Chapter 3

Destiny might not be a popular name, but Joshua had met some women who were named as such. That is why it is not unusual that the name of the girl in front of him right now is Destiny.

But what he could not fathom is when she said that she is Fate.

"Sometimes, it's Kismet; but I like the other one better – Serendipity. It's just so chic," the girl said to Joshua.

"What?" He is really confused at what she said.

"Whatever! Just call me Destiny. That's what you're familiar with, for sure… Just remember that I am the path that a person takes in life. Destiny. Fate."

Joshua looked at her as if she's someone crazy or deranged.

"Miss, are you really okay?"

"Huh?"

"Maybe your brain got messed up, you know? When we rolled on the ground." Joshua is sure he's okay. He has performed that stunt a lot of times in movies and teleseryes he has done, so he is quite used to it. But the girl, though, seems affected by it.

"Hey! I'm not crazy!"

"You told me you are Destiny…"

"I am! Don't you believe me?"

"How can I believe you? You're a… human!"

"I'm not human," the girl said. "I just took a human form to make it easy for you to talk to me. Imagine talking to the wind. You really would look stupid like that."

Joshua still could not believe what she said. How can this girl be the Fate?

"I know you're confused right now. That's just normal. That's how it really is. It's hard to believe, but what you're seeing is real. It's really me, Destiny, Fate."

Joshua gaped at the woman, quite bewildered at what she just said. He doesn't know if his head was damaged when they fell on the side of the road, or what the girl in front of him is saying is really just confusing.

"Okay. Let me explain everything. But, you do believe in destiny, don't you?"

Joshua nodded.

"Okay… Every person has their own destiny, fate, and it is written in their Book of Life. I was created by God to help Him write those destinies… Do you get that?"

"Yes, but…"

"But…?"

"Does that mean that... you're an angel?"

"No, I'm not an angel. I'm not a spirit either. I'm just... a being."

Joshua seemed even more confused by what she said.

"Okay! Let's put it this way. You know the Holy Spirit?"

Joshua nodded. He might not be religious, but he still knows the basics of the religion he belongs.

"Let's just say I'm like that. I was sent here on earth for a mission."

Joshua is starting to understand everything a little. He actually doesn't know why he feels so calm and relaxed despite the absurdity of everything that's going on right now.

"Now, let me explain why you are talking to me right now," the girl said. "Do you notice the surroundings?"

Joshua looked around.

"Let's just say that we are inside a spacetime warp. Please don't make me explain what it is because it's very technical. I'm not Einstein. I just want you to understand that we are in a different dimension. Whatever you're experiencing right now is not what the real world sees. That truck, it's not real."

Joshua looked at the girl in shock, and then he looked at the truck.

"What I mean is, it's real but I just made it."

Joshua looked at the girl again. "Ha?"

"It was just a test. I just needed to know who has a pure heart and who cares about other people."

"You mean that person has to die to save others?"

"Not really, but that is the greatest sacrifice, right? Remember that all the sins of the world have been washed away because Someone sacrificed His life for mankind?"

"How sure are you that a person's heart is pure just because he saved you? Just because of that sacrifice? Even a bad person can do that on impulse."

"I know that, but knowing you, I know you have not gravely sinned since you were born. Yes, you might have done wrong but that could be washed away by the sacrifice you made."

"You really know me that much, huh? Even the sins I made?"

"Of course," the girl said. She opened her palm facing up, then a book suddenly appeared. "Let's see."

The girl opened the book while Joshua gaped at her in shock.

"Hmm… most of your sins include lying, swearing… as an expression… copying in class during… elementary… then on high school… once… twice… did you even study when you're in high school?"

"I'm not the only one who did that! Every one of us!" Joshua defended himself.

The girl read the book.

"You're right." She looked back at Joshua. "Did your class study during high school?"

Joshua grimaced. "You didn't go to high school, that is why you don't know."

The girl shrugged, then closed the book which suddenly vanished from her hand.

And Joshua is shocked once again.

"Joshua, I'm confident that you can fulfill the task that I'll give you. Every person makes a mistake sometimes. Everyone has sins. If that will be my basis, then I won't be able to find someone who could help me in what I need to do. Remember, even saints are sinners at one point of their lives."

Joshua still can't understand everything that's happening, but there's something about this woman that makes him feel calm and serene. Because of that, he was able to listen and eventually believe her.

"But before that, there is something that you need to know about a person's destiny."

They were instantly transferred to a high place. Joshua could see the whole city, the buildings and the roads, the vehicles and the people walking by. The girl is still beside him, and both of them are looking down below.

"I already explained to you about a person's fate; that in this world, you have your own destinies assigned to you before you were even born. Of course, we need to see where you would be placed in this universe, the role you have to fulfill in this world."

"But that doesn't mean that your fate is definite," Destiny continued. "What I mean is, it can change depending on how you will live your life. Each person has this so called free will, and that is my biggest problem."

Joshua looked at the girl beside him.

"It depends if the person is good or bad. If that person is good, he will be rewarded. His destiny will be great. If he is bad, then the opposite will happen. If there is something that you like so much, when He sees that you deserve it, it will come to you at the right time."

"He?"

"The Creator. You know, He's very kind. He gave humans free will, and your fate could change depending on how you live your life here on earth. Isn't that the kindest thing?"

Joshua is aware of that. Not once did he witness the kindness of the Lord.

"This world follows an order, and that is my responsibility as Destiny. But, there are others who help me fulfill it."

Suddenly, the surrounding changed again. The two were transferred to a hospital. They were surrounded by random people, from patients to watchers to medical staff and other hospital employees.

Destiny started walking, and Joshua has no choice but to follow her. They went to the nursery which at that time is full of newborn babies.

"The Guardians; or, as humans call them, guardian angels."

A nurse went inside the nursery. She is carrying a newborn and she placed the baby on an empty bassinet. When the baby is all good, the nurse went out again. Suddenly, a man dressed in all white appeared. He looked at the baby and judging from his appearance, Joshua concluded that he is not a hospital staff.

"Even before a child is born, a Guardian is already assigned to make sure that that person's destiny is fulfilled."

The woman walked again, and Joshua followed suit. This time, they went to the ICU. A person is about to leave the world for good, and his loved one is crying beside him.

"The second are the Reapers, or the angels of death. You fondly call them the grim reapers."

A creature in black clothes watched the patient as he dies. Joshua shivered at the sight.

Destiny walked again, with Joshua following her.

"So, what do they have to do with the task you are giving me?" Joshua asked as he follows her.

"Let's just say that you'll be like the Guardians and the Reapers."

"I'll be an angel?" Now, that doesn't seem so bad.

"You can't be an angel, Dude. Angels were never humans."

"So... what?"

The girl stopped and turned to face him. "You will be a Cupid."

"Cupid?" Joshua does not know if what he heard was true, or if he heard it wrong.

But Destiny confirmed it. "Yes. Cupid."

"Okay… Aren't cupids angels? You know, those babies in diaper, holding a bow and arrow. Then they will shoot the hearts of two people to make them fall in love with each other?"

"Too much pop culture," the girls said. "Come here. Come with me so that I could explain better."

They went to the emergency room of the hospital. At that time, the ER is crowded with a lot of patients and watchers. Of course, the nurses and doctors are also there.

"Every person has a so-called red thread."

The girl raised her hand and snapped her fingers. Instantly, red colored strings appeared connecting the hearts of every person in the ER. Each person has a red thread attached to his or her heart. Joshua was amazed at what he saw.

"See that?"

The girl pointed to a male patient. He is in his mid-40s and he is accompanied by a woman who is almost his age.

"Look at the red thread of those two," the girl said to Joshua.

Their red threads are connected to each other.

"They are connected, and that means those two are destined for each other," the girl explained.

Joshua looked at the other red threads. Some are connected to each other, and some does not have a corresponding red thread connected to them.

"Every person born in this world has a red thread. That is one of the things considered in constructing the destinies of humans."

"How about those that stay single forever?" Joshua asked.

"There is another destiny reserved for them."

Joshua felt sad at what he heard. Can't everyone have a partner destined for them?

"A Cupid's responsibility is to make red threads fall in love with each other. Sometimes, this includes how they would meet, and sometimes, it also includes how those two will break up with their separate present relationships."

Joshua didn't quite like the last one. "That is so bad." It feels so bad to be the reason that two lovers broke up with each other.

The girl shrugged. "How can you love the right person if you're with the wrong one?"

Thinking about it, it's worse to stay in love with the wrong person.

"It sounds as if being a Cupid is hard. I don't think I could do it."

"It's easy. You're an actor, right?"

"What does it have to do with that?" Joshua asked.

"Because you can act very well. You know a lot of people, and a lot of people know you. Meaning, there are a lot of resources you can utilize. Also, you have done a lot of love stories on your projects. Didn't you learn anything from those?"

"But this is different." What is involved is the life of real people. However Joshua thinks about it, it's not that easy to do. "What if I can't fulfill my missions? Will I be punished?"

"You won't," the girl answered. "When that happens, your mission will be given to another Cupid. We're not forcing you into it."

"So, it doesn't matter if I won't do the mission you'll give me? Why do you still need to appoint me?"

"Joshua, can you refuse the task given to you by God?"

Joshua was not able to comment on that.

The girl gave Joshua a cellphone. "This is how we will communicate."

Joshua took the cellphone. "So, I really have no choice?"

The girl raised an eyebrow. "Do you think your parents chose for you to be born in this world?"

Joshua stared at the girl, who winked at his silence.

"Don't worry. Your Cupid Mentor will teach you what to do."

"Cupid Mentor…" Joshua chuckled. Can this situation become more bizarre?

"Yes. Your Cupid Mentor will tell you what you need to do, as well as other things about being a Cupid… Ah, of course."

The two returned to the spacetime warp they were in earlier in front of Pure Act Café.

"I have to go. I still have a lot to do. Just wait for your Cupid Mentor, who will also help you in fulfilling your missions. All right, I'll leave you. Bye!"

The girl suddenly disappeared, and Joshua felt weird all of a sudden. He looked around, and everything is normal again. He returned to the parking lot where his car is parked. When he looked at the road, the elf truck that was there a while ago is suddenly gone. The traffic flows normally as well.

It seems like nothing strange just happened. If only he doesn't have that phone in his hand right now, he will not think that something bizarre happened a while ago. He closed his eyes because he suddenly felt dizzy. When he felt better, he got into his car and tried to focus as he drove back to his home.