Blood Between Us

CHAPTER 7

SOLACE TOWER CONSTRUCTION SITE.

It was already eight in the morning, and yet the sunlight was already scorching. Bumaba si Esther ng kotse. The gravel created a sound as soon as she stepped into it. The scent of fresh concrete and earth greeted her like a welcome.

“Ma’am Esther,” pagbati ng isang site engineer saka tinanguan si Esther. Nakasuot ito ng hard hat. “Ready na po ang walkthrough.”

Tinanguan ni Esther ang site engineer bilang pagbati. Mas naunang dumating si Ciaran ng ilang minuto kaysa sa kaniya at nakikipag-usap na ito sa mga project leader. As usual, sleeves rolled, and blueprints in hand.

Of course, Esther thought with a tiny smile. Even in dust and boots, the man looked like he walked off a Vogue cover.

Napailing na lamang si Esther saka nagsuot ng hard hat for safety. Habang papalapit siya sa kinaroroonan ni Ciaran, agad itong napatingin sa kaniya. And she saw how his eyes softened.

“Good morning,” Ciaran greeted. “Akala ko hindi ka na pupunta.”

Esther smirked. “Hindi ko ‘yan gagawin sa anak ko,” aniya at itinuro ang massive hole in the ground that would soon become Solace Tower.

Natawa ng mahina si Ciaran. “Anak na pala ang tawag natin dito.”

Nagkibit naman ng balikat si Esther. “It’s my baby.”

“Natin.” Mahinang sambit ni Ciaran.

“Ah? May sinabi ka ba?” tanong ni Esther.

Umiling si Ciaran. “Wala. Ang sabi ko ang ganda mo.”

Nag-iwas ng tingin si Esther at tumingin na lamang sa construction pit. May steel markers na, naka-setup na rin ang ilang scaffolding. Workers moved like rhythm, magulo pero organized.

“First pour is scheduled next week,” Ciaran said beside Esther, and his voice was calm. “Structural foundation will rise in phases.”

Tumango si Esther. “Finally, we’re here.”

“You’re here,” Ciaran said, eyes on Esther. “At kung wala ka, baka hindi rin ko rin ‘to mararating.”

Esther turned, meeting Ciaran’s gaze. “Please, don’t romanticize a construction site, Mr. Vireaux. Thank you.”

Ciaran smirked. “Too late. I had already romanticized the architect.”

Napairap na lamang si Esther at hindi na maitago ang ngiti na gustong gumuhit sa kaniyang labi. “Kahit may alikabok ako sa sapatos?”

“Kahit naka-hard hat ka pa,” Ciaran teased.

Napailing na lamang si Esther. Parang ibang Ciaran Vireaux yata ang kaharap niya. Ibang-iba ito sa mga nababalitaan niyang tsismis tungkol rito. At ang tagabalita niya ng tsismis, sino pa nga ba kundi si Mira na matalik niyang kaibigan.

Naglakad sila patungo sa central foundation area, and the engineer gave them a short rundown. Pero parang hindi naririnig ni Esther ang pinag-uusapan nila. Parang hindi pa rin kasi siya makapaniwala na ito na—matutupad na ang pangarap niya.

Esther exhaled deeply.

“I draw these many times. Revised it many times. Pero ngayon lang siya naging totoo.”

Ciaran didn’t say anything. Instead, he reached down, picked up a small piece of stone from the soil, and placed it in her hand.

“Here. Take it,” Ciaran said. “I-frame mo ‘yan.”

“At bakit ko naman gagawin ‘yon?” tanong ni Esther habang nakataas ang kilay.

Ngumiti si Ciaran. “Wala. Para may remembrance ka sa akin.”

Esther aimed the stone at Ciaran, but didn’t throw it. Iniwas na lamang niya ang kaniyang tingin. For a second, pakiramdam niya ay hindi siya nakatayo sa isang construction site. She felt like she was standing on hope… Ciaran.

ESTHER LOOKED AROUND THE cozy local restaurant. Dito siya dinala ni Ciaran pagkatapos nila sa construction site. Sa totoo lang, gusto na niya sanang umuwi after the construction site dahil gusto niyang maligo. Pakiramdam niya kasi ay naligo siya sa alikabok. Masyadong maalikabok sa construction site kanina, eh.

The restaurant has warm yellow lights, wooden beams, and the soft clinking of glasses and quiet hum of music can be heard from a nearby speaker.

Cozy. Esther thought.

Para sa kaniya, ito na ang isa sa pinaka-best na lugar sa mundo. Nakaka-relax kasi ang paligid. Hindi maingay. Hindi rin fancy pero may charm. Para itong safe little haven sa gitna ng maingay na syudad.

Esther looked across the table. Nakangiti si Ciaran habang hawak ang tinidor nito na may nakatusok pang grilled salmon.

“Seryoso,” Ciaran said, “you have to try this. Hindi siya malansa. Kung hindi, kukunin ko ‘yung order mo.”

“Wow, hindi ko alam na territorial ka pala sa food,” biro ni Esther habang nakataas ang kilay.

Ngumisi naman si Ciaran. “Sa pagkain lang ba?”

Natigilan si Esther. Parang may ibang ibig sabihin ang sinabi ni Ciara pero ayaw niyang mag-assume. Napailing na lamang siya. For the first time in a long time, the tension between them wasn’t sharp.

She was about to say something when she noticed someone walking in through the restaurant door. Matangkad ito, blonde at sopistikada.

The kind of woman who didn’t walk—she glided sexily. Ito ang mga babae na ayaw tabihan ni Esther.

And her eyes?

Locked straight onto their table.

Esther stiffened a little.

“Ciaran?” The woman’s voice was smooth, polished, and sexy. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Inaasahan ni Esther na kakausapin ni Ciaran ang babae pero hindi ‘yon nangyari. He didn’t even look up. He kept cutting into his salmon as if no one was talking to him.

The woman stepped closer to show her presence to Ciaran. “You’re not going to say hi?”

Kalmadong ngumuya si Ciaran, then he reached for his wine glass. “No.”

Napakurap si Esther. Pakiramdam niya kasi ay nanonood siya ng drama.

The woman’s smile faltered. “Oh. So you do remember me.”

“Hindi,” malamig na saad ni Ciaran, finally looking up, but only at Esther. “And I am not interested in remembering you.”

The woman’s face twisted slightly. “Wow, ang lamig mo talagang makitungo.”

Ciaran shrugged nonchalantly. “You walked in. Not my fault you expected something.”

Hindi alam ni Esther kung magsasalita ba siya o ano pero nanatili lamang siyang nakatingin sa dalawa. As for Ciaran, he was unbothered like it wasn’t even worth his time.

The woman glanced at Esther, but with a sharp look, then scoffed softly. Then she turned and walked away.

Nang makalayo ang babae, Esther leaned forward. “Sino ‘yon?”

Ciaran didn’t even flinch. “Someone I used to know. Doesn’t matter.”

“Ex?” Esther asked, curious.

“No. And to make the story clear, wala akong naging ex.”

“Edi flings,” sabi pa ni Esther.

Ciaran let out a small sigh. “Bahala ka na nga kung anong iisipin mo pero kapag naging girlfriend kita, ikaw ang unang first girlfriend ko.”

Bahagyang lumaki ang mata ni Esther saka natigilan. “A-ano?”

Ngumiti si Ciaran. “Can I have your salmon?”

Esther looked at her plate and pushed it to Ciaran. “Sige.” Aniya.

But instead of getting the salmon, Ciaran reached out for Esther’s hand across the table.

“Ciaran…”

Ciaran smiled and lifted Esther’s hand and kissed it.

Esther’s heart raced like crazy.