Worst Cupid Ever

Strange Eyes

Ada craned her neck, her eyes widening with disbelief and awe. The One Up High had to be as tall as the division building. No, even taller. Was this how small creatures felt when gazing up at humans? His long dark hair and blue robe swished as he turned Ada's way.

"Woah, your eyes are so... strange." Ada slapped a hand over her mouth when she realised what she just said. She offered a sharp bow. "I'm so sorry, One Up High. Your eyes are perfect."

Laughter boomed around Ada, the sound instantly calming her panicking mind and making her shoulders relax.

"My eyes are strange." Laughter still coated his voice. "How so? And you can stand up straight. No need to apologise."

When Ada did as he said, she blinked in surprise. He was no longer freakishly tall, but appeared as a regular tall human. There was an aura around him that Ada could sense but not see. And his eyes. She tilted her head as she peered at them. They were like sapphires holding ticking, sparkling gears. So strange.

Ada blinked, only then noticing how rudely she had been staring. She wanted to apologise again, but he turned away with a smile and began strolling. To where?

Where was this place? One glance around, and she was disappointed with what she found: a stretch of white as far as her eyes could see.

"Pretty austere, isn't it?" One Up High said as he continued ahead, with his hands held at his back and movement measured and graceful. For some strange reason, Ada wanted to copy him. Talk like him, too. Was this what human children felt when they observed their parents? The One Up High was her creator, after all.

Ada held her hands at her back like he did and tried to match his pace. "Austere?"

He hummed. "Bland. Plain. Boring to look at. I saw the look on your face when you looked around. Were you expecting more?"

Releasing an awkward laugh, Ada massaged the back of her neck. "Yes, I was."

The One Up High laughed again. "Always so honest, this one."

A cherry blossom tree appeared ahead on a grassy patch of land, along with a sparkling pond and a wooden bridge arched over it.

"Woah," Ada hurried over the bridge. "This is so not plain."

Soon they were seated on the grass, and a spread of tea and cookies materialised between them. This should feel strange, but all Ada felt was ease and familiarity.

"Why does this feel familiar?" Ada mumbled as she grabbed a cookie and took a bite. "So good." Even the cookie tasted familiar.

"I have never read the word 'please' that many times in a single audience request," One Up High said as he brought his cup to his lips.

Ada's face warmed. Yup, she may have gone overboard with her request and littered her letter up with all the placatory words she could cram into one audience request. She and Teddy were only about 2% sure the One Up High would give an audience.

Frowning into her cup, Ada shook her head. "Not that I'm a tattletale, but Luke took my friend's wings and I was desperate. But I just learnt it isn't against the rules to do that. Still, can you help Haruto, please?"

"How curious." The One Up High observed her with those strange eyes. "Do you not have a trial coming up? Should you not plead for yourself as well?"

The cookies turned to sand on Ada's tongue. What was she doing feeling so relaxed? Dropping her half-eaten cookie on the plate, Ada knelt and stared down at her hands resting on her lap. "I hurt humans. The rules concerning this is clear. But Haruto—"

"Haruto also hurt a human. It may seem like Luke overreacted, but he could argue that he was acting within the bounds of the law and win."

"But your word is higher than the law. If you could just intervene—"

"I admire your concern for your friend, but do you know your assignment isn't over? There is still a major hurdle Genevieve and Raymond must pass. You should concern yourself with that."

"But my trial—"

"Stop worrying." The One Up High ruffled her hair. "Do you know why your wings are the way they are?"

"Please, tell me." Ada had never given a reply so fast in her existence. "That's the biggest question of my life."

Chuckling, the One Up High leaned against the tree and folded his arms across his chest. "When I sent your pod to the Helmets, I told them to not mind your flaws. And every time they send a message up whenever one of your matches goes wrong, I tell them to remember my note. You are part guardian."

"No way!" Springing to her feet, Ada summoned her wings and gazed at them with new eyes. No wonder they were ridiculously large and could make stuff invisible.

"Among guardians, cupids, rifters, fortunas, and a host of others," a dark pink blossom fell on the One Up High's open palm, "rollicks are those who do not fit into a single class."

"But I'm a terrible cupid," Ada said with a bleak laugh. "What's the point of doing something I'm terrible at? Maybe I would have done better as a guardian."

"You are where you are meant to be, Ada," One Up High said with a gentle voice. "Some lineages must exist. If some humans do not end up together, certain key things in the future may not occur. And if a person with a destined lineage dies, that's not good. Rollicks are important in every class because they take care of such unique instances where classes cross."

"Oh." Ada grew mute, then almost immediately, questions burst in her head. "What about Haruto? What is he?"

"He is part rifter and cupid," One Up High answered casually.

"But he hurt his assignment."

"Yes, he did as he was supposed to. There was a bigger picture—a picture Luke could not see and I do not fault him for that."

Ada pouted. "You should totally fault him. Dude's a grinch."

"Such a delight to be around," One Up High said with a smile that caused his eyes to shine in the kindest, most brilliant way. "Alright." He stood and offered Ada a hand. "I'll help you help Haruto."

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Hurray to the 40th chapter of Worst Cupid Ever. 

Mahn, I've come a long way. From writing this story alongside Nezzar to running away from it because I felt its premise was wack, then coming back in when I remembered my mantra: "We finish what we start where I come from." 

Ahem, it may interest you to know that this mantra does not work all the time... *my pile of abandoned WIP staring at me with rivulets of tears running down their faces*

As Wattpad evolves, I've noticed something about me as a writer--I am like the unbending iroko tree. For the life of me, I find it hard to jump into popular tropes. I can't stand stories about toxic men, werewolves (there was a time I enjoyed them but that was several years ago) or sports romance. But the reincarnation/regression trope got me though. But that's more of Manhwa's doing than popular stories on Wattpad. I think about that trope and a thousand story ideas flood my mind.

Anyhoo, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. The next chapter shall have our recovering sir Grumpypants aka Ray of Sunshine boss. 

Don't forget to vote and comment. I love those.