Magic Ball: the Billionaire in Ranch

77 Happy Birthday, Diana

Diana was in her usual straight jeans and a white shirt. The day started out with his father and mother sending him a happy birthday message. And Diana watched it with a teary eye. She missed her parents the most. She missed the ranch, the horses she left behind. She misses the field of grapes she grew behind her mother’s backyard. She wishes to hear the birds’ sing whenever she takes her five-minute nap on the mount of hays she personally stacks on the stables. America was a place she would go for a vacation, but Italy was home. The ranch was her sanctuary—a heaven here on Earth, and she considered it her peace. But tragedy struck her family, and she had no choice but to head to America for a better life.

College was bearable, but once she embarked in the workplace, Diana no longer felt her carefree life.

She was stuck. She felt as if the world twisted, and it somehow fell in 360 degrees. Reese was the only friend she had. She was the only American who dared talk to her. Diana knows she talked to anyone within the vicinity, but she was thankful Reese frequently converse with her throughout the years they have worked together.

When Reese was transferred to another department, Diana was lonely again. But Reese had her ways.

Every weekend, her only American friend invited her to their farm. And soon, Diana felt her soul growing. Then, on that fateful day, Reese asked her to attend a rodeo show in Las Vegas. 

Diana hadn’t been farther away in Maple City, but Reese was persistent. So, she immediately packed her stuff in one backpack.

When they arrived at the stadium, Diana wasn’t planning on talking with anyone but Reese and her family. But then, a man named Noah piqued her attention.

His blond to brownish hair swayed with the wind, and he looked father than the show below him. The look in his eyes made her curious for a second. Diana pondered why he looked so disheartened. Perhaps he had been going through a heartbreak? She wasn’t sure, and she wouldn’t ask. That time, the man named Noah turned his head to where she was.

She knew he was staring at her, but she kept talking to Reese in hopes he would look back to the distant world he was staring at earlier. Diana counted seconds, but Noah remained focused on her face. She was the type of person no one looked at. There wasn’t anything special about her features. In fact, she was the plain jane everyone never wanted. In this time and world, Diana knew the opposite gender's preference, and it was someone that resembles Reese, someone carefree and vocal, or perhaps like Lilian; timid, observant, and beautifully blond.

Diana wasn’t among them. She hated to compare, but what’s there to look at her way?

That same night, Diana witnessed how little words he spoke, yet his actions proved louder than any voice. Noah walked her home. He didn’t attempt touching her, didn’t initiate further than having a decent conversation at a bar. Diana wondered how such a man can exist.

At some point, she began questioning whether if Noah had an alternative plan. If his actions lie a hidden malice, Diana can't clearly see. She was reluctant to make friends, but when she heard from Reese that he was a rancher—Diana couldn't stop herself from drawing near him.

It’s as if Noah’s the gravity that pulled her closer to her peace. Diana couldn’t resist. And soon, she didn’t put any effort at all.

He introduced his lovely horses, and she fell in love with Snowflake. Together, Noah and Diana rode through the sunset. She always rode ahead in fear of seeing Noah’s face. Don’t get her wrong. She didn’t want to be misunderstood. It’s just that whenever her eyes graze at his, her heart would gallop faster than Bean would ever run at. Her hands would feel clammy, and her chest won’t stop constricting. She didn’t want this. She needed to get away from him.

But Noah opened his arms—he welcomed her in his ranch without any complaints, and Diana was running away like a coward. She admits she’s one. She couldn’t face the truth that her physical reactions were due to her hidden emotions that wanted to break free.

Months passed by in a blur, and Diana could no longer take the squeeze in her heart. The tight constriction in her chest made her question if she had an illness she didn't know. She even went as far as having her heart checked. She denied the reality, and when the doctor showed her results, she held her breath. She was as healthy as an ancient tree. 

It was an odd experience, although she learned something from it: that she was beginning to grow Noah's fund. And just like trees, Diana's feelings are branching out to the point that she would feel worried when Noah looked pale from working day and night. Or that time, Fitch and Reese accidentally spilled that Noah only had two women in his life. The first one was a high school sweat heart, and the other was a feisty agent that's involved in MDP. And Diana? She wasn't even in their base. She was the ground to their skies.

And when Fitch relayed to her that the recent woman Noah dated saved him from imprisonment, Diana’s heart ached.

Why is it? Why would her heart cry out in a mess?

Because Diana knew they grow closer together and that Noah would surely choose the person he once loved. The world they were in wasn't all fairytales and drama. In reality, people choose the person that loves them the most. And Diana wasn’t confident enough to step into that reality.

That night she learned about Joanna. She didn't care if she appeared petty. Her tears flowed down her face, and she had to stifle her tears by using her head pillow. She vowed she would stop the ache the next morning. Everything with Noah had been going smoothly, and for so many instances, she longed to speak out how much she liked him. She didn't care if she received a rejection as long as she releases the emotion buried in her chest, she’s good to go.

When they saw each other again, Noah refused to look her in the eye. He went as far as walking away from her when she waved her hand. Fitch felt pity for her, so he made up some lame excuse to not her feelings, but Diana already knew. She knows that Noah was a kind man and that he wouldn't notice the way she looked at him as if he was the shining sun she longed to bask herself into.

The day she woke-up from her sleep, she cherished how Noah greeted her a happy birthday. She would remember it for the rest of her life.

It was the last day she would say she would go to the Stream Ranch. She would work in another place, probably take a vacation back in Italy. Who knows? As long as she takes off her mind from Noah, then everything will turn out fine.

When she walked through the gates, she waved at little Norman. The little boy smiled and ran inside the farmhouse.

Soon, she caught sight of someone coming out from the farmhouse. The familiar newsboy hat came into view, and Diana smiled wide. She waved her hand to Noah’s direction.

“Noah!” she shouted.

Noah stopped for a second, his face in neutrality as the door behind him closed.

Diana couldn’t stop the fast beating of her heart. So, she opted to wave and smile again.

With his long legs, Noah began walking to where she was. And when they were near each other, Noah stopped a step away from her.

Diana c****d her head, “What’s the matter?”

“Come with me,” he gestured. His hand pointed to the stables, “look at this.” Then, he let out his famous half-smile.

If she could melt, she would. Diana nervously stalled behind him. They entered the stables, and all horses neighed simultaneously. Diana felt the chill ran down her spine, but it wasn't anything terrible.

She ran to Snowflake, and the horse nudged her nose to Diana’s neck. “Hi there,” she caressed her mane, “have you been a good girl?”

Snowflake responded with neighing on her face. Diana chuckled. She was held Snowflake’s readily placed rein, and just when she was about to open the gate of Snowflake’s cubicle, Diana’s eyes widened. She looked at Noah, “You changed her reins?”

Noah was leaning on a post, “Happy birthday, Diana.” He said it with a smile on his face.

The words in her head were gone. As if their background blurred, Diana couldn’t see anyone else but him.

“Diana,” he began—Diana’s heart quickened all the more. Her fingers gripped at Snowflakes’ reins.

“I—”

“Don’t,” she closed her eyes, the tears threatening to fall. “Don’t say it. I know what it is about, but don’t say it.”

Noah was silent.

Diana knew she was going to be rejected. She knew it. She knows it already. A woman such as herself didn’t suit him one bit, and she would distance herself from him if that's what he wanted.

“Let’s head inside?” she waved her hand for him to follow. She glanced sadly at Snowflake, “Later, darling.”

Noah nodded, and without a word, he walked behind her.

Diana felt his sad aura, and she couldn’t remove the ache in her heart. It was her birthday, and the only man she ever loved rejected her.

At least he attempted to.