The Silenced Novels & Stories

IT'S been one month and I'm still adjusting myself without him. Without Sebastian in my life. I remembered the day of his flight. He maybe doesn't know but I was there at the airport. I was secretly seeing him off while hiding myself, crying silently. Hindi pweding makita niya ako. Sapat na ang makita ko siya sa huling araw na iyon kahit hindi niya alam. Maliban kay Kolin ay wala nang ibang nakakaalam na nando'n ako.

“He was terrified — at sinabi niyang may nagbabanta sa kanya. Also, I heard another voice when I talked to him before the call was cut.” Saglit siyang natigilan na tila nag-iisip, bago marahang tumango. Gano’n din ang mga kasama namin. “If that's true, this case isn't about corporate sabotage anymore…” “It’s about silencing witnesses,” dagdag niya habang nakatingin sa akin. “Kaya mag-ingat ka, Castheophy — lalo na ngayon na alam nilang may gumagalaw sa kasong ito.” Umupo siya, nagpakawala ng mabigat na buntong-hininga.

sambit niya na may bigat ang bawat salitang binitiwan niya. Nagtagpo ang mga tingin nila… isang sulyap na walang galaw at walang salita. Pero ang hangin sa pagitan nila ay mabigat na halos matunaw sa tensyon. Walang sinoman ang naglakas-loob magsalita. Two men who understood exactly what it meant to wield power in silence. Two men who had witnessed how loyalty is weaponized and how betrayal leaves scars deeper than gunshots.

Not letting her notice my silent battle. "Please don't let her see me. I am not yet ready to face her specially now that I am not in a good shape" I asked and I feel her nodding as response to my plea. And then no one dared to speak. Silence was screaming inside her car. The road were clear enough for us have a smooth drive. I don't know where is she taking me to but one thing is for sure she won't take me to Asher. She's not talking anymore and the atmosphere between us is overwhelming. Suffocating. I never dare throw even a single glance at her. I couldn't.

Matagal kaming tahimik. Ang tanging maririnig lang, ‘yung mahinang tunog ng aircon at tiktak ng orasan. I watched her struggle. The flicker of hesitation, the collapse of pride, the way her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag. That’s the thing about power, it isn’t about who speaks louder. It’s about who stays silent longer. Finally, she exhaled, shoulders dropping slightly. “If I agree… you’ll help us?” “Yes.”

Ang malamig na liwanag mula sa LCD screen ay nagbibigay ng nakatatakot na anino sa kanyang mukha na tila ukit sa matigas na bato—walang emosyon, patag, at puno ng matinding poot sa kasalukuyang pamahalaan. ​"Pumalya ang paunang operasyon ni Rene," malamig na wika ni Silas, habang tamad na nilalaro ang isang metal bullet casing sa pagitan ng kanyang mga daliri. Ang ritmikong tunog ng bakal sa bakal ay umaalingawngaw sa loob ng sementadong bunker.

“Bakit ayaw mong magsalita? Hindi mo ba alam na silence means yes?” Nagbulungan ang mga taong naroroon. “Mukha ngang totoo ang lahat ng kumakalat.” “Kaya nga, hindi niya magawang magsalita para pasinungalingan ang lahat ng binibintang sa kanya.” Luna sobbed in anguish, her heart filled with anguish. If she could, she wanted to disappear into the ground. Never in her life had she felt so humiliated. Just when she was in unbearable pain and had given up all hope, a furious shout rang in her ears.

Hawak-hawak ni Fame ang pisnging sinampal ni Andrei habang humahangos na tumatakbo (kahit wala naman siyang hininga) papunta sa isang silid na madalas niyang puntahan tuwing masama ang loob niya. Narating niya ang pinto ng silid na may nakasulat na mga simbolong imposibleng maintindihan ng pangkaraniwang tao. Nakasulat dito ang mga numerong 80 - 800514 at sa ibaba nito, naroon din ang pangalan ng may-ari ng silid, si Hogan. Sa paligid ng pinto may mga simbolong nakaukit na iba't iba ang anyo at hugis na siyang nagsisilbing daluyan ng liwanag galing sa bato.

Nagtagpo ang mga mata namin sandali, at doon ko nakita na may pinipigilan siyang words, o maybe isang truth na sobrang bigat bitawan. Hindi ko alam kung ako ang unang magsasalita… o hahayaan ko siyang mauna. At doon nagsimula ang mas mabigat na silence, ‘yung uri ng katahimikan na halos marinig mo ang sariling heartbeat.

She bit her lower lip, stopping herself from smiling. “Eat,” he stated, taking the empty plate before her. “You should eat too,” she replied and took a bite. They both ate quietly. Tanging tunog lang ng kubyertos ang maririnig. Hindi na nang usisa pa si Sierra kay Cohen. Alam naman niyang pribado ang mga bagay-bagay patungkol sa trabaho mi Cohen. “You are quiet,” he uttered which made Sierra lift her gaze. Her eyes narrowed, “What?”