Shipwrecked Hearts

3

Kabanata 3

I couldn’t sleep. Hanggang ngayon ay naglalaro pa rin sa aking isipan ang huling sinabi ni Maximo sa akin. Ramdam ko ang pamumula ng aking pisngi. Hindi ako mapakali, sobrang torete ako dahil sa kanya. Kaya naman bumalikwas ako sa aking kama at bumangon.

Naglakad ako patungo sa veranda, I slid the glass door of my room and went out, agad namang humampas sa aking mukha ang maalat na simoy ng hangin. The sky was already cleared out, I can see the midnight stars gazing down at me and the crescent moon that touched the sky blue.

I looked down and saw the reflection of the night itself, with the calm scintillating waves giving a touch of distortion, sumandal ako sa malamig na harang ng veranda at yumuko, I saw the ship slicing through the water and I saw my reflection.

As I savor the moment of solitude, I saw an island a few kilometers away. I can see its bright port, the red, yellow, and green lights. The ships sailing around it. Tila ang karagatan ay biglang napuno ng mga nagsisilakihang mga barko. They all had the same banners—a skull with an eyepatch—its eyepatch had an embroidery of a wildflower. Exactly like what the captain is using.

Then I knew it, all of this—perhaps the island even, is owned by no other than Alexander Renaissance.

“All hands hoay!” Narinig kong sigaw ni Maximo mula sa sundeck, narinig ko naman ang mabilis na paglakad ng mga pirata. I think they were all convening upstairs. Lumabas naman ako sa aking kwarto at tumaas. Nakita ko si Maximo, he was already wearing his eyepatch and the same Renaissance and pirate-ish clothes. “Avast ye!” He growled and all men stopped talking. Dumapo ang kanyang tingin sa akin at ngumiti nang palihim. “We’re nearing Anarchist Harbor. I’ve already signaled men on port to send us boats. I’d like the recruit on board with me along with the squadron leaders I’ve taken. Do you all get me?”

“Aye, Maximo!”

“Take your things now. Dismissed.” Aniya sabay talikod. Agad namang gumalaw ang lahat. Take your things? I don’t get what just happened. Can somebody explain to me?

“Why are you just standing there? Iiwan mo ba ang mga gamit mo dito sa barko?” Binaling ko ang aking atensyon kay Marco, nakakunot ang kanyang noong nakatingin sa akin.

Tinaasan ko naman siya ng kilay, “bakit? Ano ba ang nangyayari?” Pagtataray ko.

“You see that island?” Turo niya sa isla na napapalibutan ng mga barko, “unless you’re blind.” He huffed. “That’s where we live. That’s our headquarters. Whatever you call it. Now, huwag kang tatanga-tanga at kunin mo na ang mga gamit mo kung ayaw mong iwan sila sa barkong ito. I told you before, temporary lodging mo lang ang kwarto na tinunguhan natin. Your permanent home is waiting there.” Aniya sabay turo ulit sa isla, it was Anarchist Harbor if not mistaken.

Antipatiko! Pero kahit na, I’m still thankful that he took his time explaining, kahit man na medyo sarkastiko siya. I suddenly felt guilty for what I’ve done.

Bumalik ako sa aking kwarto at ginawa ang mga bagahe, pagkatapos ay lumabas na ako, nakipagsiksikan pa ako sa ibang mga pirata, tanging mga hawak lang nila ay kayamanan.

“Out of the way, mermaid!” Pagtulak sa akin ng isang pirata dahilan upang matumba ako. Kumuyom naman ang kamao ko dahil sa inis. Wala bang gentleman dito?! Hindi ba sila nabibighani sa kagandahan ko?!

Nang nasa sundeck na ako ay biglang may pumatong sa balikat ko, tumingala ako at nakitang braso iyon ni Maximo, he looked at me and smiled. “There you are. Come on.” Kinuha niya ang dalawang maleta ko at saka niya ito binato mula sa barko. I gasped. “Don’t worry.” He insisted, naglakad kami papunta sa pinagbatuhan niya ng mga gamit ko at nakitang nasakto niya ito sa isang bangka na lumulutang sa ilalim.

He effortlessly swung himself towards the Jacob’s Ladder, he looked up at me afterwards, “go on. I’ll be right below you.”

Taking all the courage in, I nodded. I’ve never been terrified of the ocean my entire life but because of the f*****g things that had happened hours ago, things changed.

I nervously reclined myself on the ladder, I took slow, precise, and careful steps down. “Don’t be nervous, starfish. If you wanna get used to the pirate life, better get used to things like this. I won’t always be there to save your ass.”

“I didn’t ask for you to save me!” Okay, I know. Sobrang ma-pride ko na. But all I have left is my pride.

“Fair enough.” He mumbled.

Nang nasa bangka na siya ay inalalayan niya akong sumakay doon. May mga iba pang sumakay kagaya nina Marco at iba pang mga lalaki. Seems like I’m the only girl.

“Go.” Utos ni Maximo sa mga lalaking may hawak na paddle. They nodded and starting paddling harmoniously towards the island. Magkaharap kami ni Maximo, I can see him with eyeing the island, his island. Pagkatapos ay tumingin siya sa akin, umiwas naman ako dahil sa hiya. I was caught staring at him. “Welcome to your new home.”

I nodded, no words came out of my mouth.

Nang nasa port na kami ay isa-isa kaming bumaba, “welcome to Anarchist Harbor, my paradise.” Alexander said proudly.

Tila kumikinang ang isla, it seems like an ancient city of ruins, there were fairy lights everywhere. And people. It feels like travelling back in time because of their fashion. All took me back to the era of renaissance. Ang napansin ko rin ay hindi na lang ako ang nag-iisang babae dahil may mga ibang babae na tila naghihintay. Napansin ko rin na may mga piratang tumakbo papunta sa mga naghihintay at niyakap sila.

“I thought I was the only pirate girl in your crew?” Tanong ko kay Maximo habang hinihila ko ang dalawang maleta.

“You are.” He answered. “The ladies here are either the daughter of my crews or their wife. Either way, they’re family of my men. They’re not allowed to sail, they must only stay here.”

“What made you make me a part of your crew?”

“You’ll know in time. As for now, I still have a lot of errands to settle.” May sinenyasan si Maximo na isang babae. “Pearl.” He greeted.

“Maximo.” Ngumiti ang babae na may salong. Tumingin siya sa akin, “who is this?”

“My recruit.”

Tila may gulat sa mukha ng babae ngunit agad din itong napalitan ng ngiti. “I see you’ve chosen.” She noddded and looked at me with a big smile. “Ahoy, matey. At last we’ve met. This is what I was trained for. By the way, I’m Pearl.”

“Akira Kara.”

“Ms. Kara, I’ll be your handmaiden.”

“What?”

“You heard her right.” Maximo said. “Now, Pearl. I’ll entrust to you my starfish as I have to deal with something.”

“With pleasure, captain.” Pearl smiled, pinanood namin si Maximo na umalis kasama ang dalawang pirata, the one I recognized as Marco.

Kinuha ni Pearl ang dalawang maleta ko. “Ako na sa isa.”

“No need, Ms. Kara.” Ngumiti ito sa akin. She somewhat reminded me of my nanny whom I’ve grown up with, though younger. Tila madre ang porma ni Pearl, she hid her hair with the silver fabric and she wore a cross pendant.

“I insist.” I chuckled and took the other baggage. “And please, just call me Kira. That’s what my friends normally call me.”

“Ms. Kara, I’m not your friend but your handmaiden. Now, if you must please follow me to your new chamber.” She smiled and stormed off, sumunod na lang ako sa kanya. Medyo pataas ang aking nilalakad at may mga bahay sa paligid, the ground was made of bricks, it seems like we are in the middle of a city. Nang lumingon ako ay nakita ko ang karagatan at mga barko.

The place is truly like a paradise. Who would have thought pirates were civilized and they recognize the beauty of ancient times?

“Please don’t wander off. You might get lost.” Ani Pearl. She’s too stiff and rigid, I told myself. Siguro madre nga ito. But what’s a sister doing with pirates and lawbreakers?

I let my eyes roam around as we walked. I saw vendors around, shops and boutiques, jewelry shops, clothes, and many more.

“It’s midnight and the place is lively.”

“Yes, Ms. Kara. That is because trades like barter happen mostly at night. That means new items. And the pirates often sail during the day and return at night with silver and gold and other treasures.”

I nodded. “Where are we actually going?”

Tinuro niya ang pinakatuktok ng lugar at nakita ko ang tila isang palasyo. I can see its four tall towers with the Renaissance banner, the walls protecting it seem impenetrable.

“Dyan ako titira?”

“Yes.”

“With whom?”

“With Maximo, Ms. Kara.”

“Siya lang ba ang nakatira dyan?” Tanong ko habang lumalapit kami.

“No, squadron leaders and those of the high hierarchy like the pirate council live there. A handful of handmaiden and servants like me also live there and a few thousand guards.”

Tumango na lang ako. Habang lumalapit kami ay mas tumatayog ang mansion or whatever you call it. “Pearl, who exactly is Maximo?”

Tumigil siya sa paglalakad at nilingon ako. “You came here and did not know? So that means you also don’t know why you’re here?”

“Why? Sino ba si Maximo at bakit ba ako nandito?” I mean, okay, I’m a pirate now. But why? Bakit ako lang ang nag-iisang pirata sa crew ni Maximo?

“He’s the king of all pirates and he has chosen you.”