Ch. 7: Special wine

Colton’s eyes shifted, just for a second. And that second was enough for Ciara to read it. He didn’t believe a word of what Luca said.

Althea sensed the tension and quickly changed the topic. “So, Ciara, what do you do? May work ka ba or business?”

Ngumiti naman si Ciara, this time totoo na. “Dati, may online shop ako. Pero after the wedding… Luca asked me to stay home first.”

“Oh?” Althea raised an eyebrow. “I see.”

Her tone was friendly, pero may halong curiosity.

Colton spoke before Luca could jump in again. “I’m sure Ciara is more than capable. If she wants to go back to business or work after treatment, pwede naman. Hindi ko pipigilan.”

Ciara's head snapped up. Her eyebrows pulled together, and she squinted at him, a slight wrinkle appearing between her brows as she tried to process the moment.

Luca took another sip of wine, eyes narrowing. “Bakit parang ang dami mong alam tungkol kay Ciara, Doc?”

Bigla namang tumahimik ang mesa. Even Althea froze.

Colton answered smoothly, “Because she’s my patient. And it’s my job to know what makes her comfortable.”

Pero sa ilalim ng kanyang boses, may ibang ibig sabihin. At ramdam ni Ciara yun. Luca stared him down for a moment, then laughed sharply.

“Well. Basta asahan ko ha, Doc. Kailangang mabuntis agad ang asawa ko. I want results.”

Colton replied, smiling with his lips but not his eyes, “You’ll get results… When the time is right.”

And for a fleeting moment, habang nakatitig sila sa isa’t isa, Ciara felt something electric in the air.

Althea smiled, “So… shall we have dessert or nah?”

No one answered at first. Because kahit gaano kaayos tingnan ang dinner, sa loob ng mesa, may mga sikretong nagsisimula nang gumising.

The silence in the table is deafening, everyone pretending that everything was perfectly normal, kahit obvious na may undercurrent ng tension sa paligid.

Althea suddenly clapped softly, smiling a little too sweetly. “I’ll just get the special wine in the cellar. Hindi pa ‘to ‘yung para sa dessert, Doc. Yung isa pa.”

Colton looked up, one brow raising. “Iba pa? Hindi ba puwede na ‘tong nandito?”

“No,” she giggled, flipping her hair. “That one’s basic. This is a celebration, remember? First dinner with your guests.” She shot Ciara a glance, masyado lang mabilis 'yun para mapansin ng ibang nadun, pero sapat lang para makita ni Ciara ang kislap ng pambabastos sa mga mata nito.

Umalis si Althea, at sandali silang naghintay. Luca leaned back at sumingkit ang mata nito, habang nakatitig sa pintong dinaanan niya. Ciara didn’t miss the way Luca’s jaw clenched, parang may kutob na hindi maganda, ah.

Few minutes later, bumalik si Althea, may hawak na dalawang bote. “Here we are! Imported 'to, ah. Limited release rin.” She placed them on the table dramatically.

Colton sighed. “Hindi mo naman kailangang gawing show 'to, Althea.” Parang bigla rin kasing nag-transform si Althea sa ibang pagkatao.

“Oh? Sorry, Doc.” she smile too bright. “Baka lang kasi ma-appreciate nila diba.”

Nagsasalin na si Althea ng wine nina Zelda, asawa nito, and Colton's parents, kay Luca, then kay Ciara.

Pero habang abala siya, she leaned a little too close behind Ciara.

“Oops—”

Isang malamig na likido ang biglang natapon, ang pula pa nito at malagkit, kumalat sa balikat, dibdib, pababa sa dress ni Ciara.

The entire table gasped. Si Zelda ay napaatras kaagad, “Ay naku, susmaryosep!”

Si Luca ay tumayo rin agad, nanlilisik ang mata.

“WHAT THE HELL—!”

Althea covered her mouth in fake shock.

“Oh my God! I’m— I’m so sorry! Natabig ko. I swear hindi ko sinasadya!”

Ciara didn't stir. Her breathing was so shallow it was almost imperceptible. She watched Althea, her eyes two pieces of flawless, frozen glass. She was perfectly calm, and that control was far more terrifying than a violent outburst.

Colton’s face hardened. “Althea.” Hindi na nito kailangan magtaas ng boses, sapat na ang tono nito para tumahimik ang buong mesa.

Pero Althea kept acting. “Sis, please, let me help—” she reached to wipe the wine from Ciara’s chest.

Ciara immediately grabbed her wrist. Tumaas naman ang sulok ng labi nito. At mariing sinabat siya. “Don’t touch me.”

Althea froze for a second, stunned that Ciara dared. Si Ciara kasi nasa dulo na ng pasensya niya. Kay Luca palang parang sasabog na ang pasensya niya, e. Ano to? Praktisan nalang siya? Punching bag ganun?

Luca didn't raise his voice, yet the sound came out like a rasp of steel. Every syllable was an accusation, weighted with threat. “Watch your hands. And your eyes. Isa pa, I swear—”

“Luca,” Ciara cut him off, still staring at Althea, “It’s fine. I'm fine.”

But her smile was sharp enough to slice skin.

“Hindi naman lahat sanay humawak ng bote. Especially kung ang trabaho lang ay sumunod at mag-serve.”

Althea’s mask cracked for half a second.

“At least may trabaho ako, sweetie.”

Ciara laughed quietly. “Exactly. May trabaho ka nga. Which means alam mo dapat kung paano maging propesyonal.” She lifted an eyebrow, challenging her. Parang hindi na rin ata sa wine 'yung pinag-uusapan nila.

Althea flushed. Colton stood, took the towel from Althea’s hand. “Ako na ang bahala rito.”

He knelt beside Ciara, gently dabbing the wine from her shoulder, sobrang contrast sa tensyon ng lahat. Luca was watching him like a wolf, muscles tight, fists clenched. Colton didn’t look at Luca, he just kept wiping carefully. “My apologies, Ciara.”

Ciara just nodded. “Okay lang, Doc.”

Pero sa loob nito, ramdam ni Colton ang pagiging stiff ni Luca, parang isang maling pagdaplis pa ng kamay niya and Luca would snap.

Zelda finally exhaled. “Let’s just… sit and finish dinner calmly. Accidents happen.”

“Yes,” Ciara replied, staring straight at Althea.

“Sometimes… accidents happen to people who deserve it.”

Althea didn’t respond, pero parang pumintig ang panga niya doon.

They sat again.

Napahilot naman sa sentido si Colton. Kung kanina dinner lang ito para magpakitang-tao, ngayon parang magiging World War 4 dahil lang sa isang bote ng wine at isang babaeng may masyadong malinis na manicured nails.