Shipwrecked Hearts

Navigare 103

"Make sure he will live." Utos ni Saavedra kay Dr. Rostova. Nakatingin siya ngayon sa gawi ni Maximo, tanging ang mga makinaryang nakakabit sa kanyang katawan na lang ang bumubuhay sa kanya. Kung titingnan mong maigi, tila wala nang pag-asa pa para mabuhay siya.

"The surgery will be very risky." Saad ni Dr. Rostova, "I cannot promise that he will live."

"What are the odds?"

Tila nag-isip si Dr. Rostova, "I guess 90-10."

"And 90... as the chance success?"

"No." Mariing sagot ng doktor. "90 as in the chance that the operation will fail. What we need to save this man is a miracle."

"Then, make sure you do well to make this miracle happen, Dr. Rostova." There was authority and power that lingered in Saavedra's voice. Nagtataka na si Dr. Rostova kung bakit ganito na lang ang pagnais ng dalagang ito na isalba ang buhay ng lalaking ito.

Hindi na umimik si Dr. Rostova. Matapos ang ilang sandali, humarap siya kay Saavedra. "And if ever he will live, there may be side effects from the brain operation, like permanent paralysis, or worse, amnesia."

"I don't care. I need him alive."

"Why?" Hindi na mapigilan ng doktor ang tanungin kung bakit.

"May mga bagay na mas mabuting hindi mo na lang alam, Dr. Rostova. Dahil kung sasabihin ko sa iyo kung sino ang lalaking ito, magbabago ang pananaw mo sa mundo."

"Try me." Paghamon ng doktor.

Ngumisi si Saavedra, "this man, Dr. Rostova," tinuro niya si Maximo, "was—probably—the richest man alive."

"Was?" Dr. Rostova frowned.

"Indeed. That's why we're saving him."

If the land has mafias, the sea has pirates. Saavedra grew up knowing this terrible truth of the world. Hindi alam ng mga tao na totoo ang mga pirata, ang sa tingin ng karamihan, ang mga pirata ay kathang-isip at gawa-gawa lang, pero dyan sila nagkakamali. Totoo sila. They're just there, waiting to strike. And they're all part of the Underground World, a world you would never dare to enter unless you are willing to kill or be killed.

"I guess I will have a change of profession today." Ngumiti si Saavedra.

"Change of profession?" Takang tanong ng doktor na kasama.

"Yes." I quit being a pirate hunter. Starting today, I'll be a treasure hunter. Lumawak ang ngiti niya habang nakatingin kay Maximo, "and this man will make me rich."

I save his life and he will feel debt of gratitude to me. He won't be able to resist my request when I ask him to tell me where he hides his treasures. I know the principles of pirates. They all pay their debt.

"But you're already rich?" Saad ni Dr. Rostova.

"Richer, then." Saavedra corrected herself.

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Present Time

Paggising ko ay agad akong tumungo sa portiko ng aking kuwarto. Ang tanawin ko ay ang karagatan. Nakakapanibago dahil maaga pa lang ngunit may mga tao nang naglalakad sa tabing-dagat. Ang iba ay mga magkakamag-anak na tila nagpi-picnic. The place seems lively, that's when I remembered that we've officially opened the resort. Maraming turista ang dumadalo.

Maganda rin kasi ang mga alon ng dagat. That's when I saw those group of people who were surfing. It feels nice to see the laughter and enjoyment in everyone. Para ring araw-araw ay nasa bakasyon ako. In fact, I got used to the sound of waves as they crash against the shore and my nose is already accustomated with the saltiness of the air.