Chapter 8: The Crying Girl

Dash let out a sigh as he got out of the school building. He walked slowly thinking about what his father said to him before he left his parents' house this morning.

"Dash, you know I just can't leave the company at its current state. It was the first business that your mother and I started together. Can't you just give me this one, please?"

His parents started a real estate company in the Philippines, Dash was still young then. He was born and raised there, although his parents speak to him in English while growing up, so he is fluent in that language. After he finished middle school, they flew to America and decided to stay permanently. Dash graduated high school and then he went to college, he continued studying in St. Patrick's University where he earned a Masteral degree of Social Science Major in Child Psychology and Education. As a result of his perseverance in learning, he is now a guidance counselor in his alma mater.

Dash wanted to learn about family culture and relationships. He was brought up having a mother, two fathers and a half brother. He always thought it is a normal occurence to all families but as he grew older, he realized that there are families who have only a mother or only a father, some families fight with each other, some put their family above everything else. Those instances formed questions in his head and it made him curious which led him in studying it.

He now gives counseling to students having problems with either at school, their peers or at home. He feels happy whenever he gives hope and encouragement to people because he was always filled with love and care while growing up. His parents and Chace's biological father are in really good terms with each other. Dash is close to his half-brother's father and even calls him 'dad' and so is Chace to Dash's biological father. Their relationship towards one another is really the epitome of a happy family.

Now that their real estate business in the Philippines is not in good shape, his father wants to go back there with her mother and asked Dash to take over their branch here in America while his parents are abroad.

It's not that he didn't want to handle it, but how can he leave the students? His passion molded a big part of him and turned him into the person he is now. Dash wants to think about this huge decision through and through.

He stopped to look around and realized that he was walking along the river across the school. It's a quiet cold morning and it isn't snowing today. Dash then fixed his eyes forward to continue walking but he saw someone running towards him. He doesn't know if the person sees him and as the running figure got closer, he noticed it was a girl.

It looks like she's crying.

Instead of moving to the side to let her pass, Dash's arms automatically opened to catch her.

His long muscular arms caught the lady in baby blue knit-sweater, her head in his chest while his hands were lightly tapping her back "It's okay." he said in a soothing voice, "Just let it out." He rubbed her back tenderly and he just can't help but smell her hair that was just under his nose. She smells like strawberries and Dash's heart swells as her uncontrollable sobs get louder.

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Cara was running and didn't bother to know where she was going nor does she care if people saw her like this. She ran until she was stopped by someone and at the back of her mind, she wanted to pull away but her heart was warm with the person's hold.

"It's okay. Just let it out." The stranger said.

The voice was calming and convincing that she didn't have any second thoughts and cried her heart out. The hand at her back was easing her feelings as she cried and felt her raging insides calm down.

When she stopped sobbing she was still in the stranger's embrace. Still looking down, she slowly left his arms "I'm sorry for bothering you." Cara said, wiping her tears away and then she was surprised to see a familiar face when she looked up.