Chapter 3: 3.

Niran

Saying I am exhausted would be an understatement. I collapse face down on my bed, letting the feel of the soft sheets make my body relax slightly.

 

It has been a hectic week with Father’s funeral and memorial. Mama is still devastated and has been crying non-stop. So, I had to be strong and step up. Thankfully, Uncle Kin, my father’s older brother and my father’s previous loyal subordinates stepped in to help. Given my father’s previous position, his funeral was attended by several important figures, including the Mayor. 

 

Today was the last day of the wake and we cremated Father’s body in the morning. Mama was distraught and almost collapsed from the grief and lack of sleep. Now, she is finally sleeping with Father’s ashes by her, holding his urn tightly. My parents were always hopelessly in love. They called each other their soulmates. I have always admired their relationship and hope to find someone to share such a bond with one day too. When Father fell ill, Mama had been worried the day his time would end would come. 

 

I know she would need a long time to heal and I would do anything I can to help her. So, I need to be strong to do so. Even though I miss Father, I will not allow grief to consume me. For now, I will wash up and rest so that I can take care of Mama later. 

 

I force my weary body to get up. That is when I almost yell in shock at the large male leaning against the wall by my window. His dark eyes meet mine and I will my thumping heart to calm down when I realise it is him. 

 

Death. I should be more afraid really but I am not at all. Not even when I saw him a week ago for the first time in the hospital. I heard a soft sigh and when I looked up he was there. No one else saw him and I knew he was not human, even though he looks exactly like one.

 

From books, I thought Death, or the grim reaper would be someone who looks scarier. Probably with a skeleton face and dressed in a dark cloak. However, the Death before me is…really attractive. There is no other way to describe him. He is a little tanned and tall, a head taller than me with a large frame. He has broad shoulders and thick arms. His dark hair is longish and styled in a handsome way. He has a handsome face, dark eyes, a sharp jaw and full lips.  He is dressed in all black, a black coat, black shirt and black trousers. Like the first time I saw him. So yes, with how he looks, I find it hard to be scared of him even after knowing his identity. 

 

Although I was busy with Father’s funeral, I have forgotten about him. I never thought I would see him again although he said we would meet again. I assumed he was just humouring me. Yet, here he is, standing in my bedroom. I realise I have been staring at him for a little too long, taking in his good looks. So I tell myself to focus and ask the right question. 

 

“How long have you been standing there?” I manage to ask. 

 

“Since you entered. I was wondering if you lost the ability to see me.” Death says in a low voice. 

 

I must have been too tired to realise his presence. “I did not see you, but I still am able to.” I say. It is a little crazy how casually I am talking to Death, a supernatural being.

 

“So it seems.” Death’s lips curl up slightly. I blink a little because honestly, when he smiles, it adds to his attractiveness. “I passed on your message. To your father.” 

 

I become still at his words. He kept his promise. “Did he say anything in return?” I can’t help but ask, my heart becoming extremely heavy at the mention of Father. The tears I have been holding back for a week for Mama’s sake feels like they are going to burst out, like a dam bursting. 

 

“He says he is able to go in peace.” Death tells me softly. 

 

Father… It hits me. He is truly, truly gone. With that, I allow my grief to overwhelm me in days and my tears to fall. “Thank you…” I sob out. “It means a lot to me…” 

 

“You’re crying again.” Death says. I can feel him moving closer. 

 

“I miss him… I really do… And I have been holding back…” I cry, not caring about how I look. 

 

I hear Death give a soft sigh and to my surprise, he sits down beside me on the bed before tugging me forward gently. My body is in sync with his movements as I am being pulled to sit on his lap and he wraps his thick arms around me. Then, he wipes my tears gently with his fingers. I finally realise what he is doing. He is comforting me.

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“Cry then. I will wipe them away.” Death says softly, his dark eyes meeting mine. 

 

As much as I want to ask why he is doing this for me, a stranger and a human, or if he has done this before… I choose instead to just accept his kindness because I am too tired and sad to think anymore. I bury my face in his broad chest and allow myself to cry fully. His body is warm, like a human. And his scent is like a mixture of vanilla and soft sheets, further comforting me and allowing me to let go. 

 

I do not know how long I cried in Death’s arms but eventually, exhaustion wins over and I find myself falling asleep in sobs. 

 

Death

 

I stare down at the tiny human in my arms. He has fallen asleep while crying. His hands are still grabbing onto my shirt, which is now soaked with his tears, tightly. This is another first for me. I have never comforted anyone before. However, I really disliked seeing Niran’s tears. The urge to wipe them away resurfaced again and I gave in. 

 

The past few days, in between my duties, I could not help observing Niran. I saw how he made himself busy taking care of his mother and also with his father’s funeral. He has not cried in days. A mention of his father, and he bursts into tears. I knew he had been burying his sadness. When Life came by earlier and saw that I was still observing Niran, he told me that some humans would do that and they need comfort. 

 

And that made me want to go to him. Something inside me told me I want to be the one comforting this human if he needs it. I don’t want him to seek comfort from others. It is a little disturbing to have such thoughts for the first time ever but I can’t help it. 

 

I have souls I have to collect but right now, seeing the sleeping human who is sniffling even in his sleep, I can’t bring myself to leave. So many firsts…

 

I gently set him down on the bed and in his sleep, Niran still grabs on to me. “Don’t go… Don’t leave me… Father.” Niran whimpers, now dreaming of his father. 

 

“I am not leaving.”I murmur and he seems to hear it as he loosens his grip slightly. 

 

I shrug my coat off, and toss it towards the armchair. Next, I snap my fingers and immediately, Nat appears before me. 

 

“Master.” He bows his head in greeting. He glances up and looks surprised right away at the sight of Niran sleeping, and me sitting on the bed. 

 

“I will be here for a while. Collect the souls on my behalf and ask Life for his help to process them.” I instruct Nat. 

 

Nat opens and closes his mouth in shock. I have never delegated my duties fully before. However, Nat is too loyal to question me. Eventually, he simply nods. “I will get it done.”

 

“Nat.” I stop him before he can disappear. “Other than Life, do not let anyone know of my whereabouts.” I know the other angels would be shocked and have many questions. I am not really afraid of dealing with them but at the moment, I felt like having some privacy.

 

Nat nods slowly. “I promise.” Then, Nat actually gives me a small smile before disappearing. I raise a brow slightly. He rarely smiles. What is with that smile of his? 

I shake my head, deciding I will question him later. I remove my shoes and move to pick Niran up again. I make myself comfortable by leaning against the headboard while he sleeps on my body. I watch him sleep and I sigh.

 

What is this fascinating human doing to me? 

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