"My name's Riyon by the way…" he reared like it was not the first time he ever introduced himself to her.
Do you ever wonder what angels' configurations are? They do not appear as heavenly as human thought they are, they only manifest their form to appease humans orthodox. Thus, they cover their eyes with a white taffeta — a symbol of their chastise. To be reminded over and over again of their sacred duties.
Nonetheless, many angels still had sinned. The gravest of them, who had everything — Lucifer, was condemned in eternal damnation, he was now the ruler of Hell, but the story does not revolve around him. It is about Riyon — the angel who had 'immense beauty of heaven,' who was borne by the Tree of Life solely to guide the mortal whom was first named as Isabella.
Her beauty attracted many men, so does the danger that constantly lurked around her. She is gentle, kind, and compassionate which led Riyon's belief in turmoil of her undeserving fate. This is where our story started…
It was that time when people believed in witches.
Riyon let out an exasperated sigh, as he stood uprightly on the peak of the cathedral. The sky was omitting an ominous insignia as it thunders and lightning happens upon the murky clouds. It was as if it knows what he meant to act and as its consequence the sky cried for his stead and demise, but he likewise knew it was a threat.
During the sudden bolts of lightning that speared the sky, it was as fast as her appearing at Riyon's side; the gush of wind was the only proof of her arriving. "Do not make any hasty decisions Riyon."
"I am sent by His splendor." She sang.
The angels' porcelain skin glimmered under the flashes of lightning. Pia oversees the lingering darkness of Riyon's halo opposite to hers — holy and untainted. Slowly eating away his purity, the holy gleam now stained with obscurity that befalls his awaiting judgment. He could still be saved, if he lets her…
"Greetings Pia…" Riyon said, not once did he flee his eyes to Isabella — that in this time is named Vienna. She was tied on a wooden stake, surrounded by twigs of wood and the angry mob of people wanting her to burn.
Vienna's face was drenched with her tears and sweat. He cannot see her because of the taffeta, be that as it may he intensely feel her emotions — her fear, her acceptance, her grief, betrayal and somehow he could see her face. Riyon could feel all of them as her guardian, and to each of her lifetimes, it remained the same.
"Since when did you stop changing Riyon?" she queries, a fit of nervousness travelled down to her system. She does not want to see another angel fallen or worse thrown onto the pit of Hell.
"When He denied His child pleas…" He brusquely uttered. Pia stretched her arms to hold Riyon's left shoulder, declaring, "Go home child. Repent for your sins and you shall be forgiven. This is what He wanted me to say."
However he wanted to believe in His plan, Riyon's feelings started to manifest displeasure, disgust and anger — a sin. Pia wanted to change Riyon's beliefs, no matter how corrupted he was; she wanted to save a fellow servant. "The world was made as it is. No one, not even us — Angels have the right to tamper its balance."
"Do you also believe that, Pia?" The angel went silent of his remark; Pia will have no other choice if he will continue to deny his duties. She will have to resort to rebuke him over calling upon judgment. She still have sympathy for him at any rate he becomes more stern of his choice; Pia would have to sound the trumpet. And so she fears, "She deserves so much more." He whispered in grief.
"Whatever that you may think is worthy for her, it is not ours to meddle." She firmly stated, needing him to understand one last time. "We are only His servant. It is our duty to love His creation; however, it is a sin to love only one."
Riyon turned his head to her way, a conniving smile plastered on his lips, showing the depth on his right cheeks. "Well, Pia…"
"Since when does being faithful to your partner ever a sin?" he grinned, his hands pulled the taffeta shortly before Pia could even stop him. He expanded his wings whilst its white feathers turning into a black one as he dives to save Vienna from being burnt alive.
Fast forward and here we are at the present, Asper let out an audible snarl. She kicked the flat tire in annoyance, whilst the rain slowly creeping in under the layers of her clothes. It showed her perfect curves and her nude brassiere under her white tee shirt. "Damn nail!"
She doesn't know it yet, but he stared at her in longing; his eyebrows a little crumpled just by seeing her state. He wondered what he missed. However, he knew the answer very well for he's devoted himself only for her; and her alone.
The pavement near where she parked drifted rain into the drain. The small tree swayed under the harsh wind of the rain, and past her eyes are couples who snuggled each other keeping themselves dry under in one umbrella, giggling to whatever they said. She frowned.
Asper opened her trunk to find the spare wheel she always kept there, and the reflective triangles for precaution she placed them on the road, in result she saw a man staring at her. Her heart flared and her cheeks reddened in embarrassment.
He wore a black suit, and a white shirt under. His moreno skin complemented his amber eyes so good, his hair neatly placed to its perfection. Riyon always had that firm jaw line; he was like an Egyptian prince.
Riyon eyes dilated in awe, mesmerized and defeatist. A superfluous feeling resonated thru him again, his heart fluttered blissfully like how he felt when flowers blossom in spring. Beautiful… he thought.
"Do you need a hand?" He asked when he approaches Asper; holding the umbrella firmly in his left hand, as he shades her body from soaking even more.
Instinctively, Asper uttered almost impossibly to be heard, "Why?"
She's mindless — he forced her hand to take the umbrella, his hands warm as ever. She quivered under her coat while her caramel eyes observe him thoroughly. Although her question's imply is different, he answered the way he understood it. "Silly…" He chuckled mellifluously divine. "Help you change tires of course…"
"U-Uh yeaah!" She squeaked, as she gestures nervously in front of him. "T-Thanks…"
'I doubt he could though…' Asper believed. Once again, Riyon showed her his perfect white teeth with a smile flaunting the depth on his right cheek, his amber eyes like spectacles of rainbow it smeared those orbs so divine it hunted her so bad.
So she watches him earnestly…
"My name's Riyon by the way…" he reared like it was not the first time he ever introduced himself to her. In many lifetimes, it felt different yet right. "Name's Asper" she answers.
Asper gawked at his back, amidst of everything that happened, here he is, still divine eviternity. "So, what do you do by the way?" He asked. She wondered how long it has been, how long she waited, only to leave her behind with nothing but memories, hope and loneliness. In the end, she was left alone after the promises of forever. She was abandoned.
"I'm a police officer." She simply answered. Riyon who purposefully slogged slowly to spend some time with her, halted in upheaval. "What?! Why would you even choose to be a police officer?!" Asper wanted to say that she had no other choice, but she reserved it for some other time.
Asper felt like her world is spinning around again; it felt like her stomach's contents will soon come out to her mouth. "It's dangerous!"
"A-Asper, what's wrong darling?" Riyon probed worriedly, Asper eyes were turning red from crying inaudibly. He would have never noticed it, if he did not try to peep a sight of her again. He kept on desiring to see her beautiful face; he just could not stop himself.
Riyon's smile was meant to make Asper feel at ease again, nonetheless it made her frightened. "Nothing's wrong…" Asper resigned, huffing air to her chest trying to calm herself down as she shoves him away to finish what he started. The umbrella forgotten, as she wipes away her tears.
She turned the lug wrench with her hands shaking to tighten the screws of the wheel before she aggressively pumps the car jack to go down. "I-I just had a bad day!"
"I remembered I still have loads to do at home." She excused while hoarding the things that she used onto her trunk, not minding the weight. The confused Riyon stared at her at the same time he picks up the umbrella he gave; she's already shutting the car's door at the driving seat.
"W-Wait! Asper!" His knuckles thumped the car's window, albeit Asper's qualms she still let her window down.
"Did I say something wrong?" Riyon confused face filled Asper's blurry vision. "N-No, no…" She said, turning her keys. "It was nice talking to you, but I really have to go…" Asper bites her lower lip anxiously whilst she endeavored to relax herself on the seat.
He nodded understandingly. "O-Okay… will I still see you around?"
Asper stared at his eyes, "U-Uh yeah… probably..." with that once more, a giddy happiness accentuated Riyon's face. He backed away from her car, letting her go for this short moment.
Asper glanced at him for a brief second, taking it all in. He's back. He's finally back, she should be happy. Thenceforward, she took her pills before making her car's engine roar and she left Riyon standing there reflected on her rearview mirror.
In the back of her mind, she hoped he does not have any idea that she remembers everything from her past life. She kept it all of those centuries, wanting to divulge herself from the sleek feeling of safety and bliss she felt every time they'd meet again. He would always find her. And she would always wait for him, but this time all she felt is dejection.
Like a harbinger of chaos, he once again disrupted her mundane world. Henceforth, she reveries when it all started, past to the loop of misery and heartaches they have endured to delude themselves that their love may work. Ad naseum… how suffocating.
***
Ad naseum – used to refer a fact that something has been done or repeated so often that it has become annoying or tiresome.
Taffeta - a fine lustrous silk or similar synthetic fabric with a crisp texture.
Mellifluous – (of a sound) sweetly or smoothly flowing; sweet – sounding.