Angel on a Mission

Chapter 14

Gabrielle's POV

Art opened the car door for me, and I gracefully exited the vehicle with a smile.

"What a gentleman. Thank you, Art" I teased.

"Of course. You're welcome," he responded, beaming back at me with a light chuckle.

"Shall we?" Art asked, offering his arm for me to hold onto as we made our way inside.

I chuckled softly and took his arm, feeling a sense of camaraderie as we walked side by side towards the ice skating facility.

"I don't think your non-friend is going to leave us alone anytime soon," Art remarked with a lighthearted chuckle.

I let out a sigh, a bit exasperated.

Whatever Alexander was up to right now, he was being extremely nosy, and it was becoming slightly bothersome.

"I'm not sure what his intentions are, but should I just ask him to stop following us around?" I inquired, glancing over at Art with genuine concern.

I was worried that it might make him feel uncomfortable, or perhaps more on edge.

"Nah. It's fine. I'm sure he doesn't mean any harm," Art assured me with a dismissive wave.

"Okay, then. Let’s just ignore it," I suggested, and we both agreed.

After renting our ice skates, Art kindly helped me put them on, making sure I was properly secured.

“Omg! Look at that couple. They look so cute! I want that kind of relationship!” exclaimed a stranger not too far away, her voice filled with excitement.

Art and I shared a laugh.

Today, we had been mistaken for a couple more times than I could count.

While it didn’t really bother us in the slightest, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I should correct those who assumed too much.

But I always chose not to.

Why would I bother?

I was sure that they would only think I was being defensive.

“There you go,” Art said with a smile as I finished tying my skates.

“Thanks! Now, I need to learn how to skate on the ice,” I said with a playful chuckle.

Art helped me to my feet, and together, we approached the ice rink.

“Here. Let me help you until you get the hang of it,” Art offered, extending his hands towards me as he steadied himself on the slippery surface.

Taking a deep breath, I grasped his hands and slowly stepped onto the ice rink.

To my horror, I almost fell immediately, but Art swiftly grabbed me by the waist to help balance me.

This was harder than I had anticipated.

“KYAAAAH! Those two are literally a match made in heaven! They’re both good-looking and fit perfectly for each other!” another stranger exclaimed, clearly fixated on us.

“You okay?” Art asked, his brow furrowed with concern.

I nodded, trying to regain my composure.

“This is tougher than I thought it would be,” I confessed, a hint of frustration in my voice.

Art let out a warm laugh.

“Don’t worry; I’m sure you'll master it soon enough,” he reassured me, giving me a wink that made me smile.

I could hear inaudible squeals from nearby girls who were watching us, their excitement almost palpable.

I chuckled and shook my head in disbelief at the whole situation.

“You sure know how to keep it low-key, don’t you?” I remarked, although Art shrugged playfully in response.

“I've learned that no matter what I do, I just can’t be low-key. God gave me a visual that screams ‘look at me,’ so what am I supposed to do if I can't help it?” he said with a grin that made me laugh harder.

That was certainly true.

Our appearances undoubtedly attracted a lot of attention.

After all, we were angels, and we were literally the embodiment of what humans would describe as 'angelic.' I couldn't argue with Art on that point.

But still, despite our allure, we did our best to minimize the attention we drew to ourselves.

That was precisely why we didn’t engage in what humans called 'social media.'

We often declined job offers that would elevate our profiles.

We avoided numerous opportunities that would fully expose us to the human world.

Regardless of how challenging that was, it remained a priority.

We couldn't remain on Earth indefinitely, after all.

And once we returned to where we truly belonged, we would have to leave everything and everyone behind.

And that was the saddest part.

But it was beyond our control.

We weren’t meant to be here in the first place.

Our time on Earth was limited, and once it ran out, we would need to return home.

That was just the way things were, and it couldn't be changed.

It simply couldn’t.

That’s how the life of an angel functioned.

I attempted to continue skating with Art's assistance, and after about fifteen minutes on the ice, I began to finally grasp the basics.

“Should I let you go now?” Art asked, and I nodded enthusiastically.

Slowly, he released my hand, and I surprisingly managed to maintain my balance as I skated at a steady pace.

A smile broke out on my face as the realization hit me—I was actually skating!

“Look! I’m skating!” I squealed excitedly, my joy evident.

Art laughed and clapped for me.

“Great job!” he complimented, and I felt a swell of pride.

I started skating on my own, mimicking what I had observed, and even began to pick up speed.

I was certainly a fast learner, that was for sure.

That’s why adapting to new situations had never been particularly difficult for me.

“You're doing really well, Gabrielle. You learned faster than I did,” Art said, gliding effortlessly beside me.

“Really? Wow!” I replied, completely captivated by his words.

It felt like such an achievement to master something I had never tried before.

“Yep. You're a pro,” Art continued to praise me.

I beamed at him.

“Thank you for guiding me. Your help has been invaluable,” I expressed my gratitude with sincerity.

“No problem at all. I suggested this place so you could learn and experience new things while you’re here,” he said, his smile warm.

I smiled back at him; his support meant a lot to me.

“By the way, how long will you be staying here?” he suddenly inquired, directing his gaze towards me.

I shrugged, contemplating my answer.

“A few months? Maybe a year? I’m not really sure. I mean, things can change suddenly, and I might have to shorten my stay or extend it. It really depends, you know?” I explained.

Art nodded, accepting my response.

“How about you? How long do you still need to be here?” I posed the question back at him.

Art shrugged in a similar fashion.

“I don’t know either. But I would like to visit home soon. I miss it, and I miss all of you just as much,” he admitted candidly.

“I’m sure the others miss you too; it’s been way too long since your last visit,” I said, recalling the brief time he had spent with us previously.

“Yeah. I’ve been quite busy, you know? A lot of things are happening right now,” he said with a soft sigh.

I gave Art a gentle pat on the back, wanting to comfort him.

“I’m confident everything will turn out okay soon. Just trust in yourself, and you’ll be just fine,” I encouraged, and he smiled back at me, his expression softening.

“Thanks,” he replied, a hint of appreciation in his voice.

“You're welcome,” I said cheerfully.

Then, something caught my eye.

In one swift, instinctive movement, I skated toward a child who was about to tumble onto the ice.

I managed to catch her in my arms, and in doing so, I fell onto my back in an effort to save her.

“Gabrielle!” I heard Art shout in alarm.

“Oh my gosh! Eya! Are you okay, miss?” a frantic woman rushed to our side, clearly concerned.

“Shh! Martinez, what are you trying to do?” Alexander’s familiar voice chimed in as he appeared.

Art and Alexander helped me sit up while the woman cradled the child I had saved.

"Are you okay?" I asked the little girl, my heart racing as I checked on her.

She looked up at me with wide, apologetic eyes and nodded.

"That's good to know," I said, trying to ease my own worries, when suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my back.

I groaned in discomfort.

"What's wrong? Where does it hurt?" Art asked, concern etched on his face.

“Let’s take you to the hospital,” Alexander insisted, his tone firm.

I shook my head vigorously.

“I’m fine,” I proclaimed, attempting to stand up, though I struggled to do so.

“You're just as stubborn as my sister. We need to get you checked, Martinez. For all you know, you could have a concussion or a spinal injury,” Alexander scolded me, unyielding.

“You're overreacting. I might just have a bruise or two, but that's it,” I insisted as I finally managed to get back on my feet.

“How much does it hurt?” Art asked softly, his eyes filled with concern.

"It's fine. I promise I'm okay," I assured them both, trying to put on a brave face.

“I’m so sorry. Are you badly hurt?” the woman with the child asked again, her voice tinged with anxiety.

I shook my head, determined to calm her worries.

“I’m completely fine. Please don’t worry about me,” I said, hoping to reassure her, and she looked at me apologetically.

I glanced down at the little boy and gave him a gentle smile.

“As long as he’s not hurt, I’m fine,” I said, and the little boy fluttered his eyelashes, reaching out to me.

“Do you want me to kiss the boo-boo away?” he offered innocently.

I smiled at his sincerity.

“Will you kiss my boo-boo away for me?” I asked, and he nodded vigorously, his enthusiasm infectious.

“Okay,” I said, leaning down slightly so he could reach me better.

The little boy pressed a gentle kiss to my cheek.

“The boo-boo is gone,” I said brightly, attempting to ignore the lingering pain on my back.

“Really?” The little boy’s eyes sparkled with hope, and I nodded in affirmation.

“Really,” I confirmed with a smile.

“Thank you so much!” the woman exclaimed.

I smiled at her warmly.

“You're welcome,” I replied.

The woman and her child eventually left the ice rink, and I lightly placed a hand on my back.

“It hurts, doesn’t it?” Art asked, his expression filled with worry as he placed his hand gently on the spot.

I simply gave him a small, reassuring smile in response, opting not to answer verbally.

“How reckless,” Alexander muttered under his breath, seeming more annoyed than anything.

Suddenly, I squeaked in surprise as he effortlessly lifted me up bridal-style, carrying me as we skated out of the rink.

Art followed closely behind us.

“What are you doing? I said I'm fine, Alexander. It’s nothing serious,” I protested.

Alexander shot me a glare that quieted my protests.

“Are you some kind of stuntman? An action star? A hero from a book?” he questioned, exasperated.

“Why do you keep putting yourself in risky situations trying to save others, only to harm yourself?” he scolded again, sincerity mixed with annoyance in his tone.

I looked away, unable to articulate my feelings in that moment.

How could I explain myself?

It was true that I often risked my own safety for the sake of others.

But that was why I was here.

That was the essence of my existence—to protect others, even if it meant putting myself in danger.

That was how it worked, and there was little I could do to change it.

“Regardless, you’re coming to the hospital with me to get checked, whether you like it or not,” Alexander said firmly, leaving no room for debate.

I sighed, realizing there was no arguing with him on this.

He gently set me down on a bench outside of the rink and swiftly removed my skates before moving to take off mine.

I looked up at Art, who offered me an apologetic glance.

I mouthed an 'I'm sorry' to him.

Art mouthed back an 'It’s fine. I'm sorry.'

Alexander shot a disapproving glance at us before turning back to focus on assisting me.

“I knew you shouldn’t have gone on this date,” Alexander muttered under his breath, seeming frustrated.

Feeling a little pout forming on my lips, I stayed silent.

Once Alexander had successfully removed my skates, he promptly lifted me again, causing me to squeak in surprise once more.

“I can walk,” I complained, but he glared at me again, making me fall silent.

Excuse me?

“Let me help!” Art chimed in, trying to diffuse the tension.

But Alexander glared at him, his tone harsh.

“Get lost,” he said tersely.

I frowned, perplexed by his sudden hostility.

“What’s that about? It's not Art's fault. Why are you suddenly mad at him?” I asked in disbelief.

Alexander sighed, clearly frustrated.

“Put me down. If you're going to act like this, I'll just go to the hospital with Art instead,” I asserted, attempting to wiggle free from his grasp.

He looked at me with disbelief, but I managed to free myself from his hold.

Art stepped in immediately, supporting me by holding me at my waist.

Alexander's gaze fell on Art's hand resting on my waist, and I could tell he was displeased.

“You should probably go. We wouldn’t want to agitate you further,” I suggested, frowning at the tension everyone was feeling.

“Let’s go, Art,” I said, turning to him for support.

Art nodded thoughtfully.

“Can you really walk?” he asked, his tone tinged with concern.

I attempted to take a step forward but was met with a sudden pain in my back again.

I bit my lower lip to stifle a groan.

Both Alexander and Art moved to catch me, but I pulled away from Alexander’s outstretched hand.

“This won’t do,” Art said firmly, lifting me into his arms effortlessly.

“It’s more serious than I thought. We definitely need to get you checked,” he stated, then turned his attention to Alexander, giving him a small nod before we made our way out of the rink together.

As we walked away, I glanced back at Alexander, who stood there staring at us, a complex look on his face.

Suddenly, I felt a wave of regret wash over me.

Maybe I had been too harsh on him, but he had been acting aggressively toward both Art and me.

Art hurried to bring me to his car.

“Open the door, please,” Art said, and I dutifully pulled the handle to the back seat.

“Can you arrange the pillows?” he asked, and I nodded, helping him position the pillows flat against the seat.

Once I was settled, Art gently laid me down on the cushions before rushing to the driver’s seat and starting the car.

As Art drove, he kept glancing at me through the rearview mirror.

“How are you feeling? What’s your pain level right now?” he asked, concern lacing his voice.

“I think I'm okay. Maybe at a 7 out of 10,” I replied, trying to downplay my discomfort.

"I don't think that's fine, Gabrielle," Art said, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize the fall would affect me so much," I admitted, my voice tinged with guilt.

Art sighed, clearly worried.

“Gabrielle, your human body has its limits, remember? You’re not in your angelic form. If you take a bad fall, you will get hurt. You could sustain injuries and more. You have to be cautious. You’re not invincible when you're supposed to be human,” he explained gently.

“I know that. It’s just… I wasn’t really thinking because I've experienced worse situations. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to get hurt or cause a scene or worry anyone,” I apologized, feeling remorseful.

Art glanced back at me, his expression softening again.

“It’s okay. Just try to remember next time. This is your first time after all. Let’s make sure this is the last time,” he said with a gentle smile.

“Now that I can’t really promise given the type of work we do,” I replied lightly with a chuckle.

Art chuckled alongside me.

“Right,” he said, shaking his head slightly.

“Now, let’s get you checked out because I wouldn't want our date to end with you injured,” Art said, giving me a pointed look.

I chuckled back at his concern.

“Okay,” I agreed easily.

Then, Art glanced at me again, and a more serious expression crossed his face.

“And just so you know, your somewhat friend is still following us,” he mentioned, his tone neutral.

“I know,” I replied, nodding.

True enough, Alexander was still behind us, tracking our every movement as we headed towards the hospital.