Worst Cupid Ever

This Is Bad

"Ray asked me to be his girlfriend, and I said yes."

"You're joking?" Maria's voice rose a notch, all traces of sleep gone. "Raymond Dominic is your boyfriend."

"Yup."

Maria laughed the loud belly kind that forced Genevieve to pull the phone from her ear. "I told you, didn't I? I have an eye for couples. I'm a freakin' cupid, yo! Ha."

Genevieve laughed. Maria sounded even more excited than she did.

"It's going to be wild at the office. I'll be watching you guys with binoculars."

"You weirdo." Genevieve laughed again. Maria was the absolute worst and best all at once.

"Must you go to that IDP camp? Just come back already, jor. I miss you."

"I have to see Chima. I told you why."

"Would I sound like the devil if I told you not to see him? That dude has some screws loose."

Genevieve shook her head. "Don't say that. I planned to stay for three days but cut it to one. After I see him and give relief materials, I'll bounce. Happy?" And Maria wouldn't understand. Chima wasn't always a daredevil.

Maria paused for a moment before speaking. "Viv, I think that guy is in love with you."

Genevieve made a face and swatted Maria's ridiculous comment. "Nah. Maybe when I was eighteen, not now. We dated and it was a disaster." They didn't even last up to three months. And if he loved her as Maria claimed, he would have listened to her and stopped risking his life across the globe.

"Denial is strong with this one." Maria sighed. "Anyway," excitement returned to her voice, "tell me how it went. How did he ask you?"

***

Ada tried to see her division with new eyes even as Haruto darted about the garden, oohing and ahhing at Bo's unique statues and the general layout. When they landed some minutes back, it had been exciting to watch Haruto take in the main building with wide eyes and a slack jaw.

"Woah! It's bigger than the Northern Division. And the architecture." He gawked at the Colosseum-styled building before whipping out his logger thingy and taking a selfie of both of them in front of the Division. Ada obliged with a big grin, even though guilt nibbled at her conscience. How would she get him to see the Helmets without sounding sneaky?

Though it was entertaining watching Haruto turn into a total tourist for the Division's exterior, Ada was more curious to see his reaction when they got inside. "Come on," Ada called after him. "Let's go in."

Haruto flashed to her side and eyed the tall doors with misgiving. "You sure this is okay?"

"Sure." Ada swung an arm over his shoulders and directed him straight for the door. "Just act natural. No one would know you're not from the Division."

The door opened to a high-ceiling lobby with LED screens scrolling announcements, sleek white benches scattered about, trim indoor flowerbeds and wide corridors that led to the Divisions' districts. Ahead was a giant mosaic depicting numerous cupids gazing at a bright humanoid form. Ada could never tell if the One Up High was male or female.

"Woah." Haruto gazed up at the numerous cupids flying above, some chatting as they went, while some paused mid-air and scrolled through their logger. It appeared a tad chaotic, but there was also an order to their movement. No cupid bumped into each other up there. And on the ground as well.

"Isn't it weird that we're the only ones walking?"

"Nah. They know I hardly ever fly."

"But—"