Chapter 10: Feels Like The First Kiss

Mga madaling araw pa kami umalis ni Noah sa Dumaguete kaya naman medyo maaga pa rin kami na dumating sa Bacolod City naman. Medyo mabilis din mag-drive si Noah at wala rin traffic sa probinsya kaya naging mas mabilis din ang biyahe namin. Naramdaman na nga lang namin ang traffic pagdating namin ng Bacolod city na mismo. It's lunchtime kaya naman naghanap na muna kami ng makakainan pagdating sa city. Kanina sa biyahe ay hindi na rin halos kami huminto ni Noah dahil may baon naman kami na pagkain sa loob ng sasakyan. Sinubuan ko pa nga siya kanina ng sandwich na baon namin dahil nag-d-drive siya. And I enjoyed our long ride.

Nagkukwentuhan lang din kami ni Noah sa loob ng sasakyan habang nasa biyahe of just about random things. And then we also listened to some music and even sang to it. Hindi mawala ang masayang ngiti sa mga labi ko the whole ride. At hindi na nga rin ako nakatulog pa sa biyahe dahil sa bukod sa ayaw ko rin na tulugan si Noah habang nag-d-drive siya, I just also enjoy talking to him while we're on the road. Ang dami pa nga naming nadadaanan na mga lugar sa Negros habang papuntang Bacolod. And Noah said that we can also visit those places. Masaya lang naman ako na ngumiti sa kaniya at nakaramdam ng excitement sa mga susunod na pwede pa naming gawing dalawa na magkasama at mga lugar na pupuntahan pa. I would love to travel with Noah.

"I think they have the best chicken inasal here in Bacolod?" I asked Noah.

Tumango naman siya sa akin. "I guess you're right. Wanna try?" He turned to me and smiled.

Ngumiti rin ako sa kaniya at agad na tumango. So we had chicken inasal for lunch. Ang sarap nga at nakakabusog din talaga. "Feeling ko bloated na ako ngayon." I told Noah with a little pouting lips.

Ngumiti naman siyang bumaling sa akin. "It's okay. I think it's normal since we just finished eating. Don't worry about it."

And I smiled to his reassurance. Naglahad pa siya ng kamay niya sa harapan ko at tinanggap ko naman iyon pagkatapos ay hinawakan na niya ang kamay ko the whole time while we explore the city of Bacolod. Holding hands with him also feels nice.

I love artworks kaya naman pumunta rin kami ni Noah sa museum nila rito kung saan naroon ang marami rin at iba't iba na mga paintings na nakita ko. I can also get an inspiration from here on my own paintings. And I can say that locals here in Negros are also good artists.

Pagkatapos naman ay binisita rin namin ni Noah ang kilala rin na The Ruins dito sa Talisay. It's a remains of a stately Italianate mansion, that was razed during world war II. It also has a restaurant now and it's a landscaped garden.

And we ate snacks there. Busog pa kasi kami sa kinain na lunch kanina. Noah also took photos of me and even on his phone there at The Ruins. Kaya lang ay medyo napapagod na rin ako. At alam ko na napagod na rin si Noah na nag-drive pa kanina nang mahaba para makarating kami rito.

"Will we go back to Dumaguete later right away?" I asked him.

Bumaling naman siya sa akin at mukhang hindi pa agad alam ang isasagot niya sa akin. Hindi pa pala namin napapag-usapan ang mangyayari pagkatapos namin gumala rito sa Bacolod. So I decided.

"You know, it's a long drive din pabalik ng Dumaguete ulit. Why don't we just stay here in Bacolod for now at bukas na lang siguro tayo bumalik ng Dumaguete? You're still tired from driving, Noah. I know." I said.

Tumango naman siya sa akin pagkatapos, and he agreed. Ngumiti ako sa kaniya.

So after that we found a hotel where to stay. Nang nag-check in na kami and I noticed Noah took a two separate hotel rooms for us. Pinagmasdan ko siya sa ginawa niya. I didn't know that he's conservative... Pero hinayaan ko na lang din siya. And later on I realized na bago pa lang din naman kami sa relasyon namin. So what did I expect? Na magsasama na agad kami sa iisang hotel room lang? Aren't I being too excited for things like that... Pigilan mo ang sarili mo, Zeph!

It's just that when I look at Noah he actually looks delicious in my eyes... If you know what I mean. Babae lang din naman ako and I have some wild imagination just like the other girls, too. Was it that bad? And I'm not anymore that innocent, you know. I'm not anymore a kid after all. And I won't also try to act like an innocent child. And I know that Noah has his own experiences, too.

But I also appreciate it that he's like trying to take things slow with me now... Napangiti ako.

"Goodnight..." pagpapaalam ko na rin sa kaniya nang papasok na kami sa kani-kaniya naming hotel rooms.

Tapos na rin kaming mag-dinner. Busog pa nga ako. And I feel like since I started dating Noah ay parang mas nagkakagana rin akong kumain pa ngayon. Lalo siguro at halos palagi ko rin siyang nakakasabay na kumain. And maybe some people were right when they said that men only know how to feed their girls. And with food! Since madalas sa date ay sa restaurant nga naman dinadala ng mga boyfriend ang girlfriend nila. Okay na rin sa akin since gusto ko rin naman na kumakain nang kasama si Noah. Nakakagana at nakakabusog pa lalo.

"Good night." He said to me, too.

Nagkatinginan pa kami habang nasa likod ko na ang pinto ng hotel room ko.

"If you need anything later, you can just knock on my door." His hotel room was just next to mine. "Or you can just ring my phone and call me anytime." He said.

Tumango naman ako at ngumiti sa kaniya. "Okay. Thanks for today. I really enjoyed it, Noah." I said.

Napangiti na rin si Noah. "I enjoyed today, too." He said as well.

At nanatili pa ang tingin ko sa kaniya pagkatapos. At hindi pa rin ako pumapasok sa loob ng hotel room ko. I wanted to do something. To like kiss him goodnight? Pero sa huli ay mabilis akong tumingkayad at hinalikan na lang siya muna sa pisngi niya. Na mukhang kinagulat pa niya bahagya that he wasn't able to move right after. I smiled. "Goodnight!" And then I went in my hotel room right after.

Nakangiti pa ako nang nasa loob na ng room ko.

The next day pumunta pa kami ni Noah sa iba pang pasyalan sa Bacolod. Uuwi na rin kami mamaya at babalik na ng Dumaguete. And I just really enjoyed and had so much fun with my time with Noah...

"Good night." I said to him again and this time ay nasa harap na kami ng mga apartments namin na nakauwi na sa Dumaguete.

"Good night..." He said, too.

We still looked at each other, though. Until Noah bent down a bit. And then he slowly lowered his head to meet my face. At napapikit na lang ako nang sunod ko nang maramdaman ang mga labi niya sa akin...

I've already kissed someone before... But it still feels like my first kiss...

Napangiti pa ako pagkatapos ng halik. I opened my eyes and I met Noah's gaze...

"Good night..." I gently said to him again and I smiled at him.

Ngumiti na rin siya pagkatapos. "Good night." He said.

Pagkatapos ay pumasok na rin kami sa kani-kaniya naming mga apartments. And I remember that just like when we were at the hotel in Bacolod yesterday I was still smiling today as I got in my own apartment. Huminga pa ako. I just feel so happy now. That I couldn't bother myself with anything else...

After all it was a good decision to move here in Dumaguete City.