Archanghel: Tale of the Universe

Chapter 2

“Are they real?” I was shocked when I saw the task that was given to me and Janus as a punishment.

“They were really serious about their punishment, huh,” Janus answered me as he looked around the school’s toilet.

Yes, you have read it right. We have to clean the school’s toilet as punishment. I really can’t find any good reason why this place was so filthy. Classes were not to start for another month. It’s still vacation time. I’ll say that it was Jake’s plan. That guy!

“Hey Super Girl! What are you waiting there for? You need to help me here so we can progress.” I looked at Janus when he shouted for me. He was now mopping the floor that was, ugh, full of mud.

Progress? We can? This guy! He should mind what he was saying. My mind processes a different meaning with that thought. I shook my head. I really should get to work so we can – cough– progress.

And clean I did. Wipe the floor here. Throw some liquid soap there. Repeat the process a hundred times. Janus and I kept ourselves busy and no one was talking. It was a habit that we both preserve over the years. We can work together, but only if both of us are working diligently and in silence because we believe that we can never do things if we are both distracted by something.

We did that for another hour and finally, after some hours full of mopping, wiping things, and throwing soap all over the place, we are done. Everything looks new. The tiles are shining, even the side of the toilet bowl.

“At last! We are done!” Janus said after finishing the last place he needed to wipe. I shook my head at his reaction. I grabbed the cleaning materials and started arranging them at the side where they belong.

“Are you that happy? With that small amount of tasks?” I teased.

He answers me by snaking his arms at my shoulder. Okay, heart. Calm down. There is no need to do some hammering now. I smiled awkwardly. Why do I have to feel this way when he’s nearby?

I know that it was hopeless from the start. Janus and I have been friends since childhood. I need to settle these feelings and stop.

“I’ll be taking my leave first. You can manage on your own, right?” I nodded as an answer and then he waved his goodbye before running out, leaving me there standing, slightly waving my own hand.

I stared at his retreating back for a few seconds. When I regained my composure, I went back to what I had been doing. I put the image of Janus retreating back to the side of my brain. A thing that I would always do when I feel like I’m slowly falling into a pit hole.

Janus and I have known each other for years, but even so, there are things that I don’t know about him. Like the things, he would do during his free time and when we are not together. I sigh.

Come on, Xandy. Don’t think about it anymore. *Mamang was waiting for you at home.

The walk back home was pretty normal. I stop at the church first to pray. It was only in the next alley to my house. It was also Friday today; it became my norm to stop at the church every Friday.

When I entered the church there were already a few people. Sacred Heart of Jesus was not a big church, it was enough to accommodate the numbers of people who always attend a mass gathering every Sunday. I lightly dipped my fingers in the holy water, it was being carried by a statue of an angel at the door of the church. I marked the cross on my body, first on the head, then on my stomach, and then on my left shoulder blade to my right, consecutively. After doing that, I bowed at the altar before proceeding to the chair.

I choose to sit at the back part of the church. It was near the door. The place was quiet except for the occasional tweet of the birds and the flutter of their wings as they flew up and down the pavement. I closed my eyes and began praying.

“Lord, thank you for all the blessings that you have given us. Thank you for waking me up every day…”

I started my prayer in a low tone. There was a loud sound I heard in the background. It resembled the sound of a newly washed duvet that was shaken to remove the excess water. I pay it no mind.

“…Forgive me for all the sins that I have done. For all the things that might’ve put me in danger. The things I have done that are against your command…”

Then I hear a fluttering of wings. It was so loud that I doubt it was from a tiny bird around there. Then I felt a strong wind kiss my cheeks as it felt like it ascended. But then again, I pay no mind. I continue my prayer.

“Lord, about yesterday. I don’t know how one person can do that to another. I can’t just understand it, but I know you will handle it accordingly. I will surrender everything to you, my family, my dreams, and myself. Lead us in your arms, so we can be safe. Amen.”

I opened my eyes and stared at the altar. The altar was built with glass windows in different colors. There was a giant cross in the middle and four pictures on the window’s upper side surrounding the cross. There were four evangelists.

The four evangelists who write the bible. In each picture, they have their symbols and their angels on their side. Because the window was in different colors, the light that reflected on it produced a rainbow-like shadow inside the church.

Then I remembered the sound that I had heard earlier. I looked around. It looks like nothing seems out of the ordinary. Even if there is, I may not have any way to know.

After staying a few more minutes, I decided to go home. Mamang was already preparing our lunch. I grew up with just her at my side. I don’t know what happened to my father or if he is even alive. I didn’t open that topic to Mamang because I didn’t want her to think that her being was not enough for me. She was already enough.

“You’re here. Help me set the table so we can eat.” She said after I asked for a *mano.

Even though Mamang raised me alone, she raises me well. She didn’t forget to teach me some manners, to pray, and to attend church. She was a street sweeper and her salary was just enough for my school expenses and a meal. That is the reason that I truly admire her.

“So, what happened to that accident yesterday?” Mamang asked when we sat down and started to eat. I shared what happened to her yesterday when I got home.

“I don’t know. We didn’t go back to the station again. I don’t want to go back there.” I couldn’t help but close my eyes at the deliciousness of Mamang pork *adobo.

“Figures. But it was really shocking how a person can do that. With that said, you should be really careful at all times. If you are with Janus, don’t get separated from him.” Mamang said while she waved her spoon towards me.

I was not the one getting away from Janus. It was the other way around. I wanted to answer but stopped myself firmly. I know that Janus will be put in a tight spot because of that.

“Mamang, what about your passport? Did you have it?” She was planning on working abroad.

“I already got it. I’ll be going to the agency, maybe a few days after. Besides, I need to finish my requirements first.”

We continue to eat in silence after that. I offered to do the dishes so she could take a rest. She badly needs it by the looks of it. While I finished the bubbles on the dishes, my thoughts went to Janus again.

Yeah, Janus again. Really, Xandriel? There are times when I really want to slap myself. But really, I can’t help wondering what happened when Janus went to the station yesterday. I’m sure along the way someone asked for his name and relationship with the victim and maybe that is how he got dragged to the station, but there was still something missing.

I know Janus was hiding things from me. Or maybe he was not really hiding it, he just wouldn’t tell me, but I wanted to know everything. Well, maybe, except for the girls he dates. I shook my head to clear the thoughts out of my head. I have already finished doing the dishes. Maybe I should take a nap. I need it too, I guess.

+++

“Paene rectae et officii, Gabriel. Non est bonum. Caelum est c*m ipsa pugma contra maligmos spuritus et daemomes. Sed angeli non possunt, ut secund voluntary suam. Nod servet omnia Nees, donec veniat tempus”