A Peaceful World Novels & Stories

“Now, success is coming home and knowing everyone’s safe.” Napangiti si Celestine. “Same.” Huminga siya nang malalim. “Akala ko dati, kapag naging tahimik na ulit ang lahat, magiging empty. Pero hindi pala.” “Because peace is not emptiness,” sagot ni Adrian. “It’s fullness.” Bago matulog ang lahat, nagtipon-tipon sila sa sala. Si baby Aiden ay mahimbing nang natutulog.

His eyes are screaming for danger and vengeance, but it is odd that I felt safe and secure while staring at it. “I want to live a peaceful life. A life that is not chaotic and problematic. " I stated habang nakatitig sa kawalan. The silence between us stretched. It is not awkward like in some case. It is peaceful for me. “I want my children and my family to be safe. Gusto kong mabuhay nang walang iniisip na threat sa aming kaligtasan. Na magagawa naming lahat ng naisin naming nang walang inaalalang sakuna na maaring mangyari anumang oras. I have been craving for that kind of freedom since then. I continued while still leaning on him.

Nakaramdam ako ng labis na inis pero wala lang akong sinabi. I am not settling for less. Ito ang hinahanap ko noon. The peacefulness. No sparks and everything but peacefulness. Walang takot na pwedeng sumira. Walang takot na baka pwedeng may humadlang. Walang takot na may umagaw. Just peacefulness, and calm.

bulong niya. ⸻ “Used to,” sagot ni Zia. ⸻ Natigilan si Christian. ⸻ “Used to?” ulit niya. ⸻ Zia looked at him. Then slowly said: “Ngayon… I just want peace.” ⸻ Silence. ⸻ Christian nodded slowly. “I can do that.” ⸻ Zia raised an eyebrow. “You sure?” ⸻ He looked at her directly. “I’m already doing it.”

sabi niya habang nakaupo sa balcony, iniinom ang kape niyang hindi pa ubos. “Move?” tanong ko. He looked at me, eyes softer now. “Out of hiding. To somewhere new. Somewhere peaceful.” Napangiti ako. “Peaceful sounds… nice.” “Yeah,” he said, leaning back. “But you and I both know, peace is never permanent in our world.” Tahimik akong napatingin sa kanya. Totoo naman. Kahit anong pilit naming lumayo, may mga aninong laging sumusunod.