Chapter 5: She's An Angel

"Chace, I'm telling you. I think I saw an angel."

"Dion Ashton Bray, you already said that 5 times! I'm not deaf you know." Chace, Dash’s older half-brother, thumped the younger’s forehead, annoyed by his repetitive reaction to the girl whom Dash saw at the park.

Dash is at his half-brother's penthouse and he kept blabbering about a lady he saved from falling at the park yesterday.  When Dash and Belle got home, the girl was still on his mind and the thought was driving him crazy.

"Really? But she really does look like an angel! Her big beautiful eyes are captivating and her smile- It's the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!" Dash exclaimed with a dreamy look in his eyes and wide grin.

"Woah there, hold your horses, this is amazing! A girl? And she caught your attention? Also, we're talking about a stranger here.” Chace can’t believe what he was seeing and hearing. “She's the first girl whom you thought was beautiful who is not your best friend slash first love slash first heartbreak." He said, emphasizing on every ‘slash’.

Dash’s expression suddenly changed to a serious one "Don't drag Lauren in this conversation, Chace. She has someone else now and she- she's married." his voice almost faded at the last word.

"That's right, my brother. Your best friend whom you've been in love with for almost fifteen years just got married to another man two years ago and you still stayed by her side as your best friend even though you know it hurts to be just that."

Chace’s words are like bullets piercing through his chest. It's all true, that Lauren Dunn is his best friend/first love and first heartbreak. Dash had never loved any other girl besides her, Lauren was his everything. He was afraid that they'd lose the friendship that they have if he confesses. But he was still determined to say it to her.

On the day that Lauren was finally coming home from her long stay in Europe, was the day that Dash has planned to confess to her. Unfortunately, it turned out that he was the one who would be surprised.

*

2 Years Ago

Dash held the bouquet of stargazers tight when he saw the figure of a woman whom he loved for years run towards him with open arms.

"Dash! I've missed you, silly!" Dash smiled at the girl after they pulled away from the hug "I’ve missed you too, Lauren. It had been so long and oh, here-" He remembered to give the flowers to Lauren whose eyes were filled with delight.

"I’m happy you still know my favorites. As expected, you're truly the best friend one could ever have!"

Dash nervously gulped as he continued his plan, thinking that it's now or never. "Lauren, I have something to tell you." He began.

"Oh, what’s that, Dash?"

"I- I like-"

"Lauren!"

Just as Dash was about to confess to her, a guy came rushing while calling her and what happened next is something he didn't expect.

The guy gave a peck on Lauren’s lips.

Dash wanted to smack the other man with the luggage he was holding until Laren spoke, tearing him away from his imagination "Dash, I want you to meet my fiancé, Xander Silva. You know, the workmate I told you about."

Xander held out his hand "Hi Dash! It’s so nice to finally meet you, I’ve heard a lot about you from Lauren."

Fiancé? Workmate? The last time they talked about her workmate, there was nothing happening romantically between them. He didn't know they got intimate with each other. Dash really wanted to scream and punch Xander and run out of the airport but he kept his cool and met his hand with Xander’s held out one.

He forced a smile and clenched his other hand in a fist "Nice to meet you too."

*

Later on, he learned that Lauren wanted to surprise Dash with the news and darn was he really surprised. Being the man he should be, he just congratulated them and stayed to be the best friend to his first love who is also now his first heartbreak.

Yes, it hurts. He knows it. And he still chose to be hurt rather than losing her completely.

It has been two years and Dash doesn't know if he still feels the same way about her. For as long as he can remember, he loved Lauren half of his life. But for her, he is just the most loyal best friend she could ever have.

Dash wasn’t really that of a martyr, he actually tried looking for other girls so he went onto blind dates and even clubs. But none caught his attention the way Lauren did.

Not one, until yesterday- the girl with the beige beret and pretty eyes didn't leave his mind.

"But you know," Chace continued to say, bringing Dash back from his trance. "I like the idea of that 'angel' you were talking about. It's just a pity you didn't get to know her name, I haven't seen your dreamy eyes in a long time." The older of the two teased as he copied the way Dash looked when he was describing the girl.

"Chace Anderson! Are you mocking me?" Dash playfully pounced at him, pinning him to the floor and wrestling with him.

"The disrespect, Dion Ashton Bray. I’m still older than you by four years, how dare you tackle me down!" he pushed Dash with force and until they're now reversed and Dash is now beneath him. "Ha! Take that!"

"Hey, that hurt!" He winced, rubbing the back of his head "Oh, you’re really asking for it-" The younger said and as a way of revenge, he lifted his head and stuck his tongue out, reaching Chace’s face making him stand up.

"You’re disgusting!" Chace shouted as Dash hurriedly stood up "Do you want me to do that again?" He teased his half-brother before immediately running away.

"Get back here, you-!"