An Angel that I Can Finally Call Mine

Epilogue:

My predicament right now began last season. About a year ago-- earth time. In this same spot. With the same celebration.

The Hip Hop music in the background did very little to help me forget about that first time. Who would have thought I’ll be back in this place? This place had caused a lot of changes in my life. Well--- it was actually not the place, but the memories that came with it.

The first change was during my life as Chey. My first life as Chey. My parents had their divorce in this place. I died in this place. The Big Boss was so happy with me that he asked Master Kiron to make Elphone give me my memory containing my first Chey life on earth. I found out that I drowned myself out of depression--- the one assigned to me failing to help me....

... the reason why the Big Boss decided to put me into this duty.

... so I can help other humans.

I know this might seem all strange to you. Like me talking about humans as if I am not one.

Well yes… I am not a human.

Ooooo ----- ooooO

I drank the last of my beer as I moved away from the group. I just have to apologize when I get back up there. Atheno will understand. He always does. I am so luck to have a cool Master like him. He won’t report my drinking to the Big Boss and the Young Master.

I looked at everyone—except for the two persons I don’t even have the plan to look at all evening or for the last days of my life here on earth (No, I’m definitely not dying. It can’t happen to me).

I sighed. I’ll let them do all the noisy stuff. I’m not in the mood. I leaned toward the wooden railings of the cottage and breathed the cold, night air.

I’ll miss this.

Ooooo ----- ooooO

The Hip Hop songs changed into mellow songs.

I laughed. It was pretty ironic. Dancing songs to Love Songs. I turned around to see the group. Almost the same group--- almost because Claire is not with me.

Claire. I had loved her. She had been mine for almost ten years. My childhood sweetheart. My first real love. I thought it would be her and me. That everything we’ve shared will last forever especially when I was given the chance to be with her again. She was my dream girl.

I shook my head. Claire was in my past. She is now engaged to Marlon--another one of our childhood friends, whom I found out has been in love with Claire ever since. He instantly grabbed the opportunity of being with her right after I left.

I laughed to myself. The guy didn’t even give me a little respect by at least courting her after a month or so—but no… she courted her the next day after I left and she hadn’t even gotten over my loss.

And I saw her—Claire. She was dancing so close to Marlon. We caught each other’s gazes. Hers was hostile.

I frowned. I know she hasn’t forgiven me for what I did, but it was unfair of me if I continued even though I know I already felt differently.

I took a deep breath. Definitely, these will all be over soon.

Soon.

Then a song started playing in the background which brought me back to reality.

It automatically made me look for that one person in the group.

I saw Karen first. Her arms around Wes's neck. They are gazing at each other's eyes as if they are alone into their intimate world. I smiled as I saw Wes steal a kiss from Karen. That earned Wes a slight slap on his face plus a long kiss.

So I guess Wes won't complain.

At least her best friend had her happy ending. And it won’t change. Fatea had assured me it will be Karen and Wes in the end.

Then I saw her. Her arms were wrapped around the neck of her boyfriend. Smiling up at him.

I felt my breath catch. It has been very hard for me to see her with him.

Then I saw her stiffen. She must have heard the song now. Her boyfriend turned her slowly as they danced, with him oblivious of the sudden change in her mood.

Then my human heart stopped. She was now facing me. We looked at each other. I saw her mouth harden, but I also saw her eyes. They became misty.

She remembered of course. All the memories that goes with the song. This song had always played in the background every time the two of us are in the same room.

She removed her gaze away from me and looked up at her boyfriend. I felt jealous. She was smiling. I remembered when she had started to smile--- it was when we started being together.

And she was smiling now too. That same ethereal smile--- that’s what I call it.

The only problem is--- the smile wasn’t for me.

I turned away from them--- not bearing to see how much he loves her and how much she loves him.

But the song kept boring into me… hurting me in the process… but at the same time reminding me that I was to blame.

And the song went on…

… Aalis na nga….

Maaari bang hawakan ang iyong mga kamay…

…Sana ay maabot ng langit ang yong mga ngiti…

Sana ay masilip…

And suddenly, the song made me remember the first time I had seen a smile that would forever make its mark on me.

I made that smile. And I’ll bring its memory with me.

And again I’m not dying.

Because I’m dead.

But I’m not a ghost.

CHAPTER 1: THE ASSIGNMENT

Fresh Air. I breathed it gratefully. After being with Claire in the past few weeks, I welcome the fresh air that my home for the last two years, is offering me.

It was different here. The air here is definitely pure. Claire would have loved it here.

Claire. She is so sweet. But I just had to leave her. My assignment has been final. I can feel she misses me. Actually, I know she does miss me. I can see her from Anthise’s well. He had helped me see if Claire was doing well after I left.

And she is doing well. Extremely well. Except that… Anthise can still feel a strong emotion radiating off her.

She misses me.

I sighed. I didn’t want her to feel that way towards me. Elphone has to do something about it.

Of course, it is part of his duty to erase all traces of the Angel assigned to the ‘guarded’ if it gets to affect the life of the ‘guarded’ that much.

Yes. Elphone is an angel. A guardian angel. An Angel of Memory.

Yes. Anthise is an angel. A guardian angel. An Angel of Feelings.

And yes. I am an angel. A guardian angel.

My name is Phristu.

And I am an Angel of Mission.

And Elphone and Anthise are my best friends.

I breathed once more as I glided towards the Haven of Feelings.

Ooooo ----- ooooO

Anthise had that look that made me frown when I approached him. I know what he will say. Being in his haven helps anyone feel any emotion radiating off any angel.

And being an angel that he is, Anthise's feelings can be felt strongly. He is feeling skepticism and irritation and pity.

And I am right.

He was sitting on his cushion (actually it’s a cloud) and was peering on his Well (Again, a well of cloud-- swirling clouds).

“Tsk. Tsk. I’ve already asked Elphone’s help. He is just going to ask for Master Kiron’s permission and he will wipe away--” he looked at me through his glasses and continued. “… her memory of you. It will just appear as if she has this sudden realization so you don’t have to worry about Claire. I have already asked Master Hino’s permission too—because I asked him if I can twiddle Claire’s feelings a little.”

“Do you even feel I am worrying?” I asked seriously.

Anthise shook his head slightly. “You are not. That is why you are assigned in the Missions. You are one of the most detached angel I’ve ever met.”

I laughed at that. He looked at me seriously though so I stopped.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I asked, shoving my hair out of my face.

I saw him frown deeper.

“What?”

“You shouldn’t do that.”

“Do what, Anthise?”

“Shoving your hair like that.”

“What’s wrong with---” I started to ask but he cut me.

“That’s what is wrong.”

I followed his gaze and saw a group of Angels—females—looking at me, giggling, blushing, and then turning away.

I sighed. “Do you think they should banish me here?”

Anthise shook his head, taking what I just said seriously. “If only they could, they would have done it since your presence here is actually breaking the rules of the Heavens.”

“I know that. How can I be exiled then?”

“Learn how to feel again.”

I sharply turned towards him to see if he is joking.

But he isn’t. He twirled his finger towards his Well again as I walked away. I think it would be better to talk to Elphone than to Anthise. I couldn't understand what he wants. If I'll learn how to feel again, I definitely wouldn't have done all my missions.

I shook my head as I glided towards Elphone’s haven. I could never afford to learn how to feel again. I am an Angel of Mission. And that is one requirement.

Ooooo ----- ooooO

I had always liked Elphone’s Haven. It always is so peaceful here. It looks like the other havens, except for the swirls of mists floating around.

I saw Elphone in his seat, surrounded by the familiar clouds. He saw me and grinned.

I grinned back. Elphone has always been the most cheerful among the three of us.

“Anthise giving you a hard time?”

I grimaced. “I think so. He is really the angel of feelings--- making me feel guilty even though I shouldn't feel anything since my feelings had been removed from me.”

Elphone laughed. “You know, Phristu, that’s his duty. He just wants to make sure you’ll never be attached to your guarded. It’ll be hell. Oooops… wrong choice of word. Sorry, Master!” he apologized as a sound of thunder came from somewhere in the haven.

“Surely very sensitive. Anyway, how are you?” Elphone asked, looking interested for an angel.

“What do you mean how am I? I am definitely fine,” I answered nonchalantly.

“You miss her.”

“Who?”

“Claire, dimwit.”

‘ELPHONE!’

“Sorry, Master! Won’t do it again!”

I laughed. "You have to forgive him, Master Kiron."

'SURELY, PHRISTU. ELPHONE-- ONE MORE WORD OF THE KIND AND I'LL BANISH YOU IN THE WARRIOR HAVEN.'

Elphone shuddered. The Warrior Angels were never his favorites. They are always so serious and Elphone is not the kind.

I smiled. Elphone turned towards me.

“Seriously, Phristu… and don’t laugh. I know you miss her.”

My face turned serious. I could not miss her. I couldn’t miss her.

But I do.

But Anthise hadn’t felt that.

Elphone grinned. “Anthise had said you are not worrying for her. You really aren’t. But you miss her. And Anthise had been kind enough not to mention that.”

I know I looked skeptical, so Elphone laughed again. “He sent me a message just after you left. Of course it reached me first. It was a mist of his memory.”

Oh my. Even my best friends felt it.

But I can’t.

But then she is also different. I don’t know how she did it. I have been with other guardeds and they haven’t affected me that way. It has been a puzzle for me ever since I get back from earth. I was supposed to feel nothing towards my guarded… even just to miss her.

“Elphone, I can’t---”

But a booming voice, which I recognized, is suddenly heard in the background. It wasn't Master Kiron's--- Elphone's Master.

It was Atheno's voice.

‘PHRISTU, COME TO OUR HAVEN. NOW. BRING ELPHONE WITH YOU. KIRON IS HERE.’

And that usually means a new mission. Masters never call us when they do not give us missions.

But then... this must be a special one. This is strange.

And most especially, not two Masters are involved.

Ooooo ----- ooooO

We entered the Haven that has been my home for quite a while.

“Master Atheno, we’re here,” I announced. I know my Master heard me. I looked back and caught Elphone studying my Book of Missions. It was a list of my missions. My book was propped up on a cloud near the window of our Haven.

“So,” Elphone started. “Except for the Alyssa case, you have never failed a mission.” Then I saw his face contorted out of disgust. “But then who would triumph when that Alyssa was assigned to you? She was just so Emo. Even Anthise had a hard time helping you with her emotions. Her suicide has been decided even before she became your guarded.”

I frowned at Elphone’s words. “You need not remind me of her.” It’s not because I feel for her because I can never afford to have my feelings back again. I frowned because I do not like it when I fail a mission because that means one life wasted.

Alyssa’s soul is still being examined by Fatima--- the Angel of Justice. She and her angels are the busiest angels since they are the ones assigned at the Gates of the Heavens to make sure that a soul is right to enter the Heavens. Before a soul was to present itself to the Big Boss and the Young Master, it has to have the right to face them, so the souls had to be well-sorted.

I had seen Alyssa at the gates. She even saw me and her face lit up, but I had to ignore her since it is improper for us to disturb other angels while they are performing their duties.

A voice disturbed my thoughts again.

‘PHRISTU, WHAT IS DELAYING YOU? COME AT MY ABODE NOW WITH ELPHONE.’

“Yes, Master Atheno. I apologize.” I looked at Elphone. He grinned sheepishly and closed my Book of Missions. He followed me as we flew towards Atheno’s abode.

Ooooo ----- ooooO

All the Masters’ and Mistresses’ abodes are on the top of all Havens called the High Abodes. No angel is permitted to go there unless being called by their Masters or Mistresses. The High Abodes can only be reached through Angel Wings—that is, we, angels, need to fly to reach the High Abodes.

I reached the abode first, followed by Elphone. I can see Master Atheno talking to Master Kiron. I just had to suppress a smile. Atheno and Kiron are the best of friends, yet they are so different from each other.

Physically, Master Kiron looks like a middle-aged professor. He is quite handsome and quite very tall. He has his long hair tied into a ponytail and is wearing glasses, so instead of the heartthrob student, he is the heartthrob professor.

And he always looks so serious.

Master Kiron is like Anthise in a way. Between the two of them (my master and he), Master Kiron is a very strict follower of Heaven rules. He is so proper for a Master and therefore very suited for his position.

Cool is one way to describe my master, Atheno. I knew he became an angel at a young age, therefore he is very young at heart. He was also assigned early as the Master of Missions for his superb ability to execute them when he was just an Angel of Mission like me.

Master Atheno never wanted me or the other angels of missions to call him Master—well except when facing the Big Boss and the Young Master. He said he is not that old yet. Physically, he is the handsomest master in the Heavens. He looks like Hugh Dancy—local version. He is always smiling and he is one of the most mischievous angels I have ever met, given that he is a Master. He was never that strict to us. As long as we accomplish our missions and we do not abuse our ethereal powers, he doesn’t care how we execute the missions assigned to us.

I saw Master Atheno smiled at me and Master Kiron nodded. We stood in front of them. Master Atheno conjured cloud seats and cheerfully forced us to sit.
“Let’s all be comfortable,” he said while smiling. Master Kiron was shaking his head a little because of the ‘un-Masterly’ behavior of his best friend.

“Tsk, tsk. No need to be so disapproving, Kiron,” Atheno said, while shaking his head. I have to smile.

“Very well, very well…” My Master then faced me. His eyes were twinkling. “Phristu, don’t you know that the Big Boss and the Young Master were so pleased with what you did for Claire?”

I ignored the name and focused on the compliment. “Really, At—Master Atheno?”

Atheno clapped his hands in delight. “Yes! Yes! That is why they want to give you a little reward.”

Elphone and I looked at each other. He shrugged. Still one question lingers in both of our minds: If I will be given a reward or a mission, why is there a need for Elphone and Master Kiron to be here?

As if reading our minds (or maybe he could do that since he is the Master of Memory), Master Kiron cleared his throat. Atheno smiled at his best friend.

“Very well, Kiron. You explain the other details.”

“Thank you, Atheno,” Master Kiron nodded towards Atheno and turned to us. “Phristu, the reason why Elphone and I are here is because the reward you have been given can only be fulfilled by us.”