Blood Between Us

CHAPTER 10

IT WAS ALREADY DUSK. Ciaran was at the Vireaux Tower rooftop, looking at the buildings, the cars passing, and the people below.

“Kuya.”

Hindi agad tinignan ni Ciaran ang kaniyang kapatid. He leaned against the railing of the rooftop, suit jacket off, tie loose, and his eyes on the skyline like the city held all the answers he never got to ask.

Lumapit si Lucien sa kapatid. Ibinigay niya ang isang can in beer sa Kuya Ciaran niya.

Ciaran took the can of beer Lucien was offering, still wordless, and his eyes looked at the fading sun.

Lucien opened his can and sat beside him. “Anong nangyayari sa ‘yo, Kuya? Parang lately napapansin ko, ang saya mo.”

Ciaran finally looked at his brother with one brow lifted. “Masama ba ‘yon?”

Umiling naman si Lucien. “Hindi naman, kuya,” he said, smirking. “It’s just weird.”

“Thanks.”

Natawa si Lucien. “I mean, dati puro ka schedule. Puro precision. Puro ‘the board expects this or the board wants this and that.’ Tapos ngayon… nakangiti ka na kahit mag-isa ka lang.”

Hindi agad tumugon si Ciaran. He just looked out again and then said quietly, “Her name is Esther.”

Lucien’s smile softened. “Ah, so may pangalan na pala ang rason ng ngiti mong parang artista sa cologne commercial.”

Ciaran chuckled and shook his head.

Lucien leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. “Gusto mo siya, Kuya?” tanong niya kahit alam naman na niya ang sagot. Gusto niya lang marinig na manggaling mismo sa bibig ng kapatid niya ang sagot. That’s more thrilling.

“More than I thought I ever could,” Ciaran admitted. Wala namang mangyayari kapag itatago niya ang tunay niyang nararamdaman para kay Esther. “Kapag kasi siya ang kasama ko, lumalabas ang tunay na ako. Especially my walls and guards are down when I’m with her.”

Napatango si Lucien. “So paano na ‘to? Seryoso ka ba, Kuya?”

Ciaran looked into his brother into his eyes. “Yeah, it’s serious.”

Lucien whistled as if he had won a victory. “Kuya, I never expected that this day would come.”

Ciaran sipped his beer. “Hindi ko rin ‘to inaasahan, Lucien.”

“No wonder, kapag pumupunta ako sa penthouse mo lalo na kapag gabi, walang tao.” May nanunudyong ngiti sa labi ni Lucien. “Kuya, saan ka natutulog?” Nakangisi niyang tanong.

Ciaran pushed his brother. “Don’t ask something like that. It’s private.”

Napailing si Lucien. “Kuya, tatlong taon lang ang tanda mo sa akin. I’m already old enough. Pwede na ako sa mga vulgar words at sa mga kababalaghan ng gabi.”

Napailing na lamang at napaisip si Ciaran. Nitong mga nakaraang araw, simula noong sinabi niyang liligawan niya si Esther, hindi niya rin namalayan ang mga nangyari.

It didn’t happen all at once, though. There was no thunderclap, no movie scene where the world stopped spinning, or the world was slowly moving.

Nagsimula lang ito sa kanilang dalawa ni Esther. Like the way Esther would lean on the kitchen counter in his shirt, sipping coffee half-awake, while he offered her bread with peanut butter.

And sometimes, he would show up at her studio with takeout food after a long day. It’s not to impress Esther, but to say he was always with her.

They joked and laughed together.

Ciaran also started to keep a spare toothbrush at Esther’s place.

Napangiti si Ciaran nang maalalang ninanakawan pa siya ng halik ni Esther sa pisngi. And he would do the same to her, ‘yon nga lang ay sa lips sa kaniya.

Ciaran had already fallen, fast, hard, and real.

Napailing naman si Lucien habang nakatingin sa mukha ng kapatid niya. “Kuya, you’re smiling like an idiot again,” he said.

Ciaran blinked and looked at his brother. “Hayaan mo ako. Masaya ako.”

“Halata nga, eh.” Naiiling na sabi ni Lucien.

The siblings stayed on the rooftop of the Vireaux Global until the night had come.

Just as Ciaran stood and was ready to leave, his phone beeped. He stiffened when he saw the message.

“What is it, Kuya?” Lucien asked.

“It’s Mom. She was asking me to meet at her private study.”

“At the mansion?”

Ciaran nodded. “Yes.”

“Gusto mo bang samahan kita, Kuya?” tanong ni Lucien. “Pero sasamahan pa rin kita kahit hindi ka papayag. Baka hindi ka na makalabas ng mansion. Kawawa naman ang ‘the love of your life’ mo.”

“May alam ka ba?” tanong ni Ciaran. Nakaramdam na siya ng hindi maganda sa sinabi ng kaniyang kapatid.

“Just talk to Mom, Kuya. Siya na lang ang magsabi sa ‘yo. Don’t worry, your bodyguard will protect you.” Tinapik ni Lucien ang balikat ng kapatid saka bumaling sa bodyguard ng kapatid niya na nakatayo lamang sa may gilid. “Right, Drake?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“And me,” Lucien patted his own chest.

Natawa na lamang si Ciaran saka naglakad na paalis.

Instead of going to his penthouse, Ciaran and Lucien went home to the mansion, which Ciaran didn’t know if he could call his home.

“Esther was right,” Ciaran muttered as he stepped out of the car and stared at the mansion in front of him. “A mansion cannot be called home if there is no sincerity, love, and genuineness,” he said in a low voice, but it was enough for Lucien to hear.

Lucien didn’t speak.

“Hintayin niyo na lang ako rito.” Wika ni Ciaran.

Tumango naman si Lucien at Drake.

Lucien sat on the hood of the car.

While Drake was standing still, portraying the role of a bodyguard.

Ciaran walked inside the mansion, and he was greeted by the butler, Frank.

“Young Master, Madam is waiting for you at her private study.

Walang emosyon ang mukha ni Ciaran na tumango at tinahak ang daan patungo sa pribadong opisina ng kaniyang ina.

He knocked before he opened the door. The scent of wood, mixed with mint and coffee, welcomed him.

And there he saw his mother, behind her table with paperwork.

“Mom.”

Celestine, Ciaran's mother, raised her head. “Ciran, my son, come on in.”

Pumasok naman si Ciaran saka isinara ang pinto.

“Sit down, Ciaran.”

His other’s voice was calm, but beneath it, you could hear the thunder building.

Nanatili namang nakatayo si Ciaran. “Let’s just get this over with.”

Celestine sighed, standing at the grand window overlooking the gardens, always pristine, constantly groomed, like everything else in her life. “I heard that you were wasting your time with a woman, an architect. And do you know what the people are saying about you?”

“I don’t care what they’re saying,” malamig na tugon ni Ciaran.

“You should.” Celestine turned around to face her son, perfectly composed in her navy dress and pearls. “You’re a Vireaux. And Vireaux doesn't make decisions based on feelings. We build alliances. We move with purpose.”

Ciaran clenched his jaw. “Then maybe I don’t want to be just a Vireaux.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Ciaran!”

“I’m not. I’m being honest,” Ciaran said, not scared of his mother.

Celestine walked to her desk and opened the drawer, pulling out a sleek blue folder. “Kung ganun ipapaalala ko lamang sa ‘yo ang mga obligasyon mo bilang tagapagmana.”

Napatingin si Ciaran sa folder na hawak ng ina. “What’s that?”

“A preliminary agreement,” Celestine said, placing it flat on the desk. “With the Teves Group. Their eldest daughter is single, brilliant, and raised with the kind of discipline and grace expected of a future Vireaux matriarch. Moreover, she likes you.”

Kumuyom ang kamay ni Ciaran. This was always coming. “Mom—”

“You will meet her,” Celestine interrupted. “Dinner will be arranged. Your engagement will be talked about once we secure the logistics deal for the new port access. Everything has been negotiated except your cooperation.”

Matapang na tumingin si Ciaran sa ina. “No.”

“Ano? No?”

“I said no.” Maydiing sabi ni Ciaran.

Tumawa si Celestine. “You’re being childish, my son.”

“I’m being human,” Ciaran snapped. “You’ve used me as leverage my whole life,” he smiled coldly. “Not this time.”

Celestine’s eyes narrowed. “You think love builds empires? You think that girl will survive our world?”

“Her name is Esther, Mom. And she’s everything this family pretends to value but never truly does. She had the integrity, vision, purpose, and dignity.”

Naging malamig ang boses ng ina ni Ciaran. “She has no pedigree. No stake in our name.”

Doon tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Ciaran. “She has me.”

Celestine’s expression flickered, just for a second. Then her voice turned iron. “No, I have to make Vireaux stronger. You will marry the woman I chose, and that’s final.”

Ciaran smiled coldly, a smile that seldom shows in him, and it shows, something bad might happen. “Then looked for another son to follow your script,” he said. “Kapag siguro buhay pa si Daddy, hindi niya hahayaan na maging ganito kayo. Vireaux was already powerful. One of the biggest corporations around the Globe. Remember, Mom. You have nothing when you enter the Vireaux, but they accepted you.”

And with that, Ciaran turned and walked out, leaving the folder untouched on the desk.

Naiwan naman si Celestine na naninibago kay Ciaran. Before, Ciaran would always say yes without any question, but now…

“Ramon,” tawag niya sa kaniyang bodyguard.

“Yes, Madam?”

“Found out about the woman that my eldest son was crazy about. I want to know every single detail about her.”

“Yes, Madam.” Bahagyang yumukod ang bodyguard saka umalis.

Napabuga ng hangin si Celestine. Nakaramdam siya ng pagkabahala dahil sa ito ang unang beses na sinuway siya ni Ciaran.