Magic Ball: the Billionaire in Ranch

42 Aftermath of Drinking

Noah woke-up first. Joanna was sleeping on his chest, her breathing slow and sure. She’s still obviously asleep, his arm falling up and down with the breathing of her chest as he enclosed her in it. Noah’s eyes lingered on her sleeping face, her swelling lips slightly opened as she moaned a little and moved her head to squeeze herself deeper into Noah’s arms. The blanket splayed on half of their bodies served as an additional heat through the night that they’ve been together.

Last night was…satisfying, to say the least. Joanna was soft all over, damp in every inch of her body, and her voices a melody to his ears. He hadn’t slept with a woman in a while, and if it weren’t for Joanna’s confrontation, he wouldn’t have been tempted to take her on her very own sofa. They did end up spending the entire night, their bodies not separating until Joanna protested and asked they rest.

In all honesty, rest didn’t slip in Noah’s mind. He thought what they were doing was the rest he needed, but he completely forgot to consider Joanna’s feelings.

He slowly combed his fingers on his hair. Sighing, he thought about what would happen afterward. He hadn’t thought of asking the woman laid on top of him if she’d like to go out on a date proper date. The fact that they’d go out and have lunch didn’t quite sit well with him, and he didn’t know why. Sure, he’d have to admit that he enjoyed their entanglement, but that doesn’t mean that he’d have to continue with the stage of getting to know each other, and eventually, ending up going out and hearing the church’s bells.

Noah slightly shook his head. He didn’t want to be there…he hadn’t seen himself standing before the altar with anyone, let alone the woman whom he slept with last night. Such thoughts were too far down the road.

The slight shifting of his head incited a movement from Joanna. She lifted her body and stashed away her hair to have a good look on Noah’s fully awakened face.

Her plump lips turned upward. “Good morning,” her voice was rough, yet timid.

Noah gave his notorious half-smile, his fingers stuck on his hair. “Did you sleep well?” he asked as he laid a palm on her slender back. Joanna shrieked, and her reaction got Noah raising his eyebrows.

“Sorry. Just squeamish.” She faked a cough as the blush spread all over her face. Noah didn’t take her as someone who’d be embarrassed after rounds of making love to each other for hours.

A blush rose all over her face, and when she lifted her face, her hazel eyes locking with his, she surprisingly inched her lips closer to Noah’s.

It would be awkward not to lean into her, even though Noah wasn’t in the mood to kiss. So, despite not wanting to, he leaned in, and her warm lips caught his. 

She breathed in their locked lips, and soon, she opened her mouth to him. Noah let her exploration with his mouth once again.

Noah caged her face between his hands to deepen the kiss, and Joanna responded with snaking her arms around his neck, her chest shifting over his clavicle. They’ve been like this for the past hour or so, and Noah had liked the way their bodies intertwined with each other, or maybe it was the fact that he hadn’t been this physically intimate with a female for a very long time.

They spent the next hours with their lips locked to each other, the sun slowly spreading its orange hues to their bare bodies.

It’s been ages since Noah had involved himself with a woman—romantically, that is.

Well, he can’t say he hadn’t had any relationship himself for the past years. In fact, in high school, he had dated a popular girl named Victoria.

Everyone wondered why Victoria, the pretty, tall brunette with shoulder-length hair and smiles that bring sunshine chose nerdy yet sporty Noah to date her. Rumor has it that Noah forced her to be with him, but the couple that they were before, was quick to brush it off and deny the spreading allegations.

Noah had been quiet about it, but Victoria had been the advocate as to how she had been the first one to profess her love to him. And it was the truth that both of them knew.

It happened when Noah was reading inside the library. Did he mention he loved reading? He had adapted it from his father’s constant pursuit of his children to allot more time in studying than in playing.

“Three hours,” he heard his father say, “three hours and you can play again.”

And then he was able to bring the hobby of reading for at least three hours straight—that, or either he cut it into an hour during his breaks at school.

It was then when Victoria entered his life like the storm that she is.

She was beautiful—the epitome of a perfectly structured face; green eyes, small face, and plump, red lips, but then everyone assumed at first that what she had was just her physical appearance, but then she excelled in academics, too. And that’s why she always won every popularity contest there is.

Noah hadn’t thought about dating back then. So, when she suddenly approached him when he was reading inside the balcony—he didn’t know what to do. He was awkward, shy, and new with girls.

Victoria sat on the empty chair beside him every lunch break. Noah didn’t mind, of course. He was as dense as a hollow block wall, and he didn’t know why the campus’ favorite sweetheart took the seat beside him. Her finding him attractive was the least of her worries as romance had never gone his way.

But when the popular girl kept repeating the same actions for an entire hour or so, Noah began to wonder.

He thought to himself, what was the motive in doing so? Was it to tease him? He values academics more than making friends, and their Physical Education teacher commented that he’s fairly good in basketball games and urged him to continue playing for the school. He declined it and was even teased about it for an entire year. People called him arrogant and a show-off for doing so—but what was the point of responding when he didn’t care for what they see him as?

Noah was unbothered by a lot of stuff during high school. It was all do minding his own business and focusing on studying until he gets straight As and gets himself a good scholarship in an ivy league university.

Victoria, at one point, stood in front of him as he read the paper their physics teacher distributed after his lecture.

“Can I help you?” he said as she blushed in a deep red.

“Uhm, I—” she closed her mouth and inhaled a breath. “I was wondering if you’d like to eat together.”

At that time, Noah hadn’t had anyone to eat with him.

Robert and the boys were busy with basketball practice, and Noah would always stay alone in the canteen. Part of his high school life that he didn’t get bullied that much because of the four, consistent friends he made. They never left each other’s side until the day they separated through attending different schools.

“Eat?” said Noah as his hand automatically scratched his neck.

Victoria looked as shy as she’ll ever be. “Yes,” she said with those cherry-colored lips. “I’d like to have lunch with you.”

And so they began having lunch together every single day. During the weekends, Victoria would call him when she had the time. And more often or so, she’d invite Noah out to hangout in the local festivities, or go swim in beaches, play in an arcade downtown, watch video games in his room—

They were playing Call of Duty of when Victoria shielded his view. She brought his face in front of him. When he protested, she had a sad look in her eyes pond-colored eyes. Noah knew at that time that the way his heart pounded inside his chest, his feelings for her was as real as the sun shining outside of his window.

So, he let go of the game console and placed his hand on the back of her head, closing the distance between their mouths.

It was pure bliss—the first kiss can never be replaced.

But then, Victoria was a fleeting dream that kept haunting him when she doesn’t have anyone grasped within her perfect, soft hands.

And it was the main reason why Noah left her for good.

When Joanna opened the door of her apartment for him, she swiftly grasped his hand and pulled him inside. Then, she tiptoed and had her lips brush over his.

Noah inhaled and kept her head steady by supporting it with his hand.

“I’ll see you?” she wagged her hopeful eyebrows at him.

He nodded, a smile playing on his lips.

Noah was looking forward to another day with her, and she’s glad that Noah’s showing some interest in her. So, the two of them decided to meet for the next coming days.

The happiness resurfaces in Joanna’s face, and Noah could feel his heart doing the talking when he hugged her back.