Blood Between Us

CHAPTER 14

ESTHER was busy preparing their dinner when Ciaran hugged her from behind. Tonight she will meet Ciaran’s brother. And she’s serious about Ciaran, so she needs to leave a good impression on Ciaran’s brother.

“Sweetheart, hindi mo namang kailangang gawin ‘to. Lucien was not important.” Sabi ni Ciaran at sinusubukang itago ang pagseselos sa sariling kapatid.

Esther was so attentive from cooking to preparing the food and everything.

Napailing naman si Esther. “Selos ka?” tanong niya.

“Oo.” Pag-amin ni Ciaran.

“Silly,” hinarap ni Esther si Ciaran at ipinalibot ang braso sa leeg nito. “Huwag kang magselos. That’s your brother. Kaya kailangan natin siyang bisitahin.”

Ciaran sighed. “Still. I’m jealous.”

Hinayaan na lamang ni Esther si Ciaran saka niya ipinagpatuloy ang ginagawa.

Instead of going to the expensive restaurant. Esther chose to cook and invited Ciaran’s brother to her condo. Inayayahan niya rin si Mira para masaya.

“Sweetheart, I’ll go out to pick up my brother. Nasa baba na raw siya.”

Tumango si Esther.

Ciaran came out, and Mira arrived.

“Girl, parang may nagbago sa condo mo,” sabi ni Mira habang naglalakad papasok sa kusina.

“Yeah,” Esther said. “Ciaran did the cleaning.”

“No, parang mas bumango ang condo mo.” Komento ni Mira. Inamoy pa niya ang mga kurtina at throw pillow. And indeed, bumango nga ang condo ng kaibigan niya.

Esther groaned. “This is important, Mira.”

Mira rolled her eyes. “I know,” she said, hopping down. “But relax, okay? If Ciaran’s brother doesn’t like you, then it’s his problem, not yours.”

Bago pa man makatugon si Esther, bumukas ang pinto.

Mira smirked. “And here they are.”

Ciaran entered the room, and a man followed him, slightly taller, and handsome too.

Lucien Vireaux.

He dressed more casually, though, in a charcoal shirt and sneakers.

“Hi,” bati ni Esther.

Lucien gave a slight bow. “So, this is the infamous Esther,” he said, and turned to his brother. “She’s prettier than you deserve.”

Ciaran rolled his eyes. “Lucien, this is Esther.”

Lucien gave a charming grin. “Finally, the woman who has made my brother acting like a human now.”

“Lucien,” Ciaran warned under his breath.

Nagtaas lang naman ng kamay si Lucien.

“I’m Mira,” Mira cut in, offering her hand before Esther could respond.

Lucien blinked, took Mira’s hand, and kissed the back of it.

Muntik pang mabulunan si Esther sa sariling laway dahil sa nakita.

Napakurap naman si Mira. “Gentleman. Wow.”

Napailing lang naman si Ciaran.

They all sat down at the dining table and started to eat. But the banter between Mira and Lucien started quickly.

Lucien was also joking about Ciaran’s college days.

“Lucien,” Ciaran warned.

Napabuga ng hangin si Lucien. “Kuya, don’t stop me. I enjoyed telling stories about your college days. It’s so funny that many girls are chasing you.”

Natawa si Esther. Hindi na siya nagulat.

“Actually,” Lucien drank his water before speaking, “I’ve seen my brother with dozens of people, friends, well, he doesn’t have that many friends. Parang wala nga yata siyang kaibigan, eh. And also, business partners, women he tolerated,” he said, his tone was light but honest. “But with you? He was different. Calmer. And I’ve seen the side I’ve never seen before.”

Napakurap si Esther. “In a good way, I hope?”

Ngumiti si Lucien. “In the best way,” he said. “You grounded him. And for someone like my Kuya, that’s rare.”

Hindi naman alam ni Esther kung ano ang sasabihin niya kaya naman ngumiti na lamang siya.

Nagpatuloy sila sa pagkain.

Maya-maya pa ay naramdaman ni Esther ang paghawak ni Ciaran sa kamay niya.

Esther smiled.

Lucien looked at his brother. This is the Ciaran he seldom sees, calm, vulnerable, and genuine. His brother has this cold expression—always—when he was with other people. Pero nakikita niya ang kaibahan kapag si Esther ang kaharap nito.

“He’s better with you around,” Lucien couldn’t help but say.

Napatingin naman si Esther kay Lucien.

Lucien shrugged. “Just letting you know you have my approval. I don’t give it often.”

“Thank you,” Esther whispered.

“And good luck,” Lucien added, sipping his juice. “He’s a lot.”

“Alam ko.”

Ciaran looked at Esther and Lucien. “Are you two talking about me?”

“Obviously,” Lucien said.

Mira leaned in. “So, who’s cooking dinner next time?”

Nagkatinginan naman si Ciaran at Esther.

“Wait, Ciaran and I prepared the food today. Isn’t it supposed to be you and Lucien next time?” Esther said and smiled teasingly. “I can see that you two can get along.”

Umirap si Mira. “With him?” she pointed at Lucien. “No way.”

“Yes way,” ngumiti si Lucien. Tumingin siya kay Mira. “Can you cook?”

Ngumiti si Mira ng peke. “My hands were for keyboards, not for cooking. Sorry.”

Lucien and Ciaran were both confused.

“Mira was a tech expert. So, don’t expect her to cook,” Esther butt in.

Tumango naman si Mira bilang pagsang-ayon.

“Is that so? Fortunately, I’m good at cooking,” Lucien said. His attention goes back to Mira. “I can cook for you.”

Nagkatinginan si Esther at Ciaran. Then Esther leaned in and whispered in the back of her hand. “Magkakilala na ba sila dati pa?”

Umiling si Ciaran. “I don’t know, sweetheart.”

Nagkibit-balikat na lamang si Esther saka mahinang natawa. Sinubuan na lamang niya ng steak si Ciaran.

So far, so good naman na makilala niya ang nag-iisang kapatid ni Ciaran.

“GIRL, kung ako sa ‘yo, huwag mo ng sayangin ang pagkakataon,” sabi ni Mira nang makaalis si Ciaran at Lucien. Pero naiwan si Mira at alam ni Esther na makikipag-tsismisan lang naman ito sa kaniya.

“Payag na ang kapatid ni Cairan. Green light na ‘yan, girl.”

Kumunot naman ang noo ni Esther. “Green light para saan?” tanong niya habang nagtutupi ng kumot sa may couch.

“Eh di ano pa? Sa landian niyo!” Mira replied, dead serious. “How about his mother? Na-meet mo na ba?”

Esther stiffened. “Hindi pa. And honestly, I’m not ready. Isa pa, parang nakikita ko na hindi mangyayari ‘yon.”

Mira narrowed her eyes. “Exactly. Number one na kontrabida ang mother-in-law sa lahat ng teleserye. Hindi ko naman nilalahat, pero hindi pa rin natin alam. Pero siguro maganda kung kumuha kang genes kay Ciaran.”

Napakurap si Esther. “Ano?”

“Sayang, eh. Ciaran is tall, smart, gwapo, at marunong maglinis. Siguradong maganda at malaki ang ‘ano’ nun. Jackpot combo. Dapat may pang-legacy ka na rin.”

“Mira, ano bang pinagsasabi mo?” namumulang tanong ni Esther. Nakukuha niya kung ano ang ibig sabihin ni Mira pero nagpapanggap lang siya na hindi niya ito naintindihan.

Mira leaned close, voice dropping to that dangerous whisper. “Esther, don’t deny it. Hindi mo man sabihin sa akin, alam mo sa sarili mo—your body was reacting to Ciaran.”

Bumuka ang bibig ni Esther para makipag-argumento kay Mira pero hindi na niya itinuloy at napabuntong hininga na lamang siya. Mira wasn’t wrong.

Damn it.

“Anong gagawin ko?” tanong ni Esther, half-joking.

“Akitin mo.”

Her jaw dropped. “Hindi naman ako marunong ‘no! At isa pa wala akong karanasan diyan.”

“Then drug him. You just have to get genes, Esther. Hindi ‘yan magagalit sa ‘yo dahil maliligayahan rin naman siya.” Nakangising sabi ni Mira.

“Mira!”

Tumawa si Mira. “Joke lang, girl. Pero seryosong usapan, genes lang naman ang kailangan mo. Be strategic.”

“You mean…anak?”

Tumango si Mira. “Well, combo na ‘yan. Naligayahan ka na, may mabubuo pa. At least, kayo man o hindi ang magkakatuluyan, ikaw naman ang nanalo.”

Napailing na lamang si Esther sa kabaliwan ng kaibigan niya. “Bakit ba tayo naging magkaibigan?”

“Dahil ako lang ang may lakas ng loob na sabihin ‘tong mga bagay na ‘to sa ‘yo,” Mira said, proudly, tapping her chest like a hero. “You’re welcome.”

Napabuntong hininga na lamang si Esther pero natatawa siya. Because beneath all of Mira’s crazy advice, there was a hint of truth she couldn’t ignore.

The following days, Esther began searching for how to do the ‘deed’ with your boyfriend thing.