Blood Between Us

CHAPTER 23

THE NEXT MORNING. Esther blinked slowly, her eyes adjusting to the familiar white ceiling. The white sheet beneath her felt stiff and tucked too tightly around her legs. Ramdam niya rin na mabigat ang kaniyang dibdib. Sa una hindi niya alam kung bakit pero bigla na lang pumasok sa kaniyang isipan ang mga nangyari.

It crashed back like a silent tidal wave.

The collapse.

Her parents…

Napabaling ang tingin niya sa upuan na nasa tabi ng kinahihigaan niya.

Her chest tightened, feeling the disappointment when she didn’t see Ciaran.

Nasaan siya?

She pushed herself to sit up.

“Esther?”

Mabilis na tumingin si Esther sa pinanggalingan ng boses.

It was Ciaran in a wrinkled shirt, and his hair was tousled. He was half-asleep, stirring now as he rubbed his eyes and stood immediately upon seeing her awake.

“Sweetheart, don’t get up,” Ciaran said gently, already by Esther’s side and his hands hovering protectively. “I’m here.”

“Akala ko umalis ka na.” Wika ni Esther.

Umiling si Ciaran. “Of course not.”

“But I thought…”

Ciaran sat on the edge of the bed and reached for Esther’s hand, holding it carefully, like it might break. “Lumipat lang ako sa couch. The nurse said you needed space.”

Napatitig si Esther sa dingding. “I don’t even know how to breathe right now.”

Napabuga ng hangin si Ciaran. “Esther, just breathe next to me.”

Sumimangot si Esther. “Call me sweetheart.”

Ngumiti si Ciaran at niyakap ang kasintahan. “Sweetheart.”

Tipid na ngumiti si Esther pero tumulo ang kaniyang luha. It was a silent cry, but aching. But it was softer this time, not like drowning, but like release.

Ciaran stayed by Esther’s side, brushing her hair back gently, and anchoring her through the storm inside her chest.

Hindi alam ni Esther kung ilang minuto na ang lumipas. Hindi niya alam. Basta ang alam niya sa mga oras na ‘yon ay hindi niya nararamdaman ang matinding sakit kapag may kasama siya sa kaniyang tabi.

And for now, that was enough.

CREMATORIUM CHAPEL

The scent of burning lilies lingered in the air.

Tahimik na ngayon ang buong chapel. The final condolences had been whispered, and the casket had disappeared into flame long after the final blessing. Hindi na pinatagal pa ni Esther ang burol ng kaniyang magulang.

Alam niya kasing hindi niya kakayanin.

With the help of Ciaran, Lucien, and Mira, her parents were cremated.

Esther stood at the far end of the room with her fingers clenched around the edge of the memorial table as if letting go would cause the ground to give out beneath her.

Nakalagay naman sa kaniyang tabi ang urn na naglalaman ng abo ng kaniyang magulang. All that remained.

Her throat was raw and her eyes past swollen because of crying. There were no more tears to shed. Only the aching kind of stillness that came when you cried everything you could and still didn’t feel lighter.

Maya-maya nakarinig siya ng yabag na papalapit sa kaniya. Hindi na niya ito tinignan kung sino ito dahil alam niyang si Ciaran.

Hindi nagsalita si Ciaran pero tumabi siya kay Esther. He just stood close enough that Esther could feel the heat of him at her back.

And somehow, even that gave Esther enough strength to breathe again. Pero hindi niya pa rin mapigilan ang sarili. Yumakap siya kay Ciaran.

“Wala na sila…” mahinang sabi ni Esther.

“Nandito lang ako, sweetheart.” Ciaran kissed the top of Esther’s head.

After a moment of crying, Ciaran led Esther to the car waiting outside the crematorium chapel.

Lucien and Mira were already inside the car. Lucien was behind the wheel. Mira is on the passenger seat.

“Saan tayo, Kuya?” tanong ni Lucien.

“Sa condo ni Esther.”

Tumango si Lucien. He started the engine and drove the car.

Habang si Mira naman ay tahimik na tumitipa ng keyboard ng laptop na nakalagay sa kaniyang hita.

Later that night, Esther’s condo was quieter than ever.

No music, no lights, except the dim one above the stove. The urn was placed on the living room shelf, beside a framed photo of Esther’s parents from their younger years—laughing on a Beach with their hair windblown and sun-kissed.

Nakaupo lang si Esther sa sofa. Her legs were curled up on the couch, knees to her chest and eyes on distant… on the wall.

Lumabas naman si Ciaran mula sa kusina na may dalang tsaa. Inilagay niya ang mug sa kamay ni Esther pero hindi ito uminom.

Umupo si Ciaran sa tabi ng kasintahan. He put his arms on her shoulder and pulled her gently to him.

“Ran, thank you for being here.” Mahinang wika ni Esther.

“Of course, I’ll always be here with you, sweetheart.”

“Hindi ko alam kung paano mabubuhay bukas ngayon na wala na ang magulang ko.”

Ciaran looked at Esther. “Then don’t think about tomorrow,” he said softly. “Just breathe tonight.”

Esther’s hand trembled, so Ciaran took the mug from her, placed it on the table, and wrapped his arms around her.

Esther relaxed in Ciaran’s arms. Her head rested against his head, where she could feel his heartbeat, beating so fast.

“Ayaw kong mapag-isa.”

“You’re not,” Ciaran said, tightening his hold. “I’m here.”

Namayani ang katahimikan sa kanilang dalawa.

Ciaran didn’t let go of Esther even when she shook and sobbed into his shirt like a lost child.

Nanatili si Ciaran sa tabi ni Esther at nang makatulog si Esther sa bisig ni Ciaran. Inilabas niya ang kaniyang cellphone saka tinawagan ang bodyguard niya.

“Drake, investigate the collapse of the Sanchez Heights. I can feel it. Something was wrong.”

“On it, Boss,” Drake replied.

“Drake, make it low-key, okay? Huwag kang magpapahalata.”

“Yes, Boss.”

After the call had ended, Ciaran exhaled. Tinignan niya si Esther na nasa tabi niya. Hinawi niya ang ilang hibla ng buhok na tumatabing sa mukha nito. Hindi niya sinabi kay Esther ang tungkol sa opinyon niyang ‘yon dahil bago lang ang mga nangyari.

The collapse of the Sanchez Heights redevelopment project. He doesn’t believe it was caused by foundation instability. He doesn’t believe it was an accident. At kung tama ang pagkakaalala niya, Vireaux Global ang dating may hawak ng project na ‘yon.

Sana lang mali ang hinala niya dahil kung nagkataon na may kinalaman ang Vireaux Global sa nangyaring trahedya, hindi niya alam kung papaano harapin ang kasintahan niya.

MEANWHILE… that night. Mira and Lucien were at the beach, sitting on the hood of the car, facing the waves.

“I can’t believe you actually eat the marshmallows before roasting them,” Mira said, popping another one into her mouth.

Lucien leaned back on the hood of his matte black SUV. “They’re better that way. Fire ruins them.”

Umikot ang mata ni Mira. “Pero kinain mo bago mo hinusgahan.” Aniya. “Isa pa, fires improve them. Just like the pastillas. Roasted pastillas.” She sighed. “Kailan kaya ulit ako makakatikim no’n?”

“Fire ruins everything, Mira,” Lucien said with a smirk, but Mira could feel the hint of truth under it.

Tumingin siya sa dagat. They were parked a few meters away from the shoreline, and the sea was stretching like a dark velvet curtain before them. Then music played softly from the dashboard. At sila lamang ang tao roon.

“Lagi ka ba rito?” tanong ni Lucien.

Tahimik na tumango si Mira habang ngumunguya ng marshmallow. “I used to come here with Esther. Or sometimes, alone,” she said. “Back when I needed to breathe.”

“What about now?” Lucien asked as he glanced at Mira.

“I still need to breathe,” Mira muttered.

Lucien looked at Mira. Her hair was pulled up in a messy bun, with her hoodie half-zipped.

Sa totoo lang, ito ang unang pagkakataon na nagkasama silang dalawa ng ganito. They usually bicker when they saw each other. This time, he could see another version of Mira. Just her. Unfiltered and real.

“I like this version of you,” Lucien murmured before he could stop himself.

Nakataas naman ang kilay na tumingin si Mira kay Lucien. “Version? What do you mean?”

“You’re usually louder,” Lucien said with a grin. “And borderline terrifying.”

Mira snorted. “Terrifying is how I survive the city.”

Napatango naman si Lucien. “And this is how you survive yourself?”

Natigilan si Mira hanggang sa batuhin niya si Lucien ng marshmallow. “Don’t psychoanalize me, Vireaux.”

Tumawa si Lucien. “Okay, okay,” he said, but didn’t look away. Because the truth was, this Mira, the one sitting next to him with sand on her sneaker and truth in her silences, was the one he wanted to get to know.

“Bakit ganiyan ka makatitig?” tanong ni Mira. Lucien stared was not in a creepy way, though.

Ngumiti si Lucien. “Ang ganda mo lang kasi.”

Mira rolled her eyes. “Whatever,” she said and continued eating.

After a moment, she spoke. “I thought you’d be more uptight,” she said honestly.

“Bakit naman?”

“Because you’re a Vireaux. You wear suits. You say words like ‘profit margin’ with a straight face.” Nagkibit ng balikat si Mira pagkatapos niyang sabihin ‘yon.

Lucien chuckled. “I also get migraines and eat fries at midnight sometimes, Mira. I’m a human.”

Mira nodded. Then she sighed. “I miss being unknown,” she said out of nowhere.

“Anong ibig mong sabihin?” tanong ni Lucien.

Ngumiti si Mira saka umiling. “I just miss being someone no one expected anything from.”

Lucien was quiet, and then he said, “You know what, I like sitting here with you.”

Napakurap naman si Mira. “Why?”

“Because you let me forget I’m a Vireaux.”

That made Mira stare at Lucien. “So, you want to be normal?”

Ngumiti si Lucien. “Normal sound boring. But quiet? Real? Yeah. That sounds nice.”

Napailing si Mira. “Just like your brother?”

“No. Iba naman si Kuya. Naging totoong tao lang naman siya noong makilala niya si Esther.”

“And you?” Mira asked.

Lucien stared directly into Mira’s eyes. “I feel real when I’m with you.”

And for once, they were quiet as they sat on the hood of the car. They just sat there, sharing snacks, sharing silence, and sharing something. And for once, neither of them needed to speak to feel understood.