Blood Between Us

FROM THIRTY-FIVE STORIES UP, the city was a bright, dazzling creature, with steel and glass rising like ambition from stone. The light cast a clear sheen on the tower windows, making the boardroom appear brighter. Nakatayo si Esther Sorrell sa harapan ng malawak na silid, nakahawak siya ng mahigpit sa remote na kung saan ay gagamitin niya ito para sa kaniyang presentasyon maya-maya lamang. Ngunit ramdam niya ang kaba at ang tension sa loob ng malawak na silid. May labin-limang minuto lamang siya. Fifteen minutes to make them see it. Feel it. Humugot ng malalim na hininga si Esther. She was cheering herself. Inside, the room was full of influential people. Lahat ay mga kilala sa mundo ng pagnenegosyo. At hindi siya maaaraing magkamali. Wearing a blazer, she will make them believe a woman like her could design a future worth building. Wala sa edad ang basehan ng talento. Malamig ang buga ng aircon sa loob ng silid ngunit parang hindi ito ramdam ni Esther dahil sa kaniyang kaba. As she started her presentation, she took a deep breath. Her slide lit up the massive screen behind her. Minimalist. Clean lines and a touch of green. “This is the Solace Tower,” she began. Hindi ganun kalakas ang kaniyang boses ngunit sapat upang marinig siya ng lahat. Baka maubo pa siya kapag lakasan niya ang kaniyang boses. Mas nakakahiya ‘yon. Esther continued. “A property that doesn’t just prioritize space, but prioritizes breath.” Nakita niya ang pag-angat ng ilan sa mga taong nasa loob ng kwarto, which was a good sign. Esther clicked for the next slide. “The terrace structure employs biophilic layering—vertical gardens that provide natural insulation while softening the outward impression. The rooftop is covered in solar glass, which is oriented to enhance energy conversion while maintaining skyline aesthetics." Nanatiling blanko ang mukha ng mga mukha ng mga panel of executives na nasa harapan. All of them were wearing suits in gray, navy, and darker gray. It was a sea of muted reactions. Except one. Nakaupo ito malapit sa dulo ng mahabang lamesa. And as far as she remembered, she didn’t see him in the printed seating chart she’d memorized last night. His suit was darker than the other, his jawline sharper, and unlike the rest, he didn’t scribble notes or scroll on his tablet. Nakatingin lamang ito sa kaniya at pinapanood siya habang ang kamay nito ay nakalagay sa lamesa at hindi mabasa ang ekspresyon nito sa mukha. Mabilis na nag-iwas ng tingin si Esther dahil parang may kung anong lamig ang dumaloy sa ugat niya dahil sa tingin ng lalaki. His eyes flicked at hers. Brown—dark and clear. Esther moved to the next portion of her presentation—environmental impact and distributed the printed materials. Mira, her best friend, had helped her staple it until 2 in the morning. Esther inhaled through her nose and moved on. “The foundation of the tower incorporates reclaimed limestone from local suppliers, reducing expenses by 15% while preserving the natural landscape of the lower valley regions. And it’s not just sustainable, it’s symbolic.” And that line came from her father. Sandaling tumigil si Esther para pakalmahin ang kaniyang sarili. Kinakabahan siya pero hindi dapat siya padaig ng kaniyang kaba. Walang mangyayari kung papairalin niya ang kaniyang kaba. She might lose a big project if that’s the case. “My team and I designed Solace to be both a landmark and a living structure—intended not to dominate the skyline, but to coexist with it.” Silence. At mas lalong nakakakaba ang katahimikan. Then a woman in black-rimmed glasses, and the only person under fifty besides her, spoke up. “Interesting approach. However, I am not sure if this property fits into the present portfolio of Vireaux. Our board favors conventional lines. Predictability. Legacy.” She shrugged after speaking. Esther smiled, not showing her teeth. “Legacy doesn’t have to mean repetition. The Vireaux name is already established. Solace is how it evolves.” Sa sinabi ni Esther, napataas ng kilay ang ilan sa mga panel of executives. A few pen strokes and others smirk—hindi tuloy alam ni Esther kung nang-iinsulto ba ito o ano. Until the man at the end of the table finally shifted in his seat. And spoke. “I like it.” His voice was rich. Cool. The kind of voice that didn’t need to be raised to command a room. Napatingin rito ang ilang executives at halatang nagulat sila ng makita ang lalaki. The CEO, Lawrence Soria, offered a small nod. “Mr. Vireaux, didn’t know you’d be joining us today.” Nagulat si Esther sa narinig na pangalan. Vireaux. Of course, he was not just a consultant or a board member of the company. Ciaran Vireaux. The heir of Vireaux Global Holdings—a multi-industry conglomerate with tentacles in finance, real estate, pharmaceuticals, and technology. The shadow son. The name everyone whispers about, but rarely sees in public settings like these. Walang ideya si Esther na makikita niya ito ngayon. Walang nagsabi sa kaniya. Ciaran stood slowly, his attention never leaving her. “This design is different. Fresh. Risky, but intelligent. Though you looked young, your vision was realistic, and that’s good. You have potential,” said Ciaran. Esther nodded politely. She needs to be professional. Ciaran gestured to the slides. “The market was changing. People want more than steel. They want soul. Hindi naman siguro masama na iwan ang nakagawian at tumingin sa makabagong pamamaraan.” His eyes lingered for half a beat too long. “And this design has it.” The room adjusted, subtly. Ngayon nakikinig na ang mga ito. Hindi alam ni Esther kung takot ba ang mga ito kay Ciaran Vireaux of di kaya sadyang nakuha na niya ang atensiyon ng mga ito. But whatever the reason is, she needs to continue. Ciaran flipped through the booklet. “Can you walk me through the multi-tier terrace integration again? Particularly, the drainage layer. I’m curious how it holds under storm conditions,” and he went back to sitting. Tumango si Esther. “Of course,” and she clicked back to the next slide, with her hands steady even as her blood rushed in her ears. Pagkatapos ng presentasyon, unti-unting nags-asialisan ang mga tao sa loob ng board room, ilan sa mga ito ay tumango pa sa kaniya habang ang ilan ay abala sa pakikipag-usap sa kanilang cellphone. Esther was packing her laptop when she felt someone behind her. “Miss Sorrell.” Nagulat si Esther nang marinig ang boses ng lalaki sa kaniyang likod. Mabilis siyang humarap at bahagyang umatras nang mapagtantong sobrang lapit nilang dalawa. Ciaran wasn’t smiling, but there was something sharp and quiet in his expression. A kind of approval that felt heavier than applause. "Kahanga-hanga ka,” sabi nito. “Most of our architects say things that look good on paper but don’t breathe in reality. Yours did.” “Salamat.” Kalmadong sabi ni Esther kahit pa malakas ang kabog ng kaniyang dibdib. “Hindi ko po alam na dadalo kayo.” “Neither did they,” Ciaran glanced toward the door where the others had left. “Pero minsan gusto kong makita ang mga nangyayari ng walang umaasa. It was good to see unexpected outcomes rather than to see a scripted reality.” Esther lowly cleared her throat. Ang lalim naman yata ng sinasabi nito. Isa lang naman ang sinabi niya. Ciaran’s eyes dropped to the file in Esther's hands. “We’ll be in touch. But between you and me…” he leaned in just slightly. “You’ve already changed the room.” Pakiramdam ni Esther nablangko ang kaniyang isipan dahil sa sinabi ng kausap. Ciaran nodded and left. Naiwan namang nakatayo si Esther habang mabilis ang pagtibok ng kaniyang puso. THAT NIGHT, Esther sat on the couch in her condo, barefoot and still wearing her blazer, staring at the folder Ciaran Vireaux had returned to her after the meeting. There are no marks. No notes. Just one business car slipped inside. The business card contains his name, Ciaran Vireaux. Strategic Development. Vireaux Global—and his number. No email. Just a number. Napatitig na lamang si Esther sa business card. “Don’t,” Mira warned from the kitchen, spoon-deep in a pint of chocolate ice cream. “Siya ang klase ng taong ngingiti ng isang beses at makakalimutan mo na ang pangalan mo.” Esther rolled her eyes. “Hindi naman siya ngumiti.” “Exactly my point. I’m trying to save you, my friend.” Napailing lamang si Esther. “Inuubos mo naman ang ice cream ko.” Ngumiti si Mira kapagkuwan nagseryoso. “Also,” she leaned on the back of the couch, “you know that his family runs half the buildings in this city, right?” “Alam ko,” sagot ni Esther saka ibinaba ang hawak na folder sa center table at hinubad ang suot na blazer. “At nakakatakot rin sila.” “Alam ko rin ‘yon.” Pero hindi mawala sa isipan ni Esther kung paano tignan ni Ciaran ang disenyong ginawa niya na para bang may ibang ibig sabihin. Esther looked out the window at the city lights. She had no interest in fairytales. No desire to become some billionaire’s side project. But somewhere deep in her chest, something quite whispered: He saw you. At iyon ang nakakatakot sa lahat. CIARAN VIREAUX poured himself a glass of scotch but didn’t drink it. The lights of the city bled gold and silver into the back glass of his penthouse windows. Below, the world moved—too fast, too loud, and too greedy. Esther Sorrell… The name sat oddly in his mind, like it had always been there, waiting to be remembered. Sa totoo lang, hanga siya sa babae. She stood her ground like no one else did. Hindi nanginginig ang boses nito. No desperate flattery. No begging for a chance. Just truth and vision. At iyon ang gusto niya. Pumunta siya sa presentation na ‘yon para patahimikin ang board sa gusto nilang mangyari. Innovation. They were nagging about innovation, and yet they couldn’t come up with a solution. And there, he saw her. Hindi niya inaasahan na makikita niya roon ang isang Esther Sorrell. He hadn’t expected to feel anything at all. Pero nang magsalita ito, parang may kung anong sumagi sa kaniya. When she talked about buildings that breathed, and that stone, something cracked in him. Something that had been too still for too long. Her voice was gentle, like it was swaying him. And for a moment, Ciaran forgot who he was. He didn’t see the spreadsheets, nor his mother’s voice at the back of his mind warning him about sentiment. Para sa kaniya ang tanging nakita niya lamang ay ang paggalaw ng kamay nito habang ipinapaliwanag nito ang tungkol sa disensiyon. And something stirred his heart when he saw her tuck her hair behind one ear without realizing it. And Esther Sorrell didn’t even flinch when she found out who he was. Hindi man lang ito ngumiti. Just a flash of recognition in her eyes, like she'd decided she would not be impressed. Ciaran clenched his fist. “What the hell was happening to me?” Naramdaman niya ‘yon, may kung naantig sa kaniya. For the first time, he saw a woman who wasn’t chasing the Vireaux name. And a woman whose voice needs permission to be heard. Ibinaba ni Ciaran ang hawak na baso. He had avoided entanglements for half of his life. Distraction was dangerous. Affection was a liability. But tonight, for the first time in years, he wasn’t thinking about board meetings, shareholders, or his mother’s legacy that needed to be maintained. He was thinking about Esther Sorrell. The only woman who got his attention.