Morning had arrived with Aro marching to Champion's study that was located on the top floors of the manor, prohibited to be entered by any of them since it was Champion's "work space". Champion raised a brow when he saw Aro, lifting a finger as if to say: wait.

When the meeting had ended, Champion clicked off the screen and sat up.

"What's wrong?"

Aro placed a printed resume on the table. "Devine Formaster."

Champion stared at the face of the man. He was a stranger. "Am I missing something?"

"Devine Formaster is an admin at your data firm. Longitude Data Enterprise."

No wonder Champion had never heard of the man. He was hardly involved with all of his companies.

"So?" Champion asked, still confused. "What about him?"

"He's been using the company's resources to stalk someone. Someone of our own." Aro slid Bunny's phone towards Champion. "Look at this. He's been sending these kinds of messages non-stop. He's been able to find her phone number, where she lives, where she works for the past year."

Champion reached for the phone and scrolled up. His frown creased and he shook his head. The messages were horrible.

"Devine, you say?" Champion knew this might as well be an issue with data privacy and compliance. "Can you call Bunny up, please? Tell her I need to talk to her."

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When I was in the kitchen eating breakfast with the Superhumans when Champion called me up.

"It's probably nothing, Bunny," Royal said. "I do admit it's weird. Only time I've ever seen a manager go to see Champion in his study is when they get fired."

"Oh no!" I wailed. "He's going to fire me, isn't he?"

"You can't leave!" the nine-year-old cried, shaking his head. "We actually like you!"

"Now, now, now. What is Champion thinking? We need to protest, that's what we need to do!" Jay chimed in, his mouth full of chips. "I'm coming with you. I'm backing you up!"

"No, don't do that. It's awkward," I shook my head. "I'll just deal with it."

"Nonsense, child! Stop jumping on the couch, Andy!" Jay turned to me and whispered. "He does that when he's stressed. Andy! You'll break the couch! Besides, Buns, Champion Tremaine can't fire you. We'll fire him."

"Is that even possible?" Royal complained. He grabbed a fork and I had to tell him to put it down. "Why? I can threaten to stab Champion if—"

I shook my head and he gingerly put the fork down.

Champion looked surprised that the Superhumans had gathered. Chester kicked open the door, the adolescent teen muttering that he'd 'assert dominance' if Champion tried anything 'funny'.

"It's a party, isn't it?" Champion asked, motioning everyone to sit down.

Except everyone was running on emotional fuel and Andy zoomed to Champion, yelling in his ear: You can't fire here!

"I—" Champion began.

"What Andy means is that: if you fire her, we'll fire you!" Jay squared his shoulders and glared.

"And I keep telling Jay that's not possible," Royal said, calmly taking a seat. Chester growled.

"Woah, woah! Guys!" Champion raised both hands.

"I have no idea why you'd even think of firing her, but I will not hold back from screaming and using my powers on you. I just reached a new level of high and I will scream and I assure you it will be hell."

"Chester, shush. No screaming. All of you, why would I fire Bunny? Where'd you get your ideas from?" Champion turned to me. "I want to talk to you about Devine Formaster."

I froze, the hot sensation of embarrassment going up to my cheeks.

"I didn't mean to mix personal and work together. I-I'll try harder. I know I can get emotional sometimes."

Maybe Aro complained about how I cried yesterday during a session. Maybe it's seen as weakness. Maybe Aro's way of 'fixing it' was making sure I was taken care of and ripped off my job.

"What are you saying, Bunny? That's not the point of the conversation," Aro snapped.

Chester whipped his head towards Aro, narrowing his eyes. "Be nice to her."

"I need to know how long this has been going on," Champion said, and I told him it's been around a year or so. "I've seen those messages, Bunny. This is not something I'd take lightly."

A blur past Champion. Another blur and Andy appeared by Jay, my phone in hand. He scrolled past the text messages, Jay peering over his shouder. Andy gasped.

"Devine is an evil, evil man!" Andy cried out; his expression horrified. Chester joined in.

Jay inhaled sharply. "This man needs to go to jail for emotional manipulation."

Royal stood on tiptoe, grabbing the phone and reading the messages. He looked up slowly before saying: We need to murder him.

"He's a pig, Bunny. I want to make sure we're able to protect you. I want you to feel safe. Does Max know you're facing an issue like this?"

"I didn't tell him."

"And you told Aro?" Champion asked in disbelief.

"I took it upon myself to read the messages first. I know, bad of me. But that's why we're here, trying to find a solution, right?"

"Bunny. I want you to report such things to me. Devine works for one of my companies. He'll be dealt with accordingly."

Except that made me feel worse.

"What's going to happen to him?"

"We'll have to fire him."

"How is he going to pay his bills?"

Devine was a troubled child. He also had a criminal record attached to his name for punching a guy at a bar when he was drunk – that served very hard for him to get a job. He would bounce from job to job and always had trouble staying in one position for more than six months.

"Bunny, I don't think you should have any empathy for this guy."

"You don't understand, what if he ends up on the streets?"

They were all staring at me. I know I must seem unhinged, crying and then caring for the very person who was trying to hurt me. I told Champion that this person was once a friend and brother (Jay whispering: incest!), then someone I had loved with all my heart.

"I'll help him find another job," Champion finalized. "Not one in one of my companies. But Bunny, you must promise me. Once I do, you should cut all contact with this person. He will try to come back into your life, you know that. He is not good for you."

I nodded obediently. "Can I see him one last time?"

An explosion of protests came from the Superhumans and Aro.

"Definitely not!" Aro snapped.

"Are you crazy?" Royal asked quietly. "After all the photos he has sent you? Demanding for your attention?"

"If you go, I go," Chester insisted.

"I agree," Jay nodded. "You won't be safe alone."

"You mustn't let your guard down!" Andy cried.

"I want to talk to him one last time. I need to, I think. Before letting go. I need to talk to him alone."

Champion thought about it, his fingers tapping down on the table. "Fine. Bring Aro. And the rest... Go back to your rooms. Bunny will be home in no time."

He turned to me. "Do what's best for yourself, Bunny. I trust you."

With that, Champion threw his car keys to Aro and told us to go on our way.

"Did you text him?" Aro asked and I nodded. "What did you say?"

"I asked him if he wanted to drink coffee."

"Aren't you allergic to Robusta beans?" he asked, and I was surprised how he remembered that tiny detail. "The café you chose. Do they serve Robusta or Arabica?"

"I'm not sure. I don't think I'll order coffee. Maybe tea. I get a tad bit anxious on caffeine."

"Mhm... How are you feeling?"

"Normal," I lied even though my heart was hammering in my chest.

"Right. Having coffee with your stalker is a very normal thing to do."

Aro let out a huff and I asked him why he was so 'pissy'. Aro rolled his eyes. The car sped down the road, everything saturated in sunshine yellow from the sun being so high in the sky.

"I don't understand," Aro voiced with frustration. "Why? Why would you want to talk to him?"

"Because I know that Devine loves me, he just doesn't know how to love me right," I told him. "He used to be my best friend, protect me from anything who tried to hurt me. Deep down somewhere, maybe I wish I can reason with him."

"He thinks he owns you."

"When you don't have many people in your life, you do everything to try to keep them. Devine and I have been through things together. It's not that easy."

When we reached the city, Aro parked the car and I saw Devine through the window.

His posture indicated desolation. His back was hunched, and he was incredibly still. Aro said he'd wait for me in the car and when I entered, I could barely breath.

Devine's eyes met mine and he stood up halfway, mouth slightly open. It was like he couldn't believe I was in front of him. I knew the ideal emotion was anger, but that wasn't the case.

I gave him a hug, Devine sinking into my arms like a sunken ship going lost in water. For a moment we were transported back into time, where Devine was still my partner. Coffee dates by the park. Reading books in the library. Breakfast in bed.

"You've got to stop," I whispered to him, and he tightened his arms around me. He reeked of sadness and desperation. "You've got to stop, Devine. Please."

We stood there for a long moment, unmoving. I knew people were watching us. I wondered what they thought about us. Reunited lovers? Long lost best friends? We were both.

When he pulled back, I kissed his cheek. His chocolate brown skin was rough and dry, his lips were chapped and he had dark shadows under his eyes. When he called me by my real name, it was like a blanket of snow. Comforting, yet cold.

"How've you been?" I asked gently, clasping his hands in mine.

"I need you," was his response, but I wasn't going to cave. "I've been having nightmares, Daph. I can't do this alone."

"I can't do this with you," I said. "I can't, Devine. I'm sorry. You're going to chip my whole identity away. I can't live just for you, to cater to you."

He closed his eyes, lifting my hands up and pressing his lips against them. We spent the one hour talking. I warned him that he'd get fired, but my boss will find him another job. I told him to stay strong and to get help.

I rubbed the scars on his wrists where he would cut himself and show them to me. I told him that I knew he loved me, but if this kept going on, I wouldn't be happy.

"Is this it?" Devine asked.

"I ended it a long time ago, Dev," I answered. "Please, please, please get some help."

Devine nodded. "Okay. When I get better, can I text you?"

I shook my head. "No, because you'll fake getting better just to keep me around."

This made Devine laugh. He admitted that he did think of that.

"People who are brought up with love see the world in rose-tinted glasses. People like you and me... We see the world in broken, shattered pieces. Let's both take time to piece ourselves together," I told him. "We deserve it, to live a life that is our own."

"You've always been very positive."

When it was time to leave, he hugged me for the longest time. When I pulled away, his eyes were watering, and he promised he'd only reach out once he was truly better.

That it was a journey of healing he had to go through on his own.

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