Chapter 8 was posted on Patreon/Facebook VIP Group. Kindly message me on my Facebook account Rej Martinez to join VIP for 150/monthly membership and read all my other stories that are not available here in Wattpad. Thank you for your support!

Chapter 5: Getting To Know You

I was curious about the night market in Rizal boulevard and the street foods they sell in there. Narinig ko lang din kasi sa ilang kaklase ko na nag-uusap. I already made a few new friends at the university, too. Okay naman at nakikipagkaibigan din naman sila sa akin. Pero dahil nahuli na rin akong lumipat dito ay mas close na sila sa isa't na matagal na rin nilang nakilala at nakasama sa eskwela. Hindi rin kami ganoon karami na magkakaklase sa course namin. I think it's just not a lot of people are interested in fine arts. And that's fine. Siguro iniisip din kasi ng iba na hindi practical. So I'm actually lucky to be enrolled in this course and enjoy my college life dahil pinag-aaralan ko ang gusto ko talaga. And I have parents who can support me with my studies.

Umuwi ako sa apartment ko at pagkatapos lang magbihis at mag-ayos ay kumatok na ako sa kapitbahay ko. Pinagbuksan din naman agad ako ni Noah. I'm also glad that he's just here. Siguro he works from home from here since nasa Manila naman talaga ang business nila.

"Yes?"

"Uh, hi! Are you busy?"

"Hmm. Hindi naman. Why?

"If you have free time, baka gusto mong pumunta ngayon may night market daw and we can try their street food! I'm curious about it." I smiled.

Napangiti rin sa akin si Noah at tumango. At pagkatapos niya lang magpalit muna ng damit saglit and got his keys ay bumaba na rin kami ng building at umalis papunta ng Rizal Boulevard ngayon.

"You just came back from the university?"

I nodded when we were already inside his car and he's starting its engine. Pagkatapos ay nagmaneho na rin siya.

"Yes, you? Work from home ka lang ba muna? Nasa Manila ang business n'yo, right?"

"Yes, I work through my laptop. It's my Dad's business. May nasimulan na rin akong business dito." He said.

"Really? Saan? Ano?"

"You will know." He just smiled at me.

Pagkatapos ay dumating na rin kami agad sa boulevard sa may night market malapit lang din kasi. "Wow! Ang daming tao." sabi ko pagkababa ng kotse ni Noah.

"Yeah... Where do you wanna go?" He asked me.

Bumaling ako sa kaniya. "I wanna try the street food!" I said and I smiled.

Ngumiti lang din sa akin si Noah at pinuntahan na naming iyong mga stalls na nagbebenta ng mga pagkain.

"Are you sure you're okay about this? I haven't eaten this before sa Manila. I hope I can here." I said.

Noah just nodded. "Yeah, it's all right. I wanna try, too."

Tumango na rin ako sa kaniya. Ang daming mga bentang pagkain dito. And they look clean naman even outdoors lang niluluto. May mga chairs and tables pa nga doon na doon na rin kami kumain. At nabusog talaga ako.

"I didn't know it could be this good! At mura lang pa! Compared when we eat sa restaurant or cafe, right?" I tuned to Noah who's also eating beside me.

"You're right. It's good." He said.

Bumaling ako sa kaniya at ngumiti. "First time mo rin mag-street food?" I asked.

"I guess so." He answered.

Ngumiti ako sa kaniya. At ngumiti rin siya nang bumaling siya sa akin.

"Sure ka na libre mo, ha?"

"Yeah, it's all right. Sabi mo nga hindi naman mahal dito." He said.

Hindi naman ako nagpapalibre pero binayaran na ni Noah ang mga kinain namin.

Pagkatapos kumain syempre naglibot-libot pa muna kami sa ilan pang mga stalls doon. Para magpatunaw na rin muna sa kinain namin sa paglalakad-lakad. Napayakap na nga lang ako sa sari ko dahil nakaramdam na ako ng lamig. Gabi na kasi at isang black sleeveless dress lang pa ang suot ko. I forgot to bring my jacket. Malapit pa naman kami sa dagat at umiihip na talaga ang hangin.

And then I felt Noah na nagpatong ng jacket niya sa balikat ko. Napatingin ako sa kaniya. "Uh, thank you." I smiled.

Ngumiti lang din siya sa akin.

Nanatili pa ang tingin ko sa kaniya. And our background—the people and the stalls seem to blur behind us. Parang kami na lang ang tao doon...

For the past months since I've known Noah, masaya talaga akong makilala ko siya. Mukha lang pala siyang strict and cold when I first met him. Pero pagtagal ay naging magkaibigan na rin kami at ganito na pa ka-close ngayon sa isa't isa...

"Getting to know you is like an interesting experience for me..." nasabi ko habang pinapanood lang namin ang ilang mga batang naglalaro at naghahabulan pa sa harapan namin doon sa boulevard. Ang dami pa ring tao pero parang ang peaceful pa rin ng paligid para sa akin.

Nang balingan ko si Noah ay nakatingin na lang siya sa akin. Ngumiti na lang din ako sa kaniya.

Nagyaya sina Ate Michaela and Kuya Sith na umakyat daw kami ng bundok. It was a long weekend kaya napapayag na rin kami ni Noah.

"Good morning! Ang aga natin. Ayos lang ba kayo?"

Tumango kami ni Noah kanila Ate Michaela. "Okay lang, po." I said. We woke up really early para makabiyahe rin kami nang maaga papunta sa pupuntahan namin. We're about to go to Mountain Canlaon. It's also my first time to see it.

And when we're there it was magnificent. Although halfway going up there Noah had to carry me on his back dahil napagod na ako. So nag-hiking siya na may buhat sa likod niya, ako. I didn't really want to be a burden. Pero napapangiti pa rin ako as I remember too our camping trip last time. Ang dami ko ngang arte noon that Noah also had to carry me on his back during our long walks like this, too. So it's anymore the first time that we did piggyback ride together. Nakakatuwa lang. Although I also feel sorry for Noah...

"Okay ka lang?" I asked him as I bit my lower lip too dahil nakakaramdam na rin ako ng hiya sa kaniya habang pasan niya ako sa likod niya.

"It's fine. You okay?" Tinanong pa niya ako nito.

I pouted on his back. "Okay lang ako. Ikaw nga ang nahihirapan sa akin. Sorry for being such a burden. I promise next time hindi na ako aarte." I said.

And then I heard him chuckled. "It's really fine. Don't worry about it." Ngumiti pa siya sa akin. "And you're not heavy at all." dagdag pa niya na sinabi.

Napangiti na lang din ako sa kaniya. At least may improvements na talaga sa amin ngayon. Kasi naalala ko noong unang pinasan niya rin ako sa likod niya parang nagalit pa siya noon but he had to look after me since nakadikit din ako sa kaniya noon pa at sabay kaming dumating at nagpunta sa camping na iyon. Kung saan din namin unang nakilala sina Ate Michaela. Mukha pa siyang masungit noon. But now he just looks so willing to put me on his back. My smile grew more thinking about it.

I had fun again with Ate Michaela and Kuya Sith, and of course Noah. Ang sasaya nilang makasama sa kahit na anong trips pa man siguro ito.

"I would like to get to know you more, Zephaniah..." He said.

I remained looking at Noah. I was a little shocked at first. But I smiled happily to him in the end. What he said and him showing more interest to me now has made me happy...

"Did you enjoy today's trip?" He asked me.

Gagabihin na kaming makabalik sa Dumaguete if we will travel again by the road for many hours. At alam namin na pagod na rin silang dalawa ni Kuya Sith na mag-drive. Grabe rin pala mag-roadtrip din kasi ang mag-asawa. Wala pa silang anak so it's easier for them now. And they both really love traveling and trips! And they've been traveling together that I think it's cute and lovely for a couple like them.

We stayed at a nearby resort in San Carlos city. I think it's like an entrance to Negros Occidental already, am I right? Siguro ay parang ganoon na rin. Halos nakalabas na rin pala kami sa oriental. And layo na ng narating namin sa gala. I just smiled as I think about it.

Nandito ako ngayon kasama si Noah sa isang malaking balcony area rito sa resort na kita pa ang magandang tanawin sa harap namin. And it's a natural view. I felt more and more closer to mother nature with my lifestyle now kasama sina Noah at ang mag-asawang sina Ate Michaela at Kuya Sith. Na parehong nature lover din talaga.

Bumaling ako kay Noah at nakangiting tumango. "Oo naman. I have a lot of fun. Ikaw ba?" I asked him as well.

Tumango rin naman siya. "Yes, it has been fun..." sabi niya.

Ngumiti ako at tumingin muli sa harapan namin. Gabi na nga rin at dumidilim na lalo rito sa labas. "It's a lot of fun with Ate Michaela and Kuya Sith. Grabe sila na couple, 'no?" Bumaling akong muli kay Noah. "Parang they're just having a lot of fun together and enjoying their married life... I hope I could have one too someday..." Napaisip din ako.

Tahimik si Noah kaya napatingin muli ako sa kaniya. Siya naman ang bumaling sa harapan namin. He also leaned a little bit on the railings of the balcony. At tiningnan ko na lang siya hanggang sa narinig naming tinawag na rin kami nina Ate Michaela at Kuya Sith to have dinner already. Handa na rin pala ang food namin. At medyo gutom na rin ako.

And on our dinner Noah was caring, too. Kahit sa pagkain ko ay siya pa ang naglalagay noon sa plato ko. "Do you like this?" He asked me.

Tumango lang naman ako at hinayaan siyang lagyan ng pagkain ang pinggan ko. Pagkatapos ay napangiti na lang din ako sa ginagawa niya.

When my eyes went to the couple who were in front of us and they were watching me and Noah, and both smiling at us. Bahagya ko na lang nakagat ang labi ko. And I think I can feel myself blushing.