Angel on a Mission

Chapter 19

Gabrielle's POV

"Will you be okay?" Art asked me, concern etched across his face.

I couldn't help but chuckle softly in response.

"I think I'll be fine," I reassured him.

I had spent a good two weeks with Art, and now it was time for me to return to my cabin. Yet, a part of me felt a lingering unease, as if staying there for too long might not sit well with me.

It became increasingly clear that I would need to find a place that was closer to school—something more modern and commonplace.

After a while, we were transported to my cabin, and I stepped out, Art following closely behind me.

"Would you like to come in for some tea?" I offered him.

Art nodded in agreement.

"Sure," he responded with a smile.

As we entered the cabin, Art took a moment to take in the surroundings.

"What a nice and cozy place," he remarked, genuinely impressed.

I nodded in agreement.

"It really is," I said, pleased that he appreciated it.

"Can I take a look around?" he inquired enthusiastically.

I nodded, encouraging him.

"Of course. Feel free to explore. I'll make some tea and bake a few biscuits, and then I'll catch up with you," I said, heading toward the kitchen.

Art chuckled softly and nodded as he began to roam the cabin while I got to work making tea and preparing the batter for the biscuits to bake them fresh. I tidied up a bit, having been away for a while.

I had truly missed this place. Art's home was fantastic in its own right, but I found a deep sense of serenity in my own little space.

Of course, I would certainly miss the time spent with Art, especially his wonderful cooking. Thankfully, he had provided me with a cookbook, which I appreciated immensely. I planned to practice my culinary skills over the next few days.

Once I had brewed the tea and taken the biscuits from the oven, I placed everything on a plate to serve.

"Art, the tea is ready!" I called out, eager to share everything.

Art soon came back inside from his exploration.

"Where were you?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"I was in the garden," he replied, walking over to me and settling onto my couch.

"Your garden looks amazing. It's definitely much better than mine. You should teach me a few gardening tips," he complimented.

I chuckled, shaking my head in modesty.

"Your garden looks really lovely too. Don't act like it's not impressive because we both know you're far more experienced than I am in so many things," I countered.

"Nah, you're definitely the better gardener," he insisted, but I just smiled and shook my head as I took a seat beside him.

A lot had transpired during my time spent at Art's place. We had primarily worked on missions together, forming quite the successful partnership.

The first mission we tackled together ended positively. While it could have gone better, I was just thankful that no one was hurt. The Brown siblings had been relocated to a different city, and we quickly helped them settle in. Lilia sought therapy while we assisted her brother in finding a job that would support them both. They had a long journey ahead to rebuild their lives after the traumatic experiences that had left them without their parents and feeling lost within themselves.

I felt no animosity toward them; I could completely understand their anger and disappointment with the world. They had harbored thoughts of harming others, yet thankfully, nothing of that sort transpired. We managed to handle everything quietly, which brought a sense of relief. I sincerely hoped they could find their way back onto a more constructive path.

As I reflected on their plight, I couldn't help but sigh.

Additionally, Mika and Bella had also run into Art again. We all met up for coffee, and it was quite pleasant to catch up. Throughout the gathering, Bella was clearly swooning over Art while Mika appeared to be shyer than usual in his presence. It was quite the spectacle, amusing to witness, and undeniably cute.

Mika and Bella expressed how much they thought of Art, claiming he was genuinely nice, respectful, polite, and a whole array of other positive traits. It warmed my heart to know that my friends admired Art, especially since he meant so much to me, just as they did.

Naturally, Art and I continued to take on additional missions together.

There was also the ongoing situation with Alexander, who always seemed so upset with me and continually attempted to engage in conversation—only to be restrained by his sister. I had yet to have a proper conversation with him; either I had been whisked away or the presence of Art seemed to put Alexander in an even worse mood.

That was the nature of my life for those two weeks. And now, it was finally time to return home.

Art and I chatted a little more while sipping on our tea.

"When do you plan on moving somewhere closer?" he inquired, concern evident in his tone.

"Perhaps soon. I'm letting God dictate the timing," I replied with a casual shrug.

Art nodded thoughtfully.

"Just let me know when you're planning on making the move so I can offer my help," he suggested.

I nodded, grateful for his willingness to assist me.

After we finished our tea, Art needed to leave, so I walked him to the door.

"Art," I called, and he turned to face me.

"Thank you so much. I genuinely mean it," I said sincerely.

"I truly enjoyed spending time with you, and I learned so much while I was with you. It was a pleasure having you around. Also, thank you for looking after me and taking care of me. I really appreciate it," I conveyed with heartfelt gratitude.

Art smiled warmly and pulled me into a hug, which I reciprocated wholeheartedly.

"Thank you for keeping me company as well. I enjoyed our time together," he remarked, and I beamed at his response.

I'm glad he appreciated my company because I felt like I couldn't repay any favors while I was staying with him.

We embraced tighter before Art finally made his way to his car.

"Let's meet again soon," he said as he got in, and I nodded in agreement.

"Of course," I responded, waving goodbye as he drove off.

Once he was out of sight, I went back inside my cabin to clean the cups and plates we had used during our tea time.

After finishing up, I sank down onto my couch, savoring the comfort of being alone.

I closed my eyes and, before I knew it, succumbed to sleep.

A few hours later, I woke with a start, glancing out the window to see that it was almost sunset.

I quickly sat up and fixed myself before stepping outside. I wandered to the center of my front yard and spun around, reveling in the freedom of the moment.

Then, I closed my eyes, and a certain energy surged through me, making me feel euphoric and alive.

When I gasped for air and opened my eyes, I glimpsed my wings, and a joyous smile spread across my face.

Looking upward, I took a leap and soared high into the sky, spinning among the clouds.

I outstretched my arms and closed my eyes, relishing this breathtaking moment.

As I circled above, watching the sun dip below the horizon, the beauty was almost overwhelming.

It was a magnificent sight, and I found myself smiling at the spectacle as the day transformed into night.

When evening finally arrived, I descended gracefully, landing softly. I dropped to one knee, gritting my teeth as my wings retracted back into my body.

I let out a quiet whimper as the sensation completed, clenching the ground for support while I took a moment to catch my breath.

Taking several deep breaths, I eventually stood up, feeling slightly wobbly. Embracing myself for comfort, I made my way back inside the cabin.

Once inside, I headed straight for the bathroom to shower and change into new clothes, as I had destroyed my previous outfit earlier.

After getting cleaned up, I prepared myself another cup of tea and settled into my front porch, ready to enjoy some quiet time.

As I took a sip of my tea, my phone suddenly vibrated. I glanced at it, noticing it was an unknown number.

I stared at the screen for a moment, trying to discern who it could be.

Then, realization struck. Could it be really him?

With anticipation, I answered the call.

"Hello?" I said hesitantly.

"Where are you?" came the raspy voice from the other end.

It was him. Alexander.

"Why are you asking?" I replied, intrigued.

"Martinez, where the hell are you?" he questioned, his tone laced with an uncharacteristic urgency.

He didn't sound quite right.

"I'm at my place. Where are you?" I responded, mildly concerned.

I could hear him sigh from the other end of the line.

"So, you finally left that guy," he remarked, a hint of relief mixed with frustration evident in his voice.

I frowned slightly.

"Good. Now, can we talk? You've been avoiding me since you met him, for Pete's sake," he pressed.

"Alexander..." I began, unsure of how to respond.

"I don't know why I'm feeling like this, Martinez. I genuinely don't know," he confessed, sounding pained.

Another deep sigh escaped him.

"One moment, I can't stand you, and the next, you're all I can think about," he vented.

What?

"My God! You don't understand the effect you have on me. I don't know what you've done to me. All I know is that I can't stand seeing you with that guy—or with anyone else. It makes me so angry," he admitted, his voice growing more agitated.

I bit my lower lip, processing his words.

"What is going on, Martinez? What are you doing to me? What have you done to me? I hate it—I feel so pathetic," he continued, his emotional turmoil palpable.

I exhaled slowly.

"Alexander... I don't think this is a good time to talk. You really don't sound like yourself," I replied cautiously.

He seemed 'drunk.'

"Did you drink too much alcohol?" I inquired, concerned.

"I had enough," he mumbled.

Another sigh escaped me. He was indeed intoxicated.

"Martinez..." he called out softly.

"Yes, Alexander?" I responded.

"I... I think I might have developed feelings for you," he stammered.

Pardon?

Did I hear that correctly or am I maybe hallucinating?