Blood Between Us

CHAPTER 8

“CIARAN, may kape ka pang natira diyan?” tanong ni Esther kay Ciara habang nasa layout table. At si Ciaran na nakaupo sa sofa.

“Last sip,” Ciaran said as he looked into the mug in his hands. “Pero pwede kitang ipagtimpla.”

“Gusto kong ‘yong katamtamang tamis at katamtamang tapang.” Sabi ni Esther.

Ciaran chuckled. “Noted. I’ll make you a coffee.”

Narinig ni Esther ang pagtayo si Ciaran at pumunta ito sa kitchenette na nasa kabilang kwarto ng studio. No hesitation like he had done it before.

And truth to be told? He had.

It started as small visits. Ciaran would drop in at Esther’s studio kapag galing ito sa meeting sa malapit. Then it turned into regular coffee breaks. Then dinners. Now, ito na silang dalawa, working together for the Solace Tower nearing midnight. And sometimes they would share snacks and some kind of nonsense jokes.

Minsan napapaisip si Esther kung ang isang Ciaran Vireaux pa ba ang kaharap niya kasi sobrang layo na ito sa taong kinatatakutan ng lahat. Ciaran laugh kahit hindi halata. And he would smile sometimes.

Masasabi ni Esther na magkaibigan na sila ni Ciaran.

“Here’s your coffee. Made from me,” Ciaran said, returning with a steaming mug.

“Thanks,” Esther grinned, accepting it.

Umupo si Ciaran sa tabi ni Esther na nakaupo sa may sahig.

“Hindi ka pa ba uuwi?” tanong ni Esther.

“Ikaw?” tanong naman ni Ciaran.

“Uuwi ako mamaya.”

Ciaran sighed. “Wala akong uuwian ngayon na mas gusto ko kaysa dito o sa condo mo.”

That caught Esther off guard.

“Wala kang party? Gala? Date? Or secret penthouse?” pang-aasar ni Esther.

Ciaran smiled faintly. “Suffocating ang mga party. At sa penthouse, ako lang ang ingay doon.”

Esther stared at Ciaran. This was the thing about Ciaran, latterly, he wasn’t showing up. He was showing more, not in grand gestures, but in tiny, almost unnoticeable leaks. And she noticed that Ciaran would look at his phone every five minutes when he was with her.

“Anong iniisip mo?” biglang tanong ni Ciaran.

“That you’re a mystery,” sabi ni Esther na may halong katotohanan.

Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Ciaran.

“Parang hindi ko pa rin alam kung sino ka talaga.” Sabi ni Esther at humigop ng kape. “I don’t know, but I want to know more about you.”

Natahimik si Ciaran at ganun din si Esther. Her heart was beating fast again. This happened, always, when Ciaran was nearby.

Ciaran placed the mug down and leaned back against the table. Eyes on the ceiling. “My childhood was not that happy,” he finally said. “That’s what it’s always been. Since I was a kid. I was told to be perfect, be sharp, and be better than anyone else. Don’t make mistakes.”

Esther felt like someone had gripped her heart. Hindi niya akalain na ganito ang kabataan ni Ciaran. Mayaman si Ciaran. Ito ang tagapagmana ng Vireaux Global pero walang mag-aakala na ganito katindi ang naranasan nito noong kabataan nito.

“Ilang taon ka nun?” Esther asked.

“Eight,” Ciaran answered.

Esther didn’t say anything. She leaned back beside Ciaran. They sat in that comfortable hush, warm from the shared space and the weight of what wasn’t said.

No romance. No labels. Just the gentle unraveling of walls.

“Gusto mo ng loaf bread?” Esther offered after a long silence.

Ciaran laughed, real and deep. At ‘yon ang gustong marinig ni Esther. Ang totoong Ciaran Vireaux. Hindi ang Ciaran Vireauz na kinatatakutan ng lahat.

“Yes. I think I love you for that.”

Esther’s heart almost jumped. Pero tumayo siya, hindi pinansin ang sinabi ni Ciaran saka pumunta sa kitchenette. Pero… “Isa na lang ang natira, hati tayo.”

And from behind, Esther heard Ciaran’s voice.

“Works for me. I’ve always been better at sharing when it’s with you.” Ciaran winked.

Ngumiti naman si Esther pero hindi totoo. Gusto niya lang takpan ang tunay niyang nararamdaman dahil sa sinabi ni Ciaran.

ESTHER YAWNED as soon as she entered her condo. Ala una na ng madaling araw. Nagulat pa siya ng sumunod sa kaniya si Ciaran. Akala niya kasi ay umalis na ito.

“Pwedeng dito muna ako?” tanong ni Ciaran, nasa boses nito na parang nagpapaawa ito.

Esther pointed at her wristwatch. “Ala una na ng madaling araw. Bakit? Wala ka bang balak na magpahinga?”

Ciaran’s shoulder fell. “Sige na nga. Uwi na ako.” Tumalikod na siya pero kusang gumalaw ang kamay ni Esther upang hawakan ang braso ng binata upang patigilin ito.

Ciaran looked at Esther.

Esther cleared her throat. “You can stay, you know,” she said after a pause. “If you’re too tired to go back.”

Lumiwanag ang mukha ni Ciaran. “Sure ka?” naniniguro niyang tanong.

Tumango si Esther. “Couch lang, ha. Walang special privileges.”

Ciara grinned. “Understood. And no throwing myself at you in a fit of passion.”

Pinulot ni Esther ang isang throw pillow at hinampas sa mukha ni Ciaran pero agad naman nitong nasalo ‘yon.

“Okay. I deserved that.”

Napailing na lamang si Esther saka itinuro ang closet. “Blankets are in the closet. Extra toothbrush sa banyo.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” he said, walking towards the closet.

As Ciaran moved toward the hallway, he paused. “Esther?”

“Hmm?”

Ciaran looked at Esther with a real and tired expression. “Thanks,” he said softly. “For letting me stay.”

Tumango si Esther at hindi na binigyan ng ibang ibig sabihin ang sinabi ni Ciaran. “Just don’t snore,” she teased.

“No promises,” he called over his shoulder.

Later that night, Esther passed by the living room to turn off the light and found Ciaran lying on the couch, one arm thrown over his eyes.

His coat was folded on the chair, shoes by the door, blanket up to his chest. He looked peaceful, but in Esther’s place, he was out of place, but someone unwelcome.

Sandaling tinitigan ni Esther ang binata. Doon niya napansin na parang mas batang tignan si Ciaran kapag nakatulog ito. But he looked vulnerable too.

Esther let out a small sigh and placed a bottle of water on the coffee table beside him. Then she walked back to her room, but she left the door open just a little.

NAGISING SI ESTHER kinabukasan dahil sa malakas na katok sa pinto ng condo niya. Iyong klase ng katok na parang may nasunugan. Pero hindi naman nag-alarm ang fire alarm.

“Esther!!! Open up, I brought your overpriced latte!”

Esther groaned into her pillow. “Mira…” she muttered. Her best friend really had no concept of boundaries.

“Esther!” Another knock. “Kapag hindi mo pa ‘to binuksan within five… I’m climbing through the window with caffeine and questions!”

Suddenly, Esther remembered Ciaran, and that made her bolt upright. Sinilap niya ang binata sa bahagyang nakabukas na pinto ng kwarto niya. He was still on the couch, still asleep, his arms were draped lazily over his face, hair a bit messy, and blanket down to his waist.

And shirtless. Kung tama ang pagkakaalala niya, may damit pa naman ‘to kagabi.

Esther quickly climbed off her bed and dashed towards the main door like she was defusing a bomb, and opened it just a c***k.

Mira grinned.

“Good morning, sunshine,” she chirped, holding up two cups of coffee. “Guess who brought the divine mocha vanilla swirl with an oat milk and… wait. Why do you look like you committed a grave sin?”

“Hindi naman,” pabulong na sabi ni Esther.

Tumaas ang kilay ni Mira. “Okay. Then why are you whispering?”

“I have a guest.”

“Oh.”

Esther stepped out into the hallways and shut the door behind her.

“Ciaran stayed over.”

Pagkatapos sabihin ‘yon ni Esther, napakurap si Mira ng maraming beses.

“Paki-ulit?”

“He slept on the couch! Just the couch! He’s shirtless, but we didn’t do anything.” Esther said before her best friend's imagination ran loose.

“So,” Mira said, sipping her coffee slowly, “Ciaran Vireaux slept in your condo? Overnight? And shirtless?”

“I didn’t ask him to take off his shirt!” Esther hissed.

Mira smirked. “But you didn’t stop him either.”

Napatitig na lamang si Esther kay Mira.

“I swear, Mira, I will pour that expensive latte down your blouse.”

“Oh, this is better than TV.”

Mira pushed past Esther and opened the door.

“Mira!”

Too late. Mira had stepped inside, taken one look at the couch, and let out the most dramatic gasp of her life.

“Oh. My. God.”

Ciaran stirred.

Unti-unting nagmulat ng mata si Ciaran. Then he saw Mira, then he looked at Esther, and back to Mira.

“Uh, hi?” he said, voice raspy.

Mira made a squeaking sound that Esther could only describe as chismosa static overload.

“Oh my God. Totoo ka nga.”

Umupo si Ciaran, at unti-unting nahuhulog ang kumot.

Mira looked away. “May abs pa!”

Esther almost choked. “Mira!”

Ciaran, now full awake, looked entirely too amused. “I’d like to offer you coffee, but I think yours is already strong enough.”

Mira just pointed at Ciaran. “You. You’re dangerous.”

Ciaran smirked. “So, they say.”

Meanwhile, Esther wanted to be swallowed by the ground.

Tumingin si Mira kay Esther. “Hindi ko papalagpasin ‘to, sunshine. Not in this lifetime. Not in the next and next.”

“Umalis ka na.” Pagpapaalis ni Esther sa kaibigan.

“May dala akong kape,” Mira protested.

“Take it and go.”

Ciaran stretched, unbothered. “I’ll take the extra one if no one wants it.”

And Mira handed it to him like she was presenting a holy relic.

Habang si Esther naman ay napa-facepalmed na lang. What a good morning. Good morning indeed, with those abs and her best friend.

Esther sighed. Lord, kunin mo na lang ako kaysa matunaw ko sa kahihiyan rito.

Unfortunately, hindi pinakinggan ang dasal niya.