Blood Between Us

CHAPTER 11

“GOOD morning, beautiful.” Bati ni Ciaran pagkabukas ni Esther ng pinto ng condo niya. She was yawning and half-awake as she let Ciaran enter her condo.

“Morning.” Inaantok na boses na bati ni Esther.

Ngumiti si Ciaran. Halatang bagong gising pa lamang si Esther. Magulo pa ang buhok nito, eh.

Tumalikod na si Esther at nagtungo ng kusina.

Isinara naman ni Ciaran ang pinto saka sumunod kay Esther sa kusina. “I brought breakfast for us.”

Tumango si Esther.

Ciaran chuckled. “Halatang inaantok ka pa.” Aniya.

Esther yawned again. “May tinapos akonng project kagabi. At binasa ko ang report ng Solace Tower construction.”

Napailing si Ciaran. “You worked too hard.”

Nagkibit ng balikat si Esther.

Kapagkuwan lumapit si Ciaran kay Esther saka niyakap ito mula sa likuran.

“Bakit?”

“I miss your warmth.” Ciaran’s breath was fanning on Esther’s neck, making her feel something… a sensation that ran down her veins.

Pasimpleng tumikhim si Esther saka inabot ang isang baso ng tubig at uminom.

Ciaran closed his eyes and buried his face on Esther’s neck. “I like your smell,” he said in her skin.

“My smell? Hindi pa nga ako nakakaligo,” sabi naman ni Esther saka binuksan ang dalawang brown bag na dala ng binata.

Inilabas niya ang pagkain at kukuha sana siya ng pinggan pero hindi naman siya makaalis sa kinatatayuan niya dahil yakap-yakap siya ni Ciaran.

“Ran, let me go. I have to prepare the plates.”

Umiling si Ciaran. “Ayoko.”

Esther let out a sigh. “May problema ba?” tanong niya.

“Nothing.”

Esther turned around to face Ciaran. She smiled and cupped her face. Though Ciaran looked calm, his eyes were telling something.

Something that Esther couldn’t name.

“Sweetheart, can I kiss you?”

Tumango si Esther at ngumiti. “Oo naman—”

Esther’s words were cut off when Ciaran kissed her. His hand found her waist, and the other rested gently at the side of her face.

Napahawak naman si Esther sa damit ni Ciaran hanggang sa naglandas ang palad niya balikat patungo sa dibdib at sa leeg nito. She pulled him closer and deepened their kiss. Hindi ito ang unang beses na naghalikan sila ni Ciaran. Minsan nga nauuwi na ito sa makeout.

Their breaths tangled, and their tongue battled.

Humawak si Ciaran sa beywang ni Esther saka ito binuhat at pinaupo sa counter nang hindi naghihiwalay ang kanilang labi.

Their kiss deepened and became more heated.

“Ran…”

Bumaba ang halik ni Ciaran sa panga ni Esther. His lips trailed her skin.

Esther tilted her neck when Ciaran was kissing her neck. All she could do was grip his shirt and let out a soft moan.

Ciaran’s hand slipped inside Esther’s shirt and caressed her soft skin.

“Esther…”

“Ran…hmm…”

“Sweetheart, you smell good,” Ciaran whispered in a husky voice.

Napalunok si Esther. Nararamdaman niyang parang bibigay na ang katawan niya sa mga paghawak at paghalik sa kaniya ni Ciaran.

“Damn…” Mahinang mura ni Ciaran saka mabilis na lumayo ng kaunti kay Esther bago pa man siya mawalan ng kontrol sa kaniyang sarili.

“Ciaran…”

“I’m sorry. I nearly lost my control.” Ciaran embraced Esther and kissed her on his forehead. “Forgive me."

Ngumiti si Esther. “It’s okay. Salamat sa respeto.” Aniya.

Respecting her means that Ciaran meant their relationship. Hindi ito mapusok katulad ng ibang lalaki. Hindi pansariling kapakanan ang iniisip ni Ciaran kundi ang kapakanan niya at kung gusto ba niya ang ginagawa nila.

Ciaran placed his forehead on Esther’s. “Next time, just push me away. It’s okay. I won’t be offended.”

Tumango si Esther. “But I pull you closer, just continue,” she said and jumped down from the counter.

Ciaran smiled and suddenly stole a kiss from Esther on the lips. “Then next time, unless you won’t push me away, I will,” he grinned, “ravage you.”

“Ciaran!” Namula si Esther.

Ciaran chuckled sexily and helped Esther to prepare for their breakfast.

Habang kumakain sila, napansin ni Esther na parang may gustong sabihin si Ciaran. Kilala na niya ang binata. Kapag may gusto itong sabihin at hindi nito masabi ng deretso, panay ang tingin nito sa kaniya.

“Just say it, Ran,” she said.

Itinigil ni Ciaran ang pagkain saka pinagsiklop ang dalawang kamay. “Busy ka ba today?” tanong niya.

Umiling si Esther. “Hindi naman. I had already finished all my projects yesterday and last night. Bakit?”

Ngumiti si Ciaran. He cleared his throat, nervous, but trying not to show it. “I was thinking… na baka pwede kitang yayaing lumabas. Just us. No work. No Solace and no Mira teasing in the background.”

Natawa na lamang si Esther nang ma-mention ni Ciaran si Mira. Lagi nga silang inaasar ng kaibigan niyang 'yon kapag nakikita sila nitong magkasama.

Tumaas ang kilay ni Esther. “Date?”

Mabilis na tumango si Ciaran. “Yes. A real one. The one you deserve.”

Esther bit back a smile. “Then where are you taking me, Mr. Vireaux?” she asked.

“That’s a surprise,” Ciaran said. “But wear something comfortable. And trust me, okay?”

Tumango si Esther. “Okay.”

Pagkatapos nilang kumain, si Ciaran ang naghugas ng pinagkainan nila at pinaghanda na lamang siya nito.

Syempre, noong kaharap ni Esther si Ciaran, hindi na niya muna ipinakita ang tuwa niya dahil magdedate silang dalawa. This was their first date. At nang makapasok siya sa loob ng kwarto, para siyang bata na nabigyan ng candy at nagtatalon sa tuwa.

Pinigilan na lamang ni Esther ang kaniyang pagsigaw upang hindi siya marinig ni Ciaran. Nakakahiya naman.

Esther took a bath and had to dress well. It’s her first date.

She wore a white flowy sundress and white sneakers. Then put some light makeup and let her hair loose.

Then in her sling bag, she put her phone, makeup, wallet, and handkerchief.

Tinignan niya muna ang sarili sa salamin bago siya lumabas.

Pagkalabas niya ng kwarto, nakita niya si Ciaran na nakaharap sa may bintana at may kausap sa phone. Hindi siya nagsalita at hinintay na lamang na matapos ito sa makikipag-usap. But then, Ciaran turned and saw her.

Esther waved her hand. “Hi…”

Ciaran nearly dropped his phone, as he was stunned that his mouth fell open when he saw Esther.

“Kuya?”

Napakurap si Ciaran nang marinig niya ang boses ng kaniyang kapatid mula sa cellphone na hawak. “Ahmm… ikaw na muna ang bahala diyan, Lucien.”

“May gagawin ka ba ngayon, Kuya?”

Ciaran walked towards Esther, lifted his hand, and caressed Esther’s cheek gently. “May importante akong gagawin ngayon, Lucien.”

“Hmm… mukhang alam ko na kung ano ang gagawin mo, Kuya. Sige, Kuya, enjoy. Wish you to have a baby.” And the call hanged up.

Napailing na lamang si Ciaran saka ibinulsa ang cellphone. “You’re beautiful. I want to kiss you again,” he said, caressing Esther’s cheek.

“Don’t smear my lipstick.”

Ngumiti si Ciaran saka hinawakan ang kamay ni Esther. “Let’s go before I’ll ravage your lips.”

Kinurot ni Esther ang binata. “Ang bibig mo.”

Ngumisi lang naman si Ciaran.

Akala ni Esther kung saan sila magde-date ni Ciaran, but he took her out to walk, have coffee at their favorite coffee shop, and then they went to the Museum. Maybe it was an effortless action for other girls, but for her, what Ciaran did was warm and approachable.

Hindi naman niya gustong pumunta sa mga mamahaling lugar o restaurant. Okay na sa kaniya ang pumunta sa mga lugar na pinupuntahan ng ordinaryong magkasintahan, just like them—her and Ciaran.

“You seemed happy.”

Ngumiti si Esther. “This is the date I want. Thank you, Ciaran.”

Umiling si Ciaran. “I’m glad you like it. Well, I just based it from your personality.” Aniya saka pinagsiklop ang kamay nilang dalawa ni Esther.

Esther tiptoed and kissed Ciaran’s cheek. “Your reward.”

Napahawak si Ciaran sa pisnging hinalikan ni Esther. He smiled and leaned down to kiss Esther, but Esther stopped him.

“Ang daming tao dito sa museum. Mahiya ka.”

Ciaran was too stunned to speak. “Sweetheart, you kissed me and I can’t kiss you back?”

Tumango si Esther. “Ganun na nga?”

Ciaran showed a smile and shook his head. “Forget it. I’ll kiss you this evening. Prepare for that.”

Nag-iwas naman ng tingin si Esther. It was bad of her to provoke Ciaran. Napabuga siya ng hangin saka nagpatuloy na lamang sa pagtingin ng mga naka-display na painting.

“Just tell me if you like a painting. I’ll buy it for you.”

Umiling si Esther. “I admire them, but I will never buy one.”

“Bakit naman?”

Ngumiti si Esther. “Wala. Just don’t have the mood to buy a painting,” she said, and continued looking at another painting.

Nakasunod naman si Ciaran sa dalaga. At habang abala si Esther sa pagtingin ng mga painting, inilabas niya ang cellphone saka tumawag sa isang restaurant para sabihin kung anong oras sila pupunta.

“I want the whole garden rooftop, okay? And no other people except us. If it’s about the music, just play some sweet music in the background.”

“Yes, Mr. Vireaux.”

Ciaran ended the call and looked at Esther. He took a picture of her when Esther was staring at a painting. A painting of a Phoenix soaring into the horizon. Nakita niya ang interes ni Esther sa painting kapagkuwan umiling lamang ito at lumipat sa kabilang painting.

Ngumiti si Ciaran saka sinenyasan si Drake na nasa hindi kalayuan. Laging nakasunod si Drake sa kaniya kahit saan man siya magpunta, but he kept his distance from him.

“Buy that painting for me,” he said and gave Drake his card. “And deliver it to Esther’s condo.”

Drake slightly bowed his head and headed to heed his order.

Ciaran smiled when Esther looked at him. He walked towards her.

“Let’s eat dinner outside later.”

Tumango si Esther saka yumakap sa braso ni Ciaran. “Thank you for today.”

Ciaran kissed Esther’s forehead. “Anytime, sweetheart.”