Blood Between Us

CHAPTER 9

THE SCENT of garlic filled the air, warm and grounding. Esther leaned over the pot and gave the sauce one final stir, then lowered the heat. The soft simmer was the only sound in the room for a while, well, that and the occasional clink from Ciaran setting the table beside her.

As usual, nasa condo na naman niya ang binata. Simula noong natulog ang binata sa condo niya, lagi na ito doon. Kung hindi makikikain ng agahan, makikikain ito ng hapunan, katulad na lang ngayon.

“You sure you don’t need help with the pasta?” tanong ni Ciaran.

Umismid si Esther. “The last time you offered, you almost set off the smoke alarm.”

“Isang beses lang naman ‘yon, ah.” Sabi ni Ciaran na halatang na-offended. “And it was the toaster's fault.”

Napailing na lamang si Esther. “You were trying to toast uncooked lasagna sheets.”

“I was being innovative.” Pagrason pa ni Ciaran.

“Ang sabihin mo hindi ka lang marunong magluto.” Sabi ni Esther saka napairap.

Kapagkuwan sandali niyang tinignan ang binata, Ciaran had taken off his jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his soft charcoal shirt, now barefoot walking on her floor — she would buy male slippers next time, kawawa naman ang paa ni Ciaran— like he belonged in her condo. Like this wasn’t strange or borrowed time.

Tumuon ang at ni Esther sa ginagawa ni Ciaran. He was folding the napkins with more concentration than necessary, tongue pressed lightly to his bottom lip.

Damn. That lip.

“Kanina ka pa nakatitig,” biglang sabi ni Ciaran nang hindi ito tumitingin sa kaniya.

Pasimpleng tumikhim si Esther. “You keep folding napkins like it’s an Olympic sport.”

Nag-angat ng tingin si Ciaran habang nakangisi. “I want to earn for my dinner.”

Tumaas lamang ang isang kilay ni Esther saka hinayaan na lamang ang binata sa gusto nitong gawin.

Minutes later, they sat across from each other, plates of fresh pasta and toasted bread were between them, and glasses filled with orange juice.

“Ang sarap,” puri ni Ciaran nang malasahan nito sa unang subo ang pasta.

“You say that like you weren’t expecting it.”

Nagtaas ng kilay si Ciaran. “I was expecting good. Not… resto-quality.”

Nagkibit na lamang si Esther habang pilit na tinatago ang kaniyang ngiti ngunit ramdam niya ang pag-iinit ng kaniyang pisngi.

Ciaran twirled his fork slowly. "You know, I don't think I've had a meal in the past year where I wasn't checking my phone or skimming a report."

“Bakit? Gusto mo bang tignan ngayon?”

“Hindi, ah. I’d rather eat cardboard.”

Esther snorted. “Okay, now you’re being dramatic.”

“No. I’m being honest. This?” Ciaran gestured around the room. “Feels real.”

Napatigil si Esther sa pag-inom ng juice. That word­… real. “Yeah,” she murmured. “It does.”

Habang kumakain sila, nag-uusap lamang sila. Ciaran asked Esther about her childhood, her favorite building in the city, and it was all about life. And Esther asked about Ciaran’s childhood trips to different countries. They avoided talking about their world, about the Solace Tower and the Vireaux Global.

Nang matapos silang kumain, at matapos hugasan ang kanilang pinagkainan. Naupo sila sa living room. At mukhang walang balak umuwi si Ciaran kahit gabi na. Hinayaan na lamang ni Esther ang binata dahil komportable naman siya sa presensiya nito.

Magkatabi sila sa sofa. Close but not too close. His hand rested on the cushion between them, not touching Esther.

“Alam mo,” Ciaran said after a beat, “I didn’t think I could be like this.”

“What? Pasta nights?” Esther joked.

“No. Being seen without my armor.”

Tumingin si Esther kay Ciaran. “Wala ka namang suot na armor, ah.” Aniya.

Tipid na ngumiti si Ciaran. “Nakasuot pa rin. I just let my guard down around you.”

Esther saw the vulnerability in Ciaran’s eyes that stirred something in her. A softness that felt rare, and she seldom felt towards someone.

“Esther.”

“What?”

“Pwede ba akong magtanong?”

Tumango naman si Esther.

Ciaran leaned in slightly, his brows drawn together, thoughtful way he always did before saying something important. “What happens after this?”

Napatigil si Esther, hindi dahil sa kaba kundi dahil sa hindi siya sigurado kung ano ang ibig sabihin ni Ciaran.

Ciaran clarified, almost whisper. “Esther, I wanted more nights like this. I don’t want this to end.”

Esther’s heart thudded inside her chest. “Ciaran…”

“No pressure,” mabilis na sabi ni Ciaran. “You can throw a pillow at me if I’m moving too fast. I just… I want you to know I’m not here because I’m chasing some fleeting way. I wanted you to know you. I want to stay.”

Napatitig na lamang si Esther kay Ciaran. Instead of thinking of Ciaran being the heir of Vireaux Global, she thought about his rolled sleeves. The way he cleaned her tiles without flinching. And the grin he gave when she caught him sketching my designs.

Esther leaned forward, slowly.

Their foreheads nearly touched.

“I’m scared, Ciaran,” Esther whispered.

“Don’t be,” Ciaran said, his breath against Esther’s cheek. “But I want this.”

Ciaran brushed his fingers against her cheek. And kissed Esther.

The kiss was soft, searching, like Ciaran wasn’t sure if he was allowed to kiss Esther. Like she could still pull away.

Pero hindi lumayo si Esther. She let herself feel the warmth. The gentle embrace of the first kiss they shared that wasn’t rushed or stolen.

Ipinikit ni Esther ang mata at tumugon sa halik ni Ciaran. Hindi man siya marunong humalik pero sinusundan niya ang bawat galaw ng labi ng binata. Hanggang sa hilain siya ni Ciaran paupo sa kandungan nito.

They shared a passionate kiss.

Si Esther ang unang pumutol sa halik nang maramdaman niyang mapupugto na ang kaniyang hininga.

Ciaran smiled. “I didn’t know that you are innocent but wild,” he said, teasing Esther.

Esther glared at Ciaran. “Anong sinabi mo?” Nanghahamon niyang tanong.

Nanatili ang nanunudyong ngiti sa labi ni Ciaran. “That you’re innocent and wild.”

Still straddling Ciaran, Esther cupped Ciaran’s face and kissed him.

Ciaran closed his eyes and kissed Esther back. Their tongue battled. Hinawakan niya ang batok ni Esther at pinalalim ang halikan nilang dalawa.

But before the kiss goes wild, Ciaran stops and buries his face on Esther’s neck.

“Let’s stop. Baka kapag hindi pa tayo tumigil, iba ang pupuntahan nito.”

They stayed in that position for a moment until Esther moved and sat beside Ciaran.

Naging tahimik lamang sila sa sumunod na sandali. At parehong huminga ng malalim.

Like the world had gone quiet for a moment. Like neither of them wanted to shatter whatever fragile thing had just settled between them.

Sumandal si Esther sa kinauupuan. And Ciaran didn’t move far. He just reached out, resting his hand near Esther on the couch, not quite touching but close enough to feel.

“Sweetheart?”

Esther didn’t look at Ciaran.

“Esther?”

This time, Esther looked at Ciaran. “Ako ba ‘yon?”

“Sino pa nga ba? Ikaw lang naman ang kasama ko dito.”

“Why are you calling me that?” Esther asked.

Ngumiti si Ciaran. “Bakit? Ayaw mo? I think that was romantic.”

Umismid si Esther. “Hindi naman tayo mag-jowa.”

“Really? We already kissed.”

Esther raised one of her eyebrows. “Manligaw ka muna. Ano ka? Sinuswerte?” she spat.

Ciaran sexily chuckled. “Okay. I’ll court you, Sweetheart.”

Ngumiti naman si Esther habang mabilis ang pagtibok ng kaniyang puso.

Eventually, Esther curled up on one end of the couch. Ciaran stayed on the other side. Close enough, but respectful.

Hindi namalayan ni Esther na nakatulog siya pero nang magising siya, nakita niya na lamang ang sarili na may kumot sa kaniya at nakapatong ang paa niya sa kandungan ni Ciaran.

Esther smiled and closed her eyes to fall asleep again.

“ESTHER.”

Mira’s voice cut through the silence like a knife inside Esther’s condo. Her eyes weren’t even fully open, but she could already feel the judgment.

She squinted up from the kitchen counter, hair disheveled, wearing Ciaran’s oversized hoodie because that was her life now.

“Ugh. Don’t start, Mira,” Esther groaned.

May hawak si Mira na kape at nakasandal ito sa pintuan na para bang naghihintay ng magbibigay rito ng kape. And her eyebrows were already halfway up her forehead.

“I’m not starting, Esther. You’re already in the middle of it.”

Napakurap si Esther. “What?”

“You love him.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t deny it, Esther, my best friend,” Mira said, walking in like she owned the air in Esther’s condo. “You’re already in love. Kitang-kita sa ‘yo, eh.”

“I don’t know,” Esther mumbled.

“I don’t know,” Mira mocked, doing an imitation of me that sounded suspiciously like a lost tarsier. “Nawawala ka na sa sarili mo. Gir, normal ba na paghaluin mo ang kape at ketchup?”

Esther blinked. Mabilis siyang tumingin. Her spoon was still resting inside the mug, and beside it, a sachet of ketchup. Open.

“Oh my God.”

Esther slammed a hand on the table. “Exactly what I am saying. And don’t tell me wala ka sa mood ngayon. Kasi halata naman na siya ang laman ng utak mo.”

Esther covered her face with both hands. “Mira…” Pero totoo naman ang sinabi ni Mira. Si Ciaran, ang nangyaring halik, at ang panliligaw nito ang laman ng kaniyang isipan.

“But anway,” Mira said, pulling up a chair and grinning way too wide, “Tapatin mo nga ako, may nangyari na ba sa inyo?”

Lumaki ang mata ni Esther. “Mira!”

“Ano? Was he good? Malaki ba? Masarap? Kwento ka. Dali.”

“Mira!”

Mira was already bouncing in her seat. “Esther, come on. Don’t leave me hanging. May slow ba ‘yong moment? May lightning? Did you hear angels singing sa background habang—”

“Wala!” Esther blurted. “Walang nangyari sa amin.”

Napakurap si Esther at nakaguhit sa mukha nito na hindi ito makapaniwala. “As in… wala?”

Tumango si Esther. “Wala. He was respectful. He slept on the other side of the couch. Nagising ako na naka-blanket. And that’s it,” she said as she threw her coffee, that have ketchup on it, into the sink.

Mira’s face shifted from scandalized to surprised and impressed.

“Wow. Gentleman.”

“Yeah. Exactly.”

Mira leaned forward. “Hot and respectful? That combo should be illegal.”

Esther rolled her eyes, but she was smiling.

“Pero alam mo,” Mira said, serious for a second, “nasa iyo na ang ‘yong lalaking pinapangarap ng kalahating kababaihan at 90% ng mga lalaki. Dapat nga, eh, take the opportunity. Sayang naman ang katawan niya.”

“Mira!” Ibinato ni Esther ang dishtowel kay Mira. But Mira was already laughing hysterically.

“Bakit ba? Totoo naman! That man is built like sin and cleans like a saint. Anong klaseng glitch sa matrix ‘yan?”

“Ano bang sinasabi mo?!”

Mira placed her hand on Esther’s shoulder, mock-serious. “You’re falling fast, Esther.”

Hindi sumagot si Esther. Naisip niya na baka totoo ang sinabi ng kaibigan. And she wasn’t just falling. She had already fallen, quietly, deeply, and without warning.

And she didn't know how to climb back out.