Archanghel: Tale of the Universe

Chapter 10 -EXTRA-

“What? New body and identity? Will they confuse their family? When she woke up, she would not have any of her past memories and then she would be acting like a different person because she is a different person!”

I can’t help but raise my voice a little at the idea. It's not enough that I will not be able to see Mamang when I wake up, they expect me to live as a different person. I can’t find the rational thought in that.

“What Xandriel said was true. It will cause some problems and confusion.” Janus added to my outburst. I looked over to him before nodding in agreement as I stared at the archangels again. Gabriel sighed.

“Didn’t you notice that there are still people praying for your soul even though it was clear that you are still alive on Earth?”

Janus furrowed his eyebrows and he looked as if he was having an eureka moment. He was silent for a minute before he looked at Gabriel with a defeated expression on his face.

“Because they do not know the current appearance you have now. In their memories, you are still that child who died ten years ago. You don’t age on their memories, you’re still the same,” Gabriel added.

Right then, I put two and two together. When I met Janus before, he was only a seven-year-old child, I assumed that he was an orphan. I did not meet any of his parents nor visit their home. The only home that I went to was the one he was currently occupying but before... I just left him at the park. Now that I think about it, the little Janus will always be in the park. He was there before I did and he was left there if I needed to go home at night. It did not occur to me that he could not have any family around and was probably living in that park.

Mamang would invite him for dinner sometimes, but then she would not ask about his parents. Maybe because Gabriel did something to stop the people around him from assuming anything about Janus. He had lived for ten years in Janus’ body when Janus died. He had been lying to us all for ten years.

“I’m not lying because I wanted to, Xandriel. I did it for the mission and for the greater good. I hope to make it clear with you. And also, Janus was not supposed to be crossing the dimension that day. It was because of some mishap.”

Janus’ face contorted as Gabriel mentioned the accident again. But this time, he was careful not to say a name and only stopped there so as to not agitate Janus more.

“Don’t worry too much, the two of you. There won’t be a problem with this. You just need to put your trust in us.” Zadkiel offered us a smile.

Janus and I kept quiet as we processed everything. I keep quiet because they were all jumbled up in my head. I did my best to rationalize everything, and I think I did it. Well, most of it.

+++

(16 years ago)

Rabia was smiling widely as she combed her hair for the nth time. It'd been weeks since the last day she saw Claudio. They met at the church where Rabia and her family frequented. They met him and he was a good man. He was a modest and honest man. He had this beautiful smile that attracted Rabia from the beginning.

Her parents also voiced out their likeness to the man. He was also God’s follower and that made him the perfect candidate for a husband.

A husband. Rabia thought.

Rabia paused her hands and looked at herself in the mirror. Her reflection was that of a woman with a round face and long black hair. Her eyes were shinning as if the sun was inside those orbs and glimpsing at the world outside. The red tint on her cheeks was prominent even though she was not wearing any make-up, simply because she didn’t know how to. Her smile, her lips were curved upward and she could see how happy that girl was. She can see how in love she is.

Rabia inwardly screamed. When a minute had passed, she sighed and then pulled herself together. Today was a special day. Claudio had asked her for a date and she said yes with the permission of her parents. That alone sent Rabia into an ecstatic mode. She will be having her first date and with the guy that she was infatuated with.

A knock resounded at the door. Before Rabia could get up and open it, her mother’s face emerged. She had a serious expression on her face as she entered Rabia’s room, making her squirm in her seat.

Maybe she was now regretting her permission. Is she going to stop me from going? Thoughts like that ran around Rabia’s head.

“Claudio was waiting outside. Are you done preparing?”

Rabia’s mother was a strict woman. She grew up abiding to all her rules but she did not feel suffocated at all. She knew that her parents were just doing everything they could to protect her and cherish her. And with that, she was very grateful to have such wonderful parents.

“I am. I was about to go out.” Rabia offered her mother a shy smile.

“My darling, you really are coming of age. You are now experiencing your first love.”

Her mother crouched down to level her and placed her hands on the collar of her dress and smoothed it.

“I’m not going to stop you from experiencing these things. I just want you to be careful and be happy.”

Rabia welled up in tears. She couldn’t help but hug her mother. She was just going on a date but her mother was treating them as if she was getting married and would leave them. Rabia cherished that day. She had the warmest hug from her mother for the first time.

Rabia sobbed. She reminisced about that particular time. The last moment of her happiness before this torment. Before everything around her turned into darkness. Rabia hugged her body. Her cold and naked body.

The scene just a minute ago kept replaying in her mind. Claudio changed form. As soon as they got into a secluded area, he changed his physical form. The once modest and honest Claudio she had met before changed before her very eyes. His smile was not warm at all, he had a wicked grin on his face. And his eyes were full of malice as he pushed her and forcefully took over her body. Her skin was burning with his every touch and when their bodies collided, Rabia had the taste of hell. She was trampled in the worst way possible.

Rabia felt lonely and small. She was pitying herself. She was in this situation and she had no one to turn to. Her parents will be livid when they learn about this. Rabia can’t bear to imagine the pain and disappointment they would feel. Rabia could only turn to herself because she had no one.

Wait, she did have someone. She had Him. Rabia did what she would always do when she was happy, sad, down and facing a problem. She clasped her hand and closed her eyes. She started a prayer.

“Lord, I offer myself to you. You let me live and have the treasure of life. You have protected me and I know you always will. I know I can get past this mishap in my life with you. I ask for your grace. I ask for you to extend your hand to me and show me the way to salvation. I believe in you and always will be. I put my everything in you and let you take the wheel of my life.”

Rabia solemnly ended her prayer. She held her hand so tightly and released it as if she was releasing all the negative energy she was feeling. All the bad thoughts she was having. And be true to her words that she will Him handle all the things.