Blood Between Us

CHAPTER 3

ESTHER walked into the restaurant and was guided by the host to the table she had reserved on the rooftop. Tinignan niya ang oras at nakitang late na naman si Mira. Well, lagi naman. Wala ng bago ‘yon sa kaniya. At nasanay na rin siya.

As she sat on the chair, she looked around. The city looked soft from where she was sitting, like someone had muted the chaos for a while. Tahimik ang rooftop at may musikang nagpe-play as background.

Ito ang gusto ni Esther na lugar kapag gusto niyang mag-relax at kumain ng matiwasay. It was also the kind of place she came to breathe.

“Your server will be with you in a moment, ma’am,” the host smiled, placing the menu on the table in front of Esther.

“Thank you,” Esther replied softly.

Tinignan niya ang kaniyang cellphone upang tignan kung may mensahe ba si Mira.

Then, she heard a voice. At sobrang familiar nito. It was deep and controlled.

“I’ll take the table in the corner, please.”

Kumabog ang dibdib ni Esther.

No way.

Dahan-dahan siyang lumingon sa pinanggalingan ng boses at nakita niya ang lalaki.

Ciaran.

Nakatayo ito ilang hakbang ng layo mula sa kaniya, at nakatingin ito sa menu.

Esther facepalmed. Akala naman niya makakapag-relaxed siya at makakain ng matiwasay. It was a coincidence. Same restaurant. Same time. And same floor.

Of course.

Dahil may sarili ganap ang mundo at tadhana.

Napabuga ng hangin si Esther. Iniisip niya kung tatakbo na ba siya dahil hindi pa naman siya nakikita ng binata at sabihin na lamang niya sa staff na may emergency pero bakit naman niya gagawin ‘yon?

Wala naman siyang kasalanan sa lalaki.

Esther stayed. And observed Ciaran. Same rolled sleeves, hair slightly messy, and his eyes scanning the place like he was still half in his world, until he looked left and—

Their eyes met.

Natigilan si Ciaran.

Esther froze. She didn’t know, but every time Ciaran looked at her, there was something cold that would run down her spine.

Then, that familiar, too-calm voice spoke, “Esther.”

“Ciaran,” Esther replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Nagdalawang isip si Ciaran, pero humakbang siya palapit sa dalaga. “Hindi ko inaasahann na makikita kita rito,” sabi niya.

Nagkibit naman ng balikat si Esther. “Neither did I.”

Hindi pa man sinasabi ni Esther pero umupo na si Ciaran sa upuan sa tapat niya.

Esther’s eyes darted to the man behind Ciaran like a bodyguard.

“He is my bodyguard,” Ciaran answered the question in Esther’s mind.

The bodyguard nodded politely.

Esther did the same.

“May date ka?” biglang tanong ni Ciaran.

Esther saw something in Ciaran’s eyes—an emotion that flickered in his eyes. Pero hindi niya masabi kung ano ‘yon.

“No. Hinihintay ko ang kaibigan ko.”

Napatango si Ciaran. He was relieved. Akala niya nandito si Esther para makipag-date. Hindi niya alam pero may kung anong emosyong umusbong sa dibdib niya sa naiisip niya kung sakali nga na may ka-date si Esther na ibang lalaki.

He wanted Esther not to date anyone but him.

Ciaran looked away. What the hell was he thinking? He knew that he could get any woman he wanted, but Esther was different. Si Esther ang unang nagpakita sa kaniya na wala itong pakialam kung sino siya. And that got his attention.

“So, how about my proposal, Miss Sorrell? Nakapagdesisyon ka na ba?” tanong ni Ciaran.

Hindi agad nakasagot si Esther.

“You haven’t decided yet.”

Tumango si Esther. “Hindi ko kasi alam kung ano ba ang dapat. Kung dapat ba akong pumayag o hindi. Your company wanted a legacy, but mine was healing. It’s not about legacy.”

Napatango si Ciaran. “I understand you. But just consider the project for what it is. Something we could build. Not something my family can break.”

Esther let out a sigh. “Iyon ang problema, Mr. Vireaux. Hindi ko alam kung papayag ang team mo. I know Vireaux Global wanted a legacy. But like what I have said, I want healing. It’s not about money, fame, or legacy. I just want to be me.”

Sumandal si Ciaran sa kinauupuan. No wonder that Esther got his attention. She is firm in her decision. At ginagawa nito kung ano ang alam nitong tama.

“Then let’s make this simple,” Ciaran said. “If you say yes, it will be your call. No interference from anyone. You lead. Your team. I’ll back off completely unless you need me. Just Solace. Just you.”

Esther didn’t answer right away. Instead, she looked Ciaran in the eye. She developed the Solace Tower design along with her team and with the advice of her father. At naghahanap siya ng taong makakagawa nito, not because of fame or legacy, but it can heal people. Yes, it’s a design, but a design can heal along with natural landscapes.

She presented it to Vireaux Global, thinking that they could give her what she wanted, but her design was not aligned with the traditional approach of the Empire. Syempre, hindi naman niya ipagpipilitan ang disensiyong gawa niya kung ayaw ng mga ito.

And yet, the heir of the Vireaux Global was here and asking her opinion.

Esther looked at the horizon and said, “I’ll give you my answer tomorrow.”

Ciaran nodded. “Alright. I’ll wait. I’ll come to your studio tomorrow.” He stood and went to his own table.

And as Ciaran left his seat, Mira arrived, much to Esther’s relief.

“Bakit ganiyan ang mukha mo?” puna ni Mira nang makaupo siya at makita ang anyo ni Esther. Parang masyadong malalim ang iniisip nito.

Umiling naman si Esther. “Wala ‘to. Nakapag-order na pala ako pero kung may gusto ka pang idagdag, magsabi ka na lang sa waiter.”

“No need. Alam ko naman na in-order mo ang paborito ko.” Sabi ni Mira habang nakangiti.

Ngumiti na rin si Esther at sumulyap sa kinaroroonan ni Ciaran. Medyo nagulat pa siya dahil nakatingin rin pala ito sa kaniya. Siya na lang ang unang nag-iwas ng tingin habang mabilis ang pagtibok ng kaniyang puso. Parang may kung anong dumadagundong sa tuwing nasa malapit ang lalaki.

Habang kumakain sila ni Mira, ramdam ni Esther ang pares ng matang nakatingin sa kaniya. Alam niya kung kanino ang matang ‘yon dahil nakikita ng gilid ng mata niya si Ciaran na nakatingin sa kaniya.

Esther took a deep breath and went to the restroom. Kita pa niya ang pagtataka ni Mira pero hindi naman ito nagtanong na pinagpasalamat niya. Parang hindi na niya kasi kakayanin ang tingin na binibigay sa kaniya ni Ciaran. She looked at herself in the mirror and sighed deeply.

She was confused about Ciaran. May mga nararamdaman siya na sa tuwing nasa malapit ang lalaki doon niya lamang nararamdaman ang mga ito.

Nagtagal si Esther sa banyo ng ilang minuto at nang bumalik siya sa kinaroroonan ni Mira, wala na si Ciaran na pinagpasalamat naman niya.

“Anong nangyayari sa ‘yo?” tanong ni Mira. “Parang hindi ka mapakali kanina.”

“Wala. May iniisip lang ako.” Sabi naman ni Esther. Syempre hindi niya sasabihin kay Mira ang tungkol sa naging pag-uusap nila ni Ciaran.

“Nakita ko pala kanina ang tagapagmana ng impreyno.”

Napaubo si Esther.

Natawa si Mira. “Mukhang alam ko na kung bakit balisa ka kanina,” sabi niya. Realization hit her face.

“Shut up.”

Mira only laughed and continued eating.

LATE EVENING. CIARAN 'S PENTHOUSE.

Madilim ang loob ng penthouse ni Ciaran na parang walang nakatira. Just the dim light over the kitchen and the faint smell of coffee gone cold.

Narinig niya ang pagbukas ng pinto pero hindi na niya nilingon kung sino ito. Alam niyang ang nakakabata niyang kapatid ang dumating.

“Kuya.”

Ciaran didn’t turn around to face his brother. Nanatili siya sa harapan ng bintana habang nakatingin sa labas.

Lucien placed the takeaway bag on the counter. “Ang tahimik mo yata, Kuya.” Aniya. Though lagi namang tahimik ang kapatid niya pero parang iba ang katahimikan nito ngayon. “Well, it only means either of the two things. One, you’re planning something. Or two, something’s got you twisted.”

Still, Ciaran didn’t turn around. “Pwede bang pareho?”

Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Lucien. Parang may nagbago sa nakatatanda niyang kapatid ngunit hindi niya matukoy kung ano.

“Pwede bang malaman kung ano, Kuya?” tanong ni Lucien. Inilabas niya ang laman ng takeaway bag at hinanda ang hapunan nilang magkapatid.

“She’s…” Ciaran ran a hand through his hair.

Natigilan si Lucien. “She? A woman?” hindi makapaniwalang saad niya.

That piqued his interest because his brother never talked about women. He always talked about the board and the Vireaux Global legacy. Ito ang unang beses na narinig niyang nagbanggit ang kapatid niya ng babae, which was intruiging.

Hinarap ni Ciaran si Lucien. “She’s brilliant. Beautiful. She fights for what she knows is right, and she makes things feel…real.

Mukhang may tinamaan ng kupido rito. Lucien thought.

Lucien leaned against the counter, watching his brother closely. “You sound like a man who’s about to make a mistake on purpose, Kuya.”

“She’s the architect behind Solace.”

“The Solace that the boards wanted to have and upgrade?” tanong ni Lucien.

Tumango si Ciaran.

“Tinamaan ka ba sa kaniya?” tanong pa ni Lucien.

Tumango si Ciaran pero nang marealized niya ang tanong ng kapatid, napatingin siya rito. He froze and answered, “I don’t know.”

Napailing si Lucien. Sa kanilang dalawa ng kapatid niya, siya ang may karanasan sa pag-ibig habang ang Kuya niya ay ayaw makipagrelasyon dahil para rito, affection is liability. It was half-true and half-false, though.

“Did you tell her what the board wants for the Solace?” Lucien asked. Iyon ang usapan ngayon ng board. They wanted to get the Solace to upgrade, but it was his brother who was interfering.

Nagtaka pa siya noong una. Ngayon alam na niya. His brother wasn’t protecting the Solace but the person behind it. And this was new. For his brother to care for a woman. It must have been a once-in-a-blue-moon event to happen.

“So, do you care about her?” deretsahang tanong ni Lucien.

Ciaran looked down. “Yeah.”

“Wow,” Lucien was amazed. “This is real?”

For the first time, Ciaran smiled genuinely, much to Lucien's surprise. “It’s real.”

Lucien whistled softly. “That’s nice.”

Finally, his brother had found a way to become human. Para hindi laging trabaho ang inaatupag nito. For his brother’s happiness, he would help him with that.