The first time he ever kisses her, he kisses her hand. 

He does it like it's the most natural thing in the world, to take the hand he's already holding and kiss her fingers. The kiss is just like him - subtle, silent, sincere. His lips feel like a trickle of water against her skin, and she smiles because it's the first time he's been physically affectionate and she receptive since they started going out. 

She thinks it's exactly in character for him to kiss her hand. The good boy, doing the most gentlemanly thing. 

-

He kisses her shoulder, and it's the first time he makes her feel electric. 

She remembers watching him. How his eyes never met hers, but somehow it felt like he was minding her, waiting for a reaction, to see whether she'd let him or not. How slowly and deliberately he drew his head closer, lower, until he had his lips on the fabric of her striped cotton dress. How deep that breath was that he took in as he let the kiss linger for a moment. 

She remembers being surprised, even as she felt sparks electrifying the air around them. This was a bolder side of him she'd never known. Part of her thought it was good that he was letting himself be more affectionate with her now, while another part wondered what else she would find out about him now that they're really dating. 

When she gets home, she finds herself thinking if she should wear an off-shoulder top next time. 

- 

The first time he kisses her face, it's 11pm at a coffee shop after he's had three beers at TGI Friday's. 

He leans in, eyes heavy-lidded, and kisses her by the ear. It is nothing like the first two times he kissed her. He isn't forceful, but it is raw, it is powerful and it is brazen - almost as though he is making his mark. He's not being mannerly or watching her reaction. He is doing what he feels like and doesn't care who sees it. 

She almost blushes. She doesn't say anything, doesn't even look at him. 

She just squeezes his hand a little tighter. 

- 

The first time she doesn't let her kiss him, they are at that darkly-lit sports bar spooning while seated on a leather couch. 

He's moved her hair to the side of her neck and is nuzzling the back of her ear. She looks up at him while he's telling her about 'I love you slut' and 'I love you prude' from HIMYM, and his face is so close she can feel the warmth of his breath on her lips. 

"Kiss kita sa car mamaya." He tells her, before kissing her ear once again. She knows him well enough to know that he's not kidding, so she makes a mental note not to get in his car later. 

She can't help but feel like it's all going too fast. A month ago she was thinking about whether to end things with him since it doesn't feel like anything's happening anyway, and he'd just held her hand for the first time two weeks before. She doesn't want to rush things because she's been there and it never goes well. She wants them to pace this - she wants this to work out. 

When he asks her if she can sit with him in the car for a while before they leave, she laughs and tells him "Umuwi ka na."

-

The first time he kisses her lips, it is weird and funny and everything that their relationship is. 

She tells him she won't kiss him that day because 'wala sa timing', but that doesn't stop him from asking her for a peck on his cheek. She tells him she knows he's going to turn his cheek anyway, so she might as well plant one on his lips. 

He grins smugly when she does, then tells her "Isa pa, yung may sabaw."

She bursts out laughing at his description, and even more when he corrects himself and says "Mali, yung may sauce!" between his own laughter. 

"Wala na, nasira na yung mood." She giggles. "May sabaw. Naiisip ko na yung sinigang mix soup ng Mang Inasal."

He laughs at himself as he gives up. 

-

The worst time he kisses her, they are in his car at Greenfields. 

He is so close that she can feel every breath he lets out while he kisses her motionless lips. His mouth feels so warm, his tongue inviting, and her chest feels like bursting into a thousand shooting stars. 

She wants to open her mouth and put her hands on his face and draw him deep into her. She almost hates herself for saying that she won't kiss him until he's met her parents, because all she wants to do is kiss him back and make him know how good he makes her feel. It almost drives her crazy - that he is there and on her and wants this, but she has to wait because she said she would wait and she's the one who wants them not to rush this. 

It's the exact moment she realizes that she is completely in love with this man. She has always been attracted to his mind, and she fell in love with his heart, and now she wants his body. He has given her all of him and she wants to take all of it.

She remembers how he told her that he's happy "...Kase alam ko mahal na mahal mo na ako."

He has no idea how true his words are.

-

She cannot wait to kiss him in two weeks.