Shipwrecked Hearts

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Pinagmasdan ko ang aking sarili sa salamin. Pearl and I has swapped clothes. Para akong madre dahil sa aking kasuotan. May salong ako na nagtatakip sa aking buhok at dinagdagan pa ng telang nagtatago sa kalahating baba ng aking mukha.

Tinignan ko ang grandfather clock at napagtantong kailangan ko nang bumaba at sumakay sa barko. I wanted to drop by my room and tell Pearl I was thankful, but there was no longer a time for that. Tumungo ako sa pasilyo't bumaba sa hagdanan. I walked s few more minutes and reached the port of Morti Pier where Treasure Trove awaits.

I went on board the ship. I saw familiar faces around... and there was Marco who was checking out a treasure map, or whatever map that is. Hindi niya pinansin ang pagdating ko. I can smell the fact that he thinks I was Pearl.

I know this plan is reckless considering what Pearl has added, about the risks that may occur along with this 'escape' agenda. This was the worst plan ever, but it is better than no plan at all.

"Madame Pearl," tumingin ako sa lalaking galing sa kusina ng Treasure Trove, binaling ko ang aking mukha kay Eli at saka tinaasan ng kilay... apparently, it is the only visible thing on me apart from my eyes. "Sinabi ni Marco na linisin n'yo ang master cabin."

I nodded, remembering the fact that Pearl told me to be lowkey as possible and if possible, never speak. My voice will give this deception away.

"Tumangkad kayo, ah." Dagdag ni Eli dahilan upang matigilan ako. "Pumayat din. Ah! Sabi nga nila, tumatangkad ang tao kapag pumayat."

I sighed, that made me feel tensed for a few seconds! Hindi pa kami lumalayag, nalaglag na agad ako?

Eli has a keen sight, to be honest... and we had a bad history... he was the first traitor. Ever. He started everything, from that day when he offered me a sandwich along with the crew who were drugged. Of course, I hold a grudge against him. I want a vendetta, but I'll let it slide for now, I should focus on escaping.

Tumungo na ako sa itaas, nilampasan ko si Marco na abala na sa pag-inspeks'yon sa manibela ng barko. Yumuko ako sa kan'yang at saka pumasok sa kwarto. I remember this room... it was Maximo's. My eyes wandered around the interior... the wooden floor, the walls, the kitchen, everything. It felt so nostalgic. Ang pinagkaiba na lamang ngayon ay ang amoy ng silid... it reeked off bad odor now.

There's a tracker inside the master cabin. Turn it on.

Right. If anything, now is the perfect time to look for this tracker. Maximo keeps track of all his ships by putting a tracker on them. Kung biglang magpakita ang Treasure Trove, there is a chance that Maximo might come and deal with it.

Naramdaman ko ang paggalaw ng barko. Sumilip ako mula sa bintana at pinagmasdan ang mga barkong nilalampasan namin. Marco is already sailing the ship. Finally, I'm out of this godforsaken place! Relief rushed through my veins.

Muli akong bumalik sa paghanap ng nakakabit na tracker sa barko. Where is it?! I frantically looked around. Anytime now, Marco might enter the room. I need to find this tracker fast and turn it on! I opened the drawers, cabinets, and all that, but to no avail... there was nothing.

"Where the hell are you?" I asked, pertaining to the tracker. Nakalimutan kong tanungin kay Pearl kung saan ito at kung ano ang itsura! Para akong tanga na naghahanap ng isang bagay na hindi ko naman alam. How can I find something I don't even know?

I sighed. Naglakad muli ako at napansin ang kakaibang tunog na nalikha ng aking hakbang sa kahoy na sahig. I went on top of it and kicked it a little bit. The board caused a lighter beat compared to the other sides of the floor. Lumuhod ako at saka ko nilabas ang isang punyal ko. Gamit ang dulo nito ay isinaksak ko ito sa gitna ng dalawang kahoy, it caused the other one to rise.

I removed the wood and saw what I was finally looking for. Mabilis kong binuksan ang switch ng tracker na nakatago sa ilalim ng sahig. I smelled somebody approaching, somebody who was about to open the door. Mabilis kong binalik ang kahoy at saka ako tumayo, just in time to greet whoever was the guy entering. "Pearl, hindi mo pa nililinis ang kwarto?" It was Marco, malamig ang boses nito.

Umiling ako.

"Ano pa ang tinutunga mo r'yan? Nagsasayang ka ng oras. I hate people who waste time!" I prevented myself from rolling my eyes and nodded. Ayaw niya ng nagsasayang ng oras? Wow... e, paano naman ang mga sinayang niyang oras sa panggagahasa kay Pearl?!

Imbes na magsalita pa ay dinampot ko ang mga kalat sa sahig. I picked up crumpled papers which I recognized as charts and atlases. I put them into the trash bin just beside the table that was once Maximo's. Seeing this ship has made me miss mine, Siren Steel. I only boarded it how many times, but it was mine, a gift from Maximo, with a crew.

"Tsk. Iyon na nga lang ang trabaho mo hindi mo pa magawa ng maayos." Alitanya ni Marco at muling lumabas sa silid.

"Gago ka pala, e." Bulong ko nang wala na siya sa kwarto. I wonder how Pearl put up with this man. I mean, he's such a pushover! Sana hindi na lang siya nakaligtas sa sariling pagbobomba! Sana mas malala pa kaysa sa natamo niyang pagkakasunog ang nangyari!

I cleaned the statehouse like I was told to. Sumilip muli ako sa bintana. Nakita ko ang isla Morti Pier, parang isa itong tuldok sa linya kung saan ang dagat at langit ay nagkakasalubong. The water was slowly turning blue while the distance gradually became bigger and bigger.

I've already turned the tracker on... I hope Maximo finds his way to me through this.

But what are the chances? I'm not even sure where he is, how he is doing, if he is truly alive.