Cupid's Angel

chapter ii.

"So," I started whilst tracing the veins on Noah's arm. We were on his bed, me in between his legs and his arms around my torso.

"So, princess," He replied, kissing my forehead.

I grinned, letting it falter shortly after; "We have exams soon, which means I won't be seeing you at all really..."

"Why not?"

"For starters, studying is a thing. And, actually, we should be studying right now. I mean, I should've started last week already but with these assignments and tests and tutorials and everything else, I just can't keep up. The law faculty-"

"Babe. It's university. You only need fifty percent, fifty-one is one too many."

I tried to hide the gobsmacked look on my face, not that he could see it anyway considering he was behind me. My snooty law-studying self couldn't help but think: and that's exactly why you're doing a BA.

"Yes, but you know I'm aiming for Cum Laude and the Dean's list," I said after I managed to collect myself.

"Sorry, sometimes I forget I'm dating Miss Goody Two Shoes."

He said it as a joke, but I could hear the underlying vindictiveness in his voice. I chose to ignore it, it wasn't the first time in our three months of dating that something like this had happened. In fact, it happened quite often. I tried to address it once but all I got in return was; "You're just being dramatic, my tone of voice means nothing." and; "It's so like you to be this excessive. Not everything needs to be analyzed and dramatized." So, of course, I let it go.

-

I was outside the Wilson's building waiting for Noah. It was Thursday afternoon meaning we had introduction to university writing, a lecture I was really not planning on attending ever again. Did someone say Waste my Time 2k19? I sat on one of the grey stone benches, puffing on my vape and scrolling through videos on my phone when I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye. An old, unkempt man strolled toward me lazily, a half-toothed smile adorning his wrinkled face. I made no effort to move away.

"Afternoon," he greeted politely.

"Afternoon," I smiled back at him.

"This weather is killing me. It's so hot!"

"Yeah!" I responded enthusiastically, "You should take off your sweater, you'll feel better."

"I wish I could, but you see," he rolled up his tattered shirt sleeve, showing me the scabs on his arms, "I have eczema and I can't be in the sun without covering up."

Buy some Epimax from the chemist, I wanted to say, my mom and brother both have eczema too. Only I knew he couldn't afford to so all I said was, "Wow. I'm so sorry."

"Oh, it's okay," he responded, drawing out his vowels, "I sell pens, pencils and highlighters on campus because I know students often need them, but today business has been really slow. I've been staying at the homeless shelter a few miles from here, I've been there for about three weeks now. Today I've only had three slices of bread, I'm very hungry. Can you please offer me a donation, anything you can afford, and take some stationery in return?"

I looked at the worn, elderly man in front of me, my soft, sensitive heart crumbling in my chest; "Of course. But I don't need any stationery. Here," I offered him whatever I could scrounge from my purse, R10, "It's really all I have, I wish I could help you more."

"R10? Are you sure? That's quite a lot of money. Here, please take something, even just a pencil."

"No, I'm really okay," I answered, thinking about how he'd need to buy new stock quicker if I'd taken an item, "You enjoy your day, okay? I hope sales start picking up, but in the meantime, you should get something to eat."