Having arrived back home, I followed after Serafi as she headed over to her room. Her room looked the same as before. Still neat and tidy. Adorably cute as befitting of Serafi.
Serafi hopped over on her bed, rolling around as she looked at me, "Ange, when I told Milly about Ange earlier, she said that she also wanted a guardian angel! How do one usually get one? Can Milly get one too? But Milly said she can't see Ange when Serafi pointed at you. Why is that?"
Hearing her torrent of questions, I smiled as I was reminded of the girl, Milly. Indeed, she couldn't see me but she seems like a nice girl. Milly had sincerely believed Serafi and looked really envious of her. "Serafi, the reason that she can't see me is because only Serafi can see me. Serafi is a bit special."
"Is it because Ange is Serafi's Guardian Angel? Can Milly see her's too if she got one? Or maybe Milly already has one but Serafi just couldn't see her?" Serafi's eyes sparkled as she pressed on with an exited face.
'Actually, I'm not so sure myself, with me experiencing some memory loss...,' I silently thought to myself.
"Well, I didn't see anyone around Milly earlier, so I'm not sure if she has one but it's possible that her Guardian Angel is just shy and didn't want to come out," I smiled gently as I decided to just play safe for now and said this.
'I'm not lying either so isn't it fine?'
Hearing my answer, Serafi's adorable eyes widened as she smiled innocently, "Got it! Serafi will tell her tomorrow that Milly's Guardian Angel is just shy!"
'I didn't say it like that but whatever.' I slightly nodded my head with a warm expression, 'This child seems like the obedient type, so I suppose I'll be fine.'
Afterwards, Serafi started to tell me all sorts of things about herself, her hobbies, her favourite shows, her favourite toys etc. She told me with an excited expression, her eyes sparkling as she kept talking energetically until I ended up wondering where she'd get all that energy from. I just listened silently, occasionally interrupting her to ask some questions.
After what felt like hours, Serafi was finally tired as she stopped speaking. Turning to me, she suddenly brought up a topic curiously, "Ange, what about you? Do you have a family? Serafi wants to know more about Ange!"
Suddenly being asked that, I was caught off guard. My body instinctively froze up and I went silent, unsure of how to respond. Things like my family isn't really something I usually talk about with others. But looking at Serafi's genuine curious eyes, I felt that it's probably fine to tell her a bit.
Sitting next to her bed, I slowly spoke up, "My family... they aren't like Serafi's, warm and caring..." I turned my eyes to look at Serafi's enlarged ones as I continued, "You see, my parents never wanted me. They said I was a mistake. That I shouldn't have existed. So they never really gave me any attention."
'All they ever did for me was give me enough money to barely scrape by all on my own. That's why I never really thought about them when I first realized that I died. To me, my family's existence is the same as strangers. I was born alone and died alone. I guess that's all that my existence amount to,' I silently added to myself as I cast my eyes down, lamenting on my own life.
Having sensing my mood going down as I spoke, Serafi came up beside me. She reached her tiny hands out as she tried her best to pat my head. "Ange.. Even if Ange's parents doesn't want her, I do! I love Ange! And I'm happy that Ange existed! Ange was born so that Ange could meet me as my guardian angel!"
Saying so, Serafi proceeded to give me a warm hug with her small arms. "That's why, please don't regret living. Ange isn't alone anymore! Ange has me and mommy and daddy and brother! We're all family!"
'Serafi... Her words are so warm, mixed with some childish dreams. How pure...,' I softly narrowed my eyes as she hugged me, 'And yet I'm happy to hear that. I'm sure she has yet to completely understand my family situation, yet she reacted in such a way because of my behaviour. Times will eventually change this child but I hope her purity remains the same.'
"It's alright now, Serafi," I said gently as I caressed her head softly.
"Really?" Serafi raised her head to look at me. Her eyes round with traces of tears in the corner. "Ange isn't hurting anymore?"
"I'm not hurting. I've always thought my situation as a matter of fact. Like something that couldn't be helped. But hearing your words made me happy. Thank you." I sincerely thanked her.
It's the words of a child but I was truly happy to hear it. For the first time in my life, I was told that I'm wanted.
...
On the house's rooftop, I sat there silently. Staring at the night sky before me in the silent, cold night.
Afterwards, Karin called down Serafi for dinner. After she had her fill, she immediately returned to her room to continue her chat with me. She continued to talk, the topics varied but she kept going until so late that Karin had to come over to get Serafi to bed. She still had to attend school tomorrow.
Having made sure that she's sound asleep, I felt like going outside. I've always felt peaceful whenever I looked at the night sky. So, that's why I'm currently sitting on the rooftop.
Looking at the dark, clear night sky, I could feel the cold breeze hitting my face, passing through me. It cleared up my mind, giving me a refreshing feel.
'It's an odd feeling,' I silently thought to myself as various other thoughts flashed through my mind.
In a day's time, I discovered that I had died, lost about one year's worth of my memories, and am now a guardian angel for a little girl. I even had to get rid of some weird black blob to protect her. Everything felt insane for a moment. But that's the truth. My truth.
My reactions today, when I first saw the black blob. It felt natural to me. Like it was engraved in my bones to do so. Is this what it's meant to be a guardian angel?
Casting my gaze at my hands, I once again saw the strange mark. I didn't notice it earlier but my left hand also had a mark but it was a different one.
"It's a different word," I subconsciously said aloud, eyes still observing the marks on my hands. I instinctively knew it was a word but it didn't belong to any language I had ever seen before.
"Of course it's different. What's the point of having two of the same one?" A slightly hoarse voice suddenly replied from behind me.
I flinched at the sound, surprised by it's suddenness. The voice obviously doesn't belong to Serafi nor anyone who lives in the house. And it had also clearly replied to me.
'A friend or foe?' I turned around to look at the owner warily, unsure whether to confront him or to directly flee.
The owner of the voice was a man, looking to be around his late twenties. He had a slightly long black hair and dead looking black eyes. He was wearing a black shirt underneath a black windbreaker. His overall complection was rather dark. If he had stayed still in a dark alley, I believe probably no one would have noticed him.
'He's not human.' I thought instinctively.
Everything about him seems rather shady but I instinctively thought that he's not an enemy.
"What is it? Why are you so surprised? Looking at me like that, I did say I'd come back tonight, right?" He asked with a puzzled look.
Hearing him ask, I was reminded of my earlier theories and blurted out, "Are you here to collect my debt? Sorry, could you at least remind me what I promised you?"
The moment he heard my reply, his eyes winded in shock, "Hahh?!! The heck are you talking about?! What am I, a loan shark? Do I look like one to you?! Enough of your weird jokes. I'm here to discuss the matter from yesterday!"
'Well, you DO look shady, though,' I replied to him inwardly.
"Owh. Sorry," I said, looking at his annoyed face, before ultimately deciding to just be straightforward, "Before we get on with that 'matter', I must ask you some questions first. Who are you? And do you know me?"
"What...?" He looked at me blankly.
"Should I repeat it? I asked who you are and if you know me?" I repeated, hoping he could give me a clear answer.
"No... I get it." He said shakily, rising his hand to cover his mouth. "So, what you're saying is that you don't remember me, is it? And from the looks of it, you also don't seem to remember any of the happenings the past few days?"
"To be more accurate, I don't remember anything from the last year. Heck, I don't even know how I died. So, I was hoping you could tell me," I replied flatly.
He looked at me, his dead eyes wide open.
"Guh! Whahahaha...!" And laughed his ass off.
'Damn this bastard. I was being serious and was very anxious for the truth and here he is. Laughing. I'll curse you.'
Gritting my teeth, I coldly call out to him, "Hey! Enough of that! This isn't a laughing matter! I'm seriously having a bind here! If you don't wanna help me then just be out with it! I don't wish to waste my time with you."
The man was already crunching down, holding onto his stomach from laughing too much, "Haaa.. Haaa... I can't breathe.. haa.."
After awhile, he eventually pulled himself together and got up slowly, "Sorry, that was just too funny. I couldn't help it. Yeah... I know the reason. But still..."
He trailed off, his hand covering his mouth as his shoulders shook slightly.
'This damn bastard is obviously holding off from laughing.' I narrowed my eyes at him.
Having regained his composure, he lowered his arm and straighten his back. Placing his right hand over his left chest, he gave me a slight bow, "Then, allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is Kael. I am the angel tasked of supervising you at the current moment."