A Kiss to Life

Chapter 24: Heir

"Oh, bakit hindi ka magsalita ngayon? Bakit hindi mo ulitin lahat ng mga pang i-insultong sinabi mo sa anak ko kani-kanina lang?" Daddy urged Marcus.

Marcus went pale as his eyes widened.

“Love,” Mom called Dad again, holding him by his elbow.

“Daddy,” I called also but Noah stopped me by snaking his arms around my waist.

“Let your dad deal with him,” Noah whispered to me.

My brows creased as I faced him, ready to scold him for saying that, but all my annoyance evaporated seeing his face. “You're bleeding,” I said, reaching for his cheek.

He caught my hand and kissed the back of it. “Don’t worry about me,” he said, pulling me closer to his chest.

“Speak!” I heard dad yell.

“Aydan!” Mom called dad again.

“I-I’m sorry po. I didn’t k-know,” Marcus told dad.

“You didn’t know? You didn’t know but you had the guts to talk bullshit about my daughter? Humiliate her in front of everyone.” Dad angrily said.

“I’m so sorry, Sir. I thought… I thought–”

“You thought, what?” Dad cut him off.

Seeing dad this angry, I turned to Noah again. “Noah, stop dad, please. We cannot let him hurt Marcus,” I pleaded. “Baby, please…”

Sighing, Noah let go of me. “Stay here,” he said before he walked where Dad, Mom, and Marcus were.

“Sir,” he called dad, trying to stop him.

“Stay away, Noah. I will not let what he did to my daughter slide.”

“Aydan, you better stop now,” Mom warned dad, but dad was too stubborn to listen.

“No!” Dad gritted his teeth. “Now, I understand why she’s been crying lately. You are bullying her, huh?”

“Daddy,” I called out, stepping closer but Noah immediately turned to me.

“Stay there. Amaris,” Noah said authoritatively, his brows were creased.

“Mari,” Ycca and Aila went to me, holding me.

“... My daughter has always been kind to everyone. I never heard her say anything bad to others no matter how badly she was treated by them. She never complained!” Dad continued. “But here you are, spreading bullshit about her? Torturing her mentally with your disrespectful words!”

“I’m so sorry, sir. I-I apologize,” Marcus said.

“What can your apology do now? You have tainted her name. You spread malicious accusations against my daughter without knowing the truth!”

“Mom, stop daddy,” I called mom and mom nodded at me.

“Aydan, love, stop now, please…” Mom called daddy.

Dad shook my head. “No… My Amaris never did anything bad to anyone to deserve this kind of treatment. She’s always been so kind, so thoughtful, so understanding, and so respectful! How dare you disrespect her with your f*****g accusations?”

“I’m sorry, sir. I will not do it again.” Marcus continuously pleaded.

“You really can't do that again because I won't let you get near my daughter!” Dad told him. “You dare to humiliate my daughter in the place where she will be the heir?”

“Aydan, enough!” Mom.

And I, regardless of how they stopped me, went to my dad and hugged him from behind. “Daddy stop now, please. Let’s just go home, please…” I buried my face at dad’s back as cried.

“Sweetie,” mom called.

“Let’s just go home, please, daddy,” I repeated. I felt how dad’s breathing went from aggressive to calm until he faced me.

“I’m sorry,” daddy said, hugging me and kissing the top of my head. “I’m so sorry, sweetie, daddy didn’t know what you have been dealing with lately. Daddy had no idea.”

I shook my head. “It’s not your fault, dad.”

“Let’s go home,” Mom said and Dad nodded.

“Cris,” Dad called Dr. Martinez.

“Yes, Director?” Dr. Martinez responded.

“Ikaw na ang bahala rito. Uuwi na kami,” dad said.

“Okay, Sir.” Dr. Martinez said.

“Thank you, Cris.” Dad said and both mom’s and I’s hand. “Let’s go.” He nodded at Noah, mentioning him to follow, but before we could totally leave the area, dad turned to Marcus again and said. “And you, I don’t want to see your face ever again. Do not also expect that you will get into any hospital that I have connection with.”

We left after that.

“Is he the reason why you cried the other day, hija?” Dad asked me while we’re in the elevator.

“Dad, let’s just forget about it, please? Marcus surely learned his lesson now,” I answered instead.

“Anak, hindi pwede ang ganun. Hindi pwedeng palalampasin mo na lang lagi lahat ng ‘di magandang bagay na ginagawa sayo. Wala ka namang ginagawang masama sa kanila para ganunin ka,” Dad said.

“Your dad is right, sweetie. We cannot let this slide just like that. His accusations are serious and malicious! We could sue him for defamation for spreading such an issue!” Mom added.

“Mommy, do we really have to go there?” I asked, unable to believe what I am hearing.

In the middle of convincing my parents to let me handle my problems with Marcus, Noah reached for my other hand to catch my attention. “Your parents are right, Mari. You have to address what he did to you in a way he will learn the hard way.”

“I know, but please, exclude suing him in the options,” I said. “Dad, please?” I pleaded.

Dad turned to Mom and said, “I don’t know if I should be thankful that we raised our daughter to be kind, love.”

Mom smiled and she shook her head. She then turned to me after and said, “Sweetie, please understand that this isn’t simple for your dad and me. We are not pleased to hear what that kid was accusing you of. We are hurt to hear that, and we are hurt even more to know that he’s been bullying you; torturing you mentally! For God’s sake, he's a guy and he’s bullying you? A girl?”

“Mommy…” I called and Noah squeezed my hand immediately, shaking his head.

“He needs to be punished,” he said.

“He really needs to be punished!” Mom agreed. “I will visit your school tomorrow to raise this concern.”

“I will do it. I will make sure that kid will learn his lesson,” Dad said.

I was about to say more but Noah stopped me by squeezing my hand and shaking his head. I just sigh in the end.

“Noah,” Dad called when we reached home. I rode with Noah while we convoyed dad’s car.

“Sir?” Noah responded, standing in front of dad.

Dad reached for Noah’s shoulder and tapped it. “Thank you for protecting my daughter. I appreciate that so much.”

“You don’t have to thank me, Sir. That’s my responsibility as her boyfriend,” Noah answered, shaking his head.

I felt mom’s hand sliding on mine.

“I’m thankful you have someone like Noah, anak. I will worry less about you because I know you will always be in good hands.” Mom whispered to me.

“I am very thankful, too, mom,” I whispered back.

Having Noah is really a blessing. I knew he said he’s coming to the hospital to see, but I never expected him to reach the rooftop and do what he did to Marcus. At that moment, I felt a mixture of emotions. I was hurt and humiliated from Marcus' accusation, surprised that Noah came to protect me, then safe and loved because Noah and my parents were there to fight for me.

There might be some people who hate that I existed, the love that I am receiving from my family, friends, and Noah blurred those out. With them, I knew I would never be alone.

Dad sighed and smiled a bit. “Still, thank you. I am now assured that my dear daughter is in safe hands every time. I will not worry too much.”

“Mari’s security is my first priority, Sir. I promise to keep her safe, happy, and loved.”

“Tito. Call me tito from now on, Noah,” Dad said instead and I can see how surprised Noah was.

“Call me Tita, too,” Mom butted.

Blushing, Noah nodded and said, “Sige po, Tito, Tita.”

I cannot help but smile as well.

There was still one good thing that happened today.

“Mari,” Dad called me after.

“Yes, dad?”

“Treat Noah's wound first, Mari. Then, go to sleep,” he told me.

“Hindi na po kailangan,” Noah said immediately.

I stepped in and held his hand. “No buts, Noah.”

“Alright. Good night,” Dad said.

“Good night, Dad, Mom.”

“Good night po.” Noah said awkwardly.

“Good night, sweetie,” Mom said, kissing me on my cheeks and Noah’s. “Good night, Noah.”

“Good night po,” Noah answered.

They left after that. I, on the other hand, went to our common bathroom to get our first aid kit. But when I went back, Noah’s not where I left him.

That guy!

So, I stormed into his room, finding him in his bathroom door, topless.

Ohh…

“Baby?” He asked, shocked.

“What are you doing?” I asked. My eyes roaming around his body.

Noah arched my brow. “About to take a bath.”

I cleared my throat. “Didn’t I say I will treat your wounds?”

“Hindi naman kailangan,” he said, walking to me.

“You bleed, Noah. You have bruises and you even have a cut on your lips,” I said.

“Malayo naman ‘to sa bituka,” ani niya pa.

I rolled my eyes. “Kahit pa gaano kaliit na sugat ‘yan, pwede pa ring mag cause ng infection ‘yan pag ‘di magamot agad at ng ayos,” I said.

He was staring seriously at me and I stared back with equal seriousness. In the end, he just shook his head. “Hindi talaga ako mananalo sayo,” he said, smirking. “Can I take a shower first?”

I smirked back and said, “Sure. I will wait for you here.”

“Here?”

“Yes, here. Can’t I wait here?”

“This is my room, mismam.”

“I know, so?”

“Your dad might think we are doing something inappropriate,” he said and I immediately feel the heat rushing through my whole system. The memory of what he did in the boutique a few days ago flashes back in my head.

I pouted and said, “We won’t do anything inappropriate. I will just treat your wounds.”

“But, I might,” he said.

“Noah!” I called him out and this brute laughed because of that.

“I’m just teasing you,” he said, pulling me by my waist and closing the door behind me. “Give me ten minutes.”

“M-make sure it’s just ten minutes,” I said and I hate how I stutter.

“Just ten minutes,” he confirmed before giving me a kiss on the lips. He flinched after because I tugged the part of his lips that had a cut.