A Kiss to Life

Chapter 20: Tease

It is the weekend again and Noah and I decided to just stay at home to study for our final exams.

"Last week na ng pasok nyo next week tapos after nun?" I asked. We are in the garden, reviewing.

"Complying na ng mga kulang. Ikaw? Kelan finals niyo?" He asked back.

"After next week. Mauuna ang bakasyon mo,” I said.

He nodded and said, “Mag aayos na lang siguro muna ako nun ng para sa internship habang iniintay kong mag bakasyon na rin kayo. Pinapapunta rin kasi ako ng HR ng N. E. Builders para sa interview.”

“When are you going?”

“Siguro, after this week? Monday.”

I nodded and flipped the next page of my reviewer. “Is there anything I could help you with? Like, requirements?” I asked.

Noah shook his head and said, “Okay naman na lahat. Pupunta na lang talaga, pero sa susuotin ko, kailangan ko ata ng tulong.” He tilted his head. “Tingin mo ba okay na ‘yung mga polo shirts ko o kailangan ko pang bumili ng mga long sleeves?”

“Your polo shirts are fine, but I think long sleeves are a must as well. Let’s shop?”

“May free time ka ba?”

I nodded. “I’m free now,” I said but he arched his brow before glancing down at my reviewer. “I’m studying in advance, Noah.” I added. Hindi ko pa naman talaga kailangang mag review, pero gusto kong samahan siya kaya nag a-advance study na ako.

“Sige, pero mamayang hapon na lang siguro? Gusto mo bang mag motor na lang tayo paalis?” he asked and I immediately felt so excited.

“Sige!”

“Nakasakay ka na ba sa motor?” He asked and I nodded.

“My childhood friends and I tried motocross.”

“You did? Talaga?”

I nodded and grinned. “Naiingit kami kay Orrin kaya sinubukan namin, pero saglit lang. Naaksidente kasi kami nun, napagalitan at grounded kaming lahat.”

“Naaksidente?”

“Yeah. Nabangga ni Kenzie si Emari at nabalian sila parehas ng buto dahil dun. Kenzie got her arms fractured, while Ema had her ribs broken,” I answered.

Noah grimaced hearing that. “Sayo? Wala naman nangyari?”

I shook my head, grinning as I recalled what happened.I “I had an asthma attack, kaya tatlo kaming na-ospital nun.”

“May asthma ka?”

“Since I was one year old. But I think I’m fine now,” I shrugged. “My last attack was back in college…” from crying non-stop after learning about Kairus and Isla.

“Hindi pala kita pwedeng pagurin,” he said, nodding.

“Why? Are you planning some extreme activities to do?”

Noah smirked. “Meron sana.”

“What is it?” I asked, curious. Mag consult na lang siguro ako sa doctor ko kung pwede kong gawin ‘yung gusto niyang gawin.

But Noah shook his head. “Hindi na. Iisip na lang ako ng ibang pwedeng gawin, iyong hindi ka mapapagod masyado.”

I furrowed my head. “Were you thinking of something like hiking?” I asked and he just arched his brow and smirked.

“Basta. Iba na lang,” he said.

I snorted. “I’m curious.”

“Huwag mo nang isipin yun. Iba na nga lang. Iisip na lang ako ng iba,” he firmly said.

I pouted but I will not force him to tell me. “I want to try doing that, though. I want to experience climbing up a mountain. I want to reach a summit and feel the breeze up there, to be able to see the overview of the whole place. I want to experience normal things I was limited to do because of my condition,” I said.

Noah heaved a sigh and reached for my hand. “Hindi naman iyon ang naiisip ko, baby. Pero kung gusto mong mag hike, pwede naman siguro? Dun na lang tayo sa madaling akyatin, saka, pwede rin kitang buhatin paakyat para ‘di ka mapagod,” he said.

“What were you thinking, then?” I asked, squinting my eyes.

He snorted. “Huwag mo nang isipin nga ‘yun. Focus na lang tayo sa hiking,” he said, pinching mt chin. “Kailan mo ba gusto?” he then asked. He took his phone and did something on it. Seconds later, he showed me a mountain we can hike. “What do you think about this one?”

“Are you serious?” I asked, getting excited, giving up on my question.

“Yeah. Pero mag papaalam muna tayo sa daddy mo, ha?”

Saying that, I immediately snorted. “He won’t let us.”

“Subukan muna natin mag paalam,” he said, pinching my chin again. I just snorted and he chuckled seeing me doing that.

Our morning was spent like that, us talking about random topics while reviewing. Nag alala pa ako kung may naiintindihan ba siya sa ni-rei-review niya pero, damn, my boyfriend is smart.

“Ni-re-recall ko lang naman ‘tong mga formula,” he said and showed me his scratch paper. He was solving math problems.

“You're a genius,” I commented, seeing how he got all the answers correct.

Proudly, Noah smirked. “Ito lang maipag mamalaki ko sa ngayon kaya ginagalingan ko talaga.”

“I’m already proud,” I told him, making him smile more, his dimples showing.

“Nagsisimula ka na naman, mismam,” he said instead, shaking his head.

I chuckled and teased him. “Kinikilig ka na naman?”

Noah bit his tongue using his side teeth, an indication that he was trying to stop himself from smiling or laughing. Seeing that, I took it as a chance to tease him more.

“Ayee. Ang baby kinikilig.”

“Stop it,” he said, covering his mouth using the back of his hand. I laughed more.

“Ang cute mo,” I said, biting my lower lip.

Noah mouth parted seeing me do that. I heaved a sigh again, bit his lower lip as well, before shaking his head. “Wala nang papasok sa utak ko nito,” he said, closing his books. “Kilos ka na. Sa labas na lang tayo mag lunch,” he added.

“I thought, mamayang hapon pa?”

“Ngayon na lang. Sige na, kilos ka na,” he answered. Siya na mismo ang nagligpit ng mga gamit ko. He even put a bookmark on the page that I am reviewing.

“Okay,” I said when he stood and extended his hand to me to help me get up from my seat.

“Please wear a pair of pants and bring your jacket, baby,” he reminded me when we stood at the end of our stairs.

“Noted, boss,” I said, smirking.

“I want to kiss you,” he muttered all of a sudden. I was taken aback but my smirk grew wider until it became a smile.

“I want to kiss you, too,” I said before tiptoeing to give him a peck on his lips.

Noah smirked, licked his lower lip before biting it. “Sige na. Akyat na.”

I nodded and followed. Getting inside my room, I headed straight to my bathroom to take a shower.

A date!

We’re going on a date again!

Excitedly, I moved as fast as I could. And as he said, I wore a light blue pair of paints and a black halter top. Then, a skin toned colored jacket and a pair of white sneakers from Gucci. I also put on light make-up–I have noticed that Noah likes it this way. He had seen me in full glam and his only comment was, ‘Ganda mo, mismam.’. Unlike when I’m in simple make-up, I noticed that he was staring at me longer, sometimes he could hardly take his eyes off me.

Satisfied the way I looked, I hurriedly went downstairs. Nandun na si Noah at naghihintay, our helmets beside him.

“Let’s go?” he asked and he nodded excitedly. We walked side by side to our garage where his bike is parked. “Come here,” he called and I immediately stepped closer to him.

Noah tacked some loose strand of my hair behind my hair before he put the helmet on my head.

“Kurportable ka?” he asked after.

I nodded. “But this is quite heavy,” I said.

“Mabigat talaga sa una, masasanay ka rin pag nagtagal,” he said, cupping the helmet so it won’t be heavy for me. He let go after a while to wear his and seeing him in this attire warm something inside me. This is another new for me, another first time.

And damn it! How can he look so gorgeous with that helmet on, in a black jacket, faded blue jeans, and his pair of nike shoes? And the way he put his helmet, his head tilted on the side while he buckled it up, ugh!

And he smells so good, too! Hindi ko pa natatanong kung anong pabango niya pala!

“You look so hot right now, baby,” I cannot help but voice out.

Noah tapped the top of my helmet. “Mamaya na ang pakilig, mismam. Baka ‘di ako makapag drive ng ayos pag ganyan ka.”

I shrugged and answered, “I just want to tell you that you look so hot. What’s so wrong with that?”

“It’s wrong because I want to remove this helmet and yours, so I could kiss you,” he answered and I don’t know but I like that idea.

“Do you want to make out before we leave?” I asked shamelessly.

Noah’s eyes widened before he blurted, “Baby!”

I chuckled and tried to remove my helmet but Noah stopped me.

“No. Tara na, alis na tayo,” he said, stopping me, while shaking his head.

“Ayaw mo?” I asked when he already rode his bike and started its engine.

But instead of answering, he extended his hand to me. “Sakay na.”

“Ayaw mo talaga?”

“Please, baby, sumakay ka na,” he repeated.

Snorting, I held his hand and climbed his bike.

“Kapit ka ng mahigpit,” he said when I’m settled on his back.

I obeyed and held on to his waist.

“Mahigpit, baby.”

I grasped on his jacket.

“Ganito ka-higpit,” he said, holding both of my hands pulling to lean on his back. He put my hand just below his chest. “Nag ta-tampo ka?”

“No,” I answered, pouting inside the helmet.

“Gusto mo ng kiss?” he asked again and I knew he’s just teasing me by the tone of his voice.

I rolled my eyes and slapped his chest. Ugh. Hard. “Tara na.”

Noah chuckled before nodding before he started driving. Sa pinakamalapit na mall lang ang punta namin kaya hindi na kami inabot ng ilang minuto pa bago marating ang lugar. He handed me his hand again after he parked in the parking lot. I took it as I climbed down his bike. He followed after me, removing his helmet.

Aalisin ko na rin sana ang helmet na suot ko ng unahan niya akong gawin iyon. He unbuckled the strap on my chin and slowly removed the helmet from my head. His lips immediately met mine after freeing my head from the helmet.

“There was your kiss,” he said after giving me a swift kiss.

I rolled my eyes and pouted. “Ewan ko sayo.”

Noah laughed and shook his head. He put our helmet beneath the seat of his bike and secured it there. He also asked me if I would want to leave my jacket in his bike’s compartment and I immediately agreed. Kaso nung nakita niya ang suot kong sleeves, parang nag dalawang isip bigla siya. Wala na lang siyang nagawa.

We walked inside the mall with our hands intertwined after that.

“Kain muna tayo?” he asked. I nodded. “Saan mo gusto?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. You choose.”

“Sure ka?”

“Yes. You can choose,” I assured, smiling.

Noah stared at me for a few seconds, figuring out if I am serious. Umirap na lang ako at sinabing siya na nga ang bahala dahil wala naman ang gustong kainin ngayon kaya okay lang kahit ano.

“Unli?” he asked when we passed by to an eat-all-you-can restaurant. “Kaso naka-croptop ka,” he added.

But instead, I asked him, “Gusto mo ba dyan?”

“Kung gusto mo.”

“I’m up for trying new things, so I’m fine here,” I said.

“Sure?”

But instead of answering, I pulled him inside the restaurant.

“Is this a snail?” I asked, seeing a yellow snail being served on the buffet table.

“Susong bukid ‘yan, baby. Kinakain,” Noah said.

“Really?”

He nodded. “Pero iba ‘yan dun sa mga nakikita mo pag tag-ulan, ha? Hindi ‘yun kinakain.”

“They look the same,” I answered and moved to another dish. “Poor Garry.”

“Who’s Garry?”

“Spongebob’s pet,” I answered.

Noah chuckled. “Hindi nga ‘yun katulad nung pet ni Spongebob.”

“They look the same in my eyes,” I said with finality.

Noah shook his head. “Ay, naku, baby. Kumain na lang tayo.”

We sat on the far side of the restaurant where we could not be disturbed by other customers. And as we ate, we started talking about random topics again. It took us an hour and a half to finish. We headed on looking for Noah’s internship attire after resting for a few minutes.

“Let’s check here,” I pulled Noah inside the boutique we first saw.

We were immediately assisted by their staff but I could see how uncomfortable Noah was with someone following us, so I told the staff that we could manage and she left smiling.

“How about this one?” I asked, handing him a light blue long sleeve shirt after trying the white one.

That one fits so well in him. Kitang-kita ang hubog ng katawan niya mula sa mga braso, balikat, dibdib, at tyan.

“Sukat ko ulit?” he asked and I nodded. He went inside the fitting room and while he’s changing, I roamed to check a necktie to pair it.

I found a plain dark blue necktie and a black dotted one. I think these two will match that white and light blue polo.

Noah went out of the fitting room after a few seconds. He was fixing his sleeves, folding it just below his elbow. I smirked seeing how hot my boyfriend is in a corporate attire. I walked to him with the necktie in my hand.

“Ano sa tingin mo?” he asked when I was already in front of him.

“Bend over a bit,” I asked him instead, showing him the blue necktie. He followed immediately.

“Kailangan ba ng necktie?”

I shook my head. “It’s not, but it is still a must to have at least two or one in case you suddenly need it,” I said and started fixing it on his neck.

Suddenly, an idea popped out in my head. I have never done this and I only read this from the books and watched it from the movies, and I think it would be fun trying it to him.

“You look so hot with this attire, Architect Del Manzano,” I whispered in his ear, intentionally blowing breath to it.

Noah’s mouth parted, bit his tongue using side teeth, before he let out a deep sigh. I could see how his chest lifted from that sigh. I smirked.

“What are you doing?” he asked when I tiptoed to reach for the back of his collar.

“Fixing your necktie,” I answered in a low voice, biting my lower lip after. I glanced up to him only to see his brow arched as he looked down to me.

Noah bent over to my ear and said, “You're teasing me.”

I arched my brow. “No. I’m not, Noah.”

He hissed. “Really?” he said, putting both of his hands on the other side of my hips, and pulling me closer to him. My chest on his.

Oh…

“Yes, really,” I denied, pushing him a bit so I could have my space back, clearing my throat and continuing to fix his tie. I even slid my hand to his chest down his stomach.

He groaned after I did that. “Stop it, baby.”

“Stop, what?” I arched my brow again.

“Stop teasing me, Amaris.”

I chuckled. “I told you, I’m not teasing you.”

“You’re not?" Noah smirked.

“I’m not, okay–” I was cut off from my words when he bent down to my neck and planted a kiss there. “I don’t think so,” he added.

“Noah!” I called him, widening my eyes on him. I pushed him away, but his hand won’t let go of me. It stayed on my waist.

“Yes, baby?”

I slapped his chest. “People are looking at us.”

“I cannot see anyone looking, though,” he answered, looking around us as his hand slid up and rested just under my boobs.

Ugh. This isn’t what I was expecting to happen. I think my plan is backfiring on me now.

“We’re in a public place, Noah!”

He arched his brow again. “So, can we do this in a non-public place?” he asked.

Oh, sweet baby Jesus!

“What?” I asked, shocked.

Noah bent down to my ear and whispered. “Remember the extreme activities I want to do, baby? This is one of those,” he said and I felt his thumbs sneaking into my bra and brushing the skin under my boobs.

It backfired. My plan backfired on me. Mission failed.

“Sorry na,” I said, leaning my forehead on his chest.

Noah chuckled, his hands sliding up to my back to hug me. “Lakas mang tukso, ‘di naman pala kayang panindigan,” he said, teasing me.

I pinched him on his waist and bit him on his chest when he didn’t stop from laughing.

“You’re such a tease, Amaris Romana.”