Magic Ball: the Billionaire in Ranch

78 The Aftermath of Rejection

Just like how the sun was setting when Noah realized his feelings, it was also the same hue that rained on him when Diana subtly made it clear to him that they do not share the feeling he had longed for her to understand. As Noah walked behind a hurrying Diana, he desperately clung to the resolute he made; that when Diana rejects him, he would accept it and take one step at a time to forget about her. But as Noah’s foot landed on the concrete cement, it was getting harder than he had anticipated it to be. The mere thought of her not visiting the Stream Ranch—Noah’s chest clenched—her bright smile despite the imperfection of her teeth—sucking a breath, Noah held his head high.

He kept moving forward, even though his body screamed the agony and pain in his heart. He must have read the woman wrong. Diana’s actions speak louder than her words, and Noah had come to a conclusion that somehow, she was growing fund of him the way he would to her. His friends were right, that she was the type of girl had likely to held a deep affection with. Heck, she doesn’t even look like the women Noah had hooked up and dated in the past. But Noah didn’t care. He would throw away the ideologies he had when it came to women. He was so willing to do it that he went beyond means to gain Diana’s affection.

And now, here he was. He was rejected by the very person whom he was willing to give-up everything for; his beliefs, his ideals—he had realized that attraction is not purely about someone’s appearance, but rather, it was someone’s passion that pulls someone deep into the hole. No wonder Fitch fell head over heels for Cora the police woman.

In all honesty, Noah didn’t understood the reason why. She was also unlikely the type of woman Fitch would desperately chase. No matter how many times Noah grappled the reason why, he couldn’t understand Fitch’s resolve. At the present moment, Noah felt shameful to even think of such a thing. Since when had he stooped low? Never in his life had he surmounted appearance over passion. It was shallow, and it breaks his heart to realize it now. He wanted the woman who wore baggy pants and a buttoned down shirt. He wanted the woman who wasn’t afraid to get her shoes socked in the mud. He wanted the woman who, now and then, didn’t shy away from her tangled hair. He wanted the woman who showed him the meaning of patience.

Noah wanted Diana, but Diana wants something else. He can see it in her cerulean eyes. She wanted something for herself. The disbelief crossed her entire face when Noah opened his mouth, and tried confessing what he felt for her through the entire months that they have been together.

The dull ache in his chest didn’t disappear. And soon, the door to the farmhouse was getting nearer. The people he invited to celebrate her birthday are going to think something nice has happened between the two of them. It’s a fact, and Noah’s sure they would bug him to tell the details.

He didn’t feel like telling anyone anything. It’s not like he’s obligated to do it. If they asked, he would tell. If someone notices and kept their mouth shut, he will ignore them. And it if still hurts—Noah knew how to drown it. The woman who’s about to enter the door, is also the same woman who didn’t want to hear his confession. This woman was the root cause of his broken heart. She was the second person to break it into pieces, but Noah knew it was the way of life, and that he would gladly suffer the beauty of it, even if he would have to endure until the very end.

The urge to tell her how he feels one more time flowed through him. But then, Noah respects her decision, and by the looks of it, he didn’t want to further the guilt she was feeling. Before he knew it, his hand found Diana’s.

The woman stopped walking. She stood as still as a rock. Slowly, she decelerated her movements before facing Noah. 

His eyes fixed on her back, and he observed the way her chest went up and down. Her hand’s shaking, and Noah let go. He didn’t want to be the cause for her fear.

Taking a step back, Noah said, “You can rest inside if you would like.”

Diana peaked from her shoulder, “Can I?” she asked in a low voice.

Noah balled his fists, his heartbeat quickening, “Of course.”

A small smile was on her lips, “Thank you, Noah.”

It was the most genuine gratitude Noah had ever received, and it came from the person he wanted the most, but he also can’t have. He hopes it will not ruin him.

“Go on,” Noah gestured, “the door is open for you—”

Diana smiled again—ah, Noah had always loved the way her face would light up.

She climbed the stairs that led to the porch, and then arrived in front of the door. Noah watched as her hand found the handle, and turned it open.

Noah was already behind her in an instant.

“The lights are—”

A popping sound resounded all over the living room. Confetti and jolly music played, and several faces in which Diana was already familiar with came into view. Noah saw her expression, the disbelief and shock lining her pale irises.

She turned from pale to beaming with joy when Reese hugged her and shouted, “Happy Birthday, D!”

Lillian followed suit from behind them. She engulfed them in a hug, “You’re a year older, but you will always be a little sister to me.”

Reese raised her eyebrow, “What are you saying? Have you replaced me already?” she said, seemingly jealous that her older sister was fond of seeing Diana as her little sister.

“Come now,” Taylor called from behind the door. He gestured to Noah who was already holding the cake that Nancy made for scratch, “make a wish,” Taylor urged, a glint in his eyes. Noah thankfully wasn’t shaking and awkward.

On the other hand, it was the exact opposite of Diana. She was avoiding eye contact and face looked flushed.

“You—everyone—” she couldn’t finish what she was saying.

Reese patted her back, “Mr. Martin had arranged all of this.”

Noah wished she didn’t mention about that part, but he was caught off guard and he couldn’t say a single thing to them what had happened inside the stables.

Diana widened her eyes. And for a split second, Noah thought she was about to cry. But Diana held it in. She blinked several times, and even managed a decent smile.

He looked Noah in the eye—there was something in there, and Noah couldn’t read her message.

“You didn’t have to,” she said to no one in particular, “but I’m so happy.” Her gaze was fixed on Noah, “Thank you.”

It was a mixture of guilt, sadness, and perhaps—Diana blinked the emotions written on her face—regret. The reason why she chose to say it this day would never come to him. Noah wouldn’t blame her. The timing was indeed off, but what can he do? He needs to suck it up until it’s all done.

“Everyone! Get your plates!” Nancy shouted as she carried several dishes onto the long table they designed.

“Oh, God!” Reese exclaimed, “I’m starving!”

Lillian rolled her eyes, “We’re eating. How about you help me get the plates?”

“Done,” Michael chimed, the neutrality plastered on his face, “just sit down and eat,” he pulled one chair away from the table, and gestured for Lillian to take her seat.

Noah arched an eyebrow. Was Michael interested in Lillian? Because if not, it was the all the more obvious that he does right now.

Reese whistled, a grin plastered on his face, “If you wouldn’t take the seat, perhaps I should do it?”

Lillian looked at Michael, and without a word, she sat on it. Beside her, Fitch was filling in the wine glasses with the best wine they had all the way from Knox City.

“Is it that good?” Nick called from across him. “Haven’t heard of that bottle.”

“Well,” Fitch began as he concentrated with Noah’s share, “it’s only found back in our hometown.” He handed Noah his glass and proceeded to fill in Nick’s.

When he was done, he handed it and Nick gladly took it.

He took a swig from the glass and let out a breath, “Ah, yes!” his eyes widened and Reese smiled crazily from his reaction, “I love this!”

Fitch had his thumbs up, “Told you!”

Noah chuckled despite the pain in his chest. He ignored it, buried it deep within. He shouldn’t have felt it, not when the food in front of him looked so appetizing, and that the people surrounding them made the best of the meals he wanted as well as incorporating the designs he instructed for Diana’s birthday.

Taking several gulps from his wine glass, Noah drowned his sorrows. If this day could get faster than the speed of lightning, Noah would be indebted to the Gods for the rest of his life.

It didn’t help one bit that Diana was taking several glances at his direction. Despite the smile she was showing Reese, Noah knows that the two of them are not in good terms. They couldn’t celebrate well, and Noah was half guilty about it. He didn’t want Diana to feel sad during the day she was supposed to be happy.

So, instead of sulking, he hosted the party in a lively matter that no one would even recognize that he was in fact, rejected by the very person whom he wanted to be with for the rest of the month throughout this year.

Diana’s birthday party was a breather everyone didn’t expect they would get to experience. Brice and Angela danced throughout the songs being played by two large speakers Noah had purchased from a local shop downtown. In the farthest corner, Reese’s hair can be seen behind the curtain. Large hand snagged her waist, and pulled her closer. After a while, Nick emerged first, and Reese remained looking outside the window, possibly so that her father wouldn’t notice her rendezvous with the lawyer. Diana was kept company by the rest. Fitch told everyone the story about Cora and Joanna, and Noah didn’t know how to react when Diana—all throughout the story—kept her face blank as a sheet of paper. On the other hand, Lillian didn’t so much budge when Michael made advances on her. But, Noah can tell that she was definitely interested in him. Thomas, Nancy, Wynn, Taylor, and Jason were either drinking wine, smoking, or taking care of the dishes, to which most of the guests insisted that they would be the ones to wash them. Thomas had them shut their mouths when he began cleaning without taking into consideration their suggestions.

When the stars spread out like stars in a blanket of obsidian sky, the lot of them build a bonfire in front of the farmhouse’s porch. Noah had little Norman accompany him beside the fire.

He had the boy wrapped in a blanket to keep him warm. The boy looked up at him, his eyes sparkling from the fire’s light, “Do you think Emma’s happy right now?”

Noah looked over his shoulder. How can a child ask such deep questions?

With a smile, Noah nodded his head, “I’m sure she is. But she would be happier if you can play sometime again.”

The determination burned behind Norman’s eyes, “You think so?” he looked away and had his head buried between his knees. “I want to play with her.”

Noah reached his hand and ruffled the boy’s head, “I’m sure she wants that too.”

Even children long for the person that they like, what more for an adult that yearns for something within his grasp, but he couldn’t go further than looking.