Fallen

Chapter 2: My Angel

After I helped Mark out to his bed I went to Shita’s room and checked her out. She still has her headphones on ears, so I took them off and pulled the sheet to cover her. I kissed her forehead and tapped her head softly. She has grown bigger than when Papa was here. I’m sure he’ll be so happy to see me and Shita, I know he’ll be proud. Papa, we are okay, but we miss you so much. I hope wherever you are you are happy and safe. Watch over us.

Mama came home late. Usually she would kiss Shita and I goodnight. Maybe I slept deep that I wasn’t able to feel her visit my room.

Swiiissshh….swissshh!. I hear the sound of food being fried. I smell chicken…hmmm! I haven’t opened my eyes yet, but senses are so strong that, I think Mama’s cooking Chicken Teriyaki! Oishi (Yum!), I thought I was dreaming, but yes…ahh, haa, hooo!!!, I had a wonderful sleep. Hmm!, Mama woke up early as usual. She wakes up at 4 a.m. to cook for us, then get ready for work. Anyway, she is the manager/owner of Sun Villa, so, it’s not a problem. But, she always say that even if we own the business, we still need to work hard and set a good example for our employees. We only have five anyway. My Mama as the Manager, Ojisan (Uncle) Hiro Sun, Papa’s brother, with Obasan (Auntie) Helga, Uncle’s wife and Kochiko-san, my cousin who is a year older than me and way too beautiful since she was a violin player at St. Maur’s. She is a very sophisticated girl and now doing her masters in music at a university in Tokyo, the Tokyo College of Music. Kochiko visits us every once in a while during summer. I, on the other hand wanted to become a lawyer. I chose Nihon Law University to enter the next school year but since I man the bookstore, I don’t know when I can get that free time to go back to my studies. Haaa!!! I still want to sleep but I need to open the store at exactly 8 a.m.

Huh!!! Oh no! Marrk…Mama!!! Ahhh!, I galloped out of bed to check on Mark, the mysterious angel who I know Mama would definitely  get shocked from when she finds out about hi…him??? Naniiii???  Huh!, my mouth dropped when I saw Mama and Mark together. Mark is helping her with the cooking.

Kore wa daijobudusuka?, Mark asked Mama. A so!!, Mama said smiling at my, erhm, the angel while cutting the cauliflower for the dish they’re cooking. You are getting the hang of it.

Yoku  dekimashita!!, She added giving him a thumbs up. Then Mama saw me coming in. A! Belle, I see you have a new friend, Mark, he is so sweet helping me cook our meal. You didn’t tell me you and Ojichan helped this beautiful man yesterday at the lake. He said he was so thankful for your kindness and that you saved him from the accident. Huh! O, a! Hai! I did, hehe!!!, I replied proudly but hesitated to comment and went out of the kitchen to shower so  I can head to the store immediately. But I know I can’t run from the fact that I have an angel here at home. A, aaa, what am I going to do with him, anyway. Mama, after cleaning my self up, I’ll run to the store and…ah!, I was interrupted by Mama.

Beru!, how about inviting Mark to come and help you at the store? hmm!, Mama making a teasing facial expression. And then after working at the bookstore, head to the villa and have dinner with me and Ojichan. Grandpa will pick Shita after his check up with the local doctor.

Oh! Kochiko will head to the villa to stay at one of our suites for the fall, she added. Ah! Kochiko, the sexy, beautiful, westerner looking cousin  of mine. Haah! I am no match from this chick flick from Vogue magazine when looks are concerned. With long blonde hair and Barbie doll face and body, Mark will surely…aahhh!!!  What am I thinking? Okay. Just stay cool Beru. Belle, Beeeee-ruuuuu!!!, Mama  shouted  for me since I was spacing out. Oh, Hai! Mama. Mark was just looking at me innocently. Hmp! Okay, he can come. But he needs to carry the stuff I need to bring at the store. E e e…Mama said winning. She seems very delighted that Mark is coming with me.

Shita already left for school and haay! Kochiko, she’ll be bullying me all throughout the night, later. I really want to disappear now, Belle thought worrying about tonight while in the shower with soap suds all over her body. I couldn’t refuse Mama, not now that she looks so happy when she met Mark. Hay! What mess am I in?, Is he a blessing or a curse. If there is really a God. Please may this mys…angel, be able to help me and my family.

Mark didn’t say a word while we walking in the beautiful district of Nagano.  The cool weather makes it pleasant to walk and bike with friends now. I should ask Grandpa, Shita and Mama family to have a picnic or fishing trip at the lake. It would be so much fun, even though Papa isn’t around anymore. Mark carried several books in a single box to fill the spaces when visitors came to bu. Mark carried several books in a single box to fill the spaces when visitors came to buy some of my bestseller prints. Well,  those were mostly about nature, fishing and computers. Actually this box is heavy and I needed to ask grandpa to drive me to the store every time. Mark is indeed a extraordinary person. He has tremendous strength. He also looked handsome on white long sleeves and tight jeans that my late Papa used to wear when he was alive.

Here we are! I halted. Mark was a bit confused.  Did I mention that our bookstore is just right in front of our house. He he! It is just a stone’s throw away from our front lawn. Papa wanted it to be on the first floor of our two storey apartment. But he decided to build a separate building to make sure that there’s still privacy within the household, so he made the extension just right before he died. It’s a good thing he did that, because, I didn’t need to trouble Grandpa and Mama about the payments. I pay for the bills with the income I make from selling and lending books, etc.

I unlocked and loosen the chains on the metal frame. Lifted it up and opened the door of the bookstore.‘Kyouiku’ !!!, Mark read the name of the store. Yes, it means, education!, I smiled when we said the word at the same time.  I asked Mark to dust and place the books on the shelves. Since every single material is in alphabetical order, he sorted everything and he did a great job at it.

I just sold a book about art and crafts to a designer that wanted to earn from his passion. He decided to resign from his job and now want to earn a living by designing houses and gardens. The customer was just heading out when I saw Mark looking at me intently, then he moved his gaze away and tried to get a book and attempted to read it.

Ey, Mark! Want to eat snacks? I’ll buy some, hang on a bit. If a customer comes, let them wait and I’ll handle them after I come back. Okay!, I added while walking out of the door. Mark just nodded diligently. He seemed quiet. 

I bought us donuts and chocolate cups at a nearby coffee shop. I don’t know if he drinks coffee , so I bought these instead.

Mark, come and let’s eat. He walked towards me silently and tried to smell or check the donut and choco drink. Ha ha! It’s chocolate and  donut. I wanted to buy coffee or Strawberry short cake since they are very popular with the foreigners. Yet, I just thought any will do since I’m sure you haven’t tasted any of our popular sweets here anyway. Tarts are delicious too.

Hmm, this tastes wonderful, do-nut! Ah!, Mark said licking the cream off his upper lip. Hi hi! See, I rest my case, I reacted gladly.

Ey Mark!, Why are you so quiet lately. I mean when I was talking to the customer earlier, why are you looking at me like you wanted to eat me or something?, I asked curiously.

Ah, it’s nothing. I just felt strange, like I felt pain in my heart when I saw you talking to that guy..ahhh! I’m not familiar with feelings or thoughts, since I told you, that I’m an an…, Mark wasn’t able to finish cause I did that for him. Angel!!! Yes. Can you prove to me that you are what you say you are?, I asked very curious now that he mentioned about his identity . I dropped the donut and looked at him straight in the eyes.

Okay, what about?  Ah, okay, I can speak many languages in fact, all. Try me!, Mark added confidently.

Hai!, uh!, let’s try the word love, I said shyly but I wanted to know if he is the real thing.

Love…Mark then one by one mentioned the word in all the languages he knew.......

Ai, Japanese, Liebe in German, Amour in French, Amore in Italian, Milovat in Czech, Hubun in Arabic, Ngu e nong in Taiwanese,  Salang in Korean, and so on and so forth…Mark said that there are 6,500 languages in the world and he can tell me the word love in all these languages. Oh my God! He really is the real deal, I said while my eyes are about to pop out of their sockets.  Sugoi!! (Amazing!).

How I miss Vita, Shoju and Koku. They went to colleges in Tokyo and probably will be seeing them nest summer. I wonder if they will visit this fall?. I told Mark about my childhood  friends and he was laughing hard when I mentioned the funny things we usually did back in elementary and high school. Before I forgot, we need to get ready for dinner later. So we need to head back home at about 3o minutes, I advised Mark while fixing the books on my counter and getting the money from the cashier area.

Mark was still quiet on our way back at the house. I wonder what happened to him. I continued asking myself.  About dinner, Mark needs to wear something sharp for my relatives especially Kochiko will be there. And who knows what stunt she’ll be playing this time.

Mark on the other hand was in the shower at the garage. What is this I’m feeling? I hated it when that guy talked with Belle. I never felt anything like this before. Is this what they call jealousy? Haa! It hurts so much I can’t breathe.

Belle, while putting on some make up, also was thinking about Mark’s silence. He was so happy with Mama earlier and then his mood changed when we were at the bookstore. Huh! What did I do, I wonder?. Hah, anyway, what can Mark wear for dinner. Let me check Papa’s suits in Mama’s room and closet.

Mark looks handsome with the fitted long sleeves and pants. Then a black coat for the last minute touches.  He looks like a superstar, hmm!, dreamy!, Mark now is A okay. Anyway, back to me, I wore a short fitted  silver dress with 3 inches  heels  on. I fixed my hair and used iron curls to have a beautiful curly finish.  Perfect, with a  little bit of make-up and perfume, I’m all done.  Ojichan drove us all to the villa and I am somewhat excited and scared of what will happen next since Kochiko, my evil cousin will be coming over since its fall season.

At Villa Sun. Everything is perfect. It is not that huge but it’s enough for our family to have our get togethers that are always memorable.  The villa stands with four storeys in white and gold paints. In the middle is a fountain with an angel statue spitting out water from his mouth, a  life giving water for everyone who sees  and loves it. There is a large pool on the left side and horse stables on the right. We only have a five of them that we care for if the visitors  would love to ride them, aside from the electric and regular bikes we station up front for interested parties. We make sure there are trees and a flower garden with benches for foreigners to sit  on. We  also have a mini bar and café for those who want to unwind. Our villa has the best coffee and can be compared to Starbucks, which I wanted to try since it’s the most popular coffee brand in the Western countries.

Mark looked like a god. He is so handsome. Anyway, my uncles and aunties kept on telling me I looked different and in bloom. Hmm Yes, I am twenty three and ready to mingle. I am not the typical Japanese girl that lives in tradition and myths. However, I believe in Buddha and his philosophy. My family and ancestors have been Buddhists ever since I can remember. I am a fan of subjects on  literature and anime manga, so reading is literally my life. Uh! Nani, sore !, one of my uncles asked  me something. I also love K-pop music, so, everybody in the world does. And listening to BTS, Blink and others can really make your day hype. I usually listen to them in the afternoons when there are no customers around at the bookstore.

Going back to my relatives. Ojisan Taka is a typical man who believes in traditional Japan and would die to bring back the old and sophisticated country of ours, that is now plagued by foreign cultures, music and fads.  Ano otoko wa daredesuka? Anata no boifurendo?  (Whos is that guy, your boyfriend?), he added laughing teasingly. Huh! E to a, no!!! , I said no  using my hands together with my head.

If he isn’t, can I have him, then? Kochiko, now standing in front of me, with her sexy fitting red dress with 5 inches heels. Hair curly and face looks like Wynona Ryder when she was just 17 years old. I love the movie Reality Bites, so bite me. My supermodel cousin, not yet, but now in a modelling school  in Los Angeles California. Yes, it’s like slapping me how my miserable but simple life is none compared to her saucy lifestyle. Not to mention the attention she gets, since she’s not starting to model in L.A., Paris and other western countries.

Kochiko speaks like an American now. She already got the hang of the westerners speaking, walking and living styles.  Hello, Beru, or Bella??? she added smiling at me. Uh, Thanks,Ko…I smiled shyly and wondered how come she’s so nice to me now. Maybe she changed and well, people do change.

Ah, well! If you like, you can have him. I just recently met him, so it’s not of a big deal, I added hiding my feelings, shy to admit I like my angel, ah, Mark is what I meant.

Hmm! But you can’t take your eyes off him, so, I figured, you and him have a thing!, Kochiko said teasing me. You know if you like him, go and tell him. I learned in the U.S. that if you like someone you need to assert and make the effort to let them know how you feel. At least if he doesn’t like you , then you’re just friends. At least you know, right. But if he does, like you, then, it’s a win-win situation. You know we haven’t been close ever since, but I am here if you need someone to talk to, besides, we’re cousins, Kochiko explained sincerely. Okay, I need to mingle with the Shinseki  o kitta (hung up relatives) hehe!, she added walking towards my uncles and aunties at the right side of the ballroom. Well my family and relatives love danshingu (dancing), so no wonder why our villa has a ballroom for “zumba”, jujutsu, aikido, karate and kendo practices, special events. The place can be rented for concerts and important gatherings. Since Kyoto is farther, we needed to have a place to hold events for the city.

Tell Mark, how I feel. But what do I feel? And does he fell the same way for me? We just met a month ago and as if I still don’t know who he really is? I added thinking about the fact that he fell from heaven and I don’t know where he really came from too.

Every one is eating, some are dancing, others are chatting about the past and their families, experiences. Since we hold our family reunions once a year, we needed to catch up on the gossip and the happenings, right, haha!

I just needed some fresh air, so I went out the floor and walked to breathe the air in front of the villa.

Hi! Belle, a man’s voice not very far, said. Ah!, oh, Mark. What are you doing here? I asked shyly. What are you doing, here???, He asked thoughtfully. Just wanted to be alone for a bit, how was the party, did you have fun. That is my whole family, pretty handful, hihi!, I said laughing.

Oh, them, I love your family. And every minute I stay here, I don’t want to leave, ever. But I can’t since I needed to do what my Master asked me to do, Mark added with sadness on his voice.

Mark, you’ve been here for a month now  but I still haven’t had a slightest idea who you really are and where you came from. Where did you come from, Mark? I asked curiously.

If I tell you, you won’t pass out or fear me, okay!, Here it goes, Mark added breathing in and out. While me looking curious and attentive, wanting him to start talking and tell his story.

He told me that his name is Mortha and he is the commander of the Army Angels…..It took him an hour or two to explain to me who he is and how he fell from heaven. I didn’t believe him at first but when his wings (like the eagle’s wings but whiter and super huge) came out of his back, Ahhhhhhh!! I really wanted to run and pass out at the same time. Because it’s rare that you see a real live angel. Better yet, he said that they normally don’t have gender or as if they look like a man and a woman at the same time. But, when I look at him he is a man to me. He said that his mission is to find out what is wrong with the people of the world and what can he do to help out and then advice God what is the cause of us being distant from Him.

Well, first and foremost, I told him as a feminist and nature defender, I explained my responsibility as a woman who believes in racial equality. Though I don’t grow my arm pit hair long, which is typical for feminists to do. I uphold the belief that all men and women are created equal even in a diversity. Whether you are heterosexual or a part of the LGBT community, you are entitled to have dignity, respect and rights. Then, as a defender of nature or Earth, I told him  the importance of biodiversity, helping the world bring back the beauty and holistic nature of the world including the safety, protection and preservation of wild life or animals, plants and climate.

Belle!, Now I understand, why. God knows and understands your feelings and pains. But he is just curious why you are afraid to come to him when you’re in need and trust your money, popularity, position more than Him? Mark added, though I told him that Mortha as a name would be weird for the people here to understand, so we decided to stay with the name Mark for him.

But Belle, is the feeling I have like, because, you know….ah!!! , I like you, I mean, like, like you. Is it natural, because it is the first time I felt this emotion. And I want this feeling, like I want to be near you always. I want to be there for you and protect you. I don’t want other men, ah!...talking or be near you…God said that jealousy is a sin and I never felt it ever. But with you I do, is that bad or …..Mark said stopping to look at my reaction. Now he's looking at me, pleading for an explanation.

Mark, I feel the same way with you too. Though, I never fell for a guy before. I had crushes but it’s different with you. I like you too, so much. I said smiling back at him and moving closer toward Mark, that now we’re only five inches apart.

Really!!!!, Ha ha! So this is a good feeling then. I …..I…love you! Belle….. Mark said holding my hands and hugging me tightly. That while doing so, he suddenly stopped and his lips went down to kiss me, just a smack. But then when the sensation got deeper, he kissed me hard. The kiss was wanting, as if he has never felt so alive, so happy and blessed with the heat, affection and craving like this before. Ay ha…ha.ha!! Sorry, Mark said panting. Marrkkk…. It’sss…o…kay!, Me, trying to take a breath or two because of the kiss.

Mark and I have been very close after that night when I saw him fell from the sky. We ate, worked happily at the store, ride the bicycle, went on picnics together at the lake or some park near the lake. We grew very fond of each other. And Mama, my little sister and grandpa loved him so much that they wanted him to stay with us as long as he likes.

To tell you the truth, I was at the lake wishing, praying for a miracle. For someone to hear me, longing for a friend, a lover that would share his life and all with me always. I think Mark was the answer, the gift God gave me. But until when. Mark said if it's time, he will return to heaven to report to God everything he saw, felt and experienced here in the world. He said that he wanted to travel in some countries near Japan to know more about the people of the world. And he will be gone every once in a while to fly and scout the Earth for more issues, problems, events that happen, which he can resolve, and if he can't he needed to pray and ask graces from God for them and create a miracle for the world to see and feel the Almighty's love, that is forever.

What will happen next? Follow our main characters journey and see what will happen to Mark and Belle.