" Good morning Shin!"
" Good morning to you too, Slayer San!"
" What are you doing?" I asked as he was cleaning the dining table.
" I'm arranging the table! I've prepared breakfast". He said in response.
" You didn't have to do that! I could have done it myself".
" What are you saying? I'm leaving here now and I want to help with the chores. Can't I do that or am I a bother to you?"
( That phrase again! Why does he keep saying that?)
" No, you're not a bother! It's just that I'm not used to having people help me with anything. I always do everything by myself". My tone turned slightly sad as I answered the question.
…
" You better get used to it, because I'm going to help out around the house every day from now on". He made his point crystal clear to me.
…
" Now, sit up! Time for breakfast!"
" Delicious! You're really good at cooking". I complimented his cuisine.
" Thank you! I'm very happy you like my cooking". He slightly blushed at my compliment.
" By the way Shin, don't you have any other clothes besides this one?" I asked inquisitively.
The clothes the angel, Shin Valentine was wearing was a long white robe with blue embroideries. It was a unique style of clothing yet very beautiful.
" Sorry! I forgot to pack my things when I left, but don't worry, I can use my powers to change clothes". He answered.
" Do you use your powers for everything?"
…
He hesitated before answering." Yes! It's always been that way!"
" That habit has to change! Hurry up! We're going out!" I said frantically.
" Where are we going?" His expression and tone were extremely confused.
" We're going shopping!"
" Shopping?"
" That's right! We're going to buy you new clothes. From now on, I won't let you use your powers so recklessly". I said firmly.
He looked at me puzzled and said:" You don't have to! You don't have to buy me new clothes! I can manage with the ones I have".
It's only been twenty-four hours since the angel Shin Valentine started living at Daniella Slayer's house. There's been one thing she kept noticing and that is the fact that the angel is courteous. He's not very open and doesn't talk unless necessary.
" How are you going to manage? You can't go back to the Angel world, remember? Don't say another word and come with me quietly! I don't leave you any other choice".
With nothing else to say or add, he gave in.
" If you insist, I'll come with you".
" Good boy!"
A few minutes later—---------
" Slayer San, I'm done! We can leave whenever you're ready".
With that said, we departed for the supermarket and an hour later—---------
" What do you think of this shirt? Do you like it?"
I picked out a blue shirt for him to try on with black pants but asked for his opinion beforehand.
" It's pretty!" He answered very genuinely.
" Try it on!" I handed the blue shirt to him, so he could try it on.
" Do I really have to?" He looked troubled about trying on the shirt.
" Yes! I want to see how it looks on you".
To please me, he went to the changing room to try on the blue shirt. He came back from the changing room five minutes later.
" All done!"
As I took a glance at him, I couldn't take my eyes off him as he was very stunning.
" Wow, Shin! It looks good on you".
" Really!" Shin looked at me, unable to believe me. It was the first time that he wore such clothes, so I could understand how he would feel uncomfortable.
" Believe me! Try this next!"
The next shirts I got him to try on were a red and a green shirt along with some pants.
" Finished!"
He was stunning in those shirts as well. Although he was embarrassed to be wearing such clothes, for a moment there, I spotted his grin; a grin that merely lasted thirty seconds.
" Great!"
I got him some more shirts and pants. An hour and a half minutes later, we left the clothing store and headed home.
" Thanks! Thanks, Slayer San! Thanks for buying me these new clothes!" He expressed himself gratefully.
" You're welcome!"
…
" I'll go make dinner!" He headed for the kitchen after putting the clothes in his room.
( Why did Shin leave the Angel world to come to the human world? Something might have happened and I wonder what it could be).
" Dinner's ready!" His voice snaps me back from my reflections.
" Thanks for the food, Shin! It was delicious as always". I said in a compliment.
…
" I'm going to wash the dishes".
" I'll help you!" I offered my assistance.
There's no need for that! There aren't many dishes to wash". He denied my help.
" If you say so! Good night Shin!" I was moody that he wouldn't let me help with the dishes.
" Good night Slayer- San!"
The following morning, I ate breakfast in a jiffy and grabbed my backpack as I was getting ready to exit the house.
" Thanks for breakfast! I better hurry or I'll be late".
" Are you going somewhere?"
I answered:" I'm sorry, Shin! I haven't had time to inform you. Today is the first day of school".
" You're going to school?" He looked a bit surprised as he asked that question but, there was something else in his tone that I couldn't quite decipher.
( That sad look again!)
" Have a good day!" He sent me off with a smile.
" Thank you! I'm off!"
" Wait a minute!" Shin stopped me as I was heading out.
???
" Take this with you! I've prepared this lunch box for you".
As I was taking the lunch box out of his hand, our hands entangled and I felt a shiver down my spine. Shin quickly removed his hand and looked away.
" Thank you, Shin! I'm off!" I headed out of the house.
" Have a good day!"
Forty-five minutes later, at school—--------
" Good morning, Suzanne!" I greeted my best friend upon seeing her.
" Good morning, Daniella! How do you do?" She greeted me in return and asked me how I was doing in the process.
" I'm fine! Thank you!"
" How about, Shin- Kun!" She asked inquisitively.
…
" Shin is fine! Yesterday, we went shopping! We went out to buy him new clothes".
" You call him by his first name?"
" Yeah, but he calls me by my last name and uses an honorific". I said, annoyed.
Suzanne noticed how tense I was and asked:" What's wrong? Is something bothering you?"
…
" You can say that! Shin is hard to approach and talk to. When I look at him, there's always that sad look in his eyes. I'm pretty worried. Today, when I told him I was going to school, he was very sad. I don't understand what's going on with him". I answered with my tone and expression turning to worriedness.
…
" That's simple! He's lonely! You should go home! It's the first day! We're not going to do a thing today. I'll report to you later!" She said with a smile.
" Thank you!" I left the school in a rush.
" You're welcome!"
I was back home forty-five minutes later. As I entered the house, I looked for Shin frantically but I couldn't spot him at the entrance.
" Shin! Shin! Shin!"
It was only when I went to the kitchen that I saw him. He was cleaning the kitchen. Seeing me, startled him.
" You surprised me!"
Daniella started approaching him, remembering her best friend's words as she was getting closer and closer to him.
" How come you're back already?" He asked frantically.
Without answering the question, I simply pulled him in for an embrace as I hugged him tightly. Shin got startled by my action, standing there immobile.
" I'm sorry Shin! I'm very sorry! I didn't understand anything this whole time. Please, forgive me!" I apologized to him as I held him in my arms.