After crying her heart out, Elise dried her tears and decided to get out of the car. She was surprised when she saw it was already night time when she finished. Her eyes landed on the figure sitting on the car’s hood that was playing in his phone.

“Hey.” she called.

“Oh, you’re done.” Dylan put down his phone and faced her. “Do you feel better now?”

“Yeah. Uhm, I’m sorry for dragging you in this. I just really needed to let it out.”

“Are you going to tell me what happened? Who made you cry?” Elise didn’t answer and just sat on the hood of the car as well. “It’s okay if you won’t tell me. But let me remind you, sometimes it’s much better to tell people of your worries so that you can feel better.”

“You don’t have to worry about that. It was just a blast form the past and I happen to be unguarded about it.” Elise scoffed. “I can’t believe I’m still affected about it. I thought I already got over it.”

“I see. Are you going to tell Seth about it?’ he asked.

“Of course not! Seth is still a teenager and I want him to enjoy it.”

“By the way, even for a single mother, you raised your son well.”

“Where is this coming from?” she asked in return.

“I’m talking about Kyle. After our parents died he just closed himself off and became rebellious. Seth changed that, for reasons unknown to me. But I’m sure it was because of Seth.” Dylan smirked. “I’ve never seen him study that hard these last few years. I feel like a useless brother when I couldn’t even make him open up. But ever since he met Seth and they became study-buddies, Kyle has changed. He has become more outgoing and cheerful. And his grades ae also starting to improve. So, I really want to thank Seth and by extension you.”

“Hmm… I couldn’t argue with that, so, you’re welcome.”

The two looked up to the night sky and watched the stars. Elise couldn’t believe it but she was actually enjoying Dylan’s company. She had been too caught up with her work and trying not to slip in front of Ryan, she didn’t realize how good it was to just relax.

“Hey Elise.”

“Hmm?”

“I like you.”

Elise froze. Dylan said what just now?

“Pardon?” she inquired.

“I like you.”

Elise never thought she would hear those words again after all these years.

“Ever since the first time I met you back when we were called to the school because Seth and Kyle got into trouble. It was love at first sight. I probably sound too cheesy for someone already in his thirties but I really like you, no it’s more than just like. And I hope… you’d give me the chance to show how genuine I am about it.” he smiled. “And if you’re worried about how I’d feel about Seth, don’t worry about it. We’ll get along just fine.”

She glanced at him skeptically. All these years many men had expressed their interest on her but after finding out that she had as on, they’d immediately run away. But then this guy showed up. He knew she was a single mother and yet, he still expressed his interest on her.

“If I say no, will you stop?” she asked.

“Nope. I’m only telling you in advance that I’m going to court you.”

“Suit yourself.” Elise glanced at her watch and saw it was already quite late at night. “We should go. Seth and I are going somewhere tomorrow for the weekend.”

“Can Kyle and I come with you?”

“No.”

When they reached Dylan’s house, the two boys were already asleep in Kyle’s room. Their notebooks, workbooks and textbooks were scattered all over the bed and floor. The two were obviously exhausted since they didn’t even budge when Elise and Dylan tried to wake them up.

“Ah, Kyle mentioned they had a physical fitness test today.” Dylan said. “And a basketball game? I think.”

“A basketball game?” Elise questioned. “If it’s basketball, Seth won’t back down either. Do you think you can… help me with…”

Dylan immediately realized what Elise was trying to say. He agreed and proceeded to lift Seth from the bed and give him a piggy back ride to his car. Elise picked up her son’s things. But before she went out the room, she went to Kyle’s sleeping form and patted his head.

“Thank you for being Seth’s friend.” she whispered.

Once they reached Elise’s home, she tried to wake her son up but he only groaned and continued sleeping. She sighed as she remembered how much of a heavy sleeper Seth was.

“I can carry him up to his room.”

“Please do. Thank you.” Elise said awkwardly.

Dylan placed Seth carefully on the bed and took off his shoes and blazer while he was at it. He used to do it for Kyle whenever his younger brother would come home late and go straight to bed without changing.

Elise was seeing him off the door.

“Thank you again for this.”

“You’re welcome. If you need anything just tell me, okay?”

He was about to leave but…

“Hey Mr. Zhou!”

“Hmm? Oh, you can call me Dylan.”

“Right. Uhm… If you really want to come with us tomorrow, I can send you the address of the cabin Seth and I will be staying at. I’ll pack extra food too, for you and Kyle.”

Dylan couldn’t help but smile brightly and agreed. He felt so happy at the invitation and was very excited.

Elise closed the door once she had made sure Dylan had driven away. There was a warm feeling in her chest and she couldn’t help but smile. She hadn’t felt that way in a long time.

“I guess my spring has come.”

***

Ryan was annoyed. It was a Saturday, and he had no schedule. She wanted to invite Elise out for lunch but his calls weren’t getting through.

“The number you have dialed is out of the coverage area. Please try again later.”

“What the- Isn’t she supposed to be my handler? She has to be available for me to call twenty-four seven!” he exclaimed. His eyes caught Vin who was carrying his luggage inside his apartment. “Hey Vin, do you know where Elise live?”

“Miss Li? I don’t. I think the president does.”

“Should I give her a surprise visit?” he wondered.

“Why? Ah, I just remembered. She filed a leave for two days for the weekend.”

“Huh? Why?”

“I think she was going out on camping.”

Ryan stood up abruptly. He remembered Elise had always liked camping out.

“Where? Who is she with?”

“I don’t know. She told me that if you need anything, just send her an email. She’ll check it out once she has the time. Also, if you can solve it yourself, just do it.”

He couldn’t help but sigh in disbelief. For a handler, Elise was very willful. It was a first time for him to be neglected by his very own handler. And the fact that he was worried about her because of what happened the previous day, he wanted to see if she was okay. He swore he saw her on the brink of crying that time.

“I guess she’s fine. She’s out camping after all.” he muttered.

Ryan’s phone suddenly rang.

“Hello?”

“Hey Ryan.”

“Jed? What made you call?”

Jed Feng was a music producer who used to work with him on his albums. They were also close friends.

“It’s about the charity ball next week. I figured I have to remind you because I know you’re very busy.”

“Ah, the ball. Yeah. Don’t worry I’ll be there.”

“Great! Don’t forget to bring a plus one, okay?”

“Sure Jed.”

Ryan hung up the call and grimaced. Where the hell would he find his plus one?

***

Elise watched happily as Kyle and Seth started playing tag while swimming in the lake. The mother-son duo and Zhou brothers drove to a mountain forest not that far from Shanghai. Elise had rented a cabin that was near the lake because she knew Seth loved swimming. It turned out Kyle loved swimming as well. Just recently, the two teenagers were competing who was the faster swimmer between the two of them but they got into an argument and started playing tag instead.

“Elise! I found the meat!” Dylan exclaimed and headed to the spot where Elise was preparing to cook barbecue.

“That’s great! Can you finish setting this up? I’ll marinate it.”

“Okay.”

Dylan couldn’t hide his happiness at the turn of events. On his part, he had been too busy at running the company his parents left him that he had no time to go out on a trip or just spent some time with his brother. It was also probably one of the reasons why Kyle became closed off and distant from him. But with Elise and Seth’s arrival, everything changed. For the better and he was hoping it would continue.

That night, the four sat around a bonfire. Seth and Kyle were arguing again, for the hundredth time, while Elise and Dylan just watched the two with smiles on their faces.

“I’ve never seen Kyle act like this. He has really found a good friend.” Dylan commented.

“Me too. Seth has always been mindful of his conduct around other people. Even I thought he is too mature for his own age. But seeing him like this with Kyle it reminded me that Seth is still a teenager and I’m very thankful that he seems to be enjoying his youth now.” Elise turned to Dylan. “I know we had a rough start but I’m happy meeting you and your brother.”

“Same here. So about me courting you…”

“Keep at it first. I still have to know more about you. Plus, Seth has to approve of you first.”

Dylan froze. He just realized something.

“Does that mean you like me too? So if Seth approves of me we’ll officially be dating?”

“Keep at it Dylan.”

“I can Deal with that.”

Dylan became even more determined to win Elise’s heart and Seth’s favor. But a thought passed his mind when he caught Seth’s side view. It looked a lot like someone he knew…

“Hey Elise, can I ask who’s Seth’s dad?” he asked. “I’m not trying to pry or anything. I’m just curious. But if you don’t want to talk about it, it’s also fine.”

“It’s fine. I’m already over it anyway. But I can’t just tell you who his father is. That guy loves his privacy too much. And his reputation.”

“Is that why you were the only one that raised Seth?”

“Yeah.”

He decided to just leave it at that. Dylan didn’t want to break the momentum they were having. He just wanted to enjoy the two day vacation he was having with the person closest to him and the people he want to be close to him.

The next week. On Monday, Elise was greeted by Ryan who suddenly showed up in her office.

“You went camping?” he asked. “Why didn’t you invite me? You knew I was free.”

Elise sighed and looked at him with an annoyed expression.

“Ryan, I work with you on many things. I even have to clean up your mess for you sometimes. Can’t I have some me time?” she asked in return.

This made Ryan shut up, but he regained his bearings.

“So, who did you go with?”

“That’s none of your concern.” she retorted.

“Tell me already.”

“I went with Dylan Zhou and his brother. Happy?”

“Dyl- Dylan Zhou? And his brother?” he squeaked.

He didn’t know why but hearing her going to a camping trip with another man, who was younger than her nonetheless, somehow made him uncomfortable.

“You didn’t do anything right?”

“Are you crazy? We had a teenager with us!”

“So, are you two dating now?”

“Why do you care?” Elise replied. “Look, I told you let’s stay professional. So let’s be professional, Stay away from my private life.”

Elise shoved three sets of scripts to him. “I gave it a read, and these three looks interesting. It totally fits you to a T. Try to see which one you would want to do.”

“Hey Elise!”

“What?”

“There’s a charity ball in two days and I have a plus one. Can you come with me?” Ryan asked.

“Why?”

“Many directors, producers, actors and influential people will be there. You need to broaden your scope right? Come with me and I can introduce you to them.”

Elise only nodded then said; “I’ll meet you at your apartment.”

“No, I’ll fetch you from your home.”

She immediately got nervous. She had to make sure Ryan wouldn’t go to her house.

“No, I’ll come to your apartment. My house is at the edge of the city. We might be late because of traffic if we head there first.” she explained.

“Oh. Then, I guess you can come to my apartment. I’ll head out now.”

“Sure.”

Elise released a sigh of relief. She was thankful Ryan wasn’t the type of person who would push a topic deeper. She managed to stop him from coming to her house.