A Kiss to Life

Chapter 11: Ipagpapalit Sa Iba

"Amaris, please no PDA inside our house. That's the only thing I am asking," Dad said.

I nodded. "Of course, dad. But can I talk to him now? Please, we'll just talk?"

"You better make sure."

I nodded again and ran outside dad's office. I was planning to run straight to Noah's room downstairs but I remember I haven't washed my face nor brushed my teeth, so I ran back to my room.

I did my morning routine as quickly as I could and ran to Noah's room after. Reaching his door, I knocked immediately and when he opened it, I pushed myself to him for a hug.

“What did dad tell you?” I asked him instantly, my chin resting on his chest. I pushed him inside his room, so no one would see it hugging. But I left his door open.

“Wala naman. Tinanong lang kung totoong tayo, kung ano raw ang nararamdaman ko para sa’yo,” he answered. “I told them I love you. That my intention is genuine and I have no motive but to love and make you happy.”

“What did dad say after that?”

“Wala na. Sabi lang, ililiapat niya ako kay Elias. Hindi na ako ang driver mo.”

“He told me that. He said I should drive myself from now on and he approved of us,” I told him, smiling from ear to ear.

“Pumayag s’ya?” he asked, surprised. Hindi pa ata makapaniwala sa sinabi ko.

I nodded happily. “He said, as long as I am, he will support me.”

Noah bit his lower lip and said, “Kinabahan ako,” he admitted. “Akala ko palalayuin nila ako sa’yo dahil hindi nila ako tanggap. Natakot ako na baka ikaw ang ilayo nila dahil hindi ko makakaya gawin ‘yun. Akala ko ‘di na kita makikita pagkatapos nito.”

“Noah, my parents aren’t like that,” I said.

“Alam ko, pero magulang sila. Wala silang ibang hahangarin kundi ang ikabubuti ng anak nila, kaya maiintindihan ko kung gugustuhin nilang maghiwalay tayo,” he said truthfully.

I shook my head and said, “I will never understand it if they do that to us. I am in love with you, and I have never been this happier. So, I will never understand if they take you away from me.”

I don’t want to compare it because it was already in the past but with this happening, I couldn't help but to think about it. The love I have for Noah right now is way different from what I had for Kairus. I love Noah bravely and fiercely, what I had for Kairus was calm. I thought it was calm because I’m content with what we had, but I realized that my feelings for him felt calm because there was nothing more to discover about him. We grew up together that we already know each other to the core.

Realizing that, I now understand why it was easy for Kairus to fall in love with someone. Why it was so easy for him to throw everything about us and choose, because if I were in his shoes and I met Noah at that time, I would also do what he did.

Noah’s hand slid from the back of my waist up to my name, holding my head in place before he bent down to reach my lips. He gave me a peck and said, “I will love you even better. I will make sure you will always be happy, so your parents would not think of taking you away from me.”

And I can’t help but feel giddy hearing what he said. “I will make you happy, too. And I will love you even better, too,” I said, echoing his words.

“I have been happier since you love me,” he said and I already lost it.

I giggled and buried my face in his chest. God! I really never thought I could be happier like this.

“What are we doing here?” Kenzie asked, confused.

Since Noah is now assigned to drive for Elias and I am not yet that confident to drive myself this far–and I don’t think I can do this alone–I asked Kenzie to pick me up and drive me to this place.

“I just need to clarify something,” I said as I took off my seatbelt.

“Clarify what?” she asked. “And this is where Kaitus lives!”

“Exactly,” I told her. “I have to clarify things with that guy.”

I got out of her car and headed straight for the elevator. She immediately followed me. Luckily, we are still listed as Kairus allowed visitors that we get past on the security without hassle.

I pressed on his floor number and waited until the elevator dropped us there. Arriving, I half walked and half ran to his unit. And reaching his door, I banged it three times.

“Who the–” Kaius’ words were cut mid-way when my fist landed on his face.

“Mari!” Kenzie called me out but I was too enraged to listen to her.

“What was that for, Amaris?” Isla asked, attending to Kairus. I was late to realize that she might be here.

I rolled my eyes and threw another punch. It landed on Kairus’ right jaw. Kenzie and Isla squealed but Kairus remained silent, surprised by what I just did. “That was for thinking you can comment on whatever I want to do with my life,” I said.

“What the hell, Amaris!” It was Isla again. “I will call the security if you don’t stop!”

“Then, tell your f*****g fiance to f*****g stop meddling with my life!” I shouted at her. With all the pent up anger and frustration I have for her, I am not sure if I can still stop myself if she provokes me.

“What the f**k are you saying? Why would my fiance meddle with your life?” and she had the guts to ask, huh?

“Why don’t you ask him how he snitched on me in our family group chat?” I fired.

“What is she–” she was cut off when Kairus finally spoke.

“I was just concerned about you, Mari!”

I laughed without humor. “Well, news flashed! I don’t f*****g need your concern!” I told him.

“Mari, you dated your driver!” Kairus said, almost yelling.

“Dating, Kairus. We’re still dating, and yes, I am dating my driver,” I answered, emphasizing each word. "And you have no rights telling me what to f*****g do!"

“You haven't broken up with that guy? Or you’re just being stubborn about it?” he said.

“That’s f*****g none of your business!”

Kairus snorted. “Look at how you speak now? That’s probably that guy’s influence on you,” he said. “Can’t you see? He’s being a bad influence on you!”

“And you are a f*****g conceited asshole for thinking you can just meddle with my life!”

“Watch your words, Amaris!” Isla shouted but none of use paid attention on her.

“I am just concerned about you, Mari! You just met that guy for how long? Two years? You don’t know what his real motives are!” he said and I couldn’t stop myself from laughing out of frustration.

I breathed and pointed at him. “I… I have known you since we were five but I never realized your true motives. So, why would you be concerned about someone else's motives?”

“Stop twisting this conversation, Amaris. This isn’t about the past! It is for your own good! This is all about you!”

“You’re right, this is all about me, so why are you trying to involve yourself in it?”

“You don’t understand–”

“It’s you who don’t understand it!" I yelled at him before I turned to Isla. Isla, who was once a dear friend to me, now she's just an eye sore I don't want to look at. "Put a leash on your fiance and teach to f*****g mind his own business because I never meddled with yours," I told her.

Isla breathed and pulled Kairus to get in their unit but didn't move even a bit. "Love, tama na. Hayaan mo na siya. Tama sya, buhay nya yan. Hindi ka dapat nangingialam sa kung anong gusto niyang gawin."

Kairus shook his head stubbornly and said, "No. Please, Isla, stay out of this. She needs to stop having an affair with that driver!"

“Stop it, Kai. You’re not in the place to dictate Mari of what she should do,” Kenzie butted in. "And please, he has a name, and it is Noah. Stop being immature now."

Kairius shook his head again. “No… we have a say about what she does, especially when it is wrong. Kenz, we are her best friend,” he said and it’s like an insult hearing it.

"She isn't doing anything wrong, Kairus. They are not doing anything. And to calm you down, Ninong and Ninang have approved their relationship already," Kenzie added.

"Ninong and Ninang have what?"

"You heard me right and clear so please, never ever step in a situation you're not involved again," Kenzie said.

"That's bullshit! How can they just let it continue? They can't just trust that guy that easily! Paano kung pero lang pala ang gusto nun? Paano kung gawan nya ng masama si Mari?" He blubbered more but what he said next angered me more. "Mari is too… is too dense to sense people motivites–"

I slapped him straight on the face, stopping him from continuing his sentence. "I'm dense, you're right. You're the living proof of that. And best friend? I don’t remember still being friends with you,” I said matter-of-factly. "Stop clowning now, Kairus."

Kairus mouth parted. It opened then closed, before he could react. “W–what?”

I smirked and shook my head. “I wonder how you can still ask about it."

“Mari, let’s go,” Kenzie said, pulling me. I let her do that but when we're about to reach the lift, it opened and revealed Orrin and Noah.

"I called them," Kenzie said even though I didn't ask.

I took a deep sighed and tried to smile but I failed. I was too furious to even strike a fake smile.

Noah walked to me with a worried face. Pakiramdam ko ay nanghina agad ako na makita siyang ganun.

"Hi," I greeted when he stood a few inches in front of me.

Noah didn't say anything, he just pulled me to his chest and hugged me so tight.

"Did I make you worried?" I asked. I can hear how fast his heart is beating.

I felt him nodding and before he said, "I was worried sick and scared."

"Why would you be scared?" I asked, but instead of answering, he just shook his head. He pulled away and looked at me.

"Uwi na tayo," he said and held my hand.

I nodded and let him hold my hand, guiding me until we reached the lift. But before we could ride it, Kairus spoke again.

“It’s funny how you downgraded, Amaris. This is the least thing I expected you to do; to date you f*****g driver,” he said.

That made my blood boil that I was about to go to him and throw another hand, but Noah stopped me by holding me by my waist. “Baby, calm down, please…” he then said to me.

Kairus must have heard that he chuckled without humor. “What a f*****g shame.”

I felt how Noah’s arms tightened on my waist for anger but he just breathed it out.

“Oo, driver lang ako. Walang-wala ako kumapara sa’yo kung estado sa buhay ang pag-uusapan. Pero isa lang ang masasabi ko, hinding-hindi ko siya iiwan para lang ipagpalit sa iba,” Noah said that angered Kairus more.

“You tell him about us?” He asked.

I snorted. “Do you think I will waste my time telling people about what you did?” I laughed. “Who didn’t know what you two did to me, anyway?” I added and that shut them up.

"Let's go. This is already hopeless," Kenzie said.

“Ayaw ko nang pumasok,” I said. We're already in Kenzie's car. It was Orrin who's driving it now. Kenzie's in the shotgun seat, while Noah and I are in the backseat .

“Hindi ka pwedeng mag absent,” Noah answered immediately.

“I will tell them I’m sick,” I tried to reason and all of them turned to give me that what the hell look.

“You can’t fool them by telling them you’re sick, Amaris. Baka nakakalimutan mong mga doctor kayo pare-pareho?” Kenzie said.

I pouted and said, "I want to rest. I felt so frustrated that I feel so tired now."

Noah reached for my hand and caressed. "Did you punch him?" He asked, seeing how red my knuckles are.

"She did, twice. She also slapped him… so hard," Kenzie answered for me.

"He was the one who told everyone about us," I told Noah even though he wasn't asking.

"You should have let it slide. Okay naman tayo. Pinayagan naman tayo kaya sana hindi mo na lang pinansin," he said but I shook my head.

"I just want to remind him that he can't just meddle with my life. I want him to stop thinking that he has the right to give his opinions if it's about me," I explained.

Noah sighed. "Huwag mo na lang uulitin," he just said and I just nodded. He was massaging my hand but I stopped him by intertwining our hands.

"Sorry for making you worried," I said. "I won't do that again," I added and Noah just pulled me to him.

He kissed the top of my head and said, "Sanay na ako."

"What?" I blurted and he just chuckled. Kukulitin ko pa sana siya kung anong ibig niyang sabihin kung hindi lang nagsalita si Kenzie na huwag naming kalimutan na kasama namin sila sa sasakyan.

Her way of saying that we can't make out in her car, because she doesn't want to see us do it.

Noah and I just laughed about it.