A Kiss to Life

Chapter 8: Noisy

"What's wrong?" I asked, noticing how Noah kept on shaking his head while driving. One of his hands was on the steering wheel, while the one was on his lower lips, pinching it.

Biting his lips, he turned to me. Gladly, it was a red light. "Wala naman. Naisip ko lang na kanina na mo-mroblema pa ako sa pagsolve ng math problems, tapos ngayon may magandang girlfriend na ko. Yung crush na crush ko pa nga!"

I snorted when he bit his lips again to stop himself from smiling. “May girlfriend na ko…” he said softly and started driving again when the traffic lights turned green.

I couldn’t help but smile as well. “Yeah. Like you didn’t just tell me yesterday that having a girlfriend isn’t your priority,” I teased.

“Hindi pa naman kasi talaga yun ang priority ko,” he said and I glared at him instantly, he chuckled seeing my reaction. “Ang priority ko nga kasi sana muna ay maka-graduate, makakuha ng lisensya, at makapag trabaho. Gusto ko sana bago ako umamin sa’yo, may pangalan na ako. Titulado na para hindi na nakakahiya sa mommy at daddy mo,” he continued.

“I don’t think they won’t mind. They like you.”

“Pero ni-hire nila ako para maging driver mo, hindi para makipagrelasyon sa’yo,” he said, sighing. “Hihingi na lang siguro ako ng pasensya sa parents mo. Gagawin ko lahat para mapatunayan sa kanila na seryoso ako sa’yo, na mahal talaga kita,” ani niya and my heart felt exploding.

Ganito pala ‘yun? Ganito pala ka-sarap sa pakiramdam pag alam mong pareho kayo nang nararamdam ng taong mahal mo. Ganito pala ang pakiramdam na mahal ka ng mahal mo.

So, when the traffic lights turned red again and he stopped driving, I took that as my chance to reach for his face and lean to give him a kiss on his lips. I have never been so glad sitting on the shotgun seat. Thankfully, I moved here from the backseat.

“I love you,” I said after the kiss. My car is heavily tinted so I don’t worry about being seen from the cars beside ours.

Noah sighed for the nth time, bit his lower lip again, then his tongue. I knew he’s doing that to suppress his feelings as well. “Hindi na ata ako makakatulog nito mamaya,” he said, reaching out for my nape and pulling me back to him for a kiss.

“Hindi ka pa ba inaantok?” Noah asked through a video call. We are already in our own rooms, video calling each other though he’s just downstairs.

“I still have one topic to review,” I answered, showing him my iPad. “Are you sleepy already?”

“Hindi pa naman. Saka, tinatapos ko rin ‘tong plates ko. Last na ‘to ngayon sem,” he said. “Pero alas-dies na kasi. 'Di na sabi mo manonood kayo ng operation bukas nung proctor nyong doctor? Anong oras kaya aabutin yun?"

I shrugged and looked at the screen of my laptop. "Dr. de La Costa said it will take more or less five hours. Midnight na sigurado ang tapos nun."

"Late na pala masyado," ani niya.

"It's an open-heart operation and they really need to take extra care because if they make even a single mistake. The patient could die," I told him. "Mainit ba dyan sa kwarto mo?" I asked when I saw him topless.

Kanina pa ako focused sa inaaral ko kaya hindi ko na sya natitignan. Pinapakinggan ko na lang ang mga sinasabi nya at sasagot kung kailangan.

"Hindi naman. Bakit?"

"You took off your shirt," I commented. "Akala ko mainit dyan."

He chuckled. "Sinadya ko talaga yan para makita mo. Fine-flex ko sayo muscles ko," he said and lifted his arm in front of his screen and did that muscle flex.

"Where is the muscle?" I teased.

"Ito, oh. Hindi mo ba nakikita?" He replied, pointing at his tricep.

"I think you should rest na. You're starting to see things already, Noah."

“Sus! Huwag mo nang i-deny. Kitang-kita naman, oh. Tapos ito pa,” sabi niya sabay tayo para ipakita ang abs niya.

“Noah!” suway ko naman agad sa kanya, mahina lang iyon pero may diin.

Noah chuckled but stopped ‘flexing’ his muscles. “Ayaw mo pa kasing amining macho ang boyfriend mo,” he said and hearing the word boyfriend sends butterflies to my stomach. I laughed to hide the kilig.

“Ang ganda mo,” he suddenly said that my effort went to waste instantly. I cannot hide it anymore.

I felt the heat rush to my face down to my neck, surely, I am as red as an apple now. “Stop it,” I said, trying to cover my face with my book.

“Bakit naman? Masama bang purihin ko ang girlfriend ko?” banat niya. Mas lalo naman akong nahiya sa mga naririnig ko.

I felt shy and overwhelmed with all these. Kakasimula pa lang namin ngayon araw pero ganito na siya. Hindi ko tuloy alam kung ganito ba dapat talaga o ganito lang talaga siya. Noah has been vocal about his thoughts and feelings since we decided to be together. Kahit ilang oras pa lang nakakalipas simula ng nangyari ‘yon!

“Noah…” I called him. Umayos naman siya at nag taas ng isang kilay. Lagi niya iyong ginagawa tuwing nakikinig siya sa mga sinasabi ko sa kaniya.

“Ano ‘yun?”

“Can you please take it slow with me?” I asked. Baka kasi bigla na lang akong atakihin ng asthma sa sobra tuwa na nararamdaman ko ngayon.

“Bakit naman? Hindi mo ba gusto?” he asked, concern is all over his face.

I shook my head. “No. I love it. It’s just that… this is my first relationship and it feels overwhelming for me. I don’t know how I can handle all these feelings and emotions you’re making me feel.”

Noah’s reaction softened, he even took a deep sigh. “I understand. It’s overwhelming for me, too,” he said.

“But I love it,” I repeated. “Nakaka-overwhel lang talaga sa ngayon. Pero alam ko, masasanay rin ako. Masasabayan din kita sa mga punchline mo. Mapapakilig din kita,” I said that made him smiled.

He’s smiling so much that his dimples showed up. “I like your dimples,” I commented.

“Akala ko ba dahan-dahan muna?” he said, trying his hardest to suppress himself from smiling but failed miserably.

I giggled and said, “I just want to tell you that. I have been keeping that to myself for years!”

Noah squinted his eyes and said, “Ikaw, huh. Siguro matagal mo na ‘kong crush, no?”

“Noah…”

He chuckled. “Joke lang,” he said, pushing back his chair a bit before leaning on to his desk.

“Are you sleepy?” I asked. Tapos na ata siya sa plates niya kaya yumuko na siya sa desk niya ngayon habang nakatutok sa screen ng cellphone niya.

He shrugged. “Papahinga lang. Hihintayin kitang matapos mag-aral para sabay na tayong matulog.”

I know he’s tired. He wakes up really early every morning to clean my car before we leave for school. After that, he’ll go to his own school to attend his classes that last for six hours. He will pick me up after. But arriving at home doesn’t end his day. He still needs to study at night or do his plates. Noah’s day is normally exhausting but not even once I heard him complain. He always shows up in front of me smiling, hiding his tiredness.

“I’m done,” I said and started gathering my materials.

“Ang bilis naman?” tanong niya, nagtataka.

“Inaral ko lang naman yung tungkol sa gagawing operation bukas para may idea ako,” sagot ko. Tapos na akong mag ligpit kaya tumayo na ako sa study area ko at dimuretso sa kama ko dadala ang laptop ko. “Matulog na tayo.”

“Sige,” sang-ayon niya bago nag simulang mag ligpit na rin ng gamit niya. Pinapanood ko lang siyang magligpit hanggang sa matapos siya.

“Good night, Noah,” I said when we’re both settled on our own beds.

“Good night, mismam. I love you,” I replied.

“I love you, too…”

Noah and I decided to keep our relationship for ourselves for the meantime. We want to enjoy our time together not thinking of what the people around us might think about us. I don’t want what we have right now ruined by unsolicited judgment from anyone.

Honestly, I don't really mind if other people won't know about us. Having our family and close friends know about our relationship is enough for me. We don't have to broadcast it. And for me, keeping it low-key brings peace.

But he suggested that if asked, we are going to tell them the truth: that we are in a relationship with each other. He even said, 'Pag tinanong ka kung sinong boyfriend mo. Sabihin mo, si Noah Alexander Del Manzano.'

I laughed at that and asked, 'Pag ikaw naman ang tinanong, anong sasabihin mo?"

He answered, "Edi, si Amaris Romana Claveria. 26. Licensed Nurse. Medical Student. Future M. D."

I laughed more because of that and told him he cannot say all those details. But he just shrugged as an answer and it feels light experiencing this kind of relationship. I didn't know that it's okay to act like this sometimes, that it doesn't turn off your partner, that it actually makes you laugh and happy.

I just love being and acting silly with him.

“I’ll just text you what time you’ll pick me up later, okay?” I said as I grabbed my things. “I’ll see you later,” I added before leaning on him and kissing him on the cheeks.

“Sandali,” he stopped me.

I turned to face him. “Hmm... Why–”

“See you later,” he said after kissing me on the lips, his hand on the back of my neck. “I love you,” he added.

“I love you, too,” I said, smiling.

He sighed and leaned on to me again to give me a kiss on my forehead. “Good luck sa araw mo, my future doktora.”

I nodded and smiled more. “Good luck din sa araw mo, my future architect.”

I went out of the car and waved at him before heading inside the hospital after that. Pagpasok ay agad din nagsimula ang rounds namin. Nakasundo parin kami kay Dr, de La Costa habang nag o-observe sa mga pasyente nya. At lunch, I snuck in to meet up with my parents. Sa office ni daddy lagi nag i-stay si mommy tuwing break para sabay silang kakain ni daddy, at ngayong nandito ako, tatlo na kaming sabay-sabay na kumakain.

“Should I hide?” I asked when we heard a knock from dad’s door.

“No,” dad said before answering who’s in the door.

“Director,” it was Dr. de La Costa. He glanced at me for a second before facing dad.

“What is it, Dr. Joaquin?” Dad asked.

“I just need you to sign this,” he said and handed dad a folder.

“What is this?”

“About Congressman Ramirez’s operation tonight,” he answered.

“Is it tonight?”

“Yes, Sir. We have to do the operation as soon as possible.”

Dad nodded and asked, “Will you let the students watch again?”

“Yes, Sir. It will help them understand the procedure thoroughly,” Dr. de La Costa answered.

“That’s good,” dad said. “I hope my daughter will learn a lot from you,” dad added.

“I will do my best to teach them well, Sir.” Dr. de La Costa answered dad.

My mouth parted hearing dad revealing my identity but mom just held my hand and said, “You can trust him, sweetie. Joaquin won’t be nosy about you.”