Talking to an Angel:

Moments later, Malee and I ended up in the garden alone together. At first, I tried not to look at her angelic face. I didn�t want any trouble, really I didn�t. Stay strong, girl! Stay strong!

�I want to apologize,� I heard her speak up. I looked up in her direction.

�What?� I asked.

�For my sister�s behavior earlier,� she said.

�Oh,� I said. �It�s okay.�

�No, it�s not!� the angel argued. �Sroy was raised better than that! She should know to treat guests with respect, even if she doesn�t like them!� Oh man, this lady is too good. I wonder if she�s single. I put up my hands at her.

�Okay, okay,� I said. �I understand your point.�

�Thank you,� she said. I couldn�t help but to smile to myself.

�May I ask you something?� I asked.

�Sure,� she said. I paced myself to say it out loud.

�Do you have a boyfriend?� I asked aloud. Malee�s laugh could put the angels in Heaven to shame.

�Oh please!� she said. �You�re starting to sound like my parents now. Are you going to try and hook me up with someone too?� I smiled as I shook my head.

�No, no,� I said. �I was just curious.� Malee smiled at me.

�No,� she said. �But, I�ll find the right one eventually.� I nodded at her a bit.

�I see,� I said. Oh damn, she�s just too cute!

�And what about you?� she asked. I looked up at her off-guard.

�What?� I asked.

�Do you have a boyfriend?� she asked. I bit on my lower lip.

�Well� sort of�� I said. Malee raised an eyebrow at me.

�Sort of?� she asked. I shuffled my feet a bit.

�It�s kind of complicated,� I said.

�How so?� that angel asked. Her questions keep stabbing into my soul. She�s worse than Andi-chan.

�Well� it�s a long story,� I said nervously. Her long stare at me pressed me to tell her more. Unable to fight it anymore, I drowned my shoulders.

�Fine,� I said. �I have both a boyfriend and a girlfriend.� Malee looked intrigued now.

�Both?� she asked. �So you mean you�re�� I nodded as I pressed my lips together.

�Yep,� I said. Malee looked rather surprised on learning that little fact about me. She quickly shook her head.

�You�ll have to excuse me,� she said. �I know we�re in a society that sexuality is no longer a secret in most of the world, but I just don�t really get out much.� I gave her a rather puzzled look.

�You don�t get out much?� I asked. The angel nodded at me.

�Yeah,� she said. �Ever since Daddy fell and injured his leg six years ago, we had to take care of him. So, we pretty much gave up on our personal lives to help him and momma out. The four of us combine are about burned out, so mama tried to reach out for lost son from a previous to help him.�

�Oh, so that�s why he came home,� I said in a low voice. The angel nodded at me.

�Yes,� she admitted. �Now, daddy pushing us to get married and live our lives now that his son is back.� Hearing that reminded me of the pain that this whole farce would bring her once the �king� and �duke� got through with her. I just couldn�t take it anymore. I swallowed a bit before I spoke.

�Listen,� I said. �There is something I need to tell you.� Malee looked at me, silent.

�What?� she asked. I turned to completely face. I had to fight my attraction to her in order to come out and say it.

�You�re being ripped off,� I said. Her face slightly dropped.

�What?� she asked.

�Those men that came with us are not your brother and his friend,� I admitted. �I�m only with that other woman with our group.� My angel frowned at me.

�No�� she murmured. I reluctantly nodded at her.

�It�s true, I�m afraid,� I said. She took a step back from me.

�Wait,� she said. �Are you�� I shook my head at her.

�No,� I said. �The other woman and I are just travelers that just got roped into their scheme.� She slowly shook her head at me.

�How can I even trust you?� she asked. I gave her a serious look.

�Don�t,� I said. Malee blinked at me.

�Huh?� she asked.

�Look,� I said. �You can trust me or not, but I�m going to stop them.� I turned to walk back into the house.

�And how are you going to do that?� that angel challenged. I glanced over my shoulder at her.

�With your help, of course,� I said. �But, don�t tell anyone that you know what�s going on just yet.� The confused look on her face just looked so cute on her. Right then, I wished I would�ve turned around and kissed her right then and there.