroon ko ng pag-asa. If there is a best time to escape, it is now. It has to be now... today. Kid is gone. He cannot monitor me with him away!