Magic Ball: the Billionaire in Ranch

71 The Past Lover

“No. I just want to get to know her. It’s not like I’m in love with her or anything… yet,” Fitch crumpled the tissue he used to wipe on his fingers, “Isn’t that what we do when we find a girl interesting? Get to know them? Ask them out on a date?”

“Technically—” Nick said, his eyes sliding on Noah, who pretended he was oblivious about the topic, “Mr. Lover boy here thinks otherwise,” Nick’s mouth turned upward.

Noah rolled his eyes, “What does it have to do with me?”

“You were the one who had a one night stand,” Nick answered without hesitation, “and you didn’t even get to know the girl.”

“What?” Fitch leaned closer to them, “who? I didn’t hear about this at all!”

Nick opened the window next to him. A soft rustle of the wind caressed his face and made his hair flip on the other side, “He didn’t tell you?”

“I thought it won’t be as much big of a deal,” the answer Noah gave made Fitch’s face turn into a frown.

“Still, I wish you would have told me,” Fitch said, the disappointment plastered on his face.

“It wasn’t anything serious,” Noah argued, “and besides, we had already parted ways.”

Noah was thankful for that one night. He hadn’t expected that Joanna would be the first woman he would have a relationship with here in America. Everything about their relationship happened so fast he didn’t think he could breathe anymore during the process. One way or another, the other one craved the other more. And then, it all fell apart. Like a crumbling building, Joanna went on with her life when they parted ways. Noah can’t say he did the same, but life continued, and now that they meet each other again, it stopped also.

“Who was it?” Fitch asked.

Noah had his sight on the sea ahead, “It’s Joanna.”

“Karol’s acquaintance?” the disbelief in Fitch’s voice made him want to bow his head.

“The woman who saved us,” he finally said, “and we’re lucky that she’s there at that time, or else we would have spent the entire night wondering how the hell Karol managed to set us up.”

“Well, I’ll give your girl that. She saved us, after all. But don’t you think she’s also quite questionable given the fact that she’s friends with the woman who deceived us?” Fitch said while running a hand through his hair.

Noah leaned his back on his seat. He was silent for a long while Nick pressed to Fitch questions why he suddenly decided to ask Cora out on a date.

It’s true, though, the passage that says that you would have to look at the person’s friend to know what kind of person they are. And by looking at their companions, you would have a solid idea who they indeed are. But that it isn’t like that all the time. At least that’s what Noah wanted to engrave in his mind; he didn’t want to think that Joanna was different—but then again, the question lingered in his mind; what if she was someone other than Karol? The same environment doesn’t necessarily mean that they also have the same thinking.

“Shall we drive home, then?” Noah started his car engine, “do you want to be dropped off on your homes?” 

“I think I’ll be staying with you,” Fitch answered while scrolling down on his phone, “I’ll go to my hotel tomorrow morning.”

“Roger that,” replied Noah. He looked at Nick, “What about you, man? Want me to drop you off somewhere?”

Nick hummed, “Since it’s a weekend, I can spend it somewhere else. How about I stop over at the farmhouse?”

Maneuvering the wheel, Noah began driving away from the sea, the couple slowly disappearing from his sight.

When they reached the highway, Noah began speaking, “I’m sure Nancy would be happy to cook for you guys.”

Pushing the door open, it let out a booming creak that can be heard all over the farmhouse's receiving area. Hurried footsteps can be heard upstairs. Noah thinks it must have been Thomas and the others.

When Noah, Nick, and Fitch reached the leaving room, someone from the foot of the stairs gasped loudly, “Is that you?” Nancy cried.

Noah turned his body and beheld Nancy with her loose curls. Her eyes were red, and she had this strangled cry at the end of her voice, “Thomas!” she bellowed, “Noah’s here! And he’s okay!” her grip on the stairs’ railing tightened, “he’s okay…” Nancy trailed until tears started flowing down her cheeks.

The thumping of his heart got faster as he saw how distressed Nancy was. He couldn’t say anything. It might have been the cause of the continuous flowing of her tears.

Taking a few steps to where she was, Noah rubbed his fingers over her cheeks, “Hey. It’s not like I died or anything.” He chuckled afterward.

Nancy looked up and glared at him, “You could have been more careful!”

Smiling, Noah shook his head, “Yeah, you’re right. I should have been more considerate of you guys.”

The footsteps coming from the stairs’ footsteps were almost identical. Noah didn’t know which one is which.

“Oh, thank god!” Wynn announced as he slid down on the stairs, “thank god, indeed!” he hurriedly gave Noah a pat on his back.

“Why is everyone overdramatic? I got out. Don’t be such babies,” he said to them, but deep inside, Noah’s heart squeezed tight.

“We aren’t! We just thought no one would fund this ranch anymore if you’re living in prison. It will be devastating to even work here if you’re no longer around.”

Noah appreciated everything these two youngsters had been telling him. They were like brother and sister to him for the past years, and he would be forever thankful for that.

The resounding footsteps slowly heading their way stopped just before Wynn.

“God damn it, Noah,” Thomas said, “the devil must have sided with you!”

With his hands on his hips, Thomas grinned, “Welcome back, boy!”

“Okay, before we make this into a melodramatic reunion, I would just like to tell you that Nick and Fitch will be staying for the night.”

After that announcement, the rest of the night went well. Thomas made a campfire, and they began to roast some marshmallows and drink beer. Noah started narrating them what had happened to him and Fitch while they were at the mall. After that, several mind-blowing curses came out of his employees’ mouth, and among the explosive ones are that of Thomas and Nancy’s. As usual, Wynn sat and listened until Noah was done. Nick drank his beer near the tree while Fitch explained why he wants to pursue Cora for the next few months.

Thomas’s brows furrowed, his hands crossed on his chest, “You’re telling me lad that you like the police officer that almost had you put in jail because she so easily believed the lies of an undercover agent?”

“Tell me she has something different don’t won’t make our blood boil!” Nancy shouted with a huff at the end.

“Don’t judge him,” Noah scolded as he placed the bottle's opening on his lips, “he has a reason for doing it. Knowing this guy, he doesn’t easily fall for someone.”

With his hand on his chin, Thomas deliberated what Noah had said, “Should we ask what your reason is?”

The orange hue of the flame engulfed Wynn’s face, the color mixing with his skin, “Although my father and Nancy here are inquisitive for your reason, I would not mind if you would like to keep it private for now. Take your time.”

Among his employees, Noah has learned a lot from Wynn’s respect and patience. He had always been the type to not easily succumb to his emotions. He was also the first to show distance and space when someone around him was uncomfortable. To Noah, this aspect of his is a sign of respect. And for that, Wynn had also earned his respect. The value of patience is one Noah didn’t have. Yes, he was quiet and reserved most of the time, but that’s not an implication that he can sit around and wait for what will happen next. But then again, this lad here showed him how it’s done.

Fitch played with the bottle of beer he was holding. He moved it in a circular motion, the liquid inside following the movement of its container. The fire crackled, and it was faint. The crickets began singing, calling for their probable mate in the middle of the night.

Taking a swig from his cup, Nick directed his stare toward the quiet Fitch. The guy pressed his lips in a thin line. The expression on Fitch’s face was unreadable for the rest of them. Whether it was the dim light that surrounded them or the feelings he kept in place, the rest knew not to question Fitch’s feelings anymore.

After a long stretch, Fitch placed the bottle of beer beside him. He gathered his legs in an embrace as he leaned his chin on his huddled knees, “On Monday, I will ask her out. Whatever the reason I’m feeling, I know that woman has something I find quite appealing. I may not know the reason why, but I’ll find it along the way. I will discover it.”

Noah raised his beer bottle in agreement. At the same time, it made him think of what would happen between him and Joanna from now on.

Would he alight the fire? Or would he keep it in the ashes?

It was a question with many probably answers.