Stupid Cupid

16: The Right Mistake

- Win's POV -

I can't relax. My fingers fidget and my legs shake.  

I look at my surroundings, and everything seems scarily familiar—the gray skies, the people at the park, and most importantly, the clothes Thitipoom wears right now as he greets his customer with a sweet smile.  

To my right, a few meters away, my boss—whom we, her subordinates, call Madam—is buying coned sorbets from the nearby vendor. You know, the ones with metallic pushcarts that keep the sorbets cold in this tropical weather.  

What's with cupids and sweets, anyway? All I know is that when I came into existence, everyone in the Bureau talked about this delicious dessert humans make and how I need to try it as soon as I step on this earth.  

Which I did.  

And now, I'm addicted to it. Just like everybody else.  

But I don't think even the most delicious and expensive ice cream can calm me right now.  

My eyes roam around, hoping to see the face that I know will calm me down. This is the first time in a very, very long time that I feel unsure that he'll come to save me again.  

"Your Azrali friend isn't coming, Amos 212299."  

I turn toward the voice and see my boss approaching with one cone of sorbet in each hand. She hands me one as she takes a seat beside me on the bench. I watch her take a lick of her dessert.  

"If you're not going to eat it, give it to that kid who's been eyeing me since I sat here," she says, glancing ahead to the cafe.  

I search for the child she's talking about until my eyes find her to my left. A little girl with cute pigtails sits on her mother's lap, engaged in conversation with someone else, her round, pleading eyes on the dessert in my hand.  

I suppose she's too shy to ask her mom to buy her one. So, I smile at her and extend the sorbet toward her.  

My heart calms down as a huge smile appears on her face. She reaches out small hands to take the dessert. "Thank youuuu!" she chirps in her sweet little voice.  

Her mom looks at me, confusion etched on her face.  

I smile back, but she suddenly turns to her kid. "Where did you get it?"  

"From Mr. Handsome!" the child exclaims, pointing at me. I almost pinch her cheeks when her mom snatches the sorbet from her and tosses it on the ground. "From whom did you get it?! Don't go accepting food or anything from strangers, honey, okay? Come on, let me just buy you one," she says as she scoops up her daughter and walks away.  

Huh. I guess my boss is using her magic to keep her mother from seeing us.  

As soon as the mother and daughter leave, fear creeps back in. I look ahead, mimicking my boss' position.  

I know how this is going to end. I will be punished. I will be sent away. Or maybe, even worse, I'll be forced to do something I am not built for.  

I never even said a proper goodbye to Bright.  

I haven't told him many things yet.  

Things like how thankful I am for everything he does for me.  

For helping me solve my problems.  

For helping me escape them.  

For being there when I badly need someone to lean on and rely on.  

For being my friend no matter how annoying I am.  

For not leaving me.  

When the mistake happened weeks ago, yes, I felt really scared. But I had him. That lessened my fear.