Post by modern_myth on Oct 31, 2024 7:52:52 GMT -6
Noah Torres took a moment outside the cafe doors to take a deep breath before entering. It’s been a drama-filled couple of days and he was frankly exhausted. Not to mention the fact that the impromptu fight with Razor Wolf from the other night had taken quite the physical and mental toll on him.
His mother Beatriz had been worried sick and after he finally answered what was like 50 missed calls and texts from her, her heart broke at the sight of his young battered face on video call. Despite repeatedly telling her not to come, here they were at a small cafe not too far from The Academy. It’s not that he was still that mad at her for insulting his father’s memory but the sting lingered because, well, he hated to admit it but after freezing during his recent match debut, the pressures of following his father’s footsteps in wrestling were really beginning to set in and he was having trouble navigating at the moment. It seemed like he couldn’t do anything right since then, and it’s one thing after another so quickly, hence why the fight even happened in the first place.
But now that the dust was finally settling and his head was much clearer after medication and rest, he agreed to see his mom and properly talk things out. He always confided in her about everything and this won’t change that despite the initial reaction.
As he walked through the cafe, he spotted her sitting alone in a booth at the back and looking at her phone. When he reached the table, she looked up expectantly before her face broke into a warm smile. She got up to give him a big but careful hug which still made him wince but he hugged back. She pulled away to check his face, looking absolutely concerned. He removed his sunglasses and cap to let her.
“Aww mijo…” she said, carefully cupping his bruised face, “How are you feeling today? You still good for your next match?”
“Yeah. Doc said I can, so I will be. This won’t stop me from competing in an important match,” he replied, giving her a weak smile to assure her. He put the cap back on while hooking the sunglasses on his t-shirt collar.
She didn’t look convinced but didn’t argue, instead breathing out a sigh and gave a soft and protective kiss on the unbruised area of his forehead.
“Okay… just… just try to focus on the match from now on, please? Everything else is noise, remember?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay,” she said with a sympathetic smile, gently squeezing his shoulder, “Come sit down, let’s have a chat.”
She smiled then gestured for him to sit down. He took the seat opposite hers and she slid him a tall glass of Coke that she already ordered for him. He thanked her before taking a sip, his eyes wandering to the rest of the table where there’s a cup of hot coffee and….
“You ordered 2 drinks?” he asked.
He caught a slight look of alarm on her face as she shifted in her seat.
“Yeah, I mean no. I… that’s Jared’s. Remember Jared? He accompanied me on the flight back. He’s in the washroom, he'll join us in a sec,” she said, almost carefully like she’s trying to gauge his reaction, “It’s also what I wanna talk to you about too.”
His brow furrowed a little. “Talk about what exactly?”
“You know we’re doing this podcast together, right?” she started gently.
“Yeah. He said I’m part of the reason y’all are doing it,” he replied coolly.
She smiled, hearing about their conversation for the first time. “Yes exactly! Well we’ve gotten close recently over that and reconnecting after all these years and everything. And things are different now and I want you to know that… we’re dating.”
He spat out his drink, spraying a bit of Coke on the table. She immediately grabbed a napkin from the small basket and helped to clean the mess.
“Oh my God, sorry, hun! I wasn’t trying to spring that on you,” she said, trying to comfort him.
But he just sat there staring at her, his lips pressed together in a tight line. She couldn’t tell if he was upset or not upset or just processing.
“I completely understand if it’s a little weird for you. But I wanted you to hear from me first.”
Another long moment as he averted his gaze. He stared into his drink, pinching the straw with his fingers. She didn’t speak further, just letting him have his space.
“It’s just,” he slowly responded, “it’s just a lot.”
“I know,” she said, reaching across the table for his hand.
But he pulled back slightly, making her heart ache. “You know why I started training, right? Then you said that about Dad and then now you’re dating Jared, of all people. It’s just so much happening at once and all very confusing.”
She winced but kept her composure.
“Take your time, baby. Don’t feel like you have to accept everything right now.”
“Right…”
“I just want you to be okay, most importantly.”
“Sure.”
He was back with the one-word answers. The silence was palpable as he continued staring into whatever’s in that drink.
Jared arrived, blissful in his ignorance for a full couple of seconds. It didn't take a genius to read this scene.
“Uhh…” he began, “what did I miss? Hey Noah.”
He offered a small smile, but turned his attention back to Bea soon after and then sat.
“You, uh, you doing okay?” He pointed at his own face, in reference to Noah's.
Noah finally looked up, giving Jared a once-over.
“Hi Jared. I’m okay,” he paused before glancing at Bea and back at him, “Were you with my mother last night?”
His tone wasn’t sharp but the look in his eyes certainly was.
Jared nodded. “Yeah, she really worried about you and I didn't want her on her own, going out of her mind… Sorry, not my place. Hopefully you guys are cool now?”
His eyes flicked between them.
“But, uh, but yeah. Figured I'd come here with her, haven't been out here for ages. But if you guys need time then I can make myself scarce, you know?”
Bea placed an assuring hand on Jared’s arm. “And I also asked him to come. Why do you ask, Noah?”
Noah took his time as if deciding something, no doubt a million thoughts were crossing his mind at this moment. He studied them both and saw that Jared seemed genuine then breathed out slowly.
“Okay… I just… I just don’t want any more changes. I don’t know if I can deal with that.”
Jared was a little taken aback, but nodded his agreement. Bea reached out for Noah’s hand, this time he didn’t pull away.
“I promise we’ll figure this out together. And you don’t have to worry too much.”
“Okay.”
It didn’t sound the most hopeful or optimistic but it’s much less bitter. Noah looked over at Jared and extended his hand towards him.
“I’m sorry, Jared. Do over?”
Jared took the hand and shook it, then smiled. “Man, I've known you since you were in school still, now you're a full grown guy. We'll always be cool. And your mom and I, well, she's important to me. She's always been important to me.”
He looked to Bea for a moment and saw the smile on her face hearing that. Noah noticed it too but didn’t visibly react.
“But if you got reservations then I understand. But I'm here to chat to about it all.”
Noah nodded, his face softening a little. “Thanks. I appreciate that. I’ll be honest, I really didn’t see this one coming. But you have always been nice to me so… I’m happy for her.”
That melted Bea’s heart as she squeezed Noah’s hand.
“Neither did Bea. Hell, I didn't either, I guess I caught us all by surprise. But I feel lucky, and I got a lot of reasons to be wowed by her. And, it might not be for me to say, but I'm proud of you as well.”
He offered Noah a smirk and a fist bump. That last bit surprised Noah but he didn’t say anything, just returned the fist bump with a small smile. Bea let out a squeal of excitement and joy, failing to contain herself.
“Aww yay! I know this has been a lot but I’m really really happy that we get to talk and be open about this.”
She looked at Noah and squeezed his hand again.
“I’m also glad this doesn’t change us so please take better care of yourself and answer your texts. I’m always here for you, no matter what. Okay? I love you.”
Noah nodded. “I will. Love you too.”
She grinned before glancing over at Jared and back at Noah.
“Okay now let’s order some food? I’m starving!”
As Bea and Jared looked over the menu, Noah chuckled to himself and waited patiently. Even though he was still processing everything, he truly didn’t have anything against Jared and it would be wrong of him to protest or be negative about his mom’s new relationship just because. But that didn’t mean he won’t have his guard up just in case. As protective as she was with him, he was too with her. After all, it had been the two of them his whole life except for the few men who had come and gone.
His mother Beatriz had been worried sick and after he finally answered what was like 50 missed calls and texts from her, her heart broke at the sight of his young battered face on video call. Despite repeatedly telling her not to come, here they were at a small cafe not too far from The Academy. It’s not that he was still that mad at her for insulting his father’s memory but the sting lingered because, well, he hated to admit it but after freezing during his recent match debut, the pressures of following his father’s footsteps in wrestling were really beginning to set in and he was having trouble navigating at the moment. It seemed like he couldn’t do anything right since then, and it’s one thing after another so quickly, hence why the fight even happened in the first place.
But now that the dust was finally settling and his head was much clearer after medication and rest, he agreed to see his mom and properly talk things out. He always confided in her about everything and this won’t change that despite the initial reaction.
As he walked through the cafe, he spotted her sitting alone in a booth at the back and looking at her phone. When he reached the table, she looked up expectantly before her face broke into a warm smile. She got up to give him a big but careful hug which still made him wince but he hugged back. She pulled away to check his face, looking absolutely concerned. He removed his sunglasses and cap to let her.
“Aww mijo…” she said, carefully cupping his bruised face, “How are you feeling today? You still good for your next match?”
“Yeah. Doc said I can, so I will be. This won’t stop me from competing in an important match,” he replied, giving her a weak smile to assure her. He put the cap back on while hooking the sunglasses on his t-shirt collar.
She didn’t look convinced but didn’t argue, instead breathing out a sigh and gave a soft and protective kiss on the unbruised area of his forehead.
“Okay… just… just try to focus on the match from now on, please? Everything else is noise, remember?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay,” she said with a sympathetic smile, gently squeezing his shoulder, “Come sit down, let’s have a chat.”
She smiled then gestured for him to sit down. He took the seat opposite hers and she slid him a tall glass of Coke that she already ordered for him. He thanked her before taking a sip, his eyes wandering to the rest of the table where there’s a cup of hot coffee and….
“You ordered 2 drinks?” he asked.
He caught a slight look of alarm on her face as she shifted in her seat.
“Yeah, I mean no. I… that’s Jared’s. Remember Jared? He accompanied me on the flight back. He’s in the washroom, he'll join us in a sec,” she said, almost carefully like she’s trying to gauge his reaction, “It’s also what I wanna talk to you about too.”
His brow furrowed a little. “Talk about what exactly?”
“You know we’re doing this podcast together, right?” she started gently.
“Yeah. He said I’m part of the reason y’all are doing it,” he replied coolly.
She smiled, hearing about their conversation for the first time. “Yes exactly! Well we’ve gotten close recently over that and reconnecting after all these years and everything. And things are different now and I want you to know that… we’re dating.”
He spat out his drink, spraying a bit of Coke on the table. She immediately grabbed a napkin from the small basket and helped to clean the mess.
“Oh my God, sorry, hun! I wasn’t trying to spring that on you,” she said, trying to comfort him.
But he just sat there staring at her, his lips pressed together in a tight line. She couldn’t tell if he was upset or not upset or just processing.
“I completely understand if it’s a little weird for you. But I wanted you to hear from me first.”
Another long moment as he averted his gaze. He stared into his drink, pinching the straw with his fingers. She didn’t speak further, just letting him have his space.
“It’s just,” he slowly responded, “it’s just a lot.”
“I know,” she said, reaching across the table for his hand.
But he pulled back slightly, making her heart ache. “You know why I started training, right? Then you said that about Dad and then now you’re dating Jared, of all people. It’s just so much happening at once and all very confusing.”
She winced but kept her composure.
“Take your time, baby. Don’t feel like you have to accept everything right now.”
“Right…”
“I just want you to be okay, most importantly.”
“Sure.”
He was back with the one-word answers. The silence was palpable as he continued staring into whatever’s in that drink.
Jared arrived, blissful in his ignorance for a full couple of seconds. It didn't take a genius to read this scene.
“Uhh…” he began, “what did I miss? Hey Noah.”
He offered a small smile, but turned his attention back to Bea soon after and then sat.
“You, uh, you doing okay?” He pointed at his own face, in reference to Noah's.
Noah finally looked up, giving Jared a once-over.
“Hi Jared. I’m okay,” he paused before glancing at Bea and back at him, “Were you with my mother last night?”
His tone wasn’t sharp but the look in his eyes certainly was.
Jared nodded. “Yeah, she really worried about you and I didn't want her on her own, going out of her mind… Sorry, not my place. Hopefully you guys are cool now?”
His eyes flicked between them.
“But, uh, but yeah. Figured I'd come here with her, haven't been out here for ages. But if you guys need time then I can make myself scarce, you know?”
Bea placed an assuring hand on Jared’s arm. “And I also asked him to come. Why do you ask, Noah?”
Noah took his time as if deciding something, no doubt a million thoughts were crossing his mind at this moment. He studied them both and saw that Jared seemed genuine then breathed out slowly.
“Okay… I just… I just don’t want any more changes. I don’t know if I can deal with that.”
Jared was a little taken aback, but nodded his agreement. Bea reached out for Noah’s hand, this time he didn’t pull away.
“I promise we’ll figure this out together. And you don’t have to worry too much.”
“Okay.”
It didn’t sound the most hopeful or optimistic but it’s much less bitter. Noah looked over at Jared and extended his hand towards him.
“I’m sorry, Jared. Do over?”
Jared took the hand and shook it, then smiled. “Man, I've known you since you were in school still, now you're a full grown guy. We'll always be cool. And your mom and I, well, she's important to me. She's always been important to me.”
He looked to Bea for a moment and saw the smile on her face hearing that. Noah noticed it too but didn’t visibly react.
“But if you got reservations then I understand. But I'm here to chat to about it all.”
Noah nodded, his face softening a little. “Thanks. I appreciate that. I’ll be honest, I really didn’t see this one coming. But you have always been nice to me so… I’m happy for her.”
That melted Bea’s heart as she squeezed Noah’s hand.
“Neither did Bea. Hell, I didn't either, I guess I caught us all by surprise. But I feel lucky, and I got a lot of reasons to be wowed by her. And, it might not be for me to say, but I'm proud of you as well.”
He offered Noah a smirk and a fist bump. That last bit surprised Noah but he didn’t say anything, just returned the fist bump with a small smile. Bea let out a squeal of excitement and joy, failing to contain herself.
“Aww yay! I know this has been a lot but I’m really really happy that we get to talk and be open about this.”
She looked at Noah and squeezed his hand again.
“I’m also glad this doesn’t change us so please take better care of yourself and answer your texts. I’m always here for you, no matter what. Okay? I love you.”
Noah nodded. “I will. Love you too.”
She grinned before glancing over at Jared and back at Noah.
“Okay now let’s order some food? I’m starving!”
As Bea and Jared looked over the menu, Noah chuckled to himself and waited patiently. Even though he was still processing everything, he truly didn’t have anything against Jared and it would be wrong of him to protest or be negative about his mom’s new relationship just because. But that didn’t mean he won’t have his guard up just in case. As protective as she was with him, he was too with her. After all, it had been the two of them his whole life except for the few men who had come and gone.