Shipwrecked Hearts

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Ang marilag na karagatan ay tila pisarang hinahati sa dalawang panig. Ang Renaissance at Sea Brigands. Pinagmasdan ko mula sa aking gawi ang mga armada at iskuwadra ng kalaban.

Kasalukuyan kaming nakasakay ni Maximo sa Royal Renaissance. Abala siya sa pagbigay ng utos sa mga tripulante. Hindi ko maiwasang kabahan nang 'di oras dahil naaamoy ko ang paglapit ng peligro at panganib.

Nililigpit na nila ang mga kanyon at iba pang pasabog. Matapos ang ilang sandali ay tinipon ni Maximo ang lahat sa pinakalabas ng palapag ng barko ang mga kawan. "All eyes on me." Seryoso ang kan'yang tinig.

Naglakad siya mula sa manibela at tumalon sa rehas sa harap nito upang makita ang lahat. Humawak siya sa lubid na nakakawit sa poste sa gilid at sinandal ang katawan dito. "Think of your wives, daughters, sisters, and mothers... think of everyone you ever loved. They're there." Tinuro ni Maximo ang matayog na kastilyo sa itaas ng burol ng isla. "If we lose this war, they will be slaughtered, they will become slaves of the enemy, they will be sold and who knows what? Do y'all want that?!"

"No!" Sigaw nila. I can feel the determination in their voice. So, this is Maximo giving his speech to boost the morale of his crew, huh? And it seems like the entire fleet has heard him as they all went along. The voices of men, of pirates, struck my heart like a lightning accompanied with a loud thunder. Halos yumanig ang sahig dahil sa kanilang mga boses.

"If y'all don't want that, then let's give it our all. Some of us may unfortunately die, but those who will fall will have their names live on. I cannot guarantee your lives, but I can guarantee that tales of this glorious day will live on forever."

"Let us be heroes today and not just some mere swashbucklers who steal and hunt treasures. Let us be more today. We fight today not to steal, we fight not to kill. Today, we fight to our heart's content to save this home, this island, our city, and most especially, we fight to save the ones we love."

"Aye!" They all said in unison. I can't help but smile. Maximo's voice managed to touch the depths of my heart. I found myself raising my fist in the air along with the others.

Matapos iyon ay tumingin ang mga tauhan sa akin. I looked at Maximo hysterically, my eyes questioning why. "They expect their queen to give a speech, too." He answered.

Halos hindi na ako huminga dahil sa kan'yang sinambit. They except me to give a speech? But I'm not good at saying a spontaneous speech! It seemed like Maximo saw the reluctance of my actions and he went down from the barricade.

"Just say something from the heart." Bulong niya sa akin.

I nodded nervously. Wait, why am I nervous? This is nothing compared to the actual battles I've been through. I replaced the unwillingness in my heart with unbreakable determination and raised my chin up. Just say something from the heart. "Alam kong mas matagal kayong lahat dito sa isla kaysa sa akin. Pero sa mga oras na nandito ako, tinuring kong tahanan ang Anarchist Harbor, tinuring kong pamilya ang lahat sa inyo rito."

"Look at the city of Jolly Roger." Tinuro ko ang 'syudad, halos kalahati nito ay tinamaan ng mga pasabog ng kalaban. Most structures were reduced to ashes and wreckages. "This city is beautiful, hahayaan n'yo bang sirain pa ito ng mga kalaban?"

"No!"

"Say it with more conviction!" I demanded.

"No!!!" Mas malakas na sagot nila.

"Then let's all go and show them what we got. Ipakita natin sa mga kalaban na mali ang binangga nila." I pointed the folded sheets waiting to be waved, "raise the anchor and hoist the colors!"

"Raise the anchor and hoist the colors!" They repeated after me, one ship to the other. Kasabay nito ay ang paggalaw ng barko. Humampas ang maalat na hangin sa aking mukha. I closed my eyes and felt it.