A Kiss to Life

Chapter 13: Car Rides

To say I was shocked was an understatement, because I was stunned! I cannot process what he said, it only repeatedly plays in my head.

I mean, how could he just say something like that?

“Huh?” All I could say when finally I realized what he said.

Noah chuckled and let go of my hand. “Huwag kang kabahan agad, two years pa naman simula ngayon,” he said.

I snorted. “You should have not said it to me yet, then.”

“Bakit ayaw mo bang makasal sakin?”

“Gusto ko, syempre! Pero sabi mo nga, matagal pa ‘yun. That you, telling me about it now will excite me and I… I will keep thinking about it,” I said shyly.

“Talaga?” he asked, licking his lower lip and biting it after. “Ma-e-excite ka?”

“Yes!” I answered bravely. “Ma-e-excite ako kaya dapat hindi mo muna sinabi sakin.”

“Gusto mong makasal sakin?” he repeated and seeing him amazed made my heart go wilder.

“Oo nga! Gusto ko. Pag ready na tayo, syempre, gusto kong mag pakasal tayo.”

“Pero mahirap lang ako,” he said and I rolled my eyes.

“You will be an architect one day, and I know how you work hard to achieve your goals. I trust that you will be successful someday,” I told him.

I have seen how Noah puts so much effort into something he wants to achieve and I believe that no matter how long it will take, he will get all his life’s goals. He will be successful one day, and as he works for that, I will work for mine, too. I want us to be successful together.

“... let’s be successful together and once we achieve our goals, then…let’s get married,” I added and Noah immediately pulled me to his arms.

“Mas lalo akong sisipaging mag-aral at mag trabaho nito,” he whispered to my ears.

“I will study harder, too,” I said.

“Mag ayos ka na para makaalis na tayo,” he said after.

I smiled and nodded. “Okay. Tapusin mo na yan,” I told him.

“Yes, mismam, tatapusin na,” he said.

I ran inside our house and headed to my room to get ready.

[I will take a few minutes to get ready. Is that okay?] I texted Noah upon realizing I will probably take my time choosing what I would wear. [I cannot choose what I should wear.] I added.

He replied after a few seconds. [You can take your time. I will wait.]

[Okay! I'll be there in a few minutes.] I texted back.

Although my 'few minutes' actually took an hour. I cannot decide which I would wear but I ended up wearing a knee-length white string dress with small blue flowers as its design. I will just also wear a nude colored knitted cardigan. And for my shoes, I chose to pair it with my favorite white Lambskin & Patent Calfskin sandals from Chanel.

And for my make-up, I tried just doing a simple one. I also curled the ends of my hair to give it a bit of an accent, that its usual plain look. I headed out after my room with my Lady Dior Lambskin bag after convincing myself that I already look good.

Noah's already at the garage when I found him. He was leaning on my car while doing something on his phone. Compared to me, Noah's just wearing a collared white shirt and a khaki trouser paired white his white Nike shoes. His hair was fixed nicely and neatly–not that it wasn't on a regular day. It's just that today, his hair is fixed differently.

"Hi," I said, standing in front of him. "You look handsome," I said honestly.

While he remained silent as he checked on me from my head to toe. "Ang ganda mo," he muttered after.

I smiled. "This is our first date, of course, I'll dress up nicely," I told him and he grinned on it.

"I like your hair," I said and touched it.

"Your brother fixed it," he said.

"Mason?"

He nodded. "Nakita niya ako kanina na nag aayos. Tinanong niya kung saan ako pupunta kaya sinabi kong lalabas tayo. Tapos ayun, tinulungan niya akong mag ayos, pati itong suot ko, siya rin ang namili. Sabi pa niya, buti na lang may ganito akong damit," he explained.

"That's why," I commented.

"That's why, what?"

"That's why you looked different," I said. "I like it. You looked more handsome with you dressed up like this."

"Pero hindi naman ako laging nagdadamit ng ganito," sabi niya and I agree.

"Dapat lang. Baka lalong dumami ang kaagaw ko sa'yo," I said and he arched his brow.

"Wala naman makakaagaw sa akin sayo. Iyo lang ako kaya wala kang dapat ipag-alala sa bagay na 'yan. Ako nga ang nangangamba na baka maagaw ka ng iba."

I rolled my eyes said. "Hindi mo rin kailangang mangamba dahil wala ka ring makakaagaw sa akin sayo. Sayo lang din ako."

Noah bit his lower lip–the usual thing he does whenever he tries to suppress himself from smiling or laughing, but always fails miserably.

"Tara na nga," he said, sliding his hand on my back to guide me. He opened the shotgun seat's door and put his hand on the car's roof as he assisted me to get inside. He also put my seatbelt on.

"Thank you," I said after he made sure I settled on my seat.

"Anything for my baby," he said and we both laughed about it.

He jogged to the driver's side and get it. "Saang mall gustong pumunta?"

"Somewhere near Cubao?" I answered. Noah's brow arched, but before he could ask, I spoke again. "I have another place I want to go with you that's in Cubao, so…" I said, shrugging.

Hearing that, he just said, "Okay." And started driving.

From Antipolo, he will be driving to Quezon City and while we're on the road, we keep on talking about our individual plans for the coming months.

"Have you decided which company you are applying for your on-the-job training?" I asked.

"Meron na pero pinag-iisipan ko pa," he answered.

"Why?" I asked while typing a text for my dad.

[Dad, I'm going out with Noah. Date.]

I lifted my head and I saw him glancing at my phone. So I said, "It's dad. I told him we're out for a date."

"Baka 'di ka payagan. Dapat pala nag paalam muna tayo," he said.

"Nakaalis na tayo. Wala na siyang magagawa," I said when my phone beeped.

[I know. Mason told me.]

"Oh, he said he already knew. Mason told him."

"Tanong mo kung payag siya," Noah said and I snorted.

[Is it okay?]

[Yeah. As if I could stop you.] Dad replied and I couldn't help but laugh.

[Thank you, Daddy! I love you!]

[I love you, too. Take care, okay? And please, be home before 8 pm.] He replied.

[Noted, Mr. Director.] I texted back, teasing him.

"He said okay, but we have to be home before 8 pm," I relayed dad's message to Noah and he just nodded and said okay as well.

Uhh. Men.

"So, back to your OJT, why are you still thinking about that company?"

He shrugged. "Company yun ng isa sa mga tito mo."

"Tito Maverick?"

"Oo. Your dad suggested it, but I am not sure if I should go there or find another," he said. "I want to please your dad so much, but I also want to prove myself. And I don't think I can do that if I do what he told me to do."

I reached for his hand that was holding the steering wheel so tight. "Just do what you think is best for you. If dad's suggestion won't help you, you can tell him that. Do you want me to help you talk to Dad?"

He shook his head and said, "Hindi na. Ako na." I lifted our hands and brought it to his lips. He kissed the back of my hand. "Thank you for supporting me in everything."

I squeezed his hand. "You've been a great support to me, too, Noah. And as your girlfriend, this is the simplest thing I could do for you."

"Ang swerte ko talaga sa girlfriend ko," he said, biting his lip again.

I just shook my head as I suppressed myself from smiling.

"Ali Mall, Farmers, or Gateway?" He asked when we entered Quezon City.

"SM North," I answered instead.

"Sabi mo Cubao?" Tanong niya na para bang bigla ko siyang inapi.

"Yung isa ko pang gustong puntahan. Pero yung mall, gusto ko SM North para marami tayong iikutan," I explained and because he knew he couldn't do anything about it, he continued driving. I was just grinning until we reached the mall's parking lot.

"Let's eat first," I told him as we walked inside the hall. I held him by his elbow but he removed it, he intertwined our hands instead.

"Saan mo gusto kumain?" He asked as if he didn't just make my heart beat wildly.

"Hmm… there's this fast-food Aila, my classmate, talked about the other day. She said it was a Korean fast-food restaurant and located at the food court. They serve bibimbap," I said.

"Food court?"

I nodded, "Oo."

"Sure ka bang doon mo gustong kumain?"

I nodded again. "Aila said the bibimbap is so good and I got so curious, I want to try it."

"Bibimbap…" Noah muttered.

"Do you have somewhere else you want to eat in?" I asked him and he just shook his head.

"Okay lang ako kahit saan," he said.

"Sure?"

He nodded. "Sure. Basta kasama ka."

I rolled my eyes when he said that. He laughed and pulled me closer. Standing with this close to him always makes me feel so small.

"What is your height?" I asked.

"6'2". Bakit?"

I pouted.

Oh, bless my 5'3" soul.

"I'm just 5'3". Kayang-kaya mo akong ibalibag," I answered and he laughed again.

"Ibalibag? Bakit ko naman gagawin 'yun?"

"Wala lang. Naisip ko lang," I honestly said.

"Gutom ka na ba?" Natatawa niyang paring tanong.

"Stop laughing, okay? Naisip ko lang talaga yun kasi ang tangkad mo."

He sighed. "Alright. Kumain na lang tayo para hindi ka na nakakaisip ng kung ano-ano," he said.

We headed to the mall's food court to find that fast-food restaurant Aila was talking about. Hindi na kami nahirapan hanapin yun, apparently, it is really one of the must have lunch in a mall's food court.

Noah immediately got us a table when he spotted a vacant one. He told me to stay there because someone might sit on it. I had never been to a food court and I was so clueless that he had to explain how it is to be in it.

He left to order for us after explaining. While sitting there, I roamed my sight to observe and it really amazed me how simple things make some people the happiest.

"Here's your order," Noah said a few minutes after. He was holding a tray with our food in it.

"Thank you, baby," I said when he put the sizzling plate in front of me. It was already mixed and ready to eat. "It looks really appetizing," I commented.

"Anything for my baby," he said, grinning.

We started eating and Aila wasn't lying when she said this food is superb!

"I like this. Do you think it is easy to make at home?" I asked Noah in the middle of eating.

"Siguro. Simple lang naman ang mga ingredients niya. Saka, pwede ko naman pag-aralan gawin," he answered.

"You'll do that?"

He nodded. "Anything for my baby, remember?"

"Shut up, Noah," I said and rolled my eyes, trying to hide the kilig. Natawa naman siya.

We continued eating and as we did, we continued talking about our future plans. Kanina ay puro personal at individual plans ang usapan namin, ngayon ay iyong pang sa aming dalawa na.

"Is it okay if I resign after graduation?" He asked and I felt alarmed.

"Why?"

"I was planning to find a job related to my degree. I won't be able to take the licensure exams without a two year working experience."

I knew that. Architecture graduates must have at least two years of working experience before they can take the licensure.

"... But if I resign, I will have to move out. Okay lang ba kung saglit lang tayo magkikita araw-araw?" He continued.

"Araw-araw?"

He nodded. "Oo. Susunduin parin kita at ihahatid."

"Won't that be a hassle for you?"

"Sa Antipolo lang din ako mag hahanap ng malilipatan, para malapit lang sa'yo. Hindi na yun hassle kung susunduin kita at ihahatid dahil same way naman tayo."

"What if the job you get is somewhere outside the metro? Pag ganun, dapat ay malapit lang sa papasukan mo ang apartment mo."

He shrugged and said, "Sanay naman akong mag biyahe kaya ayos lang."

I shook my head and said, "No. That would be a hassle for you. Ayos lang naman kung ganun ang mangyayari. Pwede namang pag weekends na lang tayo magkita. Makakahintay naman ako."

"Ako, baka hindi. Hindi ko ata kaya na hindi ka makita kahit saglit araw-araw. Pag ganun, baka bumalik agad ako sa pagiging driver sa pamilya niyo," he said, he was smiling but I knew that was sad one.

"Noah…" I called and held his hand. "This is for your future, our future, right? And in order to succeed, we need to sacrifice a bit. Mahihirapan tayo pero kaya naman, 'di ba?" I asked and he nodded although I know that was forced.

"... Let's just trust each other that we can survive it." I added.

"Mahal kita," all that Noah could say.

I smiled and squeezed his hand. "Mahal din kita."

After eating, we decided to stroll around the mall. I wanted to check some boutiques but I remind myself that I am here for a date, and not for shopping. That Noah's here as my boyfriend not as a chauffeur.

"I like this," I told him when we stopped by the mall's garden. Noah bought us boba from a well-known milktea shop before going here. We sat on the side with fewer people. Our back facing the side where people pass by.

"The boba?" He asked.

I shook my head. "No. This," I said, pointing at us. "I like us doing this kind of date. I like having the freedom to walk around with you while our hands are intertwined."

"We can do this whenever you want," he said.

I tilted my head and smiled at him. "But you know what I like the most?" I asked him.

"What?"

I smiled more. "Our moments inside the car. I like how we can be silent sometimes but it never felt boring. I like how we can talk about every possible topic we could argue about. And I love how I can stare at you without you noticing it. Those were the times I knew you're being defenseless because you never find the need to be defensive against me," I said as I looked straight into his eyes.

Noah sighed and pulled me closer to him. "Those moments inside your car are also my most treasured moments," he said.

"Really?"

"Yes, really."

"Why?"

"Because those were the only moments that I can have your attention focused on me. Those car rides were my only chance to make you think of me. Those moments are the ones I always look up everyday," he said before planting a short and a light kiss on my lips. His thumb caressed my lips after that.

"I love you, and all the moments we have spent and going to spend together," I said and kissed his thumb.

His mouth parted seeing me do that. He sighed, licked his lip, before biting it.

"I love you more, and all the moments we will spend this lifetime," he said before giving me another kiss. It was longer this time.