Chapter 5

Joshua looked around the restaurant before completely going out of the office. It looks like customers are starting to arrive. Even so, he decided to go out to the bar area because he is really getting bored in the office being alone. The employees all left because it's past five PM, and James is in the bar counter doing bartending stuff.

He quietly walked to the bar area, where he saw James, as well as Mark and Jeralhd. They seem to have forgotten about him again. He understands, though, because it is quite rare for him to be with them like that since he transferred to Manila.

"Hey! Don't tell me you're starting already!"

Everyone looked at him, and Joshua suddenly felt them become uneasy. Why does it seem like they are hesitant all of a sudden? Then he saw a familiar face. That girl that is with Mark and Jeralhd who is also looking at him. It was his high school classmate, Edmalyn Mallari.

"Hey"

Then suddenly, he saw that girl whose back is turned on him. He finally remembered Edmalyn's closest friend who might resemble the petite form in front of him. And then slowly, the girl turned around to face him.

Undoubtedly, it was Carla Lou Labao.

It was the girl he first fell in love with.

---

Earlier that day…

Joshua woke up early that day. He always wakes up early unless he finished filming at dawn. But when he's just at home, he really wakes up early to run or jog.

He had the strangest dream last night. He met a girl, and she told him her name is Destiny. She said she is Fate, and she's making him a Cupid. Isn't that strange? It felt as if he's doing a fantasy movie or series.

He was about to get up when he caught sight of the white cellphone on his bedside table. It wasn't his phone, but the smartphone that was given to him by that girl named Destiny. Oh yeah, that wasn't a dream. It really did happen to him yesterday.

He picked up the phone and then looked at it. It is off and he has not bothered opening it. He has his own cellphone and he still does not know where to use that white phone.

He got up and put on some running clothes and shoes. Then he took his smartwatch that is connected to his personal phone, making sure it's paired with it. Then he glanced again at the phone given by Destiny. He decided to not bring it, so he left it on his bedside table.

He went down to the living room and saw his mother.

"Good morning, Ma!" he said as he kissed her.

"Will you run first?" she asked him.

"Yup. I'll have breakfast later."

Then he's off. He only runs inside their subdivision, and for fifteen minutes only. Then he'll go back for a total of a thirty-minute run. That is his exercise routine when he's not preparing for a role. Otherwise, he goes to the gym to work out and exercise.

While running, he remembered what happened yesterday at the Pure Act Café. He remembered what Destiny had shown him yesterday. The Guardians and the Reapers. It was then that he proved that they were really real and not just made up by someone's wild imagination.

And then, the red thread. He was actually fascinated at the sight of the invisible red thread connecting each person's heart to his or her destiny. Truth is, this is not the first time that he heard about the red thread of fate, but seeing it for himself is so surreal.

A man and a woman are running towards his direction. The two looks like a couple, and Joshua suddenly felt the connection between them. But he didn't only feel it. He suddenly saw the red thread that connects the hearts of the two. Joshua stopped running and then stared at the couple. He blinked as he tried to figure out if what he's seeing is for real. The red thread gradually disappeared until the two approached him. The two smiled at him before passing by him.

Joshua looked back at the two, then started running backwards while his eyes are still fixated on them. That is why he did not realize that he was about to cross the road. He just heard a shout coming from his right side.

"Look out!"

The guy on the bike was so close he is about to hit him. But something seems to pull Joshua back that he was able to dodge. The bicycle passed him safely without being hit at all.

Joshua's heart was beating too fast that he decided to stop and rest for a bit. It seems like the strange events happening in his life are not yet over. But, isn't it that they just started yesterday when he met Destiny?

He was able to finish his run that day. When he got back to their house, he went straight to his room to take a bath in his en suite bathroom. But before entering the bathroom he saw again the cellphone on the bedside table. After bathing, he will try to explore that phone.

So after taking a bath, he tried turning on the smartphone that Destiny gave him. He opened it easily, just like an ordinary iPhone. But unlike other smartphones that are looking for a Wi-Fi connection and are still setting up, it opened up immediately and it looks like it was set up in advance.

He swiped the screen and the phone opened. Like its lock screen, its home screen is plain white. The contents of the phone look normal and it also has built-in apps. But what surprises Joshua is that it has a Wi-Fi signal as well as a cellular network. Well, the phone might have a SIM card already, but the Wi-Fi? He has not yet connected it to their Wi-Fi at home, so to what Wi-Fi is it connected?

He opened the control panel to check the connection. No network provider was indicated even though it has a signal. Weird. He went to the settings to see where the Wi-Fi was connected. He was even more confused, as no hotspot or Wi-Fi network was indicated.

He also looked at the accounts connected to that phone, but everything was blank. Strange, because at that moment an email just arrived. He opened the Mail app to read the letter. It was from Destiny.

When he opened the email, he looked at the sender. It was Destiny, and the recipient was Joshua Socorro. When he clicked on the names, he did not find an email address. They are in the contacts list, but they do not have an email address as well as other contact details.

He just read what was written in the email.

Hello, and welcome, Cupid!

It is my pleasure to personally meet you yesterday and inform you of your inclusion to our Team. As mentioned, a Cupid Mentor will reach out to you to inform you further of your duties and responsibilities as a Cupid, and your privileges as well.

Looking forward to working with you!

P.S. This mobile device will be updated by your Cupid Mentor upon your orientation. Until then, your contact list will only include me.

He's getting a little used to the weird things that are happening in his life. Joshua just put the phone back to the home screen, and with one last look he put it back on his bedside table. He left his room to have breakfast.

After breakfast he went to Pure Act Café, to the surprise of his friend James.

"I can't find anything to do at home," he just said.

But the truth is, he just wants to divert his attention from the cellphone and him being a Cupid, though that did not happen because he kept on looking at that cellphone all day.

"Why don't you just call her?" James asked him.

Joshua looked at him. "Huh?" Is he saying he should call Destiny?

"Caith," James answered.

Ah, of course. Caith, his girlfriend. Honestly, she hasn't crossed his mind since yesterday. Unlike before when not a day goes by that he does not call or text her, even if she does not reply.

"Is it really okay that you won't go with her in Dubai?"

"Of course," Joshua answered nonchalantly. This is not the first time that that happened. There are times that they worked separately without seeing each other for weeks.

Caitlyn was a singer before she became an actress. That is what opened the doors to her acting career. And every time that she prepares for a concert or show, they don't get to see each other because her practice is almost every day.

"I really admire you about that. Not seeing each other for days. Like right now. She's just practicing but you don't get to see each other already."

"I'll just be a distraction," Joshua said. "You know her. She wants to focus on what she's doing."

Too focused that they don't get to talk.

It was five PM when James went out of the office to prepare for his bartending. It's Friday and for sure, a lot of customers will come later tonight. In fact, Jeralhd and Mark also texted asking if they could have a boys' night out tonight. He agreed since he doesn't have plans anyway. Aside from that, he is still trying to divert his attention from the white cellphone.

Past seven PM when he started feeling bored inside the office. He decided to go out to see James at the bar. There he will wait for Mark and Jeralhd. He brought his cellphone, as well as that cellphone that Destiny gave him.

And then, that happened. When he went to the bar area, he saw the girl that took so much for him to forget. She was his first love, and for so long he thought he could never get over her.

But he finally did. He finally fell in love with Caitlyn.

With that thought he tightened his grip on his cellphone, as if that would prove how he feels about the one he currently loves.

'Ah… Josh…"

He looked at James. 'Ah! Yes." He looked back at Carla. 'Hi…"

'Hi…"

He just looked at her, quite aware he has been staring longer than he should. He doesn't know what to say.

'How fascinating, right?" said Mark. 'Who would have thought we'll all meet here?" Then, he laughed nervously.

Joshua looked at his friends. Mark is laughing foolishly, trying to get rid of the awkwardness that is taking over them. Jeralhd can't do nothing but grimace. James just looked at him, unsure of what to do or say.

It was Edmalyn who broke the silence.

'How is the blockbuster king?" she asked.

Joshua looked at her, and instantly he noticed the glass of martini on the counter beside her.

'I'm okay," he answered, realizing that his former classmate is starting to get affected by the alcohol she's drinking. 'How about you?" He then looked at Carla who is looking away from him. 'You…?"

'Super okay," Edmalyn answered as she took a sip of her martini. 'Your place is nice. And this martini James served to me is so great!"

Joshua felt like something is up with Edmalyn. He also sensed Carla getting worried as she looked at her friend.

'Mark said that you have a boys' night out," Edmalyn said. 'Why don't we join you? Although, Carla here does not drink. You know, medical-doctor-trying-to-be-perfectly-clean."

'Ah… Ha ha!" It was Mark. 'You know, when we drink, we often finish late. So late you and Carla might end up going home on wee hours. Right, Je?"

Jeralhd did not expect that so he was not able to answer.

'You just don't want us to join you," said Edmalyn.

'That's not true!" said Mark. 'Right?" He looked at his friends, trying to get help. 'Right?" he asked Jeralhd.

'Of course," Jeralhd answered. 'Why won't we want you to join us?"

'Exactly," Mark agreed. 'Right, Josh?"

Joshua was about to answer when the cellphone that Destiny gave him suddenly rang. He frowned when he read who the message is from.

Cupid Mentor

He opened the message.

Hey Cupid! Can you meet me now at The Coffee Club? St. Therese branch. I know it's late, but if you're out then maybe you could come so that we could talk a little. Text me if you're coming.

'Ahm…" Joshua looked at his friends. 'I… I need to go… Sorry, but I need to go somewhere."

'Is something wrong?" James asked.

'No, nothing's wrong. Ahm… I just really need to go somewhere." He looked at Edmalyn. 'It's nice to see you again."

And then he looked at Carla. This time, she was looking back at him, quite curious at his sudden exit.

'Bye."

He did not wait for Carla to answer. He said goodbye to his three friends and then left Pure Act Café. Before he gets inside his car, he replied to the message he received.

I'll go meet you. Wait for me.

He drove his car to the rendezvous.