Blood Between Us

CHAPTER 12

ESTHER was blindfolded as they entered a restaurant rooftop garden early that evening.

“Ran, ano ba ‘to?” tanong ni Esther.

She was already laughing, half-annoyed and half-thrilled as Ciaran gently guided her to where she didn’t know. But Ciaran was holding her hand and the other on her waist.

Esther heard the music playing in the background. And the cold breeze brushed past her shoulder.

“Okay, we’re here, sweetheart,” Ciaran announced as he slowly removed the blindfold.

Esther saw blurred the moment the blindfold was gone. Pero nang mag-adjust ang paningin niya, parang nakalimutan na niya yata ang huminga nang makita ang kabuuan ng paligid.

Above them, there were strings of light that glowed like stars. It was a garden rooftop placed with dining tables and chairs, designed with soft linen, candlelight, and fresh flowers on the table. In the distance, city lights sparkled like they were watching us from below.

It wasn't the most expensive restaurant in the city, or the most exclusive. Pero tahimik ito, cozy at ramdam mo na belong ka talaga.

“Ran…”

Ciaran gestured with his hand. “Please,” he said as he pulled the chair.

Ngumiti naman si Esther saka umupo.

“You reserved the whole rooftop?” tanong ni Esther nang makitang silang dalawa lamang ang naroon.

Tumango si Ciaran. “Gusto kong tayong dalawa lamang.”

Hindi na itinago ni Esther ang ngiti sa kaniyang labi. “I didn’t know that you have a lot of surprises.”

Nagkibit ng balikat si Ciaran.

Ciaran flicked his finger, and their food came in.

As the waiter put their food on the table, Esther couldn’t help but stare at the food that was being placed on the table. It wasn’t fancy. Pero mahahalata mo na talagang pinaghirapan itong pag-isipan. Pasta, grilled salmon, fresh sourdough, and wine. And of course, the dessert.

While eating, they talked about their favorites, music, movies, their favorite childhood books, and the worst coffee they’ve ever tasted. At habang inaalala nila ang mga ‘yon, natatawa na lamang sila.

Ciaran asked, Esther listened.

Esther teased, and Ciaran softened.

Inabot ni Ciaran ang kamay ni Esther na nakapatong sa may lamesa. He gently brushed his fingers against hers. “You make the world quieter,” he whispered.

Ngumiti si Esther. “And you make it feel less terrifying.”

They both smiled at each other.

Esther took a sip of her wine, and Ciaran did the same.

Nasarapan si Esther sa wine kaya naparami siya ng inom. Pero marami ba ‘yong dalawang baso lang pero nalasing siya.

“Woah—easy there, sweetheart,” Ciaran said, catching Esther’s waist before she could collapse into the bookshelf.

Kakarating lamang nila sa condo ng dalaga.

Hawak ni Ciaran si Esther dahil baka matumba ito at masaktan pa ito.

Esther giggled, her face flushed. “I’m fiiiine,” she drawled, turning dramatically towards him, nearly tripping on her own feet. “Tignan mo, Ran, tignan mo ‘ko… standing pa rin ako—”

She stumbled.

Ciaran caught her.

Again.

Napailing na lamang si Ciaran. He scooped Esther up bridal style. “Time for bed.”

“No! I’m not sleepy!” she whined. “I wanna talk. I wanna kiss you.”

Napatigil si Ciaran. “Esther…”

Pero tumawa lang ang dalaga at napasandal ang ulo nito sa balikat niya. “I like your shoulders. They’re like, ugh, unfair. How do you exist?”

Maingat na hiniga ni Ciaran si Esther sa may kamay. “Lasing ka,” aniya. Then he helped her remove her shoes.

“Am I?” Esther asked, leaning on her elbows, watching him. “Or am I just brave tonight?”

Nag-angat ng tingin si Ciaran. He was caught off guard when Esther suddenly sat up, grabbed his collar, and pulled him down.

“Esther—”

She rolled him onto the bed.

Napakurap si Ciaran nang umakyat si Esther sa ibabaw niya. She was straddling him in her dress, cheeks flushed, and her hair wild.

Napalunok si Ciaran lalo na ng makita niya ang hita ni Esther. Bahagyang nakataas ang laylayan ng damit nito kaya naman kitang-kita niya ang maputi nitong hita.

Ciaran was not surprised anymore when he felt something stirred within him.

“Do you know how beautiful you are?” Esther whispered, fingers brushing his jaw.

“Esther…”

Esther leaned down, pressing her lips to his.

It was soft, and it tasted like wine and boldness.

Hindi tumugon si Ciaran sa halik ni Esther. Hindi dahil sa ayaw niya ngunit dahil lasing ang dalaga. And he’s rather die than to take advantage of this moment. Na pwedeng-pwede naman niyang gawin at pwede siyang mag-rason, ngunit hindi niya gagawin ‘yon. Gusto na kusang ibigay ‘yon ni Esther sa kaniya at kapag hindi ito lasing.

Ciaran closed his eyes and swallowed hard when Esther left his lips, and her lips traveled to his jaw.

“Esther…”

Suddenly—

“Esther.”

Bigla na lamang siyang kinagat ni Esther. Tiniis niya ang sakit at nakahinga siya ng maluwang ng medyo lumuwang ang pagkagat ng dalaga sa leeg niya.

Later, Esther pulled back slowly, and then she suddenly fell on Ciaran. Her head dropped into his chest.

And just like that, she passed out.

Ciaran lay frozen for a moment, staring at the ceiling, and his heart was thundering. Then he let out a breathless laugh, brushing a few strands of hair from Esther’s cheek.

“Hope you had fun, sweetheart,” bulong niya habang nakangiti.

Ciaran closed his eyes. Hindi na niya iniba ang posisyon nilang dalawa ni Esther dahil kapag gagalaw siya, humihigpit ang pagkakahawak sa kaniya ng dalaga.

NANG magising si Esther kinabukasan, ang sakit ng ulo ang agad na ininda niya. She squinted at the soft morning light leaking through the curtains. She turned, groaning at the slight throb in her skull.

“Sakit ng ulo ko,” she muttered, pressing her palm against her forehead.

Dahan-dahan siyang umupo at agad niyang napansin ang ang nahulog na kumot mula sa kaniyang balikat. Then another fell off from her shoulders, it was Ciaran’s coat.

Wait. Ciaran?

Kahit masakit ang ulo, tumayo si Esther saka lumabas ng kwarto. She scanned the room and there he was, standing near her kitchen, shirtless, stretching and sipping coffee like he didn’t look like a walking Greek God statue first thing in the morning.

Shirtless!

Bahagya pang lumaki ang mata ni Esther nang makita ang katawan ng binata.

“Good morning,” bati ni Ciaran nang hindi lumilingon. “How’s the hangover?”

“Ahmm… uh—para akong sinagasaan ng tricycle.”

Ciaran chuckled, setting his mug down and turning toward her. “At least may consciousness ka na. And that’s a good sign.”

Napakurap si Esther. Ciaran was so chill, and he was still not wearing a shirt.

Her eyes scanned him as she rubbed her temple, and then she froze.

On Ciaran’s neck. There was a mark. Red, round, and slightly purple. It was a hickey!

“Oh my god,” Esther whispered.

Napansin naman ni Ciaran ang tingin sa kaniya ni Esther. Tumaas ang kilay niya at humigop ng kape. “Bakit?” he asked casually.

“That,” Esther pointed dramatically, “that thing on your neck… what… why… when… how?”

Ciaran pointed to the hickey on his neck. “This?”

“Yes, that!”

Ngumiti si Ciaran. “Well,” he said with maddening calm, “you were on top of me, last night—”

“WHAT?!”

“—and you kissed me.”

Esther’s jaw dropped. “I—WHAT?!”

Ciaran took another sip, calmly. “Lasing ka. Hinila mo ako sa kama. You got very clingy, kissed me, and then…” he mentioned with his hand. “Boom. Knockout. Tulog ka na.”

Napatakip si Esther sa kaniyang mukha gamit ang dalawa niyang kamay dahil sa kahihiyan. “Oh. My. God.”

“Sabi mo rin sa akin na ‘unfair’ ang mga balikat ko, and I looked like a Greek God.”

“I hate myself,” Esther muttered.

“I don’t,” Ciaran’s voice was too smug.

“I left a hickey on you,” Esther whispered in horror.

“At hindi mo maalala,” pang-aasar ni Ciaran. “Sweetheart, I’m wounded.”

“Argh! Parang gusto ko na lamang maglaho. Right now. Watch me vanish.”

Naglakad si Ciaran palapit kay Esther. He crouched in front of her and gently tugged one hand away from her face. “I didn’t mind, sweetheart,” he said softly. “I knew you weren’t sober. I didn’t let it go further than that.”

Napakurap si Esther at napatingin kay Ciaran.

“And,” Ciaran added with a small smile, “next time, when you are not drunk, I’d like to remember our kiss a little more clearly.”

Bumilis ang pagtibok ng puso ni Esther.

“…next time?” she whispered.

Ciaran leaned in just a little close. “Only if you want one.”

And just like that, Ciaran stood and went back to his coffee, leaving Esther breathless, tomato-red, and mentally screaming into her palms.

Ipinagdadasal ni Esther na maglaho na lamang siya sa mga oras na ‘yon. Parang hindi niya yata kaya ang mga bagay na ginawa kahit hindi niya alam na ginawa niya.

“God, help me vanish.”