Blood Between Us

CHAPTER 19

SORRELL’S Family home, early evening…

Hindi alam ni Ciaran kung ano ba ang dapat niyang maramdaman sa mga oras na nakatayo siya sa harapan ng bahay ng mga Sorrell. At marami ang pumapasok sa kaniyang isipan at may sinasabi ang konsensiya niya.

‘You’ve faced billion-peso board decisions.’

‘You’ve testified in front of CEOs.’

‘You’ve walked into hostile negotiations and made them beg.’

But right now, I’m standing in front of a front door and about to meet Esther’s parents, and I’m sweating. Just great.

Napailing na lamang si Ciaran sa kaniyang mga iniisip at tinignan si Esther na nakatayo sa kaniyang tabi. She was calm and composed in a soft linen dress that made her look ethereal.

Esther smiled when she glanced at Ciaran. She saw the slight tension in him, so she whispered. “Relax, Ran. They are my parents, not a firing squad.”

Ciaran gave Esther a flat look. “Exactly what I am saying, sweetheart.”

Natawa na lamang si Esther saka napailing.

“This feels like a trial, sweetheart.”

Ngumisi si Esther. “Well, guilty ka naman sa ilang bagay. Aminin mo?”

Ciaran was about to answer, but the door had opened.

“Anak!” Ethel beamed seeing her precious daughter and hugged her immediately. “Ang aga mo naman—” napatigil siya nang makita ang lalaking kasama ng kaniyang anak. “Is this him?”

Before Esther could answer, Ciaran stepped forward, offering his hand to shake hands. “Good evening po, Ma’am. I’m Ciaran Vireaux.”

“Ciaran!” Ethel beamed.

Ciaran noticed the sweeping genuineness, kindness, and sharpness of only mother's hand.

“Come in, come in. Huwag kang mahiya.”

Esther nudged Ciaran reassuringly as they entered the house.

Ngumiti at tumango si Ciaran kay Esther.

Pagpasok nila sa loob ng bahay, nakita ni Ciaran ang maaliwalas na sala. Nakita rin niya ang mga larawan ng pamilya ni Esther na nakalagay sa istante at mga libro, at ang mga larawan ni Esther noong bata pa ito. Sa oras na iyon, medyo nakahinga siya ng ng maluwag.

Maya-maya pa ay lumabas ang ama ni Esther.

Now this was the real trial.

“Good evening po, Sir,” Ciaran said, offering his hand again.

Esther’s father shook it firmly, just a little longer than normal.

“So, you’re that Vireaux boy.”

Tumango si Ciaran. “Yes, Sir.”

“Call me Tito Robert,” Esther’s father said, nodding once. Then he turned and walked towards the dining room.

Ciaran felt like he had passed Level 1 of his test.

Si Esther naman ay nagpipigil ng tawa sa tabi ni Ciaran. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ni Ciaran. “Let’s go and have dinner with them.”

Tumango si Ciaran.

Esther guided Ciaran to the dining table.

The moment they entered the kitchen, the dinner was already set. Ethel was proudly presenting a feast—kaldereta, baked salmon, salad, garlic rice, and some wine.

“Come on, Ciaran. Join us.” Pag-aya ng ama ni Esther.

Tumango si Ciaran at katulad ng lagi na niyang nakagawian, pinaghugot niya ng upuan si Esther bago naman siya umupo sa tabi nito.

“Wow,” Ciaran said sincerely. “This looks amazing.”

“Simple lang ‘yan.” Sabi naman ni Ethel. “But I made sure na walang allergic reactions. Esther told me about your seafood allergy.”

Napakurap si Ciaran saka sumulyap kay Esther. “She did?”

Esther was sipping water innocently.

Ethel tsked. “Except for Mira, my daughter doesn’t bring anyone home,” she said.

Ciaran felt the warmth when Esther’s mother spooned rice and put it on his plate. For him, that was a warm gesture na hindi niya naranasan mula sa kaniyang ina.

“So, I had to prepare just in case you are royalty or allergic to Filipino spices,” Ethel added.

“Mom was exaggerating,” Esther said to Ciaran. “Huwag mo ng pansinin.”

“Actually, no,” Tito Robert chimed in. “This is the first time I’ve seen her bring someone who isn’t delivering plywood or coffee.”

Nagtawana silang lahat, maliban kay Ciaran na sinusubukang hindi matapon ang laman ng baso na tubig na nasa kaniyang kamay.

Nakita naman ni Esther ang nanginginig na kamay ni Ciaran kaya kinuha niya ang baso sa kamay nito saka ito binulungan. “Relax. You have already sat on the dining table. Kapag hindi ka nila gusto, kanina pa nila tayo pinaalis.”

Ciaran looked at Esther.

Tumango naman si Esther.

Kahit papaano nakahinga ng maluwang si Ciaran.

Halfway through dinner, the questions for Ciaran started.

“So, what do you do again?” Esther’s father asked, his tone was casual, but his eyes were sharp, like an investigator.

“I oversee operations and development projects at Vireaux Global,” sagot ni Ciaran. “Mostly infrastructure and social housing partnerships now.”

“Social housing?” Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Robert. “Akala ko focus ang Vireaux sa commercial towers?”

Ngumiti si Ciaran. “We’re trying to shift our legacy a bit.”

“And what about your family?” Ethel asked. “Are they okay with you dating an architect?” she asked teasingly. Her eyes darted to the couple in front of her.

Muntik pang mabulunan si Esther sa kinakain nitong salmon.

Sumulyap naman si Ciaran sa kasintahan bago tumingin sa ina nito. “Honestly, they don’t get a say.”

Napakurap si Esther. Since she and Ciaran got together, she never asked him if his family, particularly his mom about what they say on her.

Esther’s mom raised a brow. “Oh?”

“I’ve made enough decisions for the company. This one’s mine,” Ciaran said gently.

Ngumiti naman si Esther.

“May kinikilig na isa diyan.” Wika ni Ethel nang mapansin niya ang ngiti ng kaniyang ina.

“Mom…”

Ethel chuckled, shaking her head.

After dinner, habang tinutulungan ni Esther ang ina sa kusina, Tito Robert and Ciaran found themselves alone on the balcony with two mugs of black coffee.

Sa totoo lang, medyo kinakabahan si Ciaran.

Robert took a sip and then spoke without looking at Ciaran. “My daughter had been through a lot. I’m sure you know that.”

Tumango si Ciaran. “Yes, Sir.”

“Maingat ang bawat galaw ni Esther. Too careful sometimes. So, if she’s letting you in…” Robert finally turned to Ciaran. “Make sure you deserve it.”

“I will, Sir.”

“Sa totoo lang ayaw sana kita dahil sa pamilya mo. I know my daughter will suffer. Pero nakikita ko sa mga mata niya ang masayang kislap sa tuwing titingin saiya sa ‘yo. Just promise me that even if Esther suffers from your family, she won’t suffer it from you.”

Tumango si Ciaran. “I promise you, sir.”

“Take care of her.”

“Yes, I will, sir.”

Tinignan ni Robert si Ciaran ng ilang segundo bago siya tumango.

And that’s what Ciaran needs. Approval, not spoken, but granted.

Later that night, as Ciaran and Esther left the house, Esther laced her fingers with Ciaran and asked, “Are you okay? You looked tense.”

Umiling si Ciaran habang nakangiti. “I barely survived.” Aniya. “Ang bait ng parents mo.”

“Hindi ka ba tinakot ni Daddy? Dalawa lang kayo na nag-uusap kanina sa balkonahe, eh.”

“Hindi naman. Sinabi niya lang na alagaan kita.”

Ngumiti si Esther saka tumigil sa paglalakad. “Now, we’re good. How do you want to celebrate it?” she asked.

Ciaran looked at Esther. “I have an idea in mind.”

“Ano?”

“Pero magaling ka na ba?” tanong ni Ciaran.

Kumunot ang noo ni Esther. “What do you mean?”

Ciaran leaned in and whispered in Esther’s ear. “I want you, sweetheart.”

Napakurap si Esther at napatitig kay Ciaran. His words rang in her ear like a bell. Napalunok siya. And her body betrayed her, because she nodded subconsciously.

Ngumisi si Ciaran. “Walang bawian, sweetheart.”

Parang natauhan naman si Esther saka umiling. “I mean—”

Ciaran opened the car’s door. “Let’s go.”

Esther could only sigh and enter the car. But she was looking forward to what would happen next… later.

Meanwhile, back at Esther’s house, her parents were talking.

“Sinabi mo na kay Ciaran?” tanong ni Ethel.

Umiling si Robert. “Hindi ko sinabi. Nakikita kong maayos naman ang relasyon nilang dalawa ni Esther. I don’t want to ruin our daughter’s happiness.”

Tumango si Ethel. Naiintindihan niya ang asawa ngunit… “Pero may lamat na ang pagitan ng Sorrell Construction at Vireaux Global.”

“But the important thing was Ciaran had nothing to do with it.”

“Sigurado ka na walang alam ni Ciaran?” tanong ni Ethel.

Ngumiti si Robert. “Ethel, I’ve seen a lot of people who were hiding their faces behind the invisible mask. But Ciaran was different. Kahit anong tago niya nakikita ko pa rin. He’s different from his family. And he was different from his mother.”

Tumingin si Ethel sa gate na nilabasan ni Ciaran at Ethel. “Then I hope, one day, their relationship won’t get back.”

“I hope too.”

AFTER Ciaran and Esther arrived at Esther’s condo, she immediately walked into the bathroom to take a shower. Steam curled around her like fog, clinging to her skin as warm water cascaded down from above.

Hindi niya narinig ang pagbukas ng pinto, basta naramdaman niya na lang na may presensiyang pumasok.

“Esther?”

Esther turned halfway, startled but not afraid. She was naked and was seen by Ciaran.

Nakatayo si Ciaran sa labas ng glass door at wala na itong suot na pang-itaas.

Esther saw how Ciaran’s eyes roamed her face, then to her body. Then softly he asked, “Can I come in?”

Ngumiti ng tipid si Esther saka tumango. She stepped aside. The moment the glass door clicked open, and Ciaran’s warmth joined hers, the air thickened.

Ciaran stepped behind Esther. The water was spilling over his shoulders, down to his chest. Then his hand gently held her waist.

Esther leaned back and closed her eyes. Naramdaman niya ang pagdampi ng labi ni Ciaran sa kaniyang basang balikat. Then his lips hovered over her skin, to her neck, to her earlobe, and bit it gently.

Napasinghap si Esther at napamulat ng mata. Umikot siya paharap kay Ciaran.

“Sweetheart…”

Esther looked at Ciaran intensely before she pulled him in for a deep kiss.

Tumugon naman agad si Ciaran.

Their lips crash against each other, and their tongues battle in dominion. Their kiss becomes more aggressive. Their heads moved as the kiss ripples through both their bodies.

“Ran…”

Ciaran smiled and held Esther’s thigh to lift her.

Esther gasped. “Ciaran!”

Natawa ng mahina si Ciran. “Shower or bed?” he asked as he kissed Esther’s neck.

Kinagat ni Esther ang pang-ibabang labi. “Shower now. Bed later.”

“Sure, sweetheart.”

And with that, their lips met again.