21.
The day of the graduation ceremony dawned bright and clear, if a little chilly. Angela woke early, drifting through the house listlessly until she found herself sitting in the kitchen in her dressing gown, staring at a cup of coffee as it slowly cooled in her hands.
She was jerked out of her thoughts when Sharon knocked on the door and opened it without waiting for a reply. She was already in her robe and had her hood and cap in a plastic bag, all ready to be put on.
She started when she saw Angela sitting in the kitchen silently, the look of surprise soon replaced by a frown of confusion.
“Geez girl why aren’t you ready? This is the big day!” Sharon grinned. “I always thought you’d be the one waiting for me.”
Angela gave her a tired smile before she finally took a gulp of coffee. Grimacing slightly at its cold temperature, she got up and placed the half empty cup in the sink.
“Sorry,” she managed to force a grin. “Was just caught up in my thoughts, I guess. I won’t be long; I just need to have a shower.”
“Well hurry up, okay? I don’t wanna be late or anything.”
Nodding, Angela disappeared down the hall and into the bathroom. A few moments later, Sharon heard the shower turn on, and moved to sit at the kitchen table to wait.
Her eyes caught a haphazardly stacked pile of books and magazines on the edge of the table. Tilting her head, Sharon read the title of the top book: Do Angels Walk Among Us?
Shaking her head in bemusement, Sharon settled back in her seat to wait for Angela, quietly puzzling over how strange her friend had become lately.
She suspected it had something to do with Tuyen and his sudden absence. Not that Sharon had seen a lot of him when he had been around, but his presence held a noticeable affect on her friend, as did his lack thereof.
She itched to ask Angela about it, but for the life of her didn’t know how to approach the topic. Not after her reaction the last time he’d upset her.
Bloody hell, Tuyen, what did you do this time?
~
“Oh my God, I can’t believe we’ve finally made it!” Sharon gushed as they made their way through the growing throng of students and proud parents.
Angela smiled and nodded, half distracted as she recognized and was greeted by various acquaintances and friends from past classes.
“I know, it feels like we’ve been in school forever. It’s going to be so strange not going to classes or exams anymore.”
“Well, at least you have that job waiting for you,” Sharon punched her friend gently in the arm. “I still have to find a real job.”
“You will, Shar, don’t worry,” Angela was going to say more, when she recognized a solitary figure standing by the gates of the university, watching the throng of people. A strange feeling flip-flopped in her stomach.
“Hey, I’ll catch up with you. Save me a seat?” Angela moved off before her friend could answer.
“Huh?” Sharon looked around, but Angela had already disappeared into the crowd.
Angela’s stride was hesitant as she moved through the crowd and towards Tuyen, her mind coming up with a score of things to say to him and discarding each one in turn.
Tuyen just watched Angela from where he stood, his face expressionless as he waited for her to work her way through the crowd.
When she got to him, the two stood there in silence for a long time. Eventually, Tuyen nodded to her graduation attire and managed a small smile.
“I believe congratulations are in order.”
“I guess,” Angela glanced at the coloured hood on her shoulder and shrugged, before dropping her head to look at the ground between them.
Tuyen waited for her to look back up at him, but when it became apparently that her gaze wasn’t going to shift, he sighed heavily and dropped his own head.
“I know saying I’m sorry doesn’t change anything, but I am. I never, ever wanted to hurt you in any way, Angela. I wanted so badly to tell you what I was but…I didn’t know how.” Tuyen rubbed the back of his neck; a telltale sign to Angela by now of his discomfort. “And I was afraid that once I did, you wouldn’t want to see me anymore.”
Angela made a noise in the back of her throat that sounded both frustrated and weary. She shook her head, angry at the tears that had started to form in her eyes. Twice, she tried to open her mouth and say something to the angel, but both times her will failed her.
Tuyen watched this quietly, his eyes taking in every nuance of her form that he could, adding it all to his memory. Something tugged at his heart as he noticed the feather still hanging around Angela’s neck – an emotion akin to both joy and sadness.
After the silence had grown more than uncomfortable, Tuyen reached into his jacket and pulled out a cream coloured envelope.
“I’m not sure if this will mean anything to you now, but I still want you to have it,” he said softly as he held it out to Angela. She looked at it dumbly for a moment before she accepted it from him.
“What is it?” she asked, her fingers tracing the texture and feeling the thickness of the paper, her eyes still avoiding Tuyen’s.
“An explanation. Hopefully, it will answer all your questions.”
“And what if I just don’t read it?”
“That…” Tuyen sighed unhappily. “That is always your choice, Goddess.”
The tears began to fall this time as Angela shook her head.
“I’m not a goddess, Tuyen,” she looked up at him angrily. “Goddesses don’t get their hearts broken.”
Tuyen held her gaze for a moment before he closed his eyes and dropped his head.
“If that is how you choose to see it,” he murmured.
A change in the tone of people around them signified that the ceremony was about to begin. Swiping at her eyes, Angela looked up at the angel; a man she now both loved and hated for a score of reasons.
“Where does this leave us, now?” she finally asked.
“Wherever you want it to,” Tuyen replied softly. Angela nodded to herself, as if she’d been expecting this answer.
“I don’t…I don’t think I want to see you anymore, Tuyen.” Angela’s voice cracked slightly. “At least, not for now. Things are just too…” she trailed off, unsure of her words. Tuyen nodded and swallowed slightly.
“You’d better go,” he murmured, “they’re about to start.”
Their eyes caught once more, the sadness in Tuyen’s matched by the dull anger in Angela’s. Hesitantly, Tuyen reached out and gently rested his palm against Angela’s cheek. Closing her eyes, she leaned against it for a moment, before she turned and walked away without another word. Tuyen let his hand drop and watched as she disappeared into the crowd.
“I’ll always watch over you,” he whispered to himself as first of his tears began to fall. “My darling Goddess.”
~
He stayed to watch the start of the ceremony, always staying on the outskirts of the grounds. But as Angela crossed the stage to receive her degree, she found herself searching for him in the crowd, only to find that the angel had once more disappeared.
The Beginning
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