Shipwrecked Hearts

Navigare 95

 "I was very worried sick, Starfish." Niyakap ako nang mahigpit ni Maximo matapos naming sumakay sa kan'yang barko na Royal Renaissance. Iba ang itsura nito sa totoong anyo. This ship, after all, was designed to deceive people. It can shapeshift through the use of sheer illusion. Tinignan niya ang kasuotan ko, "you look like a... nun?"

"It is a very long story." I waved my hand at him. Tumama ang mata niya sa punit ng aking bestida. He traced his finger on the unnatural slit, as if silently asking for an explanation. "It's another long story again."

"But seriously, Starfish... I was very worried. Mababaliw na rin ako, I didn't know where you are and therefore. I didn't know where to find you. It was driving me mad knowing you're out there but I don't know where."

"Nandito na ako. Hindi mo na kailangang mag-alala." I patted Maximo on his shoulder. "How did you find me, by the way?"

"I got your message," sagot niya, "the tracker on Treasure Trove was switched on. I assumed that was your doing. Am I mistaken?"

Umiling ako. "It was me."

"So, after receiving it... I decided to trace the route and destination of the ship, apparently, it took me here. And the rest is history."

"I thought you were dead." I bit my lips and looked away.

"Me? Dead?" Tumawa nang marahan si Maximo, "you know I'm hard to kill, Starfish." Taas-noong sagot nito. But you can never know.

"Hard to kill, but kill-able." I sighed.

"I thought I was gonna die too, y'know. When Kid made me walk the plank. I am such a fool, to be honest. He used you against me and I bit the bait." Umupo si Maximo sa sofa ng captain's cabin at tumanaw sa labas mula sa maliit nitong balkonahe kung saan may sumisilip na kaunting ilaw mula sa araw.

As if my instincts working, I suddenly smelled a rain... it will rain in an hour.

"But out of good heart, Pearl saved me discreetly." Aniya.

"I know..." ngumiti ako kay Maximo, "she told me."

"Indeed."

"She saved me too... wala ako ngayon dito kung hindi dahil sa kan'yang." I looked at Maximo. I think now that I am finally back in his arms, safe and sound, I think it is also high time for me to return the favor. "Maximo..."

"Yes?"

"Pearl is your step-sister?"

Natigilan si Maximo. I looked at his eye since the right was covered with the usual eyepatch. Halata ang lalim ng kan'yang pag-iisip dahil dito. "Yes." He said in his baritone. "She is. My father remarried after my real mom died giving birth to me... my father married my mother's sister, my step-mother... it's complicated."

"You don't have to tell me. I don't wanna pry in personal matters. Ang sabi lang ni Pearl, gusto niyang malaman mo na may parte siya sa pagtakas ko."

"Thank you for your understanding, Starfish." Ngumiti nang bahagya si Maximo. "To be honest, I've never been a good brother. I treated Pearl like a maid... I know she tried to prove herself countless of times since she wanted to be a pirate. I just turned a blind eye, maybe because if I acknowledge her, she might be involved in heinous crimes and become a pirate. I thought doing that would at least assure her safety. That's also one reason why I put up a law that no lady shall become a Renaissance pirate unless that lady is the captain's girl. And then, things got fucked up and out of hand."

Naglakad ako palapit kay Maximo at hinawakan ang kan'yang kamay, "pwede ka pang bumawi kay Pearl, Maximo. It is not yet too late. We can also avenge Excel, Mermaid, and all our people's death... so that their death will finally not be in vain."

Maximo's eyes wavered... oh, right. Hindi ko pa nasasabi na wala na si Excel. This must be something new to him again. I know he also held Excel as someone precious. She's saved him multiple of times already.

"How?" May bahid na ng pinaghalong emos'yon na hindi ko matukoy sa kan'yang boses.

"Save her. Let's pay our debt to her. She saved you and she saved me, now, let's save her."

"But I don't know the base of Sea Brigands."

I smiled. "I know someone who does."

"Who?"

"Me."

"Okay, then... but first, let's deal with Marco and his crew and take back Treasure Trove."

"Scratch Marco in the list." Tinaasan ako ng kilay ni Maximo, "I just killed him."