Chapter 5 - The Wounded Wings

When Aleya was walking in the crowd of people, who were busy with their activities, her cell phone rang. She stared at her phone screen with a frown. She looked at her watch and realized that it had been an hour since she had left Leo, who was going to meet his client.

"Hmm ... he's done apparently," she said to herself.

She shifted the green sign and she brought the phone to her ear.

"Shalom, Leo," she greeted cheerfully.

Leo was silent for a moment. His face looked confused by Aleya's greeting. The greeting he had only heard in the church, but this time, he heard it himself, again, from the voice of a girl he had just met.

"Leo? You don't want to answer my greetings?" Aleya asked, interrupting her daydream.

"Oh? Uh ... Shalom, Aleya. Where are you now ...?" Leo asked, nervous.

Aleya smiled. She stepped aside to chat with Leo. She didn't answer where she was because she didn't want Leo to pick her up. Instead, she forced Leo to tell her where he was or just follow him.

"Then I'll catch up with you. Bless you, Leo!"

The call was turned off by Aleya unilaterally. She put her cellphone in her bag and looked for a quiet place by looking to her right and left.

After she saw that there was a dead-end where there was absolutely no one, Aleya spread her wings. The wings that had been rebelling inside for the past few days wanted to fly and it made her feel uncomfortable.

"Well, you can fly now. But after this, you have to obey me again to stay still in my clothes, okay?" Aleya said to her wings.

It flew gracefully upwards. Luckily, no one saw it. Her wings flapped slowly towards where Aleya pointed. But of course, she had to descend to a quiet place like how she freed her wings.

Her hair fluttered and glittered. Her skin glowed, and her face looked happy. She immediately found a quiet place and descended slowly as well.

Luckily the large wings were enough to be in a place that was quite restricted for Aleya. Some of her wings fell off, and she immediately picked them up and put them in her bag.

Aleya fixed her appearance. She turned towards the parking lot where Leo's car was already visible. She was grateful to have a good enough memory to remember such details.

"Shalom again, Leo," Aleya greeted, touching his shoulder.

"Oh, hi! Shalom!" said Leo back. He stood up and pushed the chair for Aleya. But Aleya looked at him as she shook her head.

"How many times have I told you, don't be like this, Leo. Don't treat me like a queen," said Aleya.

"Ah, sorry. I'm just used to treating some female clients this way. I mean, I appreciate them."

And Aleya finally also chose to sit. Suddenly she remembered something with a surprised look on her face. Why did Leo take her back to the restaurant? Although it didn't look like a public restaurant, what was it for? Her mind asked.

"The desserts here are delicious. I purposely brought you here, so you taste some of the desserts here," Leo said as if to answer her curiosity.

"Oh? I was just wondering why you brought me to this place. We had just eaten a few hours ago."

"Well, choose what you like, Aleya. Because it's different food."

This worldly pleasure was extremely difficult for Aleya to refuse, considering that she liked dessert so much. Although, part of her wanted to refuse because she was reminded of the Father of the kingdom of Heaven.

In her heart, Aleya prayed to Father that she would apologize for the worldly pleasures that she wanted to experience this time.

***

The sunset was so beautiful. The sky turned orange with a gentle afternoon breeze brushing her hair. Aleya returned home alone on foot, and her footsteps felt like she was enjoying her journey.

"Good evening, Aleya. Shalom," Gabriel's voice greeted her when she was walking with her head down.

Aleya stopped and lifted her face. "Shalom, Gabriel." Aleya's face looked sad. In her solitude, she felt a longing for her family who was here, where her feet rested on the earth.

"Why are you sad?" Gabriel asked.

"I'm not sad. I'm just sleepy," Aleya replied, lying.

Gabriel smiled and chuckled. He stepped on equal footing with Aleya, so they walked together towards the house.

"You know you can't lie to me. Father might even know," Gabriel said.

Hearing his words, Aleya sighed. She forgot that he was an angel and that whatever her movements, the kingdom of Heaven and its inhabitants would know. Being human too, they all know it too.

"Sometimes I miss them," Aleya began to tell.

"Your family."

And Aleya nodded her head at Gabriel's answer. But as soon as Aleya showed her cheerful expression. She looked at Gabriel with a smile that covered her sadness.

"Ah ... but I shouldn't be sad. By the way, I'm already friends with the target of my job. I hope this work is finished quickly, and I can return to Heaven quickly too," said Aleya excitedly.

"Good luck, Aleya. If you need anything, just tell me. Ah, and don't forget your report."

"Sure, Gab. The house is near, I'd better go in first. See you later!"

Aleya walked faster leaving Gabriel. Not because she was nervous about being with one of Father's trusted angels, but she didn't want Gabriel to ask more about her family. Even though Aleya knew Gabriel already knew, avoiding him was better than having to hear something that couldn't make her longing flow.

Entering the house, Aleya immediately locked herself in her room. She made a brief, concise and clear report, then closed the book. She then took off her clothes and looked at herself naked in the mirror.

She looked at her wings which were slightly injured at the roots and slightly swollen, and she didn't know why. She could only grimace then let herself in such an appearance. She thought her wings needed a breath of fresh air and didn't want to be kept hidden in clothes.

"Aleya, let me see your wings." Suddenly Ivory made a voice outside her bedroom door. Aleya was a little surprised that Ivoria knew it, but she remembered that again Ivory and Gabriel were a package that knew each other.

"Open the door, Aleya. I have to see it."