Blood Between Us

CHAPTER 13

“YOU DID WHAT?!”

Naipikit na lamang ni Esther ang mata dahil sa lakas ng boses ni Mira. Nasa studio niya ito. Umagang-umaga pa lamang at kabubukas pa lamang ng Sorrell Studio pero ang kaibigan niya mas maaga pa kaysa sa kaniya.

Ang sabi ni Mira ay nakita sila nito kahapon ni Ciaran at mukha daw siyang lasing.

Yeah, right. Lasing naman talaga siya.

Tumango na lamang siya. Tapos na siyang magkwento tungkol sa lahat ng nangyari pero shock pa rin si Mira at parang hindi ito makapaniwala.

“Totoo?”

Esther took a deep breath and nodded again as she sipped her latte to gain her strength and courage. Then whispered, “medyo.”

Mira’s eyes went wide. “Medyo?! Girl, that’s Ciaran Vireaux, hindi extra sa teleserye. Tell me everything that happened.”

“Mira, sinabi ko na sa ‘yo ang lahat ng nangyari. Ipapakwento mo pa ulit.”

Mira rolled her eyes. “Hindi ako kuntento. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala. Kwento na. Dali.” Pamimilit niya.

Napabuga na lamang ng hangin si Esther saka napailing. “Hindi ko alam sa ‘yo.”

“Kwento na.” Ungot ni Mira.

Esther sighed in defeat. “Fine. So, ‘yon nga. We went on a date yesterday. We walked, visited the museum, a coffee shop, and a pastry shop. And he prepared dinner for me… and may wine.”

Mira slammed her hand on Esther’s table. “Wine?!” Mas lalo pang lumaki ang kaniyang mata. “Esther, wine?!”

“I only had one glass!” Sabi ni Esther pero sa totoo lang, alam niyang mahigit isang baso ang nainom niya.

“You’re a lightweight!”

Tumango si Esther. “Yeah. I forgot about that.”

Mira inhaled sharply like she was bracing for impact. “So, what happened?”

Esther covered her face. “Mira… I got drunk, obviously. As in, lasing na pa-cute level. I pushed him onto my bed, climbed on top of him, kissed him, gave him a hickey.” Actually, she couldn’t remember that one pero nakita niya ang ebidensiya sa leeg ni Ciaran kaya hindi siya makapa-deny. “…and then…”

She saw Mira hold her breath.

“…nakatulog na ako.”

There were a few seconds of silence before Mira exploded.

“You did what?! You seduced a CEO, straddled him, left a souvenir, then slept like a baby?!”

“Hindi ko naman sinasadya ‘yon. I was drunk!” Esther tried to defend herself.

“Pero may hickey siya?” Mira pointed out.

Esther looked at Mira helplessly.

Kapagkuwan bigla na lang tumili si Mira na parang mamatay na kambing. “Nakahubad siya?”

Agad na nagtaas ng dalawang kamay si Esther. “Topless. Only topless. Respectful na topless.”

Mira covered her mouth and screamed into her palm. “Oh my God, girl, do you even realize what you have done? You’ve unleashed the holy trinity, like hot guy, soft heart, and abs.”

Esther groaned.

Kapagkuwan tumitig si Mira kay Esther ng ilang segundo hanggang sa nagtanong ito ng pabulong. “Did you touch his abs?”

“Mira!”

“Just a little?”

“Wala akong maalala.” Umiling si Esther. She was really clueless about what had happened last night.

Mira collapsed dramatically onto the chair. “Girl. Girl. Girl. That man let you crawl on top of him, suck on his neck like a caramel candy, and still respected your boundaries?!”

Tumango si Esther. Hindi niya rin niya inaasahan, eh. “He even tucked me in. May kumot na ako paggising.”

Itinaas ni Mira ang hawak na latte like a toast. “To the man who deserved a monument.”

“Stop it.”

“No. Esther, you’re already in deep. Mahihirapan ka ng umahon.”

Esther silently agreed.

“Esther,” Mira said, solemnly placing her hand over her chest, “if you don’t marry him, I will.”

Esther pouted. “I won’t give you that chance.”

WEEKEND. Sunday. Last day of the week.

The smell of tinola and freshly cooked rice filled the air, and for once, everything felt warm and safe for Esther.

Umuwi siya para makita at makasama ang kaniyang magulang.

She didn’t want to ruin the mood, but she knew she had to say it.

Esther took a deep breath as she pushed the rice around on her plate. She cleared her throat to get her parents’ attention. “Ma… Pa…”

Nag-angat ng tingin ang magulang ni Esther.

“Mmm?” Ethel asked with a spoon in hand.

“I want to tell you something.”

Robert straightened in his seat. “May problema ba, anak?” tanong niya.

Mabilis na umiling si Esther. “Wala naman po.” Mabilis niyang sabi. “Actually… it’s about someone I’ve been seeing.”

Ethel tilted her head. “Seeing?” Parang ngayon niya lang yata narinig ang ganito mula kay Esther.

Tumango si Esther. “As in… dating.”

Natahimik ang kusina nila Esther. At mahabang katahimikan ang namayani sa kanilang tatlo.

But Esther needs to continue, “his name is Ciaran. Ciaran Vireaux.”

Napakurap ang ina ni Esther.

Ibinaba naman ni Robert ang hawak niyang kutsara.

“Vireaux,” ulit ni Robert sa sinabi ng anak. “As in… Vireaux Global?”

Tumango si Esther.

Nagkatinginan ang magulang ni Esther.

“Anak, sigurado ka ba?” Naninigurong tanong ng ina ni Esther.

Esther let out a soft sigh. “Yes, Ma. I know it sounds complicated. I know who he was. But he’s not like them.”

Mukhang hindi kumbinsido ang ama ni Esther. “He may be different, yes. Pero hindi mo maiaalis na dala niya ang pangalan nila. That kind of power, anak… may kasamang responsibilidad at panganib.”

“Alam ko po.” Sabi ni Esther. “Pero he’s been nothing but kind. Tinulungan niya ako sa Solace. He listens and he respects me.”

Lumambot ang ekspresyon ni Ethel pero halata ang pag-aalala sa mata nito. “May tiwala kami sa ‘yo, anak. But the world he lives in? Hindi ‘yan basta-basta.”

“Gusto ka naming maging masaya,” Robert added. “Pero gusto ka namin ng Mama mo na protektahan ka.”

Ngumiti si Esther. “Thank you po, Ma, Pa. But I don’t want to be protected by Ciaran. I want to try with him.”

Natahimik muli ang magulang ni Esther na parang pinoproseso nila ang sinabi ng kanilang anak.

Then Ethel reached out for her daughter’s hand across the table. “Okay. Just be careful, anak. Hindi dahil sa ayaw namin sa kaniya pero dahil mahal ka namin.”

Tumango naman si Robert. “At kung masaktan ka niya—he’ll have to answer to me.”

Medyo natawa si Esther. Half-relief, half-nerves. “Noted, Pa.”

Ngumiti si Ethel. “Ipakilala mo siya sa amin, anak, ha. Gusto ko siyang makita. At hindi sa suot na three-piece suit. Gusto ko ‘yung normal lang, t-shirt, saka siya ang paghuhugasin ko ng pinggam.”

“Ma!”

“Bakit? Para fair.” Ethel defended herself.

Natawa naman si Robert.

Napailing naman si Esther pero nakahinga siya ng maluwang dahil nasabi na niya sa magulang niya ang tungkol sa kanilang dalawa ni Ciaran.

Pero syempre, hindi niya sasabihin ang mga pinaggawa nilang dalawa ni Ciaran na natutulog ito sa condo minsan, at walang nangyayari. Hindi maniniwala sa kaniya ang magulang niya kahit ito naman talaga ang totoo.

ESTHER AND CIARAN’S life continued. They were professional at work. Seeing and checking the Solace Construction together.

They date, have breakfast, sometimes lunch, and dinner together.

Minsan naman pareho silang abala sa kani-kanilang trabaho.

But Ciaran was making sure that he was not neglecting his girlfriend. Even when he’s tired, he visits Esther in her studio, bringing her coffee or snacks. And he would just stay there. Even though there was no talking, at least he was by Esther’s side.

“Anong ginagawa mo?” tanong ni Esther saka umupo sa kandungan niya.

He was sitting on the sofa and reading some reports that he hadn’t finished at the office. Kaya naman inuwi niya ito.

“I’m reading a report,” Ciaran answered and held Esther with one hand, the other hand was holding a folder.

Yumakap si Esther sa leeg ng binata at naglambing.

Ngumiti naman si Ciaran. “Need anything?”

Umiling si Esther. “Gusto lang kitang lambingin. Bakit? Ayaw mo?”

“Hindi naman.” Tugon ni Ciaran.

“Don’t mind me.” Sabi ni Esther saka ipinatong ang baba sa balikat ni Ciaran. “I like your smell.”

Ciaran swallowed.

“Sweetheart…”

Esther moved and straddled Ciaran. “So, comfortable.”

Ciaran swallowed again. He could feel his manhood waking because of their position. He took a deep breath and glanced at Esther. Her eyes were closed, and her breathing was even.

“At ginawa mo talaga akong kama,” saad ni Ciaran saka bahagyang natawa na lamang.

“Hmm…” Esther hummed. “My parents want to meet you.”

Napatigil si Ciaran. “What?” bigla siyang kinabahan.

“My…parents want to meet you…” inaantok na sabi ni Esther. “…just casual. No suit. But don’t worry, they’re not in a hurry.”

That’s made Ciaran feel relieved.

“When we’re not busy, ipapakilala kita.”

“Okay, sweetheart. Paghahandaan ko ‘yan.”

Isang tango ang naging tugon ni Esther at hindi na ito nagsalita.

“Esther?”

Ciaran looked over and chuckled when he saw Esther already sleeping.

“Time to tuck the princess on bed,” he said. Tumayo siya saka dinala si Esther sa kwarto at hiniga sa kama. Kinumutan niya ito at bago siya lumabas hinalikan niya ito sa noo.

“Good night, sweetheart.”