Magic Ball: the Billionaire in Ranch

72 Between Diana and Joanna

Monday went by fast. Fitch swore in front of everyone while they were having their little bonfire in the middle of the ranch, that he would pursue Cora when Monday arrives. It’s Tuesday now, and the young man has yet to make up his mind on what to say, how he should ask, and where they should go if she ever agrees to a single date.

Standing near the balcony, Noah lighted the cigarette between his lips. The smoke went above as if it was joining with the clump of clouds shielding them from the sun’s deadly rays.

Leaning on the balcony’s railing, Noah had his hands over the other, “Monday already ended,” he wanted to appear as casual as possible. He didn’t wish to Fitch, thinking that he too was excited about the result in Fitch’s persuasion of Cora.

Fitch handed over his palm, “Give me a stick, will you?”

Noah smoothly tucked his hand in his pocket. He tapped the cigarette box on his palm, and a stick stuck out from the opening. Without looking at Fitch, he reached the stick.

“Is that colloquial way to tell me that you want me to lend you a hand?” Noah remarked as Fitch began puffing smoke after smoke on his cigarette stick.

His fingers ran like a comb through his sleek hair, “Will you?”

Noah let out a low chuckle as he tapped on his cigarette, the ash being blown away by the subtle wind that came their way, “And what help might that be?”

Fitch gestured his hands as if he was pushing something, “Something that has connections—a pull that would make her look my way.”

“If I remember correctly,” Noah faced the door behind them, “she was already looking intently at you when we were in the police station.”

“That look meant she was pissed at me,” Fitch sounded devastated. “The distaste circled her irises, Noah. What if she would throw me out?”

“Oh, she would. She’s a honed soldier, and what better way to deal with you in the way she’s used to doing.”

“That’s a lot of help,” Fitch commented sarcastically, “I don’t know what to do.” His head was slightly bowed down between his arms.

“In another note,” Noah blew smoke out of his mouth, “what would you have me do?”

“Help me get the girl,” Fitch answered quickly.

“What would happen if you get the girl? Is it just the mere act of making her fall head over heels for you?” Turning, Noah looked deep into his eyes.

Without so much as blinking, Fitch said, “It’s not about getting her.”

“What’s it about it, then?”

“I will figure out along the way,” his friend said, his eyes lingering on the bright, clear sky.

Noah had a lot to say, but he decided to keep his mouth close, his lips pressed together. The smoke on his cigarette turned a different direction as the wind blew a few strands of his hair. What Fitch had said was something Noah took into reflection. Finding the reason along the way—he thinks it’s absurd. Why would you involve yourself in something that you’re not sure of? If Noah was in his situation, he wouldn’t know exactly what to do. Would he go down the road of uncertainty, or would he seize the opportunity to mold what was once disembodied? Was he willing to pick up the pieces that would make him think of the uncertainty instead of the straight road? Was there an escape to such a thing? And if he marries a woman he was unsure of, would that lead to happiness instead of dissatisfaction? Would there be regrets? One thing Noah’s sure is that he would have plenty of those regrets.

“What are you mulling there about?” Fitch grazed his shoulders, “something the matter?”

Fixing his eyes on the view ahead, Noah saw the figure of a woman who’s hair was iridescent as the sun’s morning glory. The woman’s wavy hair blew backward like she was a goddess riding to where he was. Her posture had improved ever since they practiced weekly in the ranch. And instead of bouncing up and down on her saddle, Diana was now sitting straight, her back like a solid stick. Noah's slouch kept reminding her disappeared in the night and was now as firm as an iron rod.

Diana made a clicking sound with her tongue, and Snowflake understood the signal. The mare elegantly ran through the field. She was lightning incarnate, and sometimes, Noah would appreciate the way she galloped than the rest of his horses. This lovely mare had an elegance in her that can be likened to the way Diana carries herself. And even though she only fell below Noah’s shoulders, that didn’t stop her from standing out in Noah’s line of vision.

“Ah, she’s here,” Fitch stated as he began lighting the new cigarette stick on his mouth. A smoke came Noah’s way, and he waved his hand in an attempt to re-route it.

For half a year, Diana had generously paid him whatever money she has so that Noah would allow her to practice horseback riding in his fields. Of course, Noah directly rejected her offer, but Diana was persistent in doing so. Noah told this to Thomas, and the older man devised a lower price for her to pay. After all, she was Noah’s precious friend. And precious friends would always get that much-awaited discount. Noah insisted that Diana didn’t like the discount, but Thomas argued that instead of pinning her pride on the spot, they should give her what she wants—and it’s for a lower price.

When their eyes met—her cerulean blue ones versus his almost translucent gray—Noah had yet again, that ache in his heart. The impact was so vivid he had to hold his free hand over his left chest.

Now, there’s also Joanna.

Sweat crippled beneath the color of his shirt. His fingers served as the comb that strolled its way on his sleek hair. His hand stayed at the back of his neck. He grew frantic—he promised Joanna that they would have dinner sometime this month, but then Diana’s birthday is coming up. The two women in his life clashed like waves, and he couldn’t choose which one he would prioritize.

“You look pale, man,” Fitch commented, “as far as I can remember, Diana is not that bad looking. She may be on the plain side, but her eyes are pretty.”

“Man, I think I can sympathize with what you’re feeling right now,” Noah sighed.

Fitch tore his gaze away from the riding Diana, “You mean…?”

“Yes—” then, he shook his head, “and also no…” Noah couldn’t decide.

The look Fitch gave him was one filled with prejudice, “Please tell me you aren’t choosing between the two of them?”

Noah couldn’t say anything.

The groan that erupted from Fitch made Diana halt her horse. She waved her hand in their direction, probably hoping to catch their attention. Noah had to tilt down his newsboy hat that hid away the blush spreading on his face.

“Hello!” Diana called in a cheery voice, “Is everything alright up there?”

“This is the worst,” Noah murmured. He couldn’t cease the fast beating of his heart. The sound it made reached his ears. The heat on his face was beginning to spread on his ears. He really needed to look away before she notices what was happening to him.

Without a word, Fitch smiled. He waved his hand, “Nothing much. Just talking on what to do with the police officer who took my heart!”

Diana’s face blushed a little from what he said, “Oh, is that so? I’m sorry. I must have interrupted you.”

Noah kept his face hidden as he slowly turned away from her. He saw his sad expression on the mirror of the glass door in front of him.

“No worries. We were almost done with my love story,” Fitch inhaled the smoke on his cigarette. Noah saw everything on the glass door’s reflection.

Fitch’s side-eye signaled him to be great her. Noah clenched his teeth, his jaw tense. He didn’t want to look at Diana. It felt as if his chest might explode from the sight of her. No one ever—not even in his family—would think that he was becoming bashful toward a girl he wasn’t even dating.

From the looks of it, Diana had probably already been wondering why he wasn’t speaking to her.

“Is something wrong with Noah?” she asked directly.

“Ah, him,” Fitch said in a flat tone. Noah knew what he was trying to imply. He clenched his palms, half-moons on his skin were left from the impact of his nails. “He’s kind of thinking what to do about my situation.”

There was a long pause.

“Is that so?” Diana replied. Noah knew she couldn’t hide the disappointment in her voice.

He heard the fast galloping of Snowflake’s show horse. For seconds, the sound faded. And when Noah was only able to listen to the persistent breeze, he slowly turned around—maybe he could glance at her one more time—

“What the hell are you doing, Noah?” Fitch turned him around to his direction, “you look as if you would vomit anytime soon.”

Noah sighed as his hand slammed on his forehead, “I would have if she weren’t here.”

Fitch patted his shoulders, “You look much more love-struck than me,” he stated what was already evident, the blush spreading all over Noah’s face once again.

“See,” the smugness lingered in Fitch’s voice, “I was right all along.”

Noah was still unsure of his feelings.