Nostalgic Deception #1: Above The Waves

Kabanata 4

Hestia's POV

Mula sa kinatatayuan ko ay ramdam ang paghampas ng dagat sa aking paa pati ang paghaplos sakin ng hangin na napakasakit sa balat.

"Weather check--37⁰C." Tila agaw-pansin na sambit ni Hulyano. "Your command, captain?"

Napatitig ako sa mga taong nakapalibot sa amin. Sa wari ko'y mga pirata din sila base sa kilos at pananamit nila na hindi nalalayo sa suot nila Hulyano. I began to wonder again if they really are pirates or royals that's pretending to be pirates. Who knows? Baka naghihirap na mga royals sila tapos nagpapanggap bilang pirata para magnakaw at muling payamanin ang kaharian nila. Corruption!

"Heave to!" The Captain uttered that sent shiver down to my spine. Napansin ko ang pagtayo ng lahat sa maayos na tindig at buong atensyon ang ibinigay sakaniya. "Prepare the cogs! Before the sun sets, all hand hoy!"

I clearly understand nothing from his command which made me heave a sigh and mentally roll my eyes. The warmth of summer breeze embraced me as I roam my eyes around the sea. There's only one Pirate Ship that caught my attention on the shore. It was anchored. Sa kabila ng luma nitong panlabas na itsura ay kaagaw-agaw pa rin ito ng pansin. The flag was swaying with the wind which took me time to recognize the symbol on it. A white skull and crossbones? My forehead creased, remembering what was that flag all about. Hindi ko 'man lang namalayan na ilang dipa na lamang ang layo ko mula sa barko na iyon. A baritone voice took my attention, I suddenly swift my gaze from the ship to him.

"Jolly Roger." He uttered.

I almost stiffened when I realized that his emeral green eyes were fixed on me. As much as I want to touch him, I restrained myself to not make a mistake. It may seem impossible for this man to be a Captain of Pirates, but something in me is telling me that this is the reality which I would never be able to escape.

I suddenly blink twice when I heard a baritone chuckle from him before he turned his gaze to the ship in front of us.

"Jolly Roger." Pagtikhim kong panimula. Kunot-noo akong bumaling sa barko. "A flag's title for pirate ships that are about to attack by the Golden Age of Piracy. It was said that most pirates flew it to prove their identity." Wala sa sariling sambit ko.

Muli akong bumaling sakaniya nang maramdaman ko ang pagsulyap niya sakin. Amusement was visible in his gaze. Bahagya pang nakaawang ang mga labi niya habang pinagmamasdan ako na tila nagtatanong kung paano ko nalaman iyon. Marahan akong natawa na lamang at ibinalik ang tingin sa harap.

"Though in late 18th century, right after the Golden Age of Piracy, just possessing a Jolly Roger was a consideration to the pirate's crime. It says that, only a pirate would dare to fly this flag as he was already under threat of execution." Patuloy ko pa rin na pagpapaliwanag. Some of them were bases on the series I've watched, but most of my statements were from someone I know very well.

"You know too much, don't you?" He suddenly spoke with his usual baritone. Nagbikit-balikat na lamang ako sakaniya at hinayaang dumampi ang kamay ko sa lumang kahoy ng barko.

"I've been into pirates before." I uttered while chuckling. "I never knew that a day like this when I will meet a real pirate--- that is exactly like a royal king, would actually happen in reality. Am I really not dreaming?"

I'm sure that if this is a dream, this could not be a good one but rather a nightmare. It's a nightmare for me to be far from my family. I don't know where to start looking for them. If only there's police stations, municipalities and even a lost and found here, I would probably find them right away.

"I assure you--- this is not a dream. This is a reality that's bound by fate." His cold baritone sent shivers down to my spine. "Let's go."

Tinalikuran ako nito habang nanatili nanaman na nakapako ang mga paa ko sa kinatatayuan ko. Fate? Is there even such thing as fate or destiny? Napabuga na lamang ako sa hangin bago dahan-dahang ihakbang ang mga paa ko para sumunod sakaniya. Every step I make feels like I'll faint any moment. Kahit mabigat ang bawat hakbang ko ay pinilit ko pa rin na bilisan ang pagsunod sakaniya. Masyado na siyang malayo sakin, baka maligaw lang ako kung magiging mabagal ako.

Ngayon ko lang napansin na kaming dalawa na lang pala ang nandito sa may dalampasigan. Mula sa likod ng matataas na puno at halaman ay natatanaw ko ang mataas na gusali, tila isang palasyo ang itsura noon. Matataas na semento ang nakapalibot doon na para bang mahahalagang tao ang pinoprotektahan sa loob.

"Aish!" Inis akong napabuntong-hininga nang matusok ako ng kung ano. Pinagpag ko na lamang iyon at muling sumunod kay Captain Morgan na ngayon ay nakatayo lamang sa aking unahan. Mabilis akong humakbang palapit sakaniya at tumigil sa kaniyang harapan.

"Put your hands on me." He offered before pushing his arms onto me. Napatitig lang ako sa braso niya---hindi mawari kung anong gagawin. Why would I even put my hands on him? Nang umangat sa kaniya ang mata ko ay nagtama ang paningin namin sa isa't isa.

"I'm fine." Pagtanggi ko sakaniya. "I can still walk."

Napansin ko na tila wala siyang balak maglakad dahil nanatili siyang nakatingin sakin na para bang hihintay akong tanggapin ang braso niya. His cold eyes were fixed on me. Napaiwas agad ako ng tingin at sinimulang maglakad. Hindi pa 'man ako nakakalayo ay naramdaman ko nanaman ang pagsabit ng matulis na bagay sa binti ko. I hissed when I felt it scratched my skin. Tinitigan kong mabuti iyon. Mistula itong tinik ng rosas at iisipin ko sanang sa pulang bulaklak nga ito kung hindi ko lamang napansin ang manipis nitong tinik at ang mga bunga na parang ubas ngunit makintab na pula.

Napalingon agad ako kay Captain Morgan para sana siguraduhin ang nasa isip ko ngunit nasa likuran ko na pala siya. Bahagya akong tumikhim at muling pinagmasdan ang matinik na kulay pulang bunga.

"It's Pyracantha." mahinang sambit ko. "An evil shrub or firethorn..."

"An evil Pyracantha was just a myth." He chukled. Napailing na lang kami parehas at sabay na naglakad ngunit napatigil agad ako dahil sa hapdi ng sugat ko.

I gasped when I felt myself lifted by someone. Marahan akong binuhat ni Captain Morgan at sa muling pagkakataon ay nagtama ang paningin namin sa isa't isa.

"I didn't ask for permission, you'll probably just decline it." He explained right away. I wrapped my arms around his nape to prevent myself from falling.

"Because I can still walk..." Halos pabulong kong sagot. I felt his warm breath on my neck, ramdam ko din na nakatingin pa din siya sakin ngunit pinanatili kong nasa baba ang tingin dahil sa kaba. I felt my heart beats faster than normal. Without minding him, I bit my lower lip because of pressure. I have no idea on what's happening with me.

"Hard-headed woman." His baritone voice made my heart pound even faster before he walked. I heard him chuckled, his hands tightened the grip.

What I feel at this moment is not clear, but I'm sure that this one's dangerous. I'm not supposed to feel this way.