A Kiss to Life

Chapter 10: Approve

We reached home around one in the morning from the hospital. Pagod na pagod ako sa nangyari sa buong maghapon na hindi ko na namalayang nakaidlip ako buong biyahe pauwi. Ginising na lang ako ni Noah nang nasa bahay na kami.

"Mag aaral ka pa ba bago matulog?" He asked as we walked our way inside our house.

I shook my head. "No. I can't. I'm so tired, I just want to sleep immediately."

He chuckled. "Ngayon lang kitang nakitang drained na drained. Sobrang nakakapagod na ba?"

Pouting, I nodded. "Kakapagod mag rounds, tapos need pag mag aral. My brain is more tired than my body."

"Aww. Kawawa naman ang baby," he teased, messing up my hair. I jerked away and glared at me. "Joke lang. Matulog ka na agad pag akyat mo," he said, stopping at the end of our staircase.

"I will. Ikaw rin, matulog ka na," I told him as well.

I nodded, "Yes, boss." He handed me my bag and books before motioning me to go upstairs.

I did but before that, I tiptoed to reach his lips for a kiss. "Good night. I love you."

Noah smirked before bending on to me for another kiss. "Good night. I love you, too."

We are both smiling as we bid goodbye. I went straight to my room and so did he. I just did my night routine before heading to my bed.

I was so tired but I cannot sleep yet. Maybe because I had a nap in the car and I took a shower. So, instead of just lying on my bed, I grabbed my laptop and started doing the write-up Dr. de La Costa asked us to do earlier.

But in the middle of doing my assignment, I thought of logging in to my f*******: to check Noah's account.

His profile isn't public so if you're not friends with him, you won't see anything on his profile wall.

In a relationship.

Says in his relationship status.

I cannot help but smile seeing that. I didn't bother checking the comments on that post because I might not control myself and replied to those rude comments of his classmates. So, instead, I just left a heart reaction on it.

Then, there is his f*******: story. I clicked to see it. I think my lips already have their own life that it voluntarily curved upwards seeing our picture together.

Among the five pictures we took, this one is my favorite. I was smiling widely as I looked straight in the camera, while Noah, on my side, was looking at me with a smile. I was leaning on him while his hand was behind my back.

I clicked on the heart reaction again… five times this time.

[Bakit hindi ka pa natutulog?] A message from Noah suddenly popped up.

Oh, he's still awake, too?

[I can't sleep since I napped in the car. You? Why are you still awake?] I replied.

[Nagising lang dahil panay ang tunog ng phone ko. Huwag ka nang mag f*******: para makatulog ka na.]

[Why is your phone beeping? I was doing my assignment, too. I'll just finish it before I sleep.]

Noah replied again, but not through words, but through pictures. It was a screenshot of his f*******: notifications.

[You're spamming my notification.] He added.

I sent a laughing emoji and said, [You should have put your phone on silent, baby.]

Sending that, Noah immediately video calls me. I answered it. Noah's sleepy face and disheveled hair flashed on my laptop screen. His room was dark and the only light that was there was the light his phone gives–which technically came from my room.

"You should sleep already," I said, seeing how drowsy his eyes were.

"You called me baby," he said, ignoring what I said.

"Why? Is it bawal?" I asked. I know what he meant.

I called him that earlier and I saw how he reacted. I also know that if he was given a chance, he would have reacted the first I called him that. Apparently, we have to settle our issue at that moment, he let it pass.

He shook his head and said, "Gusto ko 'yun. I was about to ask you tonight if I can call you that but obviously, you stole my chance, yet again."

"You should keep up with me, then, Mr. Del Manzano," I teased.

Noah smirked and said, "Are you challenging me, Ms. Claveria?"

I giggled and answered, "If it sounds like a challenge to you, yes."

He smirks more. "Huwag mo kong hinahamon, Amaris. Baka magulat ka sa mga kaya at gusto kong gawin sa'yo."

I can no longer hold my laughter so I let it out. I laughed seeing and hearing him say that. He seemed so serious but I knew he was also suppressing himself from laughing.

"Nawala na antok," he said and shifted his position, making me see his topless chest.

He was telling the truth when he said he was macho. Because, God, my boyfriend has a toned chest, triceps and biceps, and damn those abs. I didn't even know that he works out!

You can't really trust guys who wear loose shirts.

"What time do you usually work out?" I asked, trying to find some information on how he get that body.

Noah arched his brow and looked down on his chest. And this guy tried to cover it with his pillow! The nerve!

"Why?"

"I just want to know," I said, shrugging. I minimized the tab to continue doing my assignment.

"Every morning. Indoor workout lang; push ups, seat ups, saka pull ups."

"You don't lift weights?"

"I do. Pero maliit lang. Yun lang meron ako, e."

"We have a gym here. Why don't you use that?" I said.

"Para yun sa daddy at mga kapatid mo," he said and I automatically arched my brow.

"It was for everyone in the household. Kaya nga nilagay yun dyan sa baba para hindi kayo mahiya umayak sa taas para gumamit," I said. "Use it so you can work out more."

He squinted his eyes. "Why do you suddenly want me to work out, hmm, baby?"

I shook my head and teased him with, "Para magkatotoo na ang pangarap mong muscles, baby."

I chuckled when his brows creased. "Hinahamon mo talaga ako, ah?"

"Matulog ka na nga," I replied instead.

"Hihintayin na kita," he said, he moved his phone closer to his face that I can only see was from his forehead to half of his nose.

"What are you doing?" I asked but I was answered immediately when a notification popped out from my messenger.

Noah Alexander Del Manzano set your nickname to Baby ?

Noah Alexander Del Manzano set his nickname to Baby Noah ?

The notification said.

"Baby Noah?" I chuckled and changed it.

Amaris Romana set your nickname to Baby ?

"Bakit mo pinalitan?" He reacted immediately upon receiving the notification.

"I don't have no one else but you, so why do you have to put your name?" I asked instead and he already understood what I meant.

"Right," he said.

He continued doing something on his phone. I was just waiting for the notification to come.

Baby ? changed the theme to Love

Baby ? set quick reaction to ?

I was just smiling seeing all these notifications come.

"What else are you setting?" I asked when he still didn't stop.

He looked at me and smirked. "Visit my f*******: profile," he said and I did.

I immediately giggled seeing what he did. He put my initials on his bio, changed his cover photo with the picture of our shadows that I took earlier, and created a featured album of me–all stolen pictures of me.

"When did you get all these pictures?" I asked as I saw each photo.

"Whenever I get a chance," he answered.

That made me speechless because I do the same whenever I get a chance.

To get equal, I did the same. I put his initials on my bio, created an album of his stolen pictures I took, and changed my cover photo of our hands holding.

"Check mine as well," I said after.

I saw him smiling immediately. "Gaya-gaya ka talaga," he said. His dimples were showing again. "Wala na. Hindi na talaga ako makakatulog nito. Gising na gisng na ang diwa ko," he added and I just laughed about it.

We talked until two-thirty before we decided to finally sleep. I was done with my assignment before 2 am and we're just really talking about random things. Luckily, I don't have to be in the hospital until 10 am and Noah's classes start at 1 pm.

I woke up the next day with Mason and Elias banging my door. I stood and opened my door. I'm still sleepy.

"Ate!" They both called after seeing me.

"What?" I asked as I turned my back to them to go back to my bed. I felt them following me.

I should be sleeping still.

"What is this, Ate?" Mason asked. I opened my eyes and saw his phone near my face. "And this," he continued, showing me screenshots of Noah's My day post and his f*******: profile.

I groaned and closed my eyes again. "It is what it is, Mason."

"Are you dating him?" He asked and I just rolled on my bed.

I want to sleep more.

"Ate! Ano, kayo ba?" Mason repeated, almost yelling at me.

I sat up in my bed and glared at him and Elias because they ruined my sleep. For God's sake, it's still 6 am!

"Yes! We're dating. I'm dating him. He's my boyfriend!" I yelled at them. "Now, please leave. I want to sleep more!" I added and fell back to my bed.

I heard Mason's loud sighed and Elias murmur; asking Mason to leave.

"Well, sorry for ruining your sleep, but I think you should get your ass up now because your boyfriend is in dad's office for interrogation," he said.

My eyes opened automatically and I sat up again after hearing what he said. "What?"

Mason sighed again and said, "You forgot there's a lot of eyes watching over you to flex your boyfriend in your f*******: profile."

"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.

"Kairus sent these screenshots on the group chat. He said he's worried you'll be taken advantage because you're dating your driver," he answered.

"What the f**k?" I blurted and took my phone to check that darn group chat.

But to my surprise, I was removed from it.

Thay group chat was made for everyone. Our parents and their children: including me, Mason, Kenzie, Orrin, that f*****g Kairus, his siblings, and our other childhood friends. This was supposedly for an important and emergency announcement.

"Where's Noah?" I asked, scrolling on my messages for Kenzie's.

[What the f**k is wrong with Kairus?] I sent it to her, ignoring her pile of messages asking if Noah and I are really dating.

"I told you, in dad's office," he answered and I immediately ran outside my room. "Wash your face first, Ate!" I heard him yell but I ignored it.

I don't have time for that.

"Noah," I called him. He was already on his way out when I reached dad's office. "I'm sorry," I said.

But Noah just smirked on me, reached for my head and messed it up. "Bakit ka nag so-sorry?"

"Noah–" I cut off from my words when dad went out of his office and called me.

"Come inside, Amaris," dad said and I knew it was serious when he called me by my first name.

"Pumasok ka na. You have nothing to worry about," Noah said and pushed me a bit to get into dad's office.

"I'll come to you after this," I said he nodded, he was smiling but I'm not. I don't think I can when my heart is beating this wild.

I sighed and entered dad's office. And as expected, mom's here.

"Good morning, mom," I greeted her and kissed her on the cheek. "Good morning, dad," I turned to him, staying still on my spot, beside my mommy.

Dad arched his brow before speaking. "Have you seen what Kairus sent in the group chat?"

I shook my head. "He kicked me out of that group chat before sending his unsolicited opinion there."

"Unsolicited?" Dad asked.

I nodded. "I don't find his opinion relevant for whatever I want to do with my life."

Dad nodded slowly, a smirk curved on the side of his lips. "I already asked Noah about this but I will still ask you because I want to hear you say it," he breathed. "Anak, are you dating him?"

"Yes, I am," I answered.

"Since when?"

"Just two days ago."

"Just two days ago," dad echoed my words. "When did he start showing his motives to you? When did it start, Amaris?"

"He never started anything, dad. It was me. I confessed to him first," I admitted.

"Mari?" Mom reacted, disbelief is all over her face.

I sighed and sat on the opposite side of the couch where mom is seated. "I'm in love with him, mom. What am I supposed to do about it?" I said. “I tried suppressing it, I even made a fool of myself by denying it. But I just… I just really like him that I cannot stop it anymore.”

"That was so reckless, anak. What if he just said that he loves you too because he's planning on taking advantage of you?" Mom said.

"Does he look like someone who will take advantage of someone else?" I asked as well instead.

"Amaris, this is a serious matter. Please take this seriously!" Dad said.

"Dad, we all know Noah. He's been with us for three years. With those years, had he ever disappointed you? Has he ever made something that made you mad?" I asked.

"He already did. He disappointed me for dating my daughter behind my back!"

"It was me who wanted this relationship, dad. I love him and I don't know how I can hide it anymore, that before I knew it, it already exploded," I said, teary.

I understand that they are just concerned about me. That they love me so much and they only wanted the best for me. But if they insist on what they want, how about mine? How about what my heart desires?

"Anak…" mom called. "We are just protecting you. We failed to do this once and we don't want to do it twice. We want to make sure you won't get hurt again."

"I'm in love with him," I just said, because I know there's no explanation that will make them understand how I feel.

"Does he make you happy?" Dad suddenly asked.

Without hesitation, I nodded. "I'm happier."

"But he's just your driver, Amaris."

I shook my head and said, " You never taught me to judge someone by their profession."

Dad sighed. "What will you do if the people around us tell you that you're a fool for being in love with your driver?"

"You never taught me to mind other people's opinion of me, either," I answered. I looked straight at dad's eyes. "You taught me to be content and happy with what I have. To never listen to whatever other people would comment on me because it will only cause me pain and worry. You taught me to stand my ground confidently."

Dad nodded before taking a deep breath again. "I am removing Noah as your driver–"

"Dad!" I cut him off but he just raised his hand, signaling me to let him finish.

"I'm removing him as your driver. He will be Elias's driver from now on. And you, start driving for yourself now," he continued.

"Huh?"

Dad rolled his eyes. "I know I cannot stop you from loving whoever you want. And I don't want to be a father who can hurt his child just because he doesn't like his child's choices. But please promise me you won't get hurt in the end. I've seen it once and it was already a nightmare. If I see you get hurt again, it will be chaos for sure," he said and I immediately stood from the couch to run to him and hug him.

"Thank you, daddy!" I said, crying.

"I want nothing but happiness for you, sweetie. And if Noah makes you happy, I will support you two. Just please, take things slow, okay? Enjoy it for the meantime, while you both work on yourself," he said, combing my hair.

Mom joined us and said, "Our baby girl is a grown woman now."

"She will still be my baby girl regardless of her age, " dad said, which made us laugh. Dad sighed for the nth time. "I'm glad it was him. I'll go berserk if it's some random kid from your school."

"What?" I asked, brow creased.

Mom shrugged. "Noah's a nice kid. He's smart and hard working. I wouldn't mind having him as a son-in-law."

"Oh, please, love. Let's not get in there yet," daddy replied, which made mommy laugh even more. While I was left dumbfounded.

Well, one thing's for sure, they like Noah and they approve of us.