Tight Lipped

by allynieva

Saint Mercajez, or Santi, was never used to having friends around him because of his disability. He's mute, and it was a congenital disability he had grew to accept since the very start.

Entering college, under the same university his older brother's studying at, was another phase for him. New people, new environment — yet Saint already knew he'd end up isolating himself for the longest time.

But opposite to what his expectations were... Saint, miraculously, found himself in his brother's circle. Everything was his first. His first time to be taken care of, his first time to be adored, his first time to be treated like a friend, his first time to receive actual and genuine kindness.

But somehow... among them, there was a specific guy who treated him differently. A treatment that a friend would never dare do, a line that a brother-like-friend would never cross. Saint knew it was bad to like someone who possibly only see you as a younger brother. But he knew, that the way Elias Salvacion treated him was different compared to how everyone did.

Lines were overstepped. Boundaries had been crossed. But how could Saint even ask what Elias truly feels for him if he's tight lipped?

First published January 1, 2026