We both keep staring at one another for only-god-knows for how long it was. Until he broke the silence between us and cleared his throat.
"Sorry… but I still have to do this…"
He put his thumb on top of that thing and ready to push the button.
"Wait!!! Please don't!!! I will not tell anyone!!! I swear!!" I shrieked in panic. No! Don't!
I grabbed his hand tightly. Begging him. But this time, the shock is greater in his face now.
"You!!! Stop touching me, mortal!!"
He hissed while gritting his teeth. But I keep my hands on him. Holding his thumb so he won't be able to push the button and make me forget everything. I've been waiting forever for this moment. Those eyes… they belong to him. I know that I would need more explanation about myself. About us. Some stories stay hidden and nobody can help me with them. But somehow, I know he can.
In the end, my stubbornness won the fight. He pulled his hands and groaned frustratingly. He put the 'pen' back into his pocket, held both of his hands on the chest, and glared at me.
"Mortal!! What do you want from me!!"
I pouted and replied. "Sorry, Sir. But I have a name. A beautiful name indeed… "
"Iliya Nara. It means light…"
He smirked back at me.
"I know, it comes from Greek. An anagram from Iliana or Ilya for boys…"
She was a bit amazed at my words.
"So… You knew…"
I chuckled. Of course, I knew! Human languages are my expertise…"
"And your name is…"
"Azalel..."
"I'm an angel…"
Her eyes widened in great shock and her lips utterly asking the next question.
"You what??"
… .. … … . . . … . … . .
Azalel massaged his temple after he arranged some clouds based on his time-checked schedules. He had planned rain poured down in Arizona, United States of America. One of the driest lands on earth. But inside his head, some words kept roaming since a couple of hours ago. A scene when he never expected before.
"Thank you…"
Iliya said those words truthfully to the man who still stood in front of her. Azalel took a deep breath before then he decided to put it back into his pocket.
"Iliya Nara, right?"
"We'll meet again…"
"But how??"
She looked at me with her puppy eyes. Make him feel an urge to cup her face and say that everything will be okay.
"I'll find you. It's a piece of cake for me…"
PLOP!!
He disappeared. Leaving her in solitude circumstances. And everything back to normal.
… .. . . … . . . … .. .
AZALEL POV
Why on earth did I say that? He rubbed his face harshly. But I couldn't pull those words back. Damn! What should I do now?
Many questions are roaming inside his head now. Ok, maybe I should go to see and find her once again. Trying to figure out what is going on between me and her. Why could she able to see and even touch me easily? Something that other humans were not able to do before.
I decided to go back to where she works. At the restaurant. I observe her thoroughly when she is doing her duty faithfully. Serving and taking the dirty utensils. Saying thank you to her customers. Somehow, I feel different about her. She looks amazing at the way she is. Her smile, her gesture, and everything about her had captivated me in the weirdest way beyond my expectation about humans. She is so genuine and pure. One of a kind that I haven't seen so far on mankind.
… … … … . … … . … .
ILIYA POV
I was saying goodbye to my colleagues when he suddenly showed up next to me. Scared me to death, made me jolted in a huge shock.
"What the… ??!!"
I shrieked and then, repeatedly tapped my chest. Trying to calm down my thumping heart.
"It's me…"
"I know!!! But can you please be more appropriate whenever you show yourself up?"
"Sorry…"
Goddamnit!! This guy is seriously… arghhhh!!! I am busy spilling out some harsh words inside my mind while rolling my eyes.
"No need to be upset, girl. I'm not like what you're thinking…"
WHUATTTT??!!! AND NOW, HE'S GETTING INTO MY MIND????
"You…??!!" I hissed in anger.
"It's late. You should go home now. I'll accompany you around…"
It's dark outside and I started pedaling my bike to go home. This guy, who called himself Azalel then followed me aside. I offered him a ride on my back but he refused. He prefers walking while chatting along the way. Strangely, he seems to have no trouble keeping up with my speed. Slow or fast, turning left or right, he always matches it perfectly until we finally arrived at my house. He looked at the building for a while before then, he bid a farewell and disappeared as usual.
I smiled weakly and sighed with a heavy heart while I brought my bike into the house. We had light conversations along the way. Nothing personal. But it feels so intimate with me. I forgot the last time I could talk freely to someone like that. It was so relaxing and comfortable.
A smell of cheese macaroni wafted in the air. A sign that my aunt is at home already.
"Welcome back…"
I smiled and hugged her tight in my arms. For me, she has always been my world. My home.
… . … … . . . . . … .. . .
For the following days, Azalel often visited me and we talked a lot about many things. We talked about his experience as a supernatural creature and other creatures, including humans, angels, and demons. Things that keep me wondering so much since I've been traumatized by those kinds. Especially for me, I still hardly believe that he is an angel even though he sometimes showed up his real abilities to me. A real one. Because he was the total opposite of "angels in my stereotype". He's more ignorant, blunt, straightforward, and bluntly honest with me about everything which made me choke and cough several times because of his word choices.
" So, you're an angel?"
"Yes…"
"Why don't you have wings?"
His eyebrows furrowed in the middle and he replied.
"Some of us have it, some do not…"
"Well, why don't you have it?"
"Well... It's heavy and inefficient for me…
"Rather than flying in the air, we do teleport. Like this… "
He suddenly disappeared again and showed up behind me. The hustling wind messed up my shirt and hair.
"Ugh…" I protested.
"I controlled the weather so it will be much faster if I teleport myself here and there in a blink…" He said it proudly and folded his arms on his chest. I nodded obediently.
"But some of us like war angels and angels of messengers, they do have wings. For war angels, it could protect themselves like a shield from demons. As for the angels of messengers, their wings were made of winds and light…"
"Humans often segregated us based on their perception even though, sometimes, it was against the fact…"
I bit my bottom lip but instead of replying to him, I prefer to say nothing. He is still staring at me with his lazy eyes. His beautiful appearance stood still. His face is such a feast for every woman's eyes. His sculptured jaws and nose. His thin lips that always stripped into a line and rarely spoke except it was necessary. His lazy eyes add even more beauty to his looks. He's also quite tall. Pretty much equal with the western guys even though I thought that he was mixed Asian? Perhaps?
"Was it enough?" He asked me with a mischievous smile on his face.
"What??" I tried to act innocent even though I know I was caught red-handed.
"Staring at me and adoring me inside your mind…"
"N-no, I didn't…" I responded awkwardly.
Shit! This stupid brain of mine! Can't it be more embarrassing?? I feel heat crept up to my face.
"No need to be shy. I can read your mind. As clear as I can hear your voice…"
Gosh!! I hold my breath. I bet my face must be as red as tomatoes by now.
"Now, it's my turn…" He said and walked towards me. I automatically moved back but then; he grabbed my waist. Stopping me to move further. His face is so close to me now. I even can feel his breath.
"Iliya Nara…"
"Who are you?"