The Curse of Piratia Shiamira

TCOPS 16: Soren

CASSANDRA

Cassandra... Cassandra...

Huh? Kaninong boses iyon?

Cassandra... sorry...ka na...

I open my eyes and cover my mouth.

I am floating!

"Oh my gosh! I am lying on a hospital bed?! And—Why is he here?!" Soren is sitting beside me. His face changed. He has a beard and his hair is no longer at its clean cut. He still wears a suit, but it is not as gorgeous as it used to be.

Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko na may nakakabit na swero tapos binaon ang kaniyang noo roon. Mukha siyang nagmamano sa akin.

I lean closer to see his face clearly.

Cass... sorry... Please wake up.

He begged and cried.

Is this... is this what is really happening while I am in coma? Is this true? After all the pain they have given me, these people are here crying beside me and begging me to come back to life? Gusto pa ba nila ako masaktan ulit pagkagising ko?

Balik ka na... Please... Bumalik ka na... Cass!

"Soren." I blurted unexpectedly as I reach for his face.

He suddenly look up and stare. He is staring at...me.

"Soren!" Tawag ko na naman sa kaniya at tuluyang inabot ang malambot at mainit nitong pisngi.

"Cassandra?!"

Bumalikwas ako sa higaan ko at napasapo sa dibdib ko. Naramdaman ko na may mainit sa kamay ko, pero hindi ko alam kung saan iyon nanggagaling.

"Cassandra... Cass!?"

His voice! I hear Soren's voice again!

"Soren!" Napatakip ako sa aking bibig at naramdaman ko muli ang isang mainit na pakiramdam sa aking kamay. Hinahawakan pa rin ba niya ang kamay ko?

"Come back!"

Umiling ako at napayakap na lang sa sarili. There's not a single hint of me thinking that anyone would reach out to my unconscious state. I never thought Soren will wait for me. I never thought that he will cry beside me. I only thought that these people will leave me alone and let Death judge my ending. I want the suffering to end, but I leave them suffering instead.

"I'm sorry, Soren... I'm sorry, Emman. I'm sorry, daddy. Hindi pa ako pwedeng bumalik. Ayoko pang bumalik... sorry."

🧭🧭🧭

Nagising ako kinabukasan dahil sa kalabog sa labas ng aking silid. Hindi na ako nagtangka na mag-ayos ng sarili at nagmadali akong lumabas. Ang ingay kasi sa labas.

"What is happening?"

Nalaglag ang panga ko nang magtalo ang dalawa. Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang ibang pirata na pwedeng umawat sa dalawa pero natutuwa pa sila sa pinapanuod nila.

Seriously?! No one will pull them apart?!

Bago pa ako makarinig ng iba pang mura ay may tumakip sa magkabilang tainga ko. Nag-angat ako ng tingin at nakita ko si Tito Ymah na napapangiwi. Mukhang naririndi na siya sa sagutan ng dalawa. He look down at me and smiled awkwardly. Iginaya na ako ni Tito Ymah sa stern deck at doon na ako nanatili buong umaga. I guess this is better than staying in my room. At least I can be around with the people I care and not think about Soren.

The other pirates greeted me and patted my head. I smile at them and ask if they had rested well. All positive feedbacks flooded me and they left me alone to clean as well. I run near Uncle Ymah who is now steering the ship's wheel. I tug on his shirt to get his attention.