Shipwrecked Hearts

Navigare 101

I watched the ocean from the porch of my house. I let the rocking chair move up and down. It has always reminded me of the feeling of being inside a ship... The way the waves move in a rhythmic pattern. The saltiness of the air, the clearness of the water, it has also reminded me of Alexander Renaissance... and our almost dark yet perfect fairy tale.

"Mum!" Bumalik ako sa riyalidad nang may tumawag sa akin, tumingin ako sa dakong pinanggalingan ng singkit na boses at nakita si Maximo,. Madumi ang kan'yang mga kamay na binabalot ng buhangin. Naglakad siya palapit sa akin at hinawakan ako sa aking kamay. "Mum, you gotta come!" I was about to ask why when he continued, "the turtle eggs! They hatched! C'mon, or you'll miss it!" He tried to pull me over.

Tumayo ako at hinayaan siyang igiya ako. Naglakad kami sa puting buhangin papunta sa tabing-dagat. Habang papalapit kami sa kinaroroonan ng mga pagong ay natanaw ko sina Life, Ethereal, at Alexander doon. Ginagabayan nila ang mga maliliit na pagong papunta sa karagatan.

Nang napansin nila ang pagdating namin ni Maximo ay kumaway sila sa amin. "Good morning, mummy! Look at the turtles! They're so small and cute!" Life jumped up and down in glee. Her curly hair somehow reminded me of him. Indeed, these four angels were our babies. We beat the 1 in a 800,000 odds of having a quadruplets.

I smiled genuinely. Umupo ako at hinawakan ang talukap ng maliliit na mga pagong gaya ng ginagawa ng apat. I watched the turtles paced towards the ocean as if there was a force that was attracting them, with the waves crashing on the shore dragging them in.

Noong naglalaro ang mga anak ko ay natagpuan nila ang mga itlog na ito. Ever since that day, they've been nursing the eggs in anticipation of having it hatched. I can see it all paid off.

"Goodbye, turtles." Kumakaway na pagpaalam ni Ethereal sa kanila. She wiped a tearful of joy in her eyes and sniffed.

Alexander tugged the hem of my shirt and I looked at him, "yes, Alex?"

"Mum, will the baby turtles be safe?"

"Yes."

Bumuntong-hininga siya. "If you say so." Sagot niya.

Nang wala na ang mga pagong ay niyaya ko ang apat na bumalik na sa bahay dahil naamoy ko ang paparating na ulan. Habang naglalakad ay nilingon ko ang dagat, kalmado ngunit malaki ang mga alon. "Mum, itutuloy mo na ba ang k'wento mo about the pirates?" Maximo inquired, halata ang pagkagalak sa kan'yang mukha.

"Oh, yes, mummy, please do so! We want to know what happened next! Did the Pirate King live or did he die?!" Life held my ring finger with her small hand, "please, mummy, we want to know what happened next. If the Pirate King died, then the Pirate Queen must have been very, very sad. She must still be sad right now if her king died."

Alexander and Ethereal nodded. The four were now facing me, pouting their lips... and their eyes glistening in anticipation. They want to know what happened to their father.

"Okay, I'll tell you the rest of the story. Pero kailangan n'yo munang maligo at magpalit ng damit, okay? Then we'll eat breakfast, then I'll tell you the rest of the story."

Kumislap ang kanilang mga mata. They nodded in unison and ran towards the house. "Careful!" Paalala ko sa kanila. Umiling na lang ako habang pinapanood ang apat na tumatawang tumakbo papunta sa loob ng bahay.

Lumingon si Maximo sa akin at saka ako binelatan.

"Aba, Maximo!"

"Mum, I love you!"

Tumigil ang tatlo sa pagtakbo at lumingon sa akin. "We love you, mum!" They said in harmony. After that, they continued running.

I smiled. I felt the warmth that prickled my heart. Pakiramdam ko ay natutunaw ako dahil sa kanila. But it was the kind of melting that was good, that signified life. I love y'all too. I whispered to the wind. Unti-unting umuulan kaya naman tumakbo na rin ako papunta sa balkonahe ng bahay.