A Kiss to Life

Chapter 28: Only one

"Wait!" Kenzie said and grabbed my hand. "Are you…" She then asked, looking at the ring in my finger.

I nodded, smiling so wide.

Her hand immediately flew to her mouth to cover it. "Oh, my God! You're engaged! Since when? When did it happen? Why didn't you tell me?" She asked non-stop.

"I'll tell you after today. It's your day, of course, I wouldn't not steal this day from you," I told him.

"You're not stealing anything! Oh, my God. Have you guys told anyone about it?"

I shook my head. "Just my parents. And we're not planning to announce it yet."

"Why?"

I shrugged. "We just want to keep it for ourselves for the meantime."

Kenzie nodded and stared at my ring. "It's a beautiful ring."

"It's his family heirloom," I told her, we're now both looking at my ring.

It was just a simple but very elegant ring. A plain gold bond topped with a pear shaped moissanite gem.

"Heirloom?"

"Yeah. He said this was from his grandfather's mother," I said.

"Noah got it really bad, huh?" She commented.

I grinned and said, "We both got it bad, Kenz. We're so whipped with each other."

"Obviously! Who on earth got engaged within a few weeks in a relationship?" She said.

"Us," I said, chuckling. "I want it so bad that if we can marry now, I would do it in a heartbeat."

Today is Kenzie and Orrin's wedding day and here is the bride, getting excited about someone else's wedding proposal.

"I cannot imagine Tito Aydan's reaction," she said and my chuckling turned to laughter.

"It was epic," I said.

I can still remember how dad's mouth hung open when we told him and mom about Noah's proposal. He was too shocked to even blink… he was so stunned. Mom had to nudge him just so he could recover from it.

"Engaged?" I remembered dad's first words.

I smiled so wide and nodded. "Yes, dad!"

"I already proposed, Sir." Noah answered. Alangan pa ang pagkakasabi nito at may takot sa kanyang tono.

Dad's brows furrowed. "Isn't it too early to do that? I mean, you've just been together for like, what? Almost a month."

"Does it matter, daddy?" I asked.

"Yes, baby. Hindi ba kayo nabibigla lang? Ilang buwan palang kayong mag boyfriend-girlfriend," dad answered.

I shook my head. "I'm so certain, dad. I am in love with him."

Dad's brows furrowed more. "That doesn't mean–Oh, Jesus Christ! Love, talk to your daughter," she asked mom.

Mom sighed as she turned to me. "Sweetie, Noah, isn't it too fast to get engaged already?" Mom repeating dad's words. "I mean, I understand that you are in love with each other. That is normal for new couples, but to get married immediately? I don't think you two should be reckless with this kind of decision."

"Mom, we're not being reckless!" I said. "We're in love and so sure of each other. What would be our next plan aside from getting married?"

"I understand that, sweetie. But getting married after almost a month of being in a relationship? That's reckless…" Mom said.

And I was about to reason more when Noah held my head. He shook his head when I turned to him, signaling to not say anything anymore.

"Sir, Ma'am, I know our decision to get engaged is really surprising for the both of you, but I want to assure you that I am very serious about your daughter. And that you don't have to worry about us getting married because it won't happen any sooner," he breathed. "I proposed to tell your daughter what my plans are for the two of us. I want to assure her that it is her and will only be her for me in this lifetime," Noah told my parents.

"When are you planning to marry her then?" Dad asked.

"As soon as I got my license and secured a stable job, Sir."

"How long will that take?" Dad asked again.

"Two to three years, Sir."

"Isn't that still too soon as well? Mari will just start her career by then," Dad said.

"I will not stop her from pursuing her dreams even after we get married, Sir," Noah answered.

I squeezed his and butted in. "Dad, we have talked about our plans for the future, you don't have to worry about it."

"I will never not worry about you, Amaris. I want all the best for you," Dad said.

"Noah's the best for me," I answered proudly.

Dad almost choked from his own saliva hearing that and I could feel how stunned Noah was from hearing that as well.

Noah cleared his throat and said, "Sir, I know I cannot give your daughter all the things that you can give to her, but I promise to love and cherish her as long as we are together. I promise to love only her and try my best to make her happy. I promise to do all my best to give her the life that she deserves."

"I only want a life with you and our family," I answered.

I think that's what convinced daddy to let us with our decision, because after that, he just told us that he will only allow us to get married after two things: first, we must be licensed; second, we must be well established in our careers. And I honey, I don't find those hard to achieve because, after all, those were all goals.

"We still have three years before we plan for our wedding. So…" I said, shrugging.

Kenzie reached out for both of my hands and held it tight. "I'm so happy for you, Mari. I've seen you sad and hurt a lot of times, but I have never seen you this happy. And to be able to see like this because of Noah, to see you this happier, I knew you will never be wrong for choosing him. Noah's so good for you," she said.

"He is," I confirmed, touched from hearing that.

"And you are as well. You were so good for him, too. I could see that. Orrin and I noticed how he improved and how hard he is still trying to improve each day," she added. "I'm just so happy to see this happy."

I squeezed her hand. "I'm happy that you are with me throughout this, Kenz. I love you."

"I love you, too, Mari! Oh, God. You're making me cry," she said, wiping het tears.

We continued talking about Noah's and I's plans for thr future and her and Orrin's plans as well after their wedding.

"Ema gave us a honeymoon trip to Maldives!" She excitedly said.

My eyes widened hearing that. "She did? Wow! Our Ema's getting big time, huh?" I commented.

Ema or Emari Juliana De Chavez, Tito Maverick and Tita Gian's only child, is one of our childhood friends and now a famous athlete.

"Our girl is earning a lot from endorsements and modeling, huh?" Kenzie said.

We were talking about Ema's achievements until her wedding organizer walked in and told us that we needed to move already.

"I'll see you later at the church," I told her.

Kenzie smiled at me nervously. "See you later."

I went to her and hugged her tight. "You look so gorgeous today, Kenz. Orrin will be in awe once he sees you."

"Do I?"

"Yes! You look like your momma," I told her.

"Mama Chai?"

I shook my head. "No. Your Mommy Morgan," I answered, which made her teary.

Tita Morgan is Kenzie's biological mom while Tita Chai is her step-mother. Both Tita Morgan and Tita Chai loved Kenzie the same way, but if I were to ask, I can see how Tita Chai loves her.

She loves Kenzie like her own daughter.

"Ganda mo," Noah said as he reached for my had, kissing the back of it. We're in our car now and on our way to Church for Kenzie's wedding ceremony.

"Gwapo mo rin," I complimented him back.

He licked his lip. "Hindi na tayo partner."

"Bawal daw kasi 'yun. Hindi pwedeng pag partner-in ang couple sa pagiging abay, baka hindi magkatuluyan," I told him.

We were supposed to be partners for entourage but Kenzie had to pair us with someone else after we become boyfriend-girlfriend.

But how can I forget that this is Noah I was talking with?

"Sinong nagsabing pakakawalan pa kita?" He said. "Hindi ka na makakawala sa akin," he added and raised my hand, showing me the engagement ring he put on my finger.

"At sino rin nagsabing makakawala ka rin sa akin?" I asked back. "You are mine, and only I can own you."

Noah smirked. "Wala naman akong planong kumawala. At lalong wala akong balak mag pa-angkin sa iba."

I squinted my eyes and said, "Dapat lang! Yari ka sa akin pag may babae ka!"

He chuckled and said, "Hindi ko gagawin 'yon, baby. Masyado kitang mahal para mag hanap pa ako ng iba." He kissed the back of my hand agai.

I don't know but every time Noah says that, every time he tells me he loves me, I couldn't help but feel all the butterflies in my stomach getting wild. They are getting triggered every time Noah assures me about his love for me.

"Dapat lang," ulit ko dahil wala na akong mahanap na salita pa.

"Kung hindi ka lang naka-make up nagyon, iisipin ko na nag b-blush ka," Noah teased me.

"I'm not blushing and I wear make-up every day," I denied immediately.

"Your make today is different, unlike your usual every day make-up. Yung pang araw-araw mo, simple lang. Halos hindi nga halata kaya tuwing namumila, halatang-halata ko ka agad."

"Don't you like my make up today?" I asked.

He shook her head. "Gusto ko. Sobrang ganda mo nga lalo ngayon, e. Hindi lang ako sanay na ganyan ang ayos mo."

"I won't be wearing this kind of make-up, Noah. And I know you like me simple," I told him.

He nodded in agreement and said, "Mas gusto ko nga pag simple ka lang, pero baby, hindi kita pipigilan sa kung ano man ang gusto mong gawin. Pwedeng-pwede mong gawin kahit anong makakapagpasaya sa'yo. Ganun rin kahit maging mag asawa na tayo. Hindi kita pipilitin sa bahay na hindi mo naman gusto at hindi ka naman magiging masaya," he breathed. "Hindi mo kailangan isipin kung paayagan ba kita, kahit ano o saan pa yan, handa akong suportahan ka dahil alam kong lahat ng gusto mong gawin at ginagawa mo, masaya ka."