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This was it. The big day was here, all the pirates around and across the seas would meet up here to have a singing battle! The winner would get a big bottle of rum! Nervously, Marina wiped her sweat-drenched hands onto her raggedy skirt, torn from battles and robbed ships.
Every year, The King of the High “C’s” would win because he was so good at singing. Hayden, The King of the High “C’s”, was on the same ship as Marina. Always have been, that’s how it has always been.
Carefully, Marina licked her paper envelope shut and snuck onto the back of the ship into Hayden’s bedroom. Carefully, she put the envelope onto the bed and quickly left the room.
For the longest time, Marina thought she would never find love because she didn’t need it and no one even fit the preferences she liked. Because of that she always assumed she wouldn’t find love and that was fine by her. That was until Hayden became The King of the High “C’s”.
Outside the bedroom, the Stowaway was there. “Marina..? What are you doing inside The King of the High “C’s” bedroom? I-..I have to report this..” The Stowaway, Nora, held her hands to her chest. Marina scowled at her. “Don’t! Just don’t! I-It’s a secret..” Nora looked around.
Soon Nora’s gaze fell back on Marina. “Please just tell me..There is no one else here.” Marina rolled her eyes, her scowl deepened. “Shouldn’t you be at the festival of the singing battle?”
Nora tilted her head down, lowering her hands. “I had to use the restroom.” Marina crossed her arms. “Fine..B-But you can’t tell anyone..I-I like Hayden..! No not like..I-I love Hayden!” Nora’s head turned back up to face Marina, her brows furrowing. “That doesn't explain why you were in his room, though.”
Marina blushed. “I put something on his bed..B-Before you ask, I-I’m not telling you! Just..don’t report me..Alright?” Nora nodded, blushing despite herself as well. “So..where is the restroom..?”
Marina rolled her eyes again. “Blimey! You don’t know anything, do you? It’s by the captain’s quarters.” Nora nodded quickly, rushing to the captain’s quarters, or at least that’s where Marina thought she was going.
. . .
Nora ran up the stairs of the ship until she reached the Captain’s quarters, she opened the door as quietly as possible. “Silas? Oh there you are!” Silas, the purple beard crossed his arms. “What took you so long? Did you find out why Marina was in Hayden’s bedroom?” Nora quickly nodded.
“Y-Yes! It’s because-..isn’t this an invasion of privacy..?” Silas rolled his eyes. “No, we just need to know why she was in there.” Nora looked down at her feet before facing Silas’s gaze again. “It’s because she likes him..r-romantically! She wants him to love her!”
Silas grinned, putting his hands behind his back. “Oh, that’s amazing. Let’s go watch the battle of singing before we’re late now, perhaps?” Nora eagerly nodded. “Oh yes! I’ve always wanted to see the annual singing contest! Hurry!”
. . .
After Hayden won, once again he returned to his bedroom on the ship. He walked into the bedroom and plopped down onto his bed but paused when he heard a paper crinkling. He got up and noticed the envelope on his bed, now crinkled slightly.
His brows furrowed in confusion as he opened the envelope.
“Dear Hayden,
I don’t know how to say this but I really like you—as in, I love you, romantically. I’ve been bottling up these feelings for a long time because I was too scared you’d reject me. Fortunately for me, this letter will forever be anonymous because I will feel too embarrassed to truly face you.
I hope one day you’ll truly like me back. Perhaps we could meet together and talk soon if you truly do like me back, but you’ll have to wait and see what I look like. Boys don’t like girls who are mysterious and it’s worse when they don’t know how they look.
— Sincerely, Anonymous”
Hayden froze. This letter was obviously for him, not any other pirate, for him. He tried to think of every pirate that was allowed backstage during the contest. He would have to ask to find out who this letter truly came from. Maybe he would like them back afterall.
. . .
It had been weeks since Hayden found the envelope, after days of no one admitting it, despite him not telling anyone, he assumed it was just a joke. Until one day, he came back from his vocal sessions and he found another envelope. Stuck thinking it was another joke, he threw the envelope into the trash bin.
. . .
Meanwhile, Marina was in her room when Nora burst into the room. “Marina! Will you ever tell me why exactly you were in Hayden’s room?” Marina scowled at her. “Blimey! I’ve already told you once! I won’t ever tell you in whatever is left of my life as a pirate!”
Nora looked down and back up, noticing Marina was writing something. “What’s that? Is it a..love letter..?” Marina’s face filled with blush before frantically picking up the paper and her ink and quill. “N-No-?! Why would I ever do that..I-It’s so stupid..! Who would even do that?” Nora giggled softly, her blonde hair flowing across her shoulders.
“S-Shut up! Stop laughing like that! I-It’s getting on my nerves already! Just..shut up..!” Marina's blush slowly defused from her face,clutching her supplies closer to her chest.