Cupid's Prophecy

I'm in a meeting with another pop group when Bea urgently opens the door, and tells me I have to end the meeting at that very moment.

"What?"

Reluctantly, I follow her out with a myriad of questions, but she raises her phone to my gaze and my heart drops.

Photoshopped messages between me and Max, and a voicemail of me telling him about some pregnancy?!

"I don't understand, Bea- I'm not pregnant."

"That's not what the media thinks."

"Who posted this? And why is everyone believing it?!"

"Because nobody knows anything about you."

"Fine… I'll hold a press conference."

It's definitely a pain trying to explain to a bunch of flashes and cameras that nothing is going on between me and my literal son.

"I assure you, whoever posted such rumors is probably a troll of some sort."

"So who has been behind something that has caused such a scandal for you?"

I don't know.

"Is it true that you have tried to bribe your own singers before?"

"I plan to take legal action against this social media account for defamation."

There's plenty of death threats on my phone, though a lot of people don't seem to even care about my supposed "pregnancy".

Just the fact that if Max is taken, they can't get with him. Of course.

"Dylan? Are you home?"

I look absolutely pathetic with an apology basket full of fruit, but I'm not sure how anyone else has reacted to the news.

The door opens, and Dylan lets me inside. There's a clear tension in the air.

"I never-"

"I know."

"Know what?"

"Max told me nothing happened after you tried to bribe him that day. He sees you as their manager and that's it."

That's it, huh?

"Well, I still feel sorry that he got involved in something like this."

"Is that what the fruit is for?"

"Sort of…"

Usually, fake rumors don't bother me. My irritation seems to stem from an unknown root and I can't find it when it's buried so deep.

"Max's birthday is soon, isn't it?"

"Yeah, is the group gonna be working on that day?"

"Possibly, after everything that's happened… but I'll make sure they're free on the weekend."

Silence wavers between us again. I set the basket of fruit on a counter in his kitchen, and I murmur.

"This is so annoying."

"I thought you didn't care what a bunch of faceless gossipers have to say about you."

"It doesn't make it any less frustrating:"

My eyebrows furrow, until my eyes widen and I turn to Dylan.

"Aren't you the only one that knows what happened between me and Max?"

"Huh?"

"It seems suspicious."

"Are you accusing me of something?"

Have I managed to become the victim all over again? Has my own plan backfired on me?

"Well, I think you have some part in these rumors."

"What?"

"You act like you can't remember anything, like you're a savior for adopting the kid you basically stole."

I think I understand. My revenge plan should've been finished by now. But here's what really happened:

1 I apologize to Dylan

2 He makes myself more approachable to me

3 He gets me to be friends with him

4 He finds out my weaknesses

5 He exploits them

6 He tells Max all the bad things about me

Though I'm not sure if step 6 has happened yet. And I can't let it.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Clarissa."

"Stop acting so clueless!"

I take a few steps towards him, huffing and grabbing his wrist.

"I don't understand-"

My phone rings in my pocket. Great. I let go, and he looks uncomfortable. So do I.

"Bea, what is it?"

"Abby did it."

"Abby? Who's that?"

"The girl you demoted after she leaked news about Genesis7."

Huh, that long ago and she still held a grudge? It's almost commendable that her own revenge produced more results than mine.

"Get a good lawyer for me."

The call ends and I look away from Dylan, ashamed of my previous outburst.

"Sorry."

"Did I do something to you?"

"Are you seriously asking me that?"

"... Yes, I don't know when I messed up, but I can't apologize if I'm not aware of it."

"You know Max is my son."

He seems hesitant, unsure how to respond. Maybe he's asking himself if I'm flirting or something, but my expression remains serious.

"I… wasn't aware."

"His biological father is dead."

"Oh…"

"You were there."

"Where?"

"Right beside me and the family I could've had, when you used your powers."

"Are you alright, Clarissa?"

"No!"

I don't attempt to grab him this time, but it is absolutely difficult not to. I'm practically seething.

"How could I be alright when the anti-cupid is right in front of me and refusing to acknowledge that he's ruined my life?!"

"Who the hell is the anti-cupid?!"

Is he joking? At a time like this?!

"I have to go."

"Wait-"

I've run out. And instead of calling my driver I keep running. Away from Dylan, and away from everything.

Hours pass, and I'm on a dark trail at night. Luckily I'm immortal and I won't die if I'm attacked.

Unluckily, if I'm kidnapped and tortured, I'll feel everything.

Does that even matter? Nobody else is here. And nobody pretends like they care.

When did I get so pitiful? I stare up at the moon, but I can't be bothered to scream.

I keep walking until I see a bridge with a lake under it.

My reflection in the water looks different. My hair isn't pink anymore, but brown. Its natural color.

The eyes that stare at my form are black. Though my hair was never really dyed and I don't wear contacts.

Have I forgotten who I am? With my powers, I can change most of my appearance at will, change my identity throughout centuries…

I suppose I can dry my clothes at will too, and it doesn't matter if they get wet. So I jump in the water, and it is the most refreshing thing in my whirling of chaos.

The water dampens my hair, and just about everything. I think about my reflection again, and my eyes widen.

Can't the anti-cupid also change his appearance if he wanted to? I could've never detected him.

Did Dylan want me to find him? Is he really sorry?

I step out of the water and pick my phone off of the grass. Missed calls. All from Dylan.

"I want to talk."

My text takes a minute to send but I close my eyes, and the fabric no longer clings to my skin.

"Clarissa? Where have you been? I was worried something may have-"

"I'm not sure if I deserve all of this."

"All of what?"

"I don't know… all of you, maybe? Your consideration, your empathy, your patience…"

"You're just as much as those things as I am."

"No, I'm selfish, naive, and cruel. You saved me from a monster all those years ago and all I can think about is what I lost."

"... Thanks?"

"You don't have to be modest about it. You deserve someone who's just as much of an angel as you are."

"I don't want an angel… maybe a cupid?"

We lock eyes for a moment, but I can't hold it for long because the whole moment feels a bit sappy, but I murmur under my breath.

"I don't want anyone to start rumors about you."

"I wouldn't care if they did."

"Wouldn't Max feel uncomfortable?"

"He always supports my relationships."

"But what if-"

"But what if it's okay? You're not alone anymore, Clarissa."

Abby is fired and blacklisted for what she's done. Now all that's left is what I can do…

For Max's birthday. The first one I'm witnessing, at least.

"Are there any gifts you want?"

"No, I'm alright."

"Nothing?"

"Maybe ice cream?"

"I've given Elias and Zachary gifts on their birthdays, though- is there really nothing you want?"

"I want to spend time with my friends."

"But you can do that for free."

"Exactly."

"Fine… I guess not being spoiled is a good thing."

"There might be one thing I want."

My ears perk up, and an eager smile plasters my face.

"What is it?"

"For my dad to be happy with his new girlfriend."

"What? Oh, well, we're not really- it's like-"

I can't believe I'm stuck on my words over something like this. 

"It's fine, Clarissa."

"Really?"

"Do you think I'd hate you for not being my biological mom?"

If you knew that I was you'd probably hate me.

"I was just nervous, that's all."

"We might go to dinner on the weekend of my birthday, so you can come. I have you to thank for making this group, after all. I've had fun."

"Oh, uh… you're welcome."

Is that the closure I've always wanted? For my son to tolerate my existence as a person and appreciate me?

Maybe that was all I needed in the first place.