The Conspiracy of Silence

12th Silence

It will be always hard to prove your worth. You do a great job and the expectations you will get will increase. Alden hated the pressure it brought. Even if he couldn't speak, he was still expected to do great things, including the managing of FK Trading.

Hanggat hindi siya makakapagsalita, hindi tuluyang magiging kanya ang kompanya. Kung hindi naman siya tutulong, he will be treated as a disgrace. At hindi din madaling talikuran ang posisyon niya. Because he grew up to be a ruler, the heir to his father's company.

Kaya naman may pagkakataon na kailangan niyang lumabas sa lungga niya. At iyon ay tuwing semi-annual board meeting. He couldn't speak his input but he had to listen. Kaya sa tuwing umuuwi siya kagagaling ng kompanya, nanliliit siya sa sarili. Tulad ngayon.

I told you to prepare the chopper. Now look, I'm stuck in the traffic! Mensahe niya sa katabi na si Ryza. Kanina pa niya gustong umuwi, even before the board meeting started.

"I'm sorry, sir. It can't be help. We need to prioritize your father."

Napatingin na lang si Alden sa labas dahil sa inis. Isang lang naman ang chopper ng kompanya at kasalukuyan itong ginagamit ng papa niya for important meetings na bawal itong ma-late. At kahit siya ang tagapag-mana, ang papa niya pa rin ang hari.

The cars moved a bit and Alden could only sigh imagining how long he have to be on the road. Tinitignan-tignan na lang niya ang mga tao sa labas. Until a certain girl caught his eyes sitting inside a restaurant.

Maine... he smiled upon the recognition. Pero agad din napalis ang ngiti niya ng makita ang lalaking kasama nitong kumakain. Inspector Jake Ejercito, the man who held the kidnapping case and Maine's ex-boyfriend. And because the restaurant was closer to the roadside and those two people were sitting at the table beside the window, kitang-kita niya ang kamay ni Maine na hawak ang kamay ni Jake. 

A burning passion of hate suddenly filled Alden's mind as he watched those two talked. Gusto niyang i-text si Maine na lumabas sa restaurant na iyon. Gusto niyang utusan si Ryza na kaladkarin si Maine papasok sa sasakyan niya. Gusto niyang tanggalan ng lisensya si Jake sa pagka-pulis. But then he remembered his last meeting with her when she pushed him away. He was confident that she liked it. Halos mabaliw na nga siya sa ginawa. Pero noong pinatigil siya ni Maine, and the way she was looking up at him, it was evident na pasyente lang talaga siya para dito. And it hurts because he wanted more.

Pero wala siya sa posisyon na bakuran ito.

If only he can let himself speak. If only he's as normal as that man. Then maybe, Maine can be happy just like that when she's with him. Pero gusto ba niyang maging normal uli? For Maine, will he allow himself to be normal?

---

Si Ryza ang nagbukas ng pinto nang dumating si Maine sa bahay ni Alden. Agad na nawala ang kaba niya sa ngiti ng sekretarya. Pero agad din naman bumalik iyon pagpasok niya sa madilim na sala.

"Are you sure okay lang dito si sir?"

Mabilis na tinapat ni Maine ang hintuturo sa labi as a sign of hush. "Magiging okay din ito so long as hindi mo siya pinagsabihan?"

"He's not aware. He's actually locking himself in his Study." Napakunot-noo saglit si Ryza sa kakaibang kilos ng boss bago umiling. "The car's ready. Do you want me to call Mr. Faulkerson or you rather do it yourself? I advise you that he's not in his good mood this recent days."

Ngumiti siya. Sanay naman siya sa pabago-bagong temper nito. "Baka na-istorbo na kita sa trabaho mo. Ako na ang papasok sa Study."

Tumango ito saka pinagpatuloy ang paglilinis ng paperworks na nagkalat sa dining table.