Chapter 9

"The girl's name is Tatiana Marie Salazar. She's a wedding coordinator and events host. Being someone in the wedding industry, she is a believer of love and destiny and happy ever after. Typical incurable romantic." Joshua and Ria are in his abyss blue pearl Subaru Ascent right now. They are parked just outside Macabulos Park. Ria is discussing their next mission. "The guy is William 'Billy' Ibañez, a licensed architect who is slowly gaining popularity for his beautiful designs. He is the opposite of Tati, when it comes to love, that is. The plan is for Tati to change his views when it comes to relationship and commitment." "So, what's the plan?" Joshua asked Ria. "We need to shoot the arrow to Billy's heart. Or rather, YOU need to shoot the arrow." "What? Why me?" Joshua suddenly felt alarmed. "Consider it an on-the-job training," answered Ria. "So that you can experience how to shoot the arrow while I'm with you. It's hard to do it alone for the first time, right?" "Yes, but… what if I make a mistake?" He remembered what she told him last night. "That's why I'm here to guide you. I will tell you when you need to shoot Billy." Oh well… Joshua took a deep breath to calm himself. Ria took out her Cupid Phone and opened the Mail app. "Here is where you can get the arrows." She opened the email that contains the mission for Billy and Tati. "Each email containing your mission has an attachment, the bow and the arrows. You just need to download them, and then…" Ria downloaded the email attachments. After that, she clicked on them and two small capsules dropped from the Cupid Phone. "This is the arrow." Ria held out her hand containing the capsules, and in an instant a bow and arrow emerged. Joshua felt amazed that he forgot his anxiety earlier. "Are you ready?" Joshua just nodded. The two went out of the car and proceeded to Macabulos Park. They immediately saw Tati sitting on a concrete bench on the side of the park. They stayed at a safe distance behind some bushes that serves as ornaments of the place. And because there aren't many people around, they are free to watch her without a random fan approaching them. "So, what is going to happen?" Joshua asked. "Why is she alone? Is she going to meet him?" "Yes," Ria answered. "She's going to ask him to take their relationship to the next level." But of course. Joshua already knows who their mission is, and what they have to do. But he just realized that he still doesn't know the story of the two. "Wait… Are they friends?" Ria looked at him and nodded. "Yes. Friends… with benefits." "What?" Joshua felt his blood pressure spiked. "What's wrong?" "What's wrong? You're asking me what's wrong? Ria, they are friends with benefits." "Why does it sound like it's my fault?" "You accepted this mission, knowing about the background of the story?" "Josh… Okay, maybe we don't approve of their… arrangement… But this is a mission given to me." "Why didn't you decline it? Don't tell me it's a Grand mission?" "It is." "Oh, good!" Joshua said sarcastically. Ria looked at him intently. "You don't approve of their arrangement. Me neither. And that is exactly why I accepted this mission." Joshua looked at her. "I do not approve of how they started, but you know what's more important than the beginning? It's how their story progressed to happy ever after. Just like you, I hate this type of relationship so much, and if this is how I could change that, then I would gladly take it." Joshua understands that. And just like Ria, if there's a way he could make things better, to make things right, then he would do it. Somehow, he's glad he's become a Cupid, because this might give him more chance to do just that. Billy arrived, and he immediately sat beside Tati. They look like ordinary friends or acquaintances, if only Joshua could not see the connecting red threads on their chests. "I wonder what they're talking about?" "Why don't we listen?" asked Ria. She then took her AirPods from her handbag. "What are those?" Joshua asked her. He knows they are AirPods, but he's confident they are not normal AirPods. "Oh! Where is your phone?" Joshua gave his Cupid Phone to Ria. She opened the Apple Store app and searched for AirPods. When they appeared on the screen, Ria clicked them and they suddenly dropped from the Cupid Phone, just like the capsule earlier. Ria gave the AirPods to Joshua. "Sorry, I forgot." Joshua put on the AirPods. "I feel like I'm a real detective. And a gossip at the same time." Ria giggled. "You said you want to listen." And the two listened to Tati and Billy's conversation. "I'm guessing you didn't ask me to go here and meet you because you want to listen to my stories about my clients, right?" Billy asked Tati. Tati did not answer. She just continued looking in front, just like how she was when Billy was telling her about his problem client. "Tats!" Tati looked at Billy. She didn't say anything, but Billy kind of sensed something is up. Something he's not happy about. "Billy… I know when we had this arrangement, I know the limits that we have." Billy shook his head, somehow sensing where this conversation is heading to. Heck, he really doesn't want what's coming! "It was just pure… casual…" Tati swallowed, her eyes starting to well up. "Tati…" Billy looked at her unsmiling. "Billy… can… can't we…" Billy shook his head. "We can't." Tati started crying. "You know I'm not the commitment type," Billy said. "From the beginning, I told you I don't want labels. I don't want a real relationship. I don't want feelings to get involved. I just wanted a hookup. A one-night stand. And it's just what it was – a one-night stand that lasted too long." Tati cried harder. Joshua can feel the pain that Billy's words caused her, and he hates him for that. If only he could land his fist on that smug face of him. "I can't…" Tati choked. "I can't continue not having feelings anymore." "Are you saying that if we won't take it to the next level, then it's over?" Tati tearfully nodded. Billy looked at her, and Joshua hoped that he would somehow say they could try to be more than what they are right now. That they could try to be a real couple, with feelings involved and labels and commitment. But it wasn't what Billy has in mind. "Then, I'm sorry." Billy stood up and then turned his back on Tati. "He's a jerk!" Joshua commented as he watched Billy leave. "Yes, he is. But, Josh!" Joshua looked at Ria, and that's when he remembered what he needs to do. He scrambled pointing the arrow on Billy's back, then felt his arms shake as he tried to focus it on his target. "Focus! You can do this." But he didn't. He wasn't able to shoot the arrow. Ria's encouraging words didn't help with his nerves. He wasn't able to shoot the arrow until Billy got inside his car. "And, you missed it." Joshua could feel the disappointment in Ria's words, as well as his disappointment on himself. He felt so down he just sat on the concrete floor of the park. "I can't do it." "Yes, you can." Joshua looked up to Ria. "Nerves. It happens all the time," Ria said. Joshua looked at the bow and arrow he's holding. Just when will his nerves leave him? "Let's go." Joshua looked up. "Where?" "We'll follow Billy." Before he could answer, Ria started walking away. But she didn't go to Joshua's car. Instead, she went to Tati and gave her a handkerchief. Because Joshua still has his AirPods he can clearly hear the conversation of the two. "I saw you crying, and so I thought, you'll need this." Tati reluctantly took the handkerchief. "Whatever happened to you, I'm sure that things will get better." Tati shook her head. "I'm not so sure…" "Why did you say that? Isn't it that life is like that?" "It has ended… It's over…" "Every end is a new beginning." Tati looked at Ria. The latter smiled. "You seem to be a sensible person. I know you'll make it through this." And with that, Ria left Tati. Joshua followed her and they went inside his car together. "Where is Billy going?" Joshua asked. "Let's see." Ria opened the Maps app on her Cupid Phone. In an instant, they located Billy's car. Joshua followed it as it pulled over Sam's Tavern. While getting out of the car, Ria was talking on her Cupid Phone. Joshua didn't bother knowing who she's talking to because he was busy chasing Billy as he went to the entrance of the bar. Suddenly an old woman intercepted Billy. The old woman was a beggar and he begged Billy for alms, which he gave her. Joshua saw that opportunity to shoot the arrow, and alas! The arrow went straight to Billy's back. Joshua saw that Billy was stunned when the arrow hit his back. Maybe he felt it somehow? After a few seconds of stopping, he entered Sam's Tavern again. "Good job, Cupid! You just made your first shot." Joshua looked at Ria who is now beside him. "Now I can say that you're ready for your first mission." "Just got lucky," Joshua said. "Good thing is that old woman suddenly appeared." "No, it's not luck." Joshua was surprised. He suddenly realized what just happened. He looked at the direction where the old woman went. "It was Billy's Guardian." Joshua looked at Ria. "She's the one you were talking to earlier?" "Yup," Ria said with a nod. "I figured you'll get nervous again, so I asked help. It's effective, right?" Joshua looked at the entrance of Sam's Tavern. It definitely helped. "Ri…" "Hmn?" "Can you promise me one thing?" Ria frowned. "What is it?" Joshua looked at her. "Promise me that you'll make him fall in love with her so hard he'll regret he made her cry today." Ria smiled confidently. "I promise." Joshua is sure that Ria will do a good job with Tati and Billy's case, but he just wants to make sure the jerk will get a taste of his own medicine, and that Tati's happiness will exceed the pain that she's feeling right now. He promised himself that he will take every opportunity given to him to help people get the happy ever after that they deserve.