Blood Between Us

CHAPTER 15

CIARAN stood on Esther’s condo. He looked at the card in his hand. Esther had given him the card for her condo, so he could go in without knocking.

Ngumiti si Ciaran saka itinago ang card sa bulsa ng suot na coat. Kumatok siya sa pinto ng condo ng kasintahan.

The door clicked open after three knocks.

Ciaran didn’t even have time to say her name when he saw Esther standing in front of him, barefoot and casual, her dark robe loosely tied at the waist, and her robe was slipping on one shoulder, her one leg stepping forward just slightly enough to show a stretch of smooth skin from thigh to knee. Her hair was pinned messily, her cheeks flushed like she had just gotten out of a hot shower.

Natigilan pa si Esther ng makita si Ciaran. “You’re here,” she said, tugging the robe a little together but not quite covering the glimpse that had already made something inside him stir. “I’ve given you the card.”

Ciaran swallowed and didn’t speak right away. He couldn’t.

“Ran?”

Napakurap si Ciaran. “I don’t want to use it.”

Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Esther. “And why?”

“I want you to open the door for me.”

Esther smiled. Niluwagan niya ang pagkakabukas ng pinto. “I was about to change.”

Umiling si Ciaran. “Don’t.”

“Why not?” Esther asked. Though medyo kinakabahan siya pero itinago niya ang kabang ‘yon sa pamamagitan ng pagngiti na lamang. So, it’s working.

Esther wanted to smack herself for heeding Mira’s advice.

Ciaran stepped inside the condo, slowly, like he wasn’t sure whether he was walking into a dream or something even more dangerous…want.

“You look… like you.”

Napakurap si Esther. “Ano?”

Umiling si Ciaran.

Esther tilted her head, robe still slightly parted at her thigh. And yes, she was trying to seduce him. Blame Mira for this.

Pero tama naman kasi ang kaibigan niya kahit pa minsan hindi naman makatarungan ang mga pinapayo nito. It’s better to have a child even if she and Ciaran won’t end up together in the end.

Ciaran noticed the lit candles. And he tried not to let his imagination run wild.

“Ran,” Esther said softly, reading something in his eyes, “are you okay?”

Ciaran took a deep breath and smiled. “Yeah, I’m fine,” he answered the opposite. Pakiramdam niya kasi ay biglang uminit ang paligid nila ni Esther.

He reached up to tuck a stray strand of damp hair behind her ear. His fingers lingered against her cheek, and she leaned into his touch.

“Gusto mo ng kape?” tanong ni Esther.

“No,” Ciaran answered. “I want something else.”

Napalunok si Esther. Nakikita niya kasi ang pagdidilim ng mata ni Ciaran kaya naman medyo napaatras siya.

“I brought dinner. Huwag ka ng magluto.” Sabi ni Ciaran saka ibinigay kay Esther ang hawak na brown paper bag.

“Oh. Nice.”

“Can I use your shower?” tanong ni Ciaran.

Tumango si Esther.

Mas mabilis pa sa alas kwarto na nakaalis si Ciaran sa harapan ni Esther.

Pakiramdam naman ni Esther ay may malakas na hangin ang dumaan sa harapan niya. Natawa na lamang siya saka nagtungo sa kusina.

“Can I do it?” she asked herself. Parang hindi niya kayang akitin si Ciaran. Inuuhan na siya ng hiya at kaba. Dapat pala uminom siya para maging makapal ang mukha niya sa ganitong bagay.

Napailing na lamang si Esther saka hinanda ang hapunan nila na binili nito. Kakagaling lang nila pareho sa Solace Tower Construction at nauna lamang siya sa condo niya dahil may pinuntahan pa si Ciaran.

So far so good, maayos naman ang construction ng Solace Tower.

THE CLINKING of silverware against ceramic was the only sound between Esther and Ciaran as they ate their dinner. Outside the window, the city glowed in fragments with soft, blurred, like the world was watching from far away.

“This was nice,” sabi ni Esther pagkatapos ng mahabang katahimikan.

Ngumiti si Ciaran pero hindi umabot hanggang mata ang ngiti nito. “Yeah, it’s rare.”

Ginagawa lahat ni Ciaran ang makakaya niya upang hindi siya tumingin kay Esther lalo na at sa tuwing titingin siya rito, sa hita nito agad ang diretso ng tingin niya.

Esther noticed Ciaran’s look at her thigh, but she ignored it. She was trying to seduce Ciaran, right?

“Esther…”

“Hmm?”

“If I kiss you—no, more than just a kiss right now. Will you hate me?” Ciaran asked.

“Anong gagawin mo?” tanong ni Esther.

“I want to touch you.” Deretsang saad ni Ciaran habang nakatingin ng deretso sa mata ni Esther.

Napaubo si Esther. Mabilis niyang kinuha ang isang baso ng tubig na nasa kaniyang harapan at uminom ng tubig. Pagkatapos ay tumayo siya saka naglakad patungo sa may counter upang huminga.

Ciaran followed quietly.

Humarap si Esther. Her back was leaning against the counter.

“Ran…” sambit niya nang makita na sobrang lapit nilang dalawa.

Ngumiti si Ciaran. He cupped Esther’s cheek and dipped down, giving her a long-deep kiss on the lips.

Esther opened her mouth and responded to Ciaran’s kiss. Ipinalibot niya rin ang braso sa leeg ng kasintahan at mas lalong pinalalim pa ang halikan nilang dalawa.

Ciaran held Esther’s waist and made her sit on the counter with her thighs parted, and he stood in between.

Their mouths moved like they had been waiting for this.

Ciaran’s hand moved and untied Esther’s robe. His hand slid inside and pulled her robe. The robe slipped off, and Esther’s shoulder and chest were exposed.

“You’re not wearing a bra?”

Umiling si Esther.

Ciaran smiled and left Esther’s lips, and his traveled to her jaw, her neck, her shoulder, and went to her chest.

“Ran…”

“If you don’t want it, just push me away,” Ciaran said, but silently praying that Esther wouldn’t stop him.

Naipikit ni Esther at napakagat siya ng pang-ibabang labi nang maramdaman niya ang labi ni Ciaran sa dibdib niya. His lips were hovering her skin, like he was worshipping it.

Napahawak si Esther sa buhok ng kasintahan. Her fingers grabbed her hair and moaned when Ciaran kissed her breast and suck it, while his other hand was massaging her other breast. Half of her body was exposed to Ciaran.

“Ciaran!” Esther suddenly yelled when Ciaran bit her n****e.

Ciaran chuckled sexily. “Sweet…”

Esther couldn’t push Ciaran away because what Ciaran was doing to her right now was what her body wanted.

“Hmm…”

Ciaran played with Esther’s breast—kissing, sucking, and nibbling it. And he enjoyed hearing Esther’s moan. His lips traveled down further, but he stopped and went back to Esther’s breast.

Esther tilted her head when she felt that Ciaran’s lips were making their way to her neck, to her jaw, and finally, to her lips.

Their tongue battled with dominance.

Akala ni Esther ay dadalhin siya ni Ciaran sa kama pero hindi ‘yon nangyari. Ciaran fix her robe and tied it. Kaya muling natakpan ang katawan niya.

Esther looked at Ciaran in surprise.

Ciaran buried his face on Esther’s neck. “This was not the right time for this.” Aniya. Inayos niya ang suot ni Esther na roba. He made sure that no sensitive skin was being exposed.

“Okay lang naman sa akin.” Wika ni Esther.

Umiling si Ciaran. “We will have the right moment for this. I promise.” He kissed Esther’s forehead.

Esther’s Studio

“You tried to seduce him… and he didn’t touch you—I mean, he did touch you, but just the chest?” Mira's jaw dropped so low that Esther thought Mira might unhinge it like a cartoon snake.

Tumango si Esther.

Napakurap si Mira kay Esther. Kapagkuwan, “lalaki ba talaga siya?”

Esther groaned. “Of course, he is! I felt his down there hardened!” Talagang naramdaman niya ‘yon dahil nasa pagitan niya noon si Ciaran at ramdam niya talaga ang pagkabuhay ng p*********i nito.

“Wait, wait, wait. Rewind tayo. How did you exactly seduce Ciaran?” tanong ni Mira na daig pa ang NBI na nag-iimbestiga.

Esther looked around her office like the walls might rescue her from the interrogation. But the walls didn’t. She sighed in defeat. “I wore a robe. Loose with shoulder and thigh exposed. And I even lit scented candles. That’s what I have searched. Kaya ‘yon ang ginawa ko.”

Napatitig si Mira kay Esther. “Girl, you lit candles?”

“Yeah?” patanong na sagot ni Esther.

“Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ako o maaawa sa ‘yo, Esther.” Mira facepalmed. “That’s not seduction, that’s aromatherapy.”

“Wala naman akong experience!” Esther shot back in a defensive tone. “I was nervous too!”

Mira rolled her eyes, dramatic as ever. “Gaga ka talaga. Edi sana naghubad ka na lang. Siguradong di na papalag ‘yon kapag nakita na ang ka-sexy-han mo.”

“Hindi ko naman kayang gawin ‘yon ‘no.”

“Esther,” Mira leaned in, “ganito kasi ‘yan. You want the guy to c***k? Seduce him until he gives up. Pressure ‘yan. Tension sabi nga nila. Tingin na may halong ‘oops, nahulog ang towel’ realness.”

Napatakip si Esther ng mukha gamit ang kaniyang mga kamay. “Ang hirap naman.”

“Of course, mahirap para sa ‘yo na baguhan. Ganun talaga ‘yon. Seduction is an art. Kung hindi mo kaya…” Esther trailed off, fishing something from her tote bag.

Tumaas ang kilay ni Esther.

Mira grinned, pulling out a tiny paper bag like she had just bought cookies. “Oh, ayan.”

“Ano ‘to?”

“Gamitin mo ‘yan kay Ciaran.”

Binuksan ni Esther ang paper bag. Inside, a small dark bottle. No label.

“Mira, ano ‘to?”

“Binilhan na kita.”

Bumilis ang t***k ng puso ni Esther. “Binilhan mo ako ng…”

Mira smirked. “Essential oils. Pampakilig lang. Don’t worry, lavender, vanilla tsaka ylang-ylang.”

Napakurap si Esther.

Mira burst into laughter. “Akala mo aphrodisiac ‘no?” she cackled. “Grabe ka, Esther. Ang wholesome pa rin ng vibe mo kahit sa kabastusan.”

Binato tuloy ni Esther ang kaibigan niya ng ballpen. “Mira!”

“What? I’m just trying to help my best friend live her fantasy life. Pero real talk, Esther. You like him, right?”

Tumango si Esther.

“Then you don’t need tricks. Just be yourself. Kasi kung hindi pa siya tinablan sa ‘loose robe with exposed thigh and shoulder’ moment mo, baka kailangan mo na lang talaga siyang halikan. Sa lips, kagatin sa labi.”

“Ganun?”

“Ganun nga.” Mira winked. “Or di kaya naman pushed him to the bed and straddled him, and hubad na. Pero dapat dim ang light ng kwarto para di ka masyadong mahiya. Dapat romantic ang peg mo.”

Natawa ng mahina si Esther. “Bakit parang marunong ka? May karanasan ka na ba?”

Mira rolled her eyes. “Duh, steamy stories were everywhere. Minsan kasi magbasa ka rin huwag puro drawing ng building.”

Esther picked up her phone and, as Mira had said, she started to search for some stories where she could learn and apply them to Ciaran.