A Kiss to Life

Chapter 9: Boyfriend

“Observe carefully,” Dr. Martinez told us. Dr. de La Costa’s operation is about to start and we are now gathered here to watch him do the procedure. This operation is going to be held at operating room 10. It is an operating room built for the medical students like us to be able to watch the operation without being a disturbance to the attending doctors and nurses while the operation is ongoing.

O.R 10 is surrounded by glass walls separating from the viewers. Viewers–us–position is elevated from the ground for us to see the overview of the operation. There’s a monitor on the side that helps us see the procedure upclose.

“They are starting,” Aila said when Dr. de La Costa entered the operating room.

A nurse approached him and put on his surgical gown, gloves, and secured his facemask and cap cover. And in Dr. de La Costa’s signal, they started the operation.

“Oh, s**t. He’s a bloody,” Anthony commented when they started cutting the patient’s chest and its blood smeared.

“That must have hurt a lot,” Marcus added.

“Imagine if you didn’t sedate the patient and you did to him?” Dr. Martinez butted and we all cringed imagining it. “Hay, naku. Malayo pa talaga kayo. Hindi na dapat kayo nagugulat sa mga ganung bagay,” he commented, smirking.

We continued watching until they finally opened the patient’s ribs and reached the heart. Dr. de La Costa skillfully found the part of the patient’s heart aorta. This patient had an aortic aneurysm.

“Oh, he found it,” Aila said, clapping.

“Now, watch carefully,” Dr. Martinez told us. We did. We watched Dr. de La Costa fast but skillfully repair the ruptured aortic of the patient.

"Wow…" I said, amazed how light handed Dr. de La Costa.

"He's a genius," Ycca commented on my side.

"He is," Dr. Martinez confirmed. "Joaquin is our batch valedictorian. He also topped the licensure and almost always ranked first in every activity he chose to participate in," he smirked.

"He must be very committed in this profession," Aila said.

"Indeed. You want to know why?" Dr. Martinez asked and we all nodded. "Because he, himself, is a patient, too. He knows how it feels like to be hopeless in a situation he thought was unresolvable. He almost gave up because the pain and the struggle was already too much for his weak heart; he thought there was no hope for him anymore. Luckily, Dr. Aydan stepped in his life and gave him another reason to continue living."

Dr. Martinez and hearing my father's name made my heart beat wildly.

"What do you mean, Dr. Martinez?" I asked, intrigued.

He shrugged and sighed. "Joaquin had AVSD when he was born. His mother died giving birth to him and his father didn't have the capacity to get him the surgery as soon as possible. He suffered for eight years because of his condition because Dr. Aydan and the foundation found and saved him."

"The foundation?" It was Aila who asked that.

I know about that foundation. It was founded because of me.

Dr. Martinez nodded. "Dr. Aydan founded a foundation that originally helps patients with respiratory problems. But the number of patients inquiring about it with different illnesses is countless so he and his friends–which are the sponsors of the foundation–decided to open the foundation for all patients with different illnesses. 30% or Dr. Aydan's salary goes to the foundation and almost half a billion comes from his friend."

"That's nice of them," Ycca commented.

He nodded again. "Want to hear another trivia?"

Ycca and Aila both nodded.

Dr. Martinez smirked and stared at me as he said, "The foundation was founded because of Dr. Aydan's only daughter. His daughter had asthma and she almost did not survive it when she had a severe attack. Luckily and thankfully, Saint Lawrence had Dr. Anasco and saved her."

"Where is Dr. Aydan's daughter now?" Aila asked.

Dr. Martinez shrugged. "Last time I heard, she topped PNLE."

"She's a nurse?" It was Ycca now.

Dr. Martinez didn't answer them anymore. Instead, he pointed on the screen to divert their attention.

"See how he does it," he said, pointing at how Dr. de La Costa finishes the procedure.

While I remain stunned in my spot. Wala nang pumapasok sa utak ko dahil sa mga nalaman ko.

Is this why mom told me I can trust him knowing about me? Because he owes dad so much that he won't dare to disrespect him?

"Wrapped it up," we heard Dr. de La Costa say over the monitor.

"They are done," Marcus said.

"Four hours. Not bad," Dr. Martinez.

This operation usually takes around three to five hours. Sometimes more than that depends on the severity of the rupture. Dr. de La Costa started the procedure at exactly 8 pm and finished it at 12:01 midnight.

"Congratulations!" Dr. Martinez greeted Dr. de La Costa the moment he went out of the operating room.

Dr. de La Costa, on the other hand, creased his brows. "You're still here?"

"Of course! I stayed them out students," he answered, smirking.

Saying that, Dr. de La Costa's eyes moved to us. Checking as five. "Glad you stayed," he told us. "And I hope you watch carefully because I'll be expecting a write-up about the procedure at 10 am later," he said, walking past us.

Our eyes widened hearing that.

Dr. Martinez chuckled seeing our reaction."Give them time to rest and sleep, Joaquin."

Dr. de La Costa stopped walking and faced us, arching his brow he said,"4 pm, then."

"Thank you, Dr." We said immediately before he changed his mind again.

He nodded and said, "You can go home now."

"Thank you, Dr." We repeated. We also thank Dr. Martinez who just tapped us on the shoulder before he left.

Getting the go signal to go home. We immediately headed on the quarters to get our things.

“Yeay! Makakauwi na rin sawakas!” Ycca said, stretching her back.

“It’s late. Do you have rides?” Marcus asked. Tunog mayabang.

“I brought my car,” Aila answered.

“Mine, too.” Ycca said.

“How about you, Mari?” Anthony asked.

“Her drive will pick her up,” Ycca answered for me. I was busy gathering my things.

“Hatid-sundo ka pa rin ng driver mo?” Anthony asked. “Kailan kaya yung boyfriend naman ang manunundo sa’yo?” he added.

I heard him and Marcus chuckled.

“Don’t ask her, bro. We all know that she’s not interested in anyone,” Marcus said bitterly.

“I have a boyfriend,” I answered in a heartbeat to shut them up.

They all looked at me with a bewildered expression hearing what I said.

“You have?” Ycca asked, shocked.

“Yeah," I nodded.

“Talaga? Sino?”

I nodded again and said, “Noah. He’s my boyfriend.”

“Oh, my God…” she muttered, hands in her mouth. “Sabi ko na, e! Gosh. Sobrang bagay kayo!”

“Isn’t he your driver?” Anthony asked.

"Yes," I just answered.

“You’re dating your driver?” Marcus’s comment. “No offense but I think that’s nonsense.”

I arched my brow and was about to say something, but Aila spoke first. “What’s wrong if he’s her driver? I have seen Noah a few times ago and he looks really good. Bagay sila.”

“Noah’s nice and a gentleman, too. An architecture student. Ang judgemental nyo naman kung sasabihin n’yong dahil driver sya ni Mari ay hindi na pwedeng maging sila,” Ycca said as well.

I appreciate them for saying those but I know it should be me saying those. It’s my relationship, and my boyfriend they are misjudging.

“Noah’s my driver, yes. What’s wrong with that?” I asked them. “Do you think because he’s my driver, I cannot date him?” I shook my head. “You know nothing about him and if I were to choose between him and any guy here, I would definitely choose him. Not because he is my boyfriend, but because I know he’s way better than the guys I know, maybe not in status in society but as a person. I like him for who he is, not what made him.”

I left after that. Ycca and Aila followed me. We walked our way out of the hospital side by side.

“Don’t mind them, Mari,” Ycca said, clinging her arms to me. “They are probably just jealous because we all know, they tried to ask you out, but you rejected them.”

“Those two can be really assholes sometimes,” Aila added.

“Huy, anong sometimes? They. are. assholes. every. f*****g. time,” Ycca said and we all three laughed.

“Mga inggit lang yun sila,” ulit ni Ycca. “Pero talaga ba? Kayo na ni Noah? Kelan pa?”

“Just yesterday,” I answered truthfully.

“Kahapon lang?” she asked. “Grabe, sobrang dense mo na umabot ng ganitong katagal bago ma-realize yung feelings nung tao para sa’yo! Paano siya nag confess?”

I shook my head. “I confessed first,” I said and the two squealed hearing that. Buti na lang ay impit lang iyon at walang ng gaanong tao sa ospital.

“You did the first move?” Aila asked. “I cannot believe our Mari can do that.”

“Same, girl. So how did it happen? What made you confess?”

“I got anxious when he told me about his OJT. I overthought things; him finding a new job after his graduation. I got scared I won’t see him again after that, and I got jealous when he told me about his girl classmate,” I explained.

“Ay, selosa pala ang Mari natin,” Ycca said.

“Sino bang hindi mag se-selos kung ganung ka-gwapo ang crush mo?”

“But why would he tell you about that classmate? Sinadya n’ya ba para tignan kung mag se-selos ka?”

I shook my head. “No. I asked if he has friends in his school and he said none because they are younger than him. And the only one close to his age is that girl. He also said that he doesn't want to be seen with her because he’s afraid they will think something about them…” I explained.

“Tapos, paanong nauwi sa confession mo?” Aila asked.

I told them the rest of the story and they kept on squealing. Umakto pang mahihimatay ang dalawa nang i-kwento ko kung ano ang naging reaction ni Noah pakatapos kong sabihing gusto ko s’ya. Pati iyong sinabi niya pagkapos nun, iyong ‘pag pwede na at pwede pa’.

“Lord, kita mo ‘yun? Gusto ko rin ng ganun!” Ycca said, talking in the air.

“Ako rin po, Lord, gusto ko rin ng ganun,” Aila said, too.

Nagtawanan na lang kami hanggang sa makalabas na kami ng ospital.

“Ayun na yung boyfriend mo,” Ycca said, nudging me.

“Sana all may gwapo at matangkad na boyfriend,” Aila said.

“Tapos, talented and smart rin,” Ycca added. “So far kasi, puro gwapo lang na walang utak nakikilala ko. Tapos mayayabang pa.”

I just chuckled on their teasing and waved my hand. “I’ll see you later,” I told them.

“See you later,” they said before heading to their cars.

I, on the other hand, headed to where Noah was.

"Noah," I called him, smiling. Happy to see him after a long and tiring day in the hospital. He was leaning against the car while doing something on his phone. "Kanina ka pa?" I asked, standing just a few inches in front of me.

He shook his head and smiled, showing me his dimples again. "Kararating lang din",” he answered. “Kumusta ang araw mo?”

“Tiring but it was fun. I learned a lot today,” I answered. I stepped closer to him and leaned my head on his chest. I really love his warmth. “How was yours?”

“Ayos lang din naman. I missed you,” he replied, putting his one hand at the back of my head and gently combing my messy hair while the other one slid on my back.

“I missed you, too.” I looked up to him. “Earlier, they asked me if I have a boyfriend. I said yes and it’s you.”

“Talaga? Hindi ka… nahiya?”

My brow creased. “Bakit naman ako mahihiya?”

“Driver mo ko,” he answered.

“And?”

“Na pumayag ka na maging boyfriend ang driver mo lang dapat,” he added.

I sighed. I didn’t expect to hear it from him either. I admit that it annoyed me earlier when Marcus and Anthony said their opinion about us. It offended me.

I pulled away and crossed my arms to my chest, arching my brow. “First of all, I never saw you as my driver lang. I see you as you are. Caring, funny, and someone who likes to give affirmations and compliments. Second, it was me who confessed first, so technically, ikaw ang pumayag para maging boyfriend ko,” I told him. “Where is the sudden insecurity coming, Noah?” I asked.

Last night we were so confident about ourselves–he was so confident that he said he’ll brag about it. But hearing him asking me these, something probably happened.

“Noah?” I repeated when he said nothing and he just pushed me to him, burying my face to his chest. I can hear how fast his heart is beating. “What’s wrong?”

He sighed and shook his head. “Wala naman.”

“I don’t believe you,” I replied fast. “I already know you well. I know when you’re genuinely happy and when something is bothering you. I have observed you so much that you cannot food me on saying there's nothing wrong."

Noah bit his lower lip, trying to stop himself from smiling but he failed miserably. In the end he sighed and showed his phone to me. “I changed my relationship status on f*******: to in a relationship. I did it, so they would stop matching me with every girl classmate they thought they could.”

“They are matching you to different girls?” I asked, checking his phone. Indeed, he changed his relationship status. I wasn’t tagged on it, it was just really a ‘in a relationship’ status. The post garnered a few hundreds of reactions and a few comments, too. I check and read it as well.

[Hala! Paano na si Ate Michelle? Huhuhu. ] The first comment was from a girl.

[Baka si Ate Michelle din yan. HAHAHA.] another one added.

“Who is this Michelle?” I asked as I continued reading the comments. Most of the comments are mentioning her.

“The classmate I was telling you yesterday,” he answered.

I nodded and said, “Is this why you’re avoiding her?”

“Parang ganun na nga pero hindi ko lang talaga gusto na madikit sa kanya,” he answered.

“Why?”

He shrugged. “Hindi lang ako interesado.”

I looked at him and arched my brow. He just started back so I continued reading his post’s comments.

[Hindi raw si Ate Michelle ‘yan. Med student daw sa UST girlfriend n’ya.] a guy commented.

There are more comments but only one caught my attention. I know now why he’s acting like this. It reminds me of Anthony and Marcus’ comment about us earlier.

[Sus! Iiwan ka rin n’yan, pre! Pag papalit ka rin niyan sa mayamang doktor! HAHAHA.]

“Why would he say this?” I asked, still scrolling on the comments.

“Nang aasar lang,” Noah answered, his one hand on the back of my hips.

“And this affected you,” I said, looking up to him.

He sighed and leaned his forehead on the side of my head, he then said, “Sorry.”

He didn’t even deny it or try to explain. He just admitted it by saying sorry.

“Noah…” I called him, trying to get his attention. But he didn’t move. He just pulled me closer to him. “Baby…” I called again and that’s when he looked at me. Eyes widened and lips a jar. I reached for his cheek and said, “I’ve met a lot of guys in med school that tried to ask me out but none of them caught my interest. None of them made me consider their offer. I always declined. I always tell them straight that I am not interested in seeing anyone. But with you, I lose my mind. I always, always want to drop everything just to be with you. And I never wanted anyone the way I wanted you...”

“I hope you can always be confident about us, because I will always be confident about you. You as my boyfriend,” I added, and saying that made my heartbeats go wild. I have never been this vocal towards my feelings. I have never been this honest but telling all my heart content makes me more confident about it. The more I say it, the more I realize and discover myself. I never thought I could love someone this much. More than how much I loved Kairus.

“I love you,” all he could say but his expression said it all. He pulled me again, hugging me tighter. “Thank you for choosing me,” he added.

“I will always choose you, Noah. I hope you will keep that in your mind,” I said and hugged him back.

“I will,” he answered, nodding and planting a kiss on the side of my head. “...forever, baby.”

We stayed like that for a few seconds before I pulled away. I asked him to unlock his phone but instead, he dictated to me his password. ‘080723’ is his password and I cannot stop myself from smiling.

That was the date yesterday. Our official day.

“I changed it last night,” he said, seeing me smiling.

“I’ll change mine later,” I said and he arched his brow.

“Gaya-gaya,” he said and I just chuckled about it.

I maneuvered his phone and clicked on the camera icon. I stretched out my arm for us to fit on the frame. “Let’s take a picture,” I said, smiling.

Thankfully, he isn't a killjoy in things like this. Noah’s smile equaled mine. I snapped five pictures of us and chose one to post on his f*******: story. I even mentioned myself on it.

“I’m friends with your brothers and Orrin,” he said, worried.

“I know. So?”

“They will see that.”

“So?” I repeated.

“Your brothers might tell your parents,” he said.

“And?” I asked again, intentionally making myself sound unbothered.

In the end, he just shook his head and smiled. “If your parents will ask about us. Call me, please? I want to ask for their permission about us,” he said.

I smiled and leaned on his chest. “Okay,” said and continued checking his phone. I even took a selfie while I’m on his chest and his arms around my waist, and set it as his phone lockscreen. He was just watching me while I did that.