Blood Between Us

CHAPTER 22

ESTHER stretched her limbs as soon as she finished the last sketch of the building on her drawing table. Ibinaba niya ang hawak na pencil saka tinungo ang maliit na kitchenette sa kaniyang studio para kumuha ng tubig.

She poured water into the glass and was about to drink when the glass slipped out of her hand.

Nabasag ang baso ng tumama ito sa sahig.

Napaatras naman si Esther. At kakaibang kaba ang namayani sa kaniyang dibdib.

Napabuga na lamang siya ng hangin saka binalak na linisan ang nabasag. Kukunin na niya sana ang dustpan at walis nang tumunog naman ang cellphone niya.

Mira’s name appeared on the screen.

Then, three more calls in quick succession.

Her heart began to pound, and then she answered the fifth call.

“Mira? What’s—” ngunit hindi na pinapatapos pa ni Mira ang kaniyang sasabihin.

“Esther,” Mira said, breathless. “Turn on the news. Now.”

“Bakit?” nagtatakang tanong ni Esther.

“Just—Channel 9. Please.”

Hindi na nagtanong si Esther. Nanginginig na kinuha niya ang remot saka binuhay ang TV. The screen flickered to life with the BREAKING NEWS: Construction Collapse in Sanchez Heights. Casualties Feared.

Esther froze and stared at the screen.

On the screen, a live aerial shot showed dust clouds still rising from twisted steel, concrete crumbled like paper, and sirens wailing in the background. Rescuers and authorities are already in sight.

Nahigit ni Esther ang kaniyang hininga at mabilis ang pagtibok ng kaniyang puso.

“…building part of the Sanchez Heights redevelopment project. Subcontracted by Sorrell Construction…”

Sorrell Construction.

Her parents.

“Esther, that’s the site your parents were inspecting this morning, di ba?” tanong ni Mira.

Hindi agad nakasagot si Esther.

Nabitawan niya ang cellphone at namalayan na lamang niyang tumatakbo siya palabas ng kaniyang studio. Parang wala siya sa sarili na sumakay ng sariling kotse at tinungo ang hospital kung saan dinala ang mga nare-rescue sa gumuhong gusali.

At the hospital, when Esther arrived, Mira was already there and waiting. Pumunta sila sa Hospital Waiting Area upang doon hintayin ang pulis na magsasabi sa kanila kung nasaan ang magulang ni Esther.

The hospital smelled like antiseptic and sorrow.

Esther sat numbly on the bench with Mira next to her, holding her hand like she could still hold Esther’s world together.

Maya-maya pa ay may lumapit na pulis kay Esther at Mira. There was an envelope in his hand, a clipboard, and a signature required. And Esther heard the words that felt like they tore the sky in half, and her world had collapsed.

“I’m very sorry, Ms. Sorrell. We have recovered your parents’ bodies.”

Hindi nakapagsalita si Esther. Basta tumulo na lamang ang kaniyang luha nang hindi niya namamalayan.

And from the TV playing in the background, a news anchor speaks solemnly, “We’re receiving reports of a building collapse of the Sanchez Heights redevelopment project. The structure was still under partial development, and it was under a subcontracted team for a commercial wing project. Emergency responders are confirming casualties…”

Hindi na narinig ni Esther ang mga sumunod na sinabi ng news anchor. Basta nagdilim na lamang ang kaniyang paningin at nawalan siya ng malay.

When Esther woke up and opened her eyes, she was welcomed with a white ceiling, fluorescent lights, and an IV attached to her arm. The beeping of her heart monitor echoes through the sterile silence.

Then memories flooded her mind.

“Mom… Dad…” she whispered.

They were supposed to do a final inspection this morning.

Pero hindi niya akalain na… na…

Tumulo ang luha ni Esther.

Sa isang iglap kinuha sa kaniya ang lahat… ang kaniyang magulang.

Nang mapatingin siya sa kaniyang gilid, nakita niya si Ciaran na nakaupo sa upuan. Nakayuko ito habang nakapatong ang siko nito sa magkabilang tuhod. He looked like he hadn’t moved in hourse.

“Ran…”

Mabilis na nag-angat ng tingin si Ciaran nang marinig niya ang boses ni Esther.

“Esther.” Ciaran’s voice was hoarse. “You’re awake.”

Napakurap si Esther. “Anong nangyari?”

“You collapsed,” he said softly. “Tinawagan ako ni Mira. I got here as fast as I could.”

Tears burned behind Esther’s eyes again.

Tinignan niya ang kaniyang mga kamay. Nanginginig ito. “They’re gone,” she whispered. “My parents... they’re gone.”

Ciaran’s jaw tensed.

And Esther couldn’t hold it in anymore. Her sob broke out like a wave.

Mabilis naman na lumipat si Ciaran sa gilid ng kama ni Esther at umupo doon. Niyakap niya ang kasintahan at hinagod ang likod nito.

Esther cried into Ciaran’s chest, fist gripping the fabric of his coat. She cried until she couldn’t breathe from the ache anymore.

“I’m here,” Ciaran whispered. “I’m here, sweetheart. Just hold onto me.”

Hindi alam ni Esther kung gaano sila katagal ni Ciaran sa ganoong posisyon. Minutes. Hours. Hindi niya alam. Grief bent time in strange, cruel ways.

But Ciaran never let go of Esther.

And in the middle of a world that Esther no longer recognized. Ciaran Vireaux stayed by her side.

Nakatulog si Esther sa kakaiyak at hinayaan lamang siya ni Ciaran.

Lumabas naman si Ciaran sa kwarto.

Outside, Mira was in the hallway. She was leaning against the cold wall, with her arms crossed over her chest. It was the middle of the night, and yet the corridor outside Esther’s room felt like it had paused in time—quiet, thick, and waiting.

Sumulyap siya kay Ciaran na lumabas ng kwarto ni Esther. And then Ciaran stood near the door.

Tahimik na inobserbahan ni Mira si Ciaran. He was staring through the narrow glass panel like he were willing to transfer all his strength to the woman lying in the bed.

“Ciaran,” Mira called softly.

Hindi tumugon ang lalaki. His jaw was tight. And his hands were on his pockets like he didn’t know what to do with them.

“Esther was asleep,” Mira added, stepping closer.

Tumango si Ciaran nang hindi inaalis ang tingin sa loob ng kwarto.

“Kailangan niya ng pahinga,” sabi ni Ciaran. “She hasn’t said more than a few more words since she woke up.”

Napabuntong hininga si Mira. “She’s in shock. She just lost her parents today.”

“I know, and I can’t fix it.”

Umiling si Mira. “You’re not supposed to fix it, Ciaran.”

Tumingin si Ciaran kay Mira at nakita naman ng dalaga ang pagod sa mukha nito. And the helplessness and the grief for someone else’s grief.

“Hindi siya nagsasalita,” wika ni Ciaran sa mahinang boses. “But she held onto me like she didn’t want to let go.”

“She didn’t because you stayed,” Mira said gently.

Ciaran exhaled shakily. “I wish I could take it all away—her pain. Like just a snap of my fingers and undo what happened.”

“You can’t. But you show up. You held her, and you stayed. At ‘yon ang mahalaga. Ang nandito ka sa tabi niya sa oras na kailangan ka niya.” Mia paused for a moment as she glanced at Esther’s room. “That’s more than most people ever do. To stay by the side of the people they love.”

Ciaran leaned his forehead against the wall beside the door. “Her pain is so big. It’s drowning her. And I just… I don’t know how to be what she needs right now.”

Tinignan ni Mira ang kasintahan ng kaibigan niya. Then she said, “you don’t have to be anything perfect, Ciaran. Walang perpektong tao sa mundo. Ang dapat ay nandiyan ka. Maging totoo ka.”

Hindi sumagot si Ciaran pero alam niyang tumama kay rito ang sinabi niya.

Then, Mira moved to the bench and sat down. “She’ll wake up again,” she said. “And she’ll be disoriented. Angry. Numb. In pain. And all of it.”

“Hindi ko siya iiwan. I’ll be here when she wakes up again,” Ciaran replied instantly.

Ngumiti ng tipid si Mira. She believed him.

For the first time since Esther fell apart, Mira felt like maybe—just maybe—she wouldn’t have to carry her best friend through this alone.

Because the man standing in the hallways wasn’t Ciaran Vireaux, heir to some multi-billion-dollar empire.

He was just Ciaran.

The man in love with Esther and the man who stayed.

Tumayo si Mira. “I’ll buy some coffee.”

“Can you buy some food for Esther?”

Mira made an ‘ok’ sign and left.

Humugot naman ng malalim na hininga si Ciaran saka muling pumasok sa loob ng kwartong inuokopa ni Esther. Inayos niya ang kumot ni Esther at hinalikan niya ito sa noo. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ni Esther at hinalikan ang likod ng palad nito.

“I love you, sweetheart. I’ll be here. I won’t leave,” he whispered.