Can… we take a walk? Please?" Divine's voice carried both weariness and urgency.
She hesitated, but after a moment, she rose and followed him outside. Favour gave her a small nod of support before they left.
---
The cool evening air surrounded them as they walked down the quiet street. For several moments, neither spoke. Ariel's arms were crossed, her expression guarded, while Divine kept his hands shoved deep in his pockets, his eyes fixed on the ground.
Finally, he broke the silence. "I'm sorry. For what Joy did… for everything she said in there. You didn't deserve that."
Ariel exhaled slowly, trying to read him. "You keep saying sorry, Divine. But sorry doesn't explain anything. Who is Joy really to you and why does she have this… hold on you?"
Divine stopped walking. He turned to her, his expression torn between reluctance and resignation. "She's my cousin. And she's trying to blackmail me"
Ariel blinked, shocked. "Your cousin?"
"Yes." He nodded, looking away. "I don't talk about her. I don't even like being associated with her. Joy… she's trouble, Ariel. Always has been."
They started walking again, slower this time. Ariel frowned. "Then why is she acting like this with you? Why does she think she can blackmail you?"
Divine's shoulders tensed. He took a deep breath. "Because… She knows something. Something I never wanted anyone to know."
"Divine…" Ariel's voice softened. "What is it?"
He didn't answer right away. Instead, he explained the beginning. "Her parents asked me to keep an eye on her when they started hearing about her behavior—skipping classes, hanging out with the wrong people, and then… her grades. I found out she got rusticated for exam misconduct. I was going to tell her parents."
"And she found out?" Ariel guessed.
"Yes." His voice grew bitter. "So she started blackmailing me. Using my past against me."
Ariel's eyes narrowed, curiosity and worry mixing. "Blackmailing you with what? What could be so terrible that you'd let her walk all over you like this?"
Divine stopped walking again, his fists tightening in his pockets. He looked up at the night sky as if searching for courage. His voice cracked slightly when he finally spoke.
"It's not that I didn't want to tell you… I just hate myself for it. I don't want anyone to look at me differently."
Ariel stepped closer, her tone gentle. "Divine, you can trust me. Whatever it is… it doesn't change who you are now."
He swallowed hard before the words tumbled out. "When I was a kid… I have a younger brother. And when he was five, and I was eight. We were playing—arguing like kids do. I pushed him. I didn't mean to, Ariel. I swear I didn't. But… he fell down the stairs."
Ariel's breath caught, her eyes softening.
"He was badly injured. So bad he had to be taken abroad for treatment. Since that day… my parents became distant. They blamed me, even though no one said it out loud. And I haven't seen my brother since. They won't let me." His voice broke at the last part, his eyes glistening though he tried to blink it away.
Ariel pressed a hand to her mouth, processing his confession. "Divine…"
He gave a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "That's what Joy uses against me. She knows I can't stand people knowing. That's why I keep my distance from everyone. That's why I… hate myself sometimes. I feel like a monster."
Ariel reached out instinctively, touching his arm. "You were a child, Divine. An accident at eight years old doesn't make you a monster. You didn't know better. You didn't mean it."
"But it ruined everything," he whispered, his voice raw.
"No," Ariel countered firmly, stepping in front of him so he had to look at her. "What ruined everything is your parents refusing to forgive and love you through it. You made a mistake as a kid. That doesn't define who you are now. Joy knows it's your weakness, so she's twisting it. Don't give her that power."
Divine looked at her, surprise flickering in his eyes at her conviction. For the first time, his tense features softened. "You really don't hate me?"
Ariel smiled gently, shaking her head. "Hate you? Divine… if anything, I feel sorry for how much you've carried alone. And…" she nudged his shoulder playfully, trying to lighten the mood, "honestly? Joy is really stupid if she thinks using something like this could keep me away from you."
A small laugh escaped him, almost disbelieving. "You're unbelievable."
"Maybe." Ariel shrugged with a grin. "But I'd rather be unbelievable than heartless like Joy."
The heaviness between them slowly eased as they continued walking, talking more freely now. Divine told her little bits about his brother—how much he missed him, how he still dreamt about playing together sometimes. Ariel listened, occasionally teasing him gently to make him smile again.
By the time they returned to the apartment, the tension had melted into a calm warmth. As they stood at the door, Divine turned to her, his eyes soft but serious.
"Thank you… for not walking away. For listening."
Ariel held his gaze, her own steady. "Thank you… for finally trusting me."
A small silence lingered, filled with unspoken emotions, before Ariel gave him a reassuring smile. "Come on. Let's call it a night."
Divine nodded, but the way he looked at her made it clear—her words had given him a kind of peace he hadn't felt in years.
As Ariel lay in bed, she replayed everything in her mind. She was still unsure of the storm Joy might stir next, but for now, she chose to hold onto one thing: Divine had finally let her see the part of him he kept buried, and instead of breaking them apart, it had drawn them closer.