Shipwrecked Hearts

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Mabilis akong bumalik sa aking k'warto sa ikaanim na palapag. Nadatnan ko naman si Pearl sa loob at winawalis ang sahig kahit na wala namang alikabok o ano. "Pearl... Kid is gone. The escape has to be today. Tell me, may plano na kayo, right?"

Tumingin sa akin si Pearl, "yes." Sagot nito. I felt my heart leapt in joy. Finally! Tinuro ni Pearl ang mga damit na nakatupi't nakalapag sa kama. "Wear that. We'll get you out of here at 12PM."

Kinuha ko ang damit. The folded sheet fell down... it was a dress... may hijab din ito. This is exactly what Pearl is wearing right now. I stood, confused. "This is your dress."

"Yes... because you're going to pretend to be me."

"Huh?"

"Look, Kira... I lied to you. Marco never agreed to this, nor planned to save you. All this time, it was only me. He hates you and your family, kahit pa man na kasali siya sa Sea Brigands... he believes that in order to win against your enemy, you have to keep your enemy closer. That is the only reason why he has become a part of this anarchist."

"Hindi ko maintindihan, Pearl." Sagot ko sa kan'yang.

"I want you to pretend to be me, Kira. If possible, never speak. Lalo na kapag nasa loob ka ng Treasure Trove. Lahat ng tao roon ay kalaban mo. Mamayang hapon ay lalayag sina Marco papunta sa mainland upang mag-import ng mga baril. Of course, wherever Marco goes, I go... pero sa ngayon, magpapaiwan ako dito. Nobody will suspect that you are me... magpapanggap din ako na ako ay ikaw. I'll just stay locked in this room."

"You mean to say... Marco has no part in this?" Ngayon lang nag-sink in sa aking isip ang mga katagang binitawan ni Pearl.

"I'm so sorry for lying... but that is the only way I could think of to prevent you from panicking. You need to have a strong mental fortitude if you intend to survive... the least thing I could do was give you hope."

"How about Maximo? Did you lie about him as well?"

"No. Sinabi ko ang totoo, Kira. He's alive... I think, dahil hindi ko talaga tinali nang mabuti ang lubid na pinulupot sa kan'yang katawan. I designed the rope so that he can break free and swim."

I nodded, convinced... I smelled the sincerity in her voice. Somehow, I find this ability or gift useful in detecting if people are lying or not... or I guess there are also people who are very good at lying that you will never know that in fact, all of their words were nothing but a bunch of sweet lies.

"Why are you doing this, Pearl? You're getting yourself into trouble just by saving me."

Ngumiti si Pearl, "remember when I told you the pirate tradition, Kira? That when a man and woman make love, the man gives the woman his name?" I nodded, remembering it when we were inside Treasure Trove, when Pearl revealed her true name is Pearl Polo, "the truth is... Marco raped me."

"W-What?"

Pearl walked to me, just a few inches away. She put her hand on my shoulder. "Rape or make love, it doesn't make any difference in the eyes of the pirates... as long as you give that person your surname... and... I love Marco... even until now... even if he has raped me multiple times."

"Why are you telling me this now?!"

"Because there is a high chance... that he might rape you... inside Treasure Trove, thinking that I am you." Kinagat ni Pearl ang kan'yang babang-labi. "I can get you out of Morti Pier, but I don't know where it will lead you... or what will happen next to you. I want you to be aware of the danger you might face out there."

"I'm taking the risk... I mean, it is the only thing I can do to get out of this hellhole..." with that, I pulled Pearl and hugged her tight. "I am very sorry for cursing at you... I am very sorry for all the things Marco did to you..."

Pearl pushed me away gently, as if it suddenly became harder to breathe for what I've done. "You don't have to be sorry for everything... back to the escape plan. May tracker sa master cabin ng Treasure Trove. Find it and turn it on... that will somehow, lead the Renaissance pirates to the ship, hopefully." I remember the tracker Maximo has mentioned... I nodded.

Nangilid ng luha sa gilid ng mata ni Pearl, "and now, to answer your question... ginagawa ko ito Kira, dahil nakikita ko ang sarili ko sa iyo. Ayaw kong matulad ka sa akin. Gusto kong bumawi rin sa iyo." Pearl played with her fingers. As if remembering something, she fished for something in her dress' pocket. "Kira, I managed to take your daggers." Aniya. Inilabas niya ang belt ko na may hilt kung saan nakalagay ang mga punyal ko.

I took them. "Thank you for this, Pearl."

Pearl smiled. "It is the least thing I can do... use this to protect yourself... I hope you find your way back to Maximo's arms... and if ever... if ever you see him... sooner or later... please tell Maximo..."

"Tell him what?"

"Tell him that his step-sister had a part in saving you." With that, Pearl turned her back against me and walked to the door, she looked back, at me, who was dumbfounded at her words... Pearl... Pearl is Maximo's step-sister?

"Pearl... ano ang ibig mong sabihin?" I asked, confused. I don't understand at all. What did she mean... by that?

"I need to go, Kira. Just tell Maximo, he will know... This is where we part ways. You are on your own now." She opened the door and once again looked back, a tear fell on her right eye. "Goodbye, my friend."