Work Text:
Myung Jaehyun had one rule.
Never let the humans notice you.
Fortunately, that was usually impossible.
Cupids existed between worlds, a step outside human perception. They walked through crowded streets unnoticed, sat beside strangers on trains unseen, and spent entire afternoons in cafés listening to conversations without anyone realizing they were there.
Which made their job much easier.
No awkward questions.
No panic.
No explaining why there was a man with white wings perched on top of a traffic light eating strawberry candy.
Jaehyun loved his job. He really did.
Because there was something deeply satisfying about watching two people who belonged together finally realize it.
His work wasn't as simple as shooting random people with arrows. That was the biggest misconception humans had.
Cupid arrows didn't create love. They simply nudged hearts that were already ready. A push. A spark.
Nothing more.
The difficult part was everything before that.
⸻
Monday.
8:13 a.m.
College campus.
Jaehyun leaned against a tree, notebook in hand. Two names were scribbled across the page.
Noh Yunah
Park Minju
Compatibility: Excellent.
Mutual attraction: 84%.
Time spent together: Embarrassingly low.
Problem: Neither of them had the courage to speak first.
"...Hopeless." Jaehyun sighed dramatically.
⸻
Three days later, Minju "accidentally" dropped her notebook, Yunah picked it up. Two conversations. Four shared lunches. One study date.
Affection level... 98%.
Jaehyun smiled proudly. "...Perfect."
He reached into the quiver slung across his back. Golden arrow. Simple. Elegant.
He pulled back the string. Released. The arrow dissolved into glittering light before touching either of them. Invisible, silent.
Minutes later, the two students looked at one another, paused, smiled. Something shifted, just enough.
⸻
"...Another successful match."
Jaehyun wrote a large checkmark beside their names. Thirty-seventh successful pairing this semester. His supervisor would be thrilled.
⸻
Unfortunately, his next assignment would change everything.
⸻
Friday afternoon.
Rain.
The sidewalks around campus were crowded with students running between buildings.
Jaehyun hopped over puddles, reading another file.
Potential Match #418
Needs further observation.
"Easy enough."
He wasn't paying attention.
Neither was the person walking toward him.
Thunk. They collided.
⸻
"...Ow."
Jaehyun stumbled backward.
"Sorry." He looked up automatically, "My bad."
The college student rubbed his shoulder.
"...It's okay."
Jaehyun blinked.
"..."
The student blinked too.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"You can see me?"
The student frowned.
"Shouldn't I?"
⸻
Silence.
Complete.
Terrifying.
Silence.
⸻
Jaehyun slowly looked around. Nobody else reacted. Students continued walking. Umbrellas bumped into him without apology. A bicycle rolled straight through one of his wings.
Normal.
Except, one human, was staring directly at him.
⸻
"...That's impossible."
"Why?"
"...Humans can't see me."
"Well..."
The student tilted his head.
"...I'm looking at you right now."
⸻
Jaehyun felt every alarm bell in his immortal body start ringing.
"What's your name?"
"Riwoo."
"Riwoo?"
"My real name is Lee Sanghyuk." He smiled sheepishly. "But everyone calls me Riwoo."
"Okay..." Jaehyun took one cautious step closer. "Tell me what you see."
Riwoo looked confused. "...A guy."
"More specifically, dark hair."
"Mhm."
"...Brown eyes."
"...Uh-huh."
"Really nice smile."
Jaehyun froze.
"..."
"...Wings."
"..."
"Big white wings."
Jaehyun immediately covered them. "YOU CAN SEE THOSE TOO?!"
Riwoo jumped. "Was I not supposed to?"
"No!" Jaehyun whispered loudly. "Absolutely not!"
"Sorry?"
"Humans aren't supposed to see cupids!"
Riwoo blinked. "...Cupids?"
"Yes."
"Like... the little baby with diapers?"
"Excuse you."
Riwoo looked him up and down again. "...You're taller."
"Thank you."
"...And significantly less naked."
"THANK YOU."
Riwoo couldn't help it. He laughed. Not mockingly.
Just... warmly.
The kind of laugh that made people around him instinctively smile.
Jaehyun stared, "...What?"
"You're..." He looked genuinely confused. "...You're not scared."
"Should I be?"
"Most humans would panic... you're not most humans."
"Apparently."
For the first time in centuries, Jaehyun had absolutely no idea what to do.
"So..." Riwoo asked carefully. "...You're really Cupid?"
"One of many."
"There are multiple?"
"Thousands."
"Seriously?"
"Love is complicated."
"Fair point." Riwoo shrugged. "Can I ask questions?"
"No."
"One question?"
"No."
"Half a question?"
"How do you ask half a question?"
"Fair." Riwoo nodded.
⸻
Jaehyun sighed. "Fine."
Riwoo smiled. Brightly. "...Awesome."
⸻
Thirty minutes later, Jaehyun deeply regretted saying yes.
"So can every cupid fly?"
"Yes."
"Do you all have wings?"
"Yes."
"Can you teleport?"
"No."
"So you have to walk everywhere?"
"Unfortunately."
"Can cupids fall in love?"
"...Technically."
"Has it happened?"
"...Rarely."
"Is there paperwork?"
"There is paperwork for everything."
Riwoo laughed so hard he nearly dropped his coffee. "Your job sounds exhausting."
"It is."
"Still cool though."
"You think so?"
"Mhm."
"Helping people fall in love?"
Riwoo smiled softly, "That's kind of beautiful."
⸻
Nobody had ever described Jaehyun's job like that before.
Usually, people joked about arrows, or Valentine's Day, or cheesy romance movies.
But Riwoo... looked at it like it mattered.
⸻
"...Thanks."
Riwoo shrugged, "Someone has to appreciate you."
That sentence lingered with Jaehyun long after they parted ways.
⸻
The next afternoon, Riwoo was sitting on a bench reading.
"...You're back."
Jaehyun blinked, "How did you know?"
"You always land on the same tree."
"...You saw that?"
"...Mhm."
"I need a new entrance..."
⸻
Days turned into weeks.
Weeks into months.
Somehow, it became normal.
⸻
"Need help?" Riwoo looked over.
Jaehyun was balancing upside down on a tree branch. "With what?"
"That couple." Riwoo followed his gaze. "They're your assignment?"
"Mhm."
"What do they need?"
"An excuse to spend time together."
Riwoo smiled, "Leave that to me."
⸻
Turns out, Riwoo was surprisingly good at matchmaking.
Not because he had magical arrows.
But because... he understood people.
He noticed little things.
The coffee someone always ordered.
The songs someone quietly hummed.
The way one person unconsciously waited for another after class.
He saw affection long before most people did.
⸻
"...Move that study session to Friday." Riwoo suggested.
"Why?"
"Because she'll already be there."
Jaehyun raised an eyebrow.
"You noticed that?"
"She volunteers every Friday."
"You're scary."
Riwoo grinned. "Good scary?"
"Very good scary."
⸻
One successful match became two.
Then five.
Then twelve.
Soon, the campus had developed an oddly specific rumor.
"Did you notice?"
"What?"
"People keep getting together after talking to Riwoo."
"...He's lucky."
"If only they knew." Jaehyun whispered from beside him.
"We're amazing." Riwoo laughed.
"You're amazing."
"We're a team."
⸻
And somewhere between shared coffees, late afternoon walks, helping strangers confess, watching sunsets from rooftops because Jaehyun insisted the view was better from above...
The line between work partners, and something else... Began to blur.
Jaehyun found himself looking for Riwoo even when he didn't have assignments nearby.
Riwoo started saving the empty seat beside him without thinking.
Neither of them noticed the change.
Not yet.
After all... one of them was a cupid.
The other was the only human who could see him.
Surely, that was all they were meant to be.
Neither of them realized...
That the greatest love story Jaehyun would ever help create...
Might be the one he was accidentally writing for himself.
_________________
If someone had told Myung Jaehyun a month ago that he'd willingly spend almost every afternoon with a human, he would've laughed.
If someone had told Lee Riwoo that the weirdly handsome stranger with wings would become his closest friend, he would've laughed too.
Yet somehow... here they were.
⸻
"Assignment number forty-three." Jaehyun dropped onto the bench beside Riwoo.
Riwoo didn't even flinch anymore. "...Good afternoon to you too."
"Good afternoon."
"You landed on the tree again."
"It's dramatic."
"You almost fell."
"...That only happened once."
"It happened yesterday."
Jaehyun pouted, "You remember everything."
Riwoo smiled, "Only the important things."
For reasons Jaehyun couldn't explain... that sentence made him smile all the way across campus.
⸻
Their next assignment.
Two engineering students.
One hopelessly obvious crush.
One hopelessly oblivious idiot.
"...They're impossible." Jaehyun watched from a distance. "They've liked each other for eight months."
"Eight?"
"Mhm."
"That's painful."
⸻
Riwoo observed quietly, "They eat lunch together."
"Mhm."
"They walk home together."
"Mhm."
"They wear matching bracelets.”
"Mhm."
"They've met each other's parents."
"...Mhm."
Riwoo slowly looked at Jaehyun, "They're dating."
"...No."
"...Jaehyun."
"They aren't."
"Then what are they doing?"
"Being emotionally incompetent."
Riwoo laughed so hard he nearly spilled his iced coffee.
⸻
They followed the pair around campus for three days.
Not in a creepy way. Mostly.
⸻
"Notice anything?" Jaehyun asked.
Riwoo nodded, "The girl always forgets her umbrella."
"Mhm."
"And the guy always 'just happens' to have an extra one."
"...Good."
"They're adorable."
"...Very."
⸻
"So..." Riwoo tapped his chin, "Let's make them spend time alone."
Jaehyun raised an eyebrow, "You have a plan?"
"I always have a plan."
⸻
The plan... was surprisingly simple.
⸻
The next study group, Riwoo casually convinced everyone else to leave early.
Claiming there was free dessert at the student center. There wasn't.
⸻
Twenty minutes later, only the two engineering students remained. Talking, laughing, growing steadily more comfortable.
⸻
Jaehyun checked his notebook.
Affection : 99%.
"Beautiful."
He reached for an arrow. Golden light shimmered. A quiet release. The invisible arrow disappeared.
⸻
The girl looked up, "Can I tell you something?"
The boy smiled nervously, "Yeah?"
"I think..." She laughed softly, "...I've liked you for a really long time."
⸻
"Bullseye." Jaehyun whispered proudly.
⸻
Later, Riwoo offered him a celebratory high five.
Jaehyun stared, "What's wrong?"
"Humans do this."
"...Okay?"
"Then do it."
"...Like this?"
Smack.
"...Ow."
"...Too hard."
"...Sorry."
Riwoo laughed, "No wonder you've never high-fived anyone."
"I usually celebrate alone."
The words slipped out so naturally... neither of them noticed at first.
"Alone?"
Jaehyun blinked, "Well... Cupids work independently."
"Always?"
"Mhm."
"Doesn't that get lonely?"
Jaehyun opened his mouth. Then paused, he'd never really... thought about it, "I guess..."
Riwoo smiled gently, "You don't have to anymore."
Jaehyun looked at him, "Because?"
"You've got me."
Something warm bloomed inside Jaehyun's chest.
Different from magic.
Different from pride.
Different from anything he'd felt before.
⸻
From then on, they became known around campus.
Not officially.
Just... quietly.
Students often noticed Riwoo talking to seemingly empty air.
"Who're you talking to?"
"My friend."
"Where?"
"Right here."
"Riwoo... you should probably sleep more."
Jaehyun snickered beside him, "You're terrible."
"...They're never going to believe me."
"Probably not."
⸻
They developed routines.
Every morning, Jaehyun would appear beside Riwoo before his first class.
"Breakfast." Riwoo would hand him half of whatever he'd bought.
"You know cupids don't actually need food."
"I know."
"Then why?"
"Because you smile when you're eating."
Jaehyun quietly accepted the sandwich, "You're weird."
"So are you."
"...Fair."
⸻
Every Friday, they'd sit on the roof after finishing another successful match. Keeping count.
⸻
"Forty-seven."
"Forty-eight."
"Forty-nine."
"...We're getting good."
Riwoo smiled, "We?"
"You deserve credit."
"I don't even have wings."
"You have better instincts."
Riwoo blinked, "...Really?"
"Mhm. You notice things I don't."
Like... the nervous tapping before confessions.
The lingering glances.
The tiny smiles.
The way someone's voice softened around one specific person.
Jaehyun could measure affection with centuries of magic.
Riwoo... simply understood hearts.
⸻
"You're cheating." Riwoo accused one afternoon.
"I'm literally a Cupid."
"Exactly."
"You can't tell me you already know who's going to fall in love."
"I don't."
"You definitely do."
"I only know who's capable of it."
"Still feels unfair."
⸻
Jaehyun leaned back against the grass, "Can I ask you something?"
"Mhm."
"Why do you help me?"
Riwoo looked up at the clouds, "Because..." He smiled, "...Watching people become happy is nice."
"That's all?"
"And..." He looked toward Jaehyun, "Because I like spending time with you."
Jaehyun's heartbeat stumbled. Just slightly, "...Oh."
"Was that weird?"
"...No."
"Too honest?"
"...No."
"Then why are your ears red?"
"My ears aren't red."
"They definitely are."
"...It's warm outside."
"It's autumn."
"...Still warm."
Riwoo giggled, "Liar."
⸻
By the end of October, they'd made over sixty successful matches together. Jaehyun's supervisor couldn't stop praising him.
"Your efficiency has doubled." The older cupid adjusted his glasses, "Impressive."
"Thank you."
"What's changed?"
Jaehyun smiled without thinking, "I have help."
"Another cupid?"
"...No."
"Then?"
"A human."
Silence.
"A what?" The supervisor stared at him for a very... very... long time.
"Humans cannot see us."
"...Usually."
"...Usually?"
"There's one."
"...Impossible."
"I thought so too."
The older cupid frowned, "Bring him to me someday."
Jaehyun's smile faded, "Why?"
"Curiosity."
"..."
"..."
"...I'll think about it."
⸻
That evening, Jaehyun didn't mention the conversation to Riwoo.
Instead, they sat beneath the giant gingko tree near campus. Golden leaves drifting around them.
⸻
"How many people do you think we've helped?" Riwoo asked.
Jaehyun checked his notebook, "...Sixty-three."
"That's a lot."
"Mhm."
"Do you ever wonder..." Riwoo smiled softly, "If they'll remember us?"
Jaehyun looked at the couples walking across campus. Hand in hand, laughing, completely unaware of the cupid sitting beneath the tree.
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because..."
He watched one couple he'd matched months ago. Still smiling. Still together.
"They don't have to remember me... as long as... they remember each other."
Riwoo looked at him for a long moment. Then smiled, "...You're really kind."
Jaehyun laughed, "I'm literally employed by love."
"Still." Riwoo nudged his shoulder, "...You're kind."
The gentle contact lasted barely a second. Yet... neither of them moved away afterward. Their shoulders remained lightly pressed together beneath the autumn tree.
Comfortable.
Natural.
Quiet.
Neither of them noticed that, over the past few months, they had stopped leaving space between them.
Neither of them noticed that Jaehyun no longer waited for assignments before visiting Riwoo.
Or that Riwoo had begun looking for white feathers on the ground whenever he arrived on campus.
Neither of them noticed...
That while they had become experts at recognizing love in everyone else...
They were becoming completely blind... to their own.
⸻⸻⸻⸻
The first time it happened, Jaehyun thought he'd read the file wrong.
⸻
Cupids never questioned assignments.
They arrived.
Read the names.
Observed.
Helped.
Moved on.
The matching system had existed for thousands of years. It had never made mistakes. Never.
⸻
Which was why, when the next assignment appeared in his notebook, Jaehyun stopped walking.
"..."
He blinked once.
Twice.
Then read it again.
⸻
Assignment #064
Lee Sanghyuk (Riwoo)
Kim Donghyun (Leehan)
Compatibility: 95%.
Estimated Affection Potential: Excellent.
⸻
"..."
"..."
"...No."
⸻
He checked the names again.
Lee Sanghyuk.
Riwoo.
His Riwoo.
...No.
Not his.
Just… Riwoo.
⸻
"...No..." His voice came out quieter this time.
The notebook remained unchanged.
The ink shimmered gold.
Confirming the assignment.
⸻
Jaehyun laughed once. Weakly.
"That's... funny."
It wasn't.
⸻
For the first time since becoming a cupid, he didn't want to do his job.
⸻
He spent the next hour sitting on the rooftop.
Notebook unopened.
Arrow untouched.
⸻
"...Jaehyun?" Riwoo climbed up the stairs carrying two convenience-store drinks.
"You've been hiding."
"...Have I?"
"You missed breakfast."
"...Sorry."
"Something wrong?"
Jaehyun looked at him. Then quickly looked away, "...No."
Riwoo frowned immediately, "You're lying."
Jaehyun had never been good at lying.
Especially to Riwoo.
"...I got our next assignment."
"Oh?" Riwoo smiled, "Who's the lucky couple?"
"..."
"...Jaehyun?"
He couldn't avoid it forever.
Slowly, he held the notebook out, "...Here."
Riwoo looked down. Read the page. Once. Then again. His smile disappeared.
"..."
"..."
"...Oh." That was all he said.
Just, "Oh."
Jaehyun noticed immediately, the tiny pause.
The way Riwoo's fingers tightened slightly around the notebook. The smile that didn't return.
⸻
"...You're quiet."
"...Am I?"
"...Yeah."
"...Sorry." Riwoo handed the notebook back, "So..."
"We help them, well, help me..."
Jaehyun nodded, "Mhm."
"...Right."
⸻
Silence settled between them.
An unfamiliar kind.
Not awkward.
Not angry.
Just... heavy.
⸻
"...You don't seem excited." Jaehyun spoke before thinking.
Riwoo blinked, "...Should I be?"
"Usually you are."
"..."
"..."
"...I guess."
⸻
He looked toward the campus below. Students wandered between classes. Completely unaware that one of them had just been assigned the love of his life.
Or... Someone who was supposed to become that.
⸻
"Leehan seems nice." Riwoo finally said, "I've met him before... A few times. He's kind."
"...Yeah."
"...Cute too."
"..."
Riwoo forced a smile, "...Yeah."
⸻
Something twisted painfully inside Jaehyun's chest.
He'd matched hundreds of people. Watched them fall in love. Smiled through every confession. Celebrated every success.
So why... why did the idea of Riwoo smiling at someone else... make it hard to breathe?
⸻
"...You don't have to sound so happy about it." The words slipped out.
Quiet.
Almost bitter.
⸻
Riwoo looked at him in surprise, "...I'm not happy."
"..."
"...I'm trying."
Jaehyun froze, "Trying?"
Riwoo laughed softly, but there wasn't much happiness in it.
"You're a Cupid."
"...Yeah."
"This is supposed to be a good thing."
"...It is."
"Then why..." He looked down at the drink in his hands.
"Why do I feel..." He stopped himself, "...Forget it."
"...Riwoo."
"No."
"...Tell me."
"It's stupid."
"I decide what's stupid."
"...Since when?"
"...Since five seconds ago."
Riwoo smiled despite himself. Then, the smile faded again, "I don't..." He searched for the words, "I don't really... want to fall in love with someone else."
The world seemed to stop.
"...What?"
Riwoo blinked. As if he'd only just realized what he'd admitted, "I... never mind."
"No." Jaehyun took a small step forward. "What did you mean?"
Riwoo laughed nervously, "...Forget I said anything."
"I can't."
"...Please?"
"...Riwoo."
He looked away, "I just..." His voice became very small, "...I like things the way they are... with us."
Jaehyun's heart skipped, "...Us?"
"..."
"..."
"...Yeah."
Neither of them said another word.
⸻
That afternoon, they met Leehan properly.
Kim Donghyun.
Quiet.
Gentle.
Kind.
Everything the compatibility report had promised.
⸻
Leehan smiled politely.
"Riwoo?"
"Oh." Riwoo smiled back, "Hi."
"We have biology together."
"...Right."
⸻
They got along immediately.
Not romantically.
Just... comfortably.
Talking about fish.
Aquariums.
Classes.
⸻
Jaehyun watched from several feet away. Notebook in hand. Arrow untouched.
⸻
He should have felt hopeful.
Instead, every laugh between them felt strangely... wrong.
⸻
Not forced.
Not unpleasant.
Just... like two puzzle pieces that fit...
But belonged to different boxes.
⸻
Even Riwoo noticed it.
⸻
"...He's nice."
Jaehyun nodded, "...He is."
"Really nice."
"...Mhm."
"..."
"..."
"...Something feels off."
Jaehyun looked at him, "...You feel it too?"
⸻
Riwoo frowned, "I don't know... talking to him is easy."
"...Yeah."
"But..." He laughed awkwardly, "It feels like... making a new friend."
Jaehyun stared.
Because... that wasn't supposed to happen.
⸻
The notebook suddenly grew warm.
"...?" Jaehyun looked down. Golden light seeped from between the pages.
"That's..." His eyes widened.
⸻
The names, were moving.
⸻
Ink.
Actual ink.
Shifting across the page.
Letters dissolving.
Reforming.
"...That's impossible."
Riwoo stepped closer, "What's happening?"
"Assignments don't..." Jaehyun whispered, "...Do this."
⸻
The page glowed brighter. Almost painfully so.
⸻
The names blurred completely.
Compatibility percentages vanished.
The page became blank.
Pure white.
⸻
"Jaehyun?"
"I..." His hands trembled, "I've never... seen this before."
⸻
Then, new letters slowly began writing themselves.
Not by Jaehyun.
Not by magic he recognized.
Something older.
Something deeper.
⸻
Before either of them could finish reading, the light disappeared. The notebook snapped shut on its own.
Silence.
Jaehyun stared at the cover. His heartbeat loud enough to drown out the sounds of campus.
"What did it say?" Riwoo asked quietly.
Jaehyun slowly looked up, "I..." He swallowed, "It changed."
⸻
Far away, in the Hall of Matches, thousands of golden threads stretched across an endless sky. One thread unraveled. Another snapped into place.
An elderly cupid looked up sharply from his desk, "...What?" He adjusted his glasses.
Watching two golden threads weave themselves into entirely different patterns.
Something that had not happened... in centuries.
"A self-correction..." he whispered, "...Impossible."
⸻
And somewhere, deep within the magic that governed every soulmate, every confession, every first love, a single realization echoed silently.
The heart had rejected its assigned path.
And it had chosen another.
⸻⸻⸻
Jaehyun didn't sleep.
Not that cupids technically needed sleep.
But they did need rest.
Quiet.
Time.
Something to settle their thoughts.
He got none of it.
⸻
One question circled his mind over and over.
Why had the notebook changed?
Not updated.
Not corrected by a supervisor.
Changed, by itself.
⸻
For centuries, every cupid had been taught the same thing.
The Book of Matches did not hesitate.
The Book of Matches did not reconsider.
The Book of Matches was absolute.
Until yesterday.
⸻
The next morning, Jaehyun stood outside the Hall of Matches.
A massive library that stretched farther than the eye could see. Rows upon rows of floating books. Golden threads drifted lazily through the air like strands of sunlight.
Normally, he loved this place.
Today, it made him nervous.
⸻
"Myung Jaehyun." Jaehyun looked up.
One of the archivists smiled politely, "Your next assignment."
"Already?"
"It was rewritten overnight."
Those words made Jaehyun's stomach tighten.
"Rewritten..."
The archivist nodded as if discussing the weather, "Quite unusual."
"Has this..."
"...Ever happened?" The older cupid adjusted his spectacles, "...Once."
"When?"
"...Long before either of us existed."
"...What happened?"
The archivist smiled faintly, "No one knows... the records were sealed."
⸻
That answer only made Jaehyun more curious.
⸻
He accepted the notebook.
The cover still felt warm.
As though the magic inside hadn't completely settled.
"...Please don't be Riwoo." He whispered it without thinking. Then immediately froze.
"What?" The archivist looked over.
"Nothing."
"You said something."
"Nope."
"Very clearly."
"I'm leaving."
⸻
Outside, Jaehyun finally opened the notebook.
His heart pounded harder than it should have.
⸻
Assignment #064
Han Dongmin (Taesan)
Kim Donghyun (Leehan)
Compatibility: 99%.
Estimated Affection Potential: Excellent.
⸻
"What?" He blinked. Read it again. Then a third time.
"...Leehan? With... Taesan?"
⸻
His mind immediately replayed yesterday.
Riwoo.
Leehan.
The rewritten page.
⸻
"But... wasn't..." He stared at the names, "...You were assigned to Riwoo yesterday."
⸻
Now, Leehan wasn't matched with Riwoo anymore. He'd been reassigned. To someone entirely different.
⸻
"What is happening..."
⸻
Later that afternoon, Jaehyun met Riwoo beneath their usual gingko tree.
Riwoo smiled the moment he saw him, "Morning."
"Morning."
"...You look confused."
"I am."
"New assignment?"
Jaehyun nodded, "You want to see?"
"Always."
Riwoo leaned closer as Jaehyun opened the notebook.
He read the names. Then blinked.
"Didn't..." He looked back up, "Wasn't that different yesterday?"
"Exactly."
"It changed?"
"Again."
Riwoo frowned thoughtfully, "Who's Han Dongmin?"
"Everyone calls him Taesan."
"...Oh."
"You know him?"
"Kind of." Riwoo smiled, "Leehan talks about him all the time."
Jaehyun looked up, "Really?"
"Best friends, since middle school, I think."
"Best friends..." Jaehyun repeated quietly.
"Actually..." Riwoo laughed, "Now that I think about it... Leehan barely shuts up about him."
"Seriously?"
"Mhm."
"'Taesan said this', 'Taesan cooked that', 'Taesan helped me carry my fish tank', 'Taesan skipped class just to eat lunch with me.'" Riwoo smiled, "...I honestly thought they were dating the first time I saw them."
Jaehyun slowly looked back down at the notebook, "That... actually makes a lot more sense."
⸻
Because now that he thought about it, the compatibility magic wasn't just numbers.
It observed lives.
Connections.
Unspoken affection.
⸻
Yesterday, Riwoo and Leehan had felt... comfortable.
Friendly.
Natural.
But not... destined.
⸻
"Can we watch them?" Riwoo asked.
"You mean..."
"The assignment."
"Yeah." Jaehyun nodded slowly, "Let's go."
⸻
The two found Taesan and Leehan outside the engineering building.
⸻
"...You're late." Leehan crossed his arms.
Taesan jogged over, slightly out of breath, "...Sorry. Music club."
"Again?"
"Our producer disappeared."
"...Convenient."
"I brought you coffee."
Leehan immediately accepted it, "You're forgiven."
⸻
Riwoo laughed, "That's adorable."
"...Watch." Jaehyun whispered.
⸻
Leehan took one sip. Made a face, "Too sweet."
"You literally asked for extra syrup."
"Did I?"
"I watched you order it."
"...Oh."
Taesan reached over, without asking, and swapped cups with him, "Take mine."
"Yours has less sugar."
"...I know."
"Then what about you?"
"I'll survive."
Leehan accepted the new drink without another word. Like this happened every day.
⸻
Jaehyun looked down at the compatibility meter in his notebook.
91%.
Without a single cupid intervention.
⸻
"They're already..." Riwoo whispered, "...Really close."
They kept watching.
A few minutes later, Leehan's backpack zipper broke.
Before he could even react, Taesan had already taken the bag, "I'll fix it."
"You don't have to."
"I know."
"Then why?"
"Because it'll bother you."
⸻
Another increase.
93%.
⸻
"He's attentive."
Riwoo murmured, "...Very."
⸻
Then—
Leehan yawned.
Taesan immediately stopped walking.
"Didn't sleep?"
"...Studied."
"How many hours?"
"...Two."
"Kim Donghyun."
"Don't…”
"You're taking a nap after class."
"...I'm not."
"You are."
"...You're bossy."
"And?"
Leehan smiled, "Fine."
⸻
Another increase.
95%.
⸻
Riwoo looked amazed, "They're not even trying."
Jaehyun nodded, "They don't need help getting closer. They're already there."
⸻
For a long while, neither of them spoke. Just watching.
⸻
Eventually—
Riwoo smiled softly, "I'm glad."
Jaehyun looked over, "...Hm?"
"Yesterday felt..." He searched for the word, "...Wrong."
"...Yeah."
"This doesn't, no, this feels... natural."
⸻
Jaehyun closed the notebook, "The Book wasn't making a mistake yesterday."
Riwoo tilted his head, "What do you mean?"
"I think..." Jaehyun looked toward Taesan and Leehan, who were now quietly arguing over whose turn it was to buy lunch, "...It was testing something."
"Testing?"
"Or..." He frowned, "Trying to force a path, and... their hearts refused."
⸻
Riwoo looked thoughtful, "Can hearts do that?"
"...I..." Jaehyun admitted quietly, "Didn't think they could."
⸻
Far above them, in the Hall of Matches, the same elderly archivist watched another golden thread settle into place.
This one... perfectly.
No resistance.
No corrections.
No instability.
⸻
"...Interesting." He whispered, "...The system didn't fail." He smiled to himself, "It learned."
⸻
Meanwhile, somewhere else in the Hall, a different cupid stood before an unfamiliar notebook.
Young.
Curious.
Newly promoted.
⸻
"Assignment #065..."
He read aloud.
Then frowned.
"That's... odd."
The names shimmered softly on the page.
Not impossible.
Not forbidden.
Just... unprecedented.
The young cupid smiled, "Well..."
He picked up his bow, "...Looks like I have a very interesting couple to meet."
And far below, completely unaware that fate itself had quietly shifted around them, Jaehyun and Riwoo sat shoulder to shoulder beneath the gingko tree once again.
Neither of them noticed that, this time...
When their hands brushed while reaching for the same coffee cup...
Neither of them pulled away.
⸻⸻⸻
The Hall of Matches had one rule.
Every assignment belonged to exactly one cupid.
No exceptions.
No overlap.
No interference.
So when rookie cupid Kim Woonhak looked down at his very first independent assignment...
He was convinced someone had handed him the wrong notebook.
⸻
"...Senior?" He slowly raised his hand.
An older cupid looked over, "Yes?"
"I think there's a mistake."
"There isn't."
"There definitely is."
"What did you get?"
Woonhak hesitated, "...A human."
"That's normal."
"And... a cupid."
Silence.
⸻
"...Excuse me?"
"Exactly."
The older cupid, Park Sungho, snatched the notebook. Read the names. Then adjusted his glasses. Read them again.
"..."
"..."
"Huh… Huh?!"
"What do you mean huh?!"
Sungho turned another page. Then another. Searching for an explanation. There wasn't one.
"...Interesting."
"I don't like that word."
"...Neither do I."
⸻
Woonhak cautiously peeked at the page again.
⸻
Assignment #065
Myung Jaehyun
Lee Sanghyuk (Riwoo)
Compatibility: 100%
Status: Pending Observation
⸻
"..."
"...Senior."
"...Yes?"
"...Humans aren't even supposed to know cupids exist."
"...Correct."
"So how do I..." He pointed helplessly at the page, "...Do this?"
Sungho smiled sympathetically, "Congratulations."
"For what?"
"Your first assignment."
"It's impossible!"
"It certainly is."
"You're not helping."
⸻
Meanwhile, completely unaware, Jaehyun was eating fish-shaped bread with Riwoo.
"Mission today." Riwoo unfolded his notebook, "Operation Best Friends."
"Operation Future Soulmates."
"Catchier."
"I know."
⸻
Across the courtyard, Taesan and Leehan were already together. Again.
⸻
"Do they ever separate?" Jaehyun asked.
"Not really."
"How am I supposed to help them get closer?"
Riwoo laughed, "Maybe by doing nothing."
⸻
Jaehyun observed carefully.
⸻
Leehan sat on a bench reading.
Taesan arrived exactly three minutes later.
Without saying a word, he handed Leehan a bottled water.
Leehan accepted it automatically, "Thanks."
"You forgot yours."
"I always do."
"I know."
⸻
Jaehyun glanced down.
Affection Level: 96%.
"They went up."
"Again?"
"One percent."
"For water?"
"Apparently."
Riwoo smiled, "He's always looking after him."
⸻
Five minutes later—
"I'm hungry." Leehan announced.
Taesan closed his own notebook, "Let's eat."
"...I don't know what I want."
"You never do."
"Exactly."
"I'll choose."
"Okay."
⸻
Jaehyun blinked, "That's it?"
"That's it."
⸻
97%.
⸻
"They're making my job too easy."
⸻
Several rooftops away, Kim Woonhak was dramatically lying on his stomach.
Watching another pair entirely.
⸻
"Okay." He opened his notebook, "Let's see."
⸻
Affection Level
Myung Jaehyun → Riwoo
67%
⸻
"Good." He smiled, "There's room to work."
⸻
He looked up. Just in time to watch Riwoo gently wipe bean paste off Jaehyun's cheek with his thumb.
⸻
The notebook glowed.
68%.
"Already?"
Before Woonhak could even process it—
Riwoo laughed. Jaehyun laughed back. Their shoulders bumped together. Neither moved away.
70%.
"WHAT." Woonhak frantically flipped through his training manual.
⸻
SECTION 4: Affection Growth
Typical increase after successful intervention: 1-3%
⸻
He looked back down.
72%.
"...I've done literally nothing." He stared. Then slowly looked around, "Are they doing my assignment...For me?"
⸻
Back below, Jaehyun was entirely focused on someone else, "We need a bigger moment."
Riwoo nodded, "A confession setup?"
"...Not yet."
"Study date?"
"Already happened."
"Movie?"
"Done."
"Aquarium?"
"Actually..." Jaehyun smiled, "That's not bad."
Riwoo grinned, "See? We're geniuses."
⸻
Several meters away, Taesan looked toward Leehan.
"You still wanna go to the aquarium this weekend?"
"Obviously."
"Okay."
"...You're paying."
"...I knew you'd say that."
"Good."
⸻
98%.
Jaehyun looked horrified.
"...Riwoo."
"Yeah?"
"...We didn't even do anything."
⸻
The notebook chimed softly.
99%.
⸻
"They're literally matching themselves."
Riwoo burst into laughter, "Maybe they're just..."
He smiled warmly, "...Already in love."
Jaehyun sighed dramatically, "I feel unemployed."
⸻
High above—
Woonhak felt even worse.
⸻
74%.
"...No."
⸻
Riwoo offered Jaehyun half his drink.
"Want some?"
"Sure."
They shared the straw without thinking.
⸻
76%.
"STOP." Woonhak whispered at the notebook, "PLEASE."
⸻
The percentage continued climbing.
77%.
"This is ridiculous."
⸻
He hadn't fired an arrow.
He hadn't manipulated circumstances.
He hadn't even introduced them.
⸻
"Senior!" He ran back into the Hall of Matches, "I have a problem!"
Sungho looked up, "Already?"
"They keep making progress!"
"Good."
"No!"
"Why not?"
"Without me!"
⸻
Sungho blinked, "Without..."
"ANYTHING."
The older cupid looks at the notebook. Then smiled. Very slowly.
"Kim Woonhak."
"Yes?"
"I think... you've been assigned..." He chuckled quietly, "...The easiest couple in cupid history."
"Easy?! I haven't done anything!"
"Exactly."
"Then..." Woonhak looked utterly lost, "What's my job?"
Sungho closed the notebook gently, "Sometimes..." He said softly, "Our job isn't to create love... It's simply to witness it."
Woonhak frowned, "That sounds suspiciously philosophical."
"You'll understand."
⸻
Back on campus—
Jaehyun and Riwoo sat beneath the gingko tree again. Planning another "coincidental" meeting for Taesan and Leehan.
⸻
Neither of them noticed—
That they'd unconsciously split one blanket over their laps.
That Riwoo had begun absentmindedly leaning against Jaehyun's shoulder while reading.
Or that Jaehyun had started brushing fallen leaves out of Riwoo's hair without thinking.
⸻
On the rooftop—
Woonhak stared through binoculars.
"..."
He lowered them. Then checked the notebook.
⸻
80%.
"I went to the bathroom for FIVE MINUTES."
The notebook shimmered again.
81%.
Woonhak looked skyward, "Whoever's in charge of fate...You're doing my homework for me."
Far above the clouds—
The ancient magic governing the Hall of Matches glowed faintly. As if quietly amused.
Because for the first time in countless generations... a Cupid had fallen into his own story.
And love, True love, had never needed much help finding its way home.
__________________________
"...Ninety-nine."
Jaehyun sighed for what felt like the hundredth time that week, "They've been at ninety-nine for three days."
Riwoo leaned over his shoulder to peek at the notebook, "...Maybe they're waiting."
"For what?"
Riwoo smiled knowingly, "Each other."
⸻
Across campus—
Taesan and Leehan sat beneath a large maple tree.
The afternoon breeze scattered orange leaves around them.
Leehan was talking. Taesan wasn't. Not because he wasn't listening. Quite the opposite.
He was looking at Leehan the way people looked at sunsets, like they were afraid to blink.
⸻
"...He's staring again." Riwoo whispered.
"...Mhm."
"...Kinda obvious."
"Very."
⸻
Leehan stopped talking, "What?"
Taesan blinked, "...Hm?"
"...You've been staring at me."
"Have I?"
"For like..." Leehan checked his phone dramatically, "Three minutes."
"...Sorry."
"Why?"
Taesan looked away, "Nothing."
"Han Dongmin."
"..."
"Don't 'nothing' me."
"..."
"..."
"You're pretty."
⸻
Leehan froze.
"..."
"..."
"...That's it?"
Taesan nodded honestly, "That's it."
"You got distracted because I'm pretty?"
"Yeah."
⸻
Leehan laughed. The kind of laugh that scrunched up his nose, "You're unbelievable."
⸻
Jaehyun's notebook chimed.
100%.
"Riwoo."
"I saw."
⸻
The page glowed softly. Golden letters appeared beneath their names.
Hearts Ready.
Permission Granted.
Jaehyun smiled, "...Finally."
⸻
He reached behind him. Removing one golden arrow. Unlike the countless arrows he'd fired before...
He paused.
Watching the two friends.
⸻
Leehan had leaned against Taesan's shoulder. Without asking. Without thinking.
Taesan adjusted his position automatically, just enough so Leehan would be more comfortable.
Neither of them even noticed they'd done it.
⸻
"Ready?" Riwoo asked quietly.
Jaehyun nodded, "Yeah."
⸻
He drew the bowstring. Golden light gathered around the arrow.
Soft.
Warm.
Gentle.
⸻
"Congratulations." He whispered, "...You two did almost all of my job."
The arrow flew. It dissolved into shimmering particles before reaching them.
Invisible.
Weightless.
Beautiful.
A breeze passed through the trees.
Leehan blinked, "...Taesan."
"Yeah?"
"...Can I ask you something?"
"Always."
"Have you..." He looked down at his hands, "Ever thought... about us?"
Taesan smiled.
Small.
Almost relieved.
"Every day."
"...Oh."
"I just..." Taesan rubbed the back of his neck, "...Didn't want to ruin what we already had."
Leehan laughed quietly, "...Idiot."
"...Probably."
"You know..." Leehan reached over. Intertwining their fingers, "I would've said yes."
Taesan looked down at their joined hands. Then back at him.
"Really?"
"Really."
"Can I..." Taesan swallowed, "Can I kiss you?"
Leehan smiled, "You asked."
"Of course I asked."
"...Then yes."
⸻
The kiss was soft.
Shy.
Years of friendship wrapped into one gentle moment.
When they pulled apart, neither of them stopped smiling.
⸻
The notebook closed itself. A golden seal appeared across the page.
⸻
Assignment #064
Completed Successfully.
⸻
Jaehyun laughed, "We did it."
Riwoo grinned, "We did."
Without thinking, Riwoo threw his arms around Jaehyun.
"Another one!"
Jaehyun laughed, hugging him back, "Match number sixty-four."
"Your sixty-fourth."
"...Our sixty-fourth."
Riwoo smiled against his shoulder.
"I like the sound of that."
⸻
Far above, Kim Woonhak nearly dropped his own notebook.
"THEY DID IT!"
He watched Taesan and Leehan walk away hand in hand.
"..."
He sniffled dramatically, "That was adorable."
⸻
His notebook chimed.
Nearby Assignment Completed.
Congratulations to Cupid Myung Jaehyun.
Woonhak smiled, "Nice job, senior."
⸻
Then—
Out of habit—
He checked his own assignment.
⸻
Assignment #065
Myung Jaehyun
Lee Sanghyuk (Riwoo)
Affection Level : 92%.
"WHAT?! It was eighty-one yesterday!" He frantically flipped through the pages, "How did..."
He looked down toward campus.
Jaehyun and Riwoo were still hugging. Completely unaware.
"Oh."
The percentage quietly climbed again.
93%.
"..."
Woonhak slowly closed the notebook, A smile spread across his face.
"You know..." He said to himself, "At first... I thought this assignment was unfair."
He remembered his first reaction. Complaining to every senior cupid who would listen.
"How am I supposed to match a cupid and a human?"
"They're doing everything themselves!"
"I'm not even working!"
Now—
Watching Jaehyun smile brighter than he'd ever seen another cupid smile...
Watching Riwoo laugh so freely beside him...
Woonhak couldn't bring himself to complain anymore, "Maybe..."
He sat on the edge of the rooftop. Feet swinging idly.
"Maybe... this isn't a bad first assignment."
⸻
Sungho walked over, "Still upset?"
Woonhak shook his head, "No."
"Changed your mind?"
"...Yeah."
⸻
He looked toward the campus below again.
Where Jaehyun and Riwoo were now celebrating with convenience store ice cream.
Laughing because Jaehyun had somehow gotten vanilla on the tip of his own nose.
Riwoo reached over automatically, wiping it away with his thumb.
94%.
Woonhak chuckled, "There they go again."
⸻
Sungho smiled knowingly, "What are they doing now?"
"Making my job easier."
"Still?"
"...Mhm."
He laughed. A warm, genuine laugh this time, "Honestly... I'm kind of grateful."
"For what?"
Woonhak watched Jaehyun carefully. There was a different light in the older cupid's eyes now.
One Woonhak had never seen in any cupid before.
Not pride.
Not satisfaction from a completed mission.
Something much softer.
Much warmer.
"I'm happy."
Sungho looked at him, "Because?"
"Because..." Woonhak smiled, "A fellow cupid finally found someone who looks at him..."
He glanced toward Riwoo. "...The same way he looks at everyone else."
⸻
For centuries—
Jaehyun had watched people fall in love.
He'd stood quietly in the background.
Helping strangers find happiness.
Never expecting any for himself.
⸻
"He deserves this." Woonhak said quietly, "Doesn't he?"
Sungho followed his gaze. Then smiled, "...More than anyone."
⸻
Below—
Jaehyun looked toward the evening sky.
For just a second...
He could've sworn he saw someone smiling back at him from a rooftop.
By the time he blinked, they were gone.
"Everything okay?" Riwoo asked.
Jaehyun smiled, "...Yeah." He looked back at Riwoo, "I just… had a feeling."
"What kind?"
Jaehyun laughed softly, "That something good is about to happen."
Riwoo smiled, "I hope you're right."
Above them—
Woonhak closed his notebook with a satisfied grin, "Don't worry, Jaehyun-hyung."
He whispered to the breeze, "Just a little longer."
"Your happy ending..."
He looked down at the names written in shimmering gold.
Myung Jaehyun.
Lee Sanghyuk.
"...is almost ready."
________________________
The Hall of Matches had become... unusually invested.
⸻
"What's the percentage now?"
A senior cupid looked up from his paperwork.
Woonhak glanced at his notebook.
"Ninety-five."
"Already?"
"Mhm."
"You haven't fired the arrow yet?"
"I haven't even taken it out."
⸻
Another cupid leaned over.
"Wait, is this that assignment?"
"The cupid and the human?"
"The impossible one?"
Woonhak sighed dramatically, "Please stop calling it that."
Too late.
Word had already spread.
Not because anyone was gossiping.
But because every cupid wanted to know if it was even possible.
A cupid... falling in love.
⸻
Meanwhile—
Jaehyun remained blissfully unaware that he had become the Hall's favorite source of entertainment.
⸻
"Breakfast?" Riwoo held up two warm buns.
"You remembered."
"I always do."
"You don't have class for another hour."
"I know."
"Then why'd you come this early?"
Riwoo smiled like it was obvious, "Because you do."
⸻
On a rooftop several buildings away—
Woonhak lowered his binoculars.
"..."
He looked down at the notebook.
⸻
96%.
"Seriously?"
⸻
"I DIDN'T EVEN DO ANYTHING."
⸻
Beside him, Sungho laughed.
"I think breathing near each other increases their affection."
"At this point, probably."
⸻
Down below—
Riwoo had somehow convinced Jaehyun to try one of those trendy drinks everyone on campus was obsessed with.
Jaehyun took one sip.
Immediately frowned.
"This is awful."
Riwoo laughed, "I told you it was sweet."
"This tastes like someone melted ten candies into milk."
"Then don't drink it."
"You bought it."
"So?"
"It'll go to waste."
Riwoo held out his hand, "Give it here."
Jaehyun handed over the drink. Without hesitation. Without embarrassment. Without even thinking about the fact... they had just shared the same straw.
⸻
97%.
Woonhak slowly lowered his notebook.
"I'm being bullied."
Sungho nearly choked on his tea.
"You know what's worse?" Woonhak continued.
"What?"
"I'm starting to think..." He watched the two of them laugh over something only they understood, "They don't even need me."
⸻
Sungho smiled, "You're wrong."
"I am?"
"Every match deserves someone to witness it."
Woonhak looked back down, "Guess that's true."
⸻
A week passed.
Taesan and Leehan were officially together.
Every time Jaehyun and Riwoo walked past them—
Something new had changed.
⸻
One day—
Taesan was carrying Leehan's backpack.
The next—
Leehan had stolen Taesan's hoodie.
Then—
They were holding hands.
Then—
Sharing earphones.
Then—
Taesan absentmindedly kissed Leehan's forehead before heading to class.
⸻
"They're disgustingly cute." Jaehyun muttered.
Riwoo nodded solemnly, "It's our fault."
"Definitely."
"We're too good at our jobs."
⸻
Neither of them noticed... that Riwoo was wearing Jaehyun's hoodie.
Or that Jaehyun hadn't asked for it back.
⸻
On the rooftop—
"..."
Woonhak looked from the hoodie...
To the notebook...
Back to the hoodie...
⸻
98%.
"NO." He frantically opened his training guide again.
⸻
SECTION: 21
Affection Level 98%
Subjects are usually moments away from being ready for the arrow.
⸻
"Moments?!" He pointed dramatically toward campus, "They've been like this for months!"
⸻
Sungho shrugged, "Maybe they're slow."
"Slow?! They literally wear each other's clothes!"
"Fair point."
⸻
That evening—
Jaehyun and Riwoo stayed on campus longer than usual. The sun had already disappeared below the horizon. Most students had gone home. The campus was quiet. Peaceful.
⸻
They found themselves sitting beneath the same gingko tree where everything had begun.
⸻
"Do you remember..." Riwoo smiled, "...The day we met?"
Jaehyun laughed immediately, "You called me taller than the diaper baby."
"It was true."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"It was."
⸻
"I was terrified." Jaehyun admitted.
"Really?"
"You weren't supposed to see me."
"Sorry."
"It's okay." He smiled softly, "...I'm kind of glad you did."
⸻
Riwoo looked down at his hands, "...Me too."
⸻
Silence settled between them.
Comfortable.
Gentle.
The kind only two people who knew each other inside and out could share.
⸻
"Jaehyun?"
"Hm?"
"Can I ask something?"
"Always."
⸻
"When we stop being partners..."
Jaehyun frowned, "What?"
"Eventually..." Riwoo smiled weakly, "...You'll finish matching everyone here."
"Probably."
"Then... you'll leave?"
⸻
The question hit harder than Jaehyun expected.
Because...
He'd never thought about it.
⸻
Cupids didn't stay forever.
Assignments ended.
Humans grew old.
Lives moved on.
⸻
"...I..." He couldn't answer.
⸻
Riwoo laughed quietly, "Sorry... forget I asked."
"No." Jaehyun spoke almost immediately, "...I don't want to."
"Hm?"
"...Leave."
Riwoo looked up.
"I don't..." Jaehyun admitted, "...Really like thinking about a day where I don't get to see you."
Riwoo's heart skipped, "...Me neither."
⸻
Above them—
Woonhak's notebook began glowing.
Brightly.
Brighter than ever before.
⸻
He looked down.
Then immediately stood up.
⸻
"...Senior." His voice came out barely above a whisper. "Senior!"
The older cupid hurried over, "What's wrong?"
Woonhak turned the notebook around. The numbers had disappeared.
Instead—
Only one sentence remained.
Written in shimmering gold.
⸻
Hearts Ready.
Awaiting Final Blessing.
⸻
Sungho’s eyes widened, "Already?"
⸻
Woonhak slowly reached behind his back.
For the first time since receiving Assignment #065...
He wrapped his fingers around a golden arrow.
⸻
It was warm.
Lighter than he expected.
Almost... excited.
⸻
He looked down toward the gingko tree one last time. Where Jaehyun and Riwoo sat shoulder to shoulder.
Their hands had somehow found each other on the grass between them. Neither of them had noticed. Neither had pulled away.
Their fingers rested together naturally, as if they'd always belonged there.
⸻
Woonhak smiled. A little emotional. A little proud.
"...You really did almost everything yourselves." He laughed softly.
"Guess all that's left..." He gently lifted the bow. Golden light gathered around the string. "...Is the easiest part."
The arrow shimmered.
Waiting.
Just waiting...
For the perfect moment.
_______________________
Kim Woonhak stood with Park Sungho on the highest rooftop overlooking the campus. His bow rested comfortably in his hand. The golden arrow glowed softly.
Not impatient.
Simply... ready.
⸻
He looked down one last time. Beneath the gingko tree...
Jaehyun and Riwoo were still talking.
⸻
"You know..." Riwoo laughed quietly, "...I don't even remember what life was like before you."
Jaehyun smiled, "Probably quieter."
"Definitely."
"Less weird?"
"Much less weird."
"Less handsome cupids?"
Riwoo rolled his eyes, "Your ego is unbelievable."
"Thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment."
"I'm choosing to believe it was."
They laughed together. The sound carried on the evening breeze.
⸻
Woonhak checked the notebook, One final time.
⸻
Assignment #065
Myung Jaehyun
Lee Sanghyuk (Riwoo)
Hearts Ready
Awaiting Final Blessing
⸻
Below those words—
For the first time in history—
Another sentence slowly appeared.
One no cupid had ever seen before.
⸻
Love has already found its way.
The arrow is only a promise.
⸻
"..."
Woonhak felt his throat tighten.
"Senior..." he whispered, "...You really did fall in love on your own."
⸻
Sungho beside him smiled. "Then fulfill your assignment."
⸻
Woonhak nodded.
Slowly.
Respectfully.
He wasn't creating love.
He wasn't forcing fate.
He was simply blessing what already existed.
⸻
He raised his bow.
The golden arrow shimmered against the setting sun.
⸻
Down below—
Jaehyun looked toward Riwoo, "Can I ask you something?"
Riwoo nodded, "...Always."
"Do you..." Jaehyun hesitated.
Which was strange.
Cupids weren't supposed to hesitate.
"Do you ever think..." He laughed nervously, "That maybe... meeting you changed everything?"
Riwoo smiled, "...Every day."
⸻
Woonhak inhaled.
"...Congratulations." He whispered, "...Both of you."
⸻
The string slipped from his fingers.
The arrow flew.
Not fast.
Not violently.
It drifted through the air like a feather carried by the wind.
Golden light trailed behind it.
Leaves danced around it.
Time itself seemed to slow.
⸻
Far below—
Neither Jaehyun nor Riwoo saw it.
They simply felt... warmth.
⸻
The arrow dissolved into thousands of tiny golden lights before reaching them.
One half settled into Jaehyun's heart.
The other... into Riwoo's.
⸻
The entire campus disappeared.
Not literally.
Just...
Everything else stopped mattering.
⸻
Jaehyun looked at Riwoo. Really looked at him.
The smile he'd memorized. The eyes he'd unknowingly searched for every morning. The voice he'd started looking forward to hearing more than anything else. The person he'd somehow begun calling home without realizing it.
⸻
"...Riwoo."
Riwoo looked back.
And suddenly...
Every little moment made sense.
Sharing breakfasts. Waiting after class. Looking for white feathers. Saving the seat beside him. Missing him after only a few hours apart. Wanting every assignment to last a little longer.
"...Jaehyun."
⸻
The warmth wasn't new. It had always been there. The arrow hadn't created it.
It had simply... removed the last veil hiding it.
⸻
Jaehyun laughed first. Softly. Almost in disbelief.
"...I'm an idiot."
Riwoo blinked, "...Why?"
"I'm a Cupid."
"...You are."
"I spend every day recognizing love."
"...Mhm."
"How did I..." He laughed again, "...Miss my own?"
⸻
Riwoo smiled so brightly it almost hurt to look at, "Because..." He reached over. Taking Jaehyun's hand completely this time, "...You were too busy helping everyone else."
Jaehyun squeezed his hand, "...Seems like it."
⸻
Above them—
The notebook burst into brilliant gold.
Assignment #065
Completed Successfully.
The words shimmered.
Then... something impossible happened.
The page turned itself. One final message appeared. Written in ancient golden script.
⸻
First Recorded Human–Cupid Match
Recognized by the Hall of Matches
⸻
Silence.
⸻
Then—
The entire Hall erupted.
⸻
"They did it!"
"No way!"
"It actually worked!"
"I told you!"
"You absolutely did not!"
"I was emotionally supportive!"
⸻
Woonhak laughed until tears blurred his vision. He looked down at the completed assignment. His very first mission. Completed.
⸻
"..."
He smiled to himself, "Not bad... for my first match."
Sungho rested a hand on his shoulder, "...How does it feel?"
Woonhak looked toward the couple beneath the tree.
Jaehyun was still staring at Riwoo like he'd just discovered the most beautiful thing in existence. Riwoo looked no different.
"It feels..." Woonhak laughed quietly, "...Like I didn't match them."
"No." Sungho agreed, "...You didn't."
"Then what did I do?"
Sungho watched the golden lights fade into the evening sky. His smile was gentle.
Warm.
Full of years of wisdom.
"You gave love your blessing."
⸻
Below—
Jaehyun looked impossibly nervous.
"...Riwoo."
"Yeah?"
"There's..." He rubbed the back of his neck, "...One problem."
Riwoo tilted his head, "What?"
"I've never actually..." He laughed awkwardly, "...Confessed before."
⸻
Riwoo grinned, "Lucky for you..." He moved closer. Close enough that only a few inches separated them. "...Neither have I."
"Then..." Jaehyun swallowed, "Can I try?"
Riwoo nodded once, "Please."
Jaehyun took a deep breath. His heartbeat was embarrassingly loud.
"Lee Sanghyuk."
Riwoo smiled immediately, "Using my full name?"
"...It feels important."
"Okay."
⸻
"I think..." Jaehyun laughed
"...No." He shook his head, "...I know."
⸻
"I know that somewhere between sharing breakfasts..."
"...and helping strangers fall in love..."
"...and sitting under this tree..."
"...you became my favorite part of every day."
⸻
Riwoo's eyes softened.
⸻
"I started looking for you before I looked for my assignments. I smiled because you smiled. I stayed longer on campus because you were here."
Jaehyun's voice became quieter. More honest.
"I've spent centuries helping people find their soulmates." He smiled. "I never imagined...mine would be the only human who could see me."
⸻
Riwoo laughed through eyes that had started watering, "...You talk too much."
Jaehyun blinked, "I do?"
"Mhm." Riwoo scooted the last inch forward. Rested his forehead against Jaehyun's. Smiling.
"Good thing..." he whispered, "...I like listening to you."
⸻
And before Jaehyun could panic...
Or overthink...
Or apologize for rambling...
Riwoo closed the distance.
Their first kiss was gentle.
Careful.
Sweet enough to make the golden leaves swirling around them seem almost dull in comparison.
⸻
Far above—
Woonhak sniffled loudly, "...I need a minute."
Sungho laughed.
"You're crying."
"I'm NOT."
"Your wings are sparkling."
"THAT HAPPENS WHEN I'M EMOTIONAL."
⸻
Sungho smiled as he watched the couple below walk home together, fingers intertwined.
"...Remember this day, Kim Woonhak."
"Why?"
"Because today..." He looked toward the endless sky above the Hall.
"Love proved that even fate... can fall in love with the unexpected."