[3]
But love was stronger than hate, for the angel grew even more loving to the humans who hated her angelic strength. But to have them love her back, she has to be as weak as they are. So she came to the face of the Earth once again in a shroud of mortality in a town of a vagrant without an angel's face. But such love for humans was too flawed for the angel to realize.
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The sun hits bright this morning right over my eyes. Today, the droplets on the unbloomed flower are drying after last night's rain, where it is also ready to watch the same petals stretching out. I quickly left the blanket and began my day out of bed with a fresh smile.
The uniform was in my wardrobe, and as my human parents told me before, I wore it today. It would be a fun time in school, they said. But there is nothing fun about buttoning this blue vest and tightening this red tie on my body while I struggle to breathe. Moreover, I had to cut off the back again for my wing.
"My school uniform..." I took it out of the wardrobe.
"Hey, what do you know? It was just a fit!"
"Ugh...wings...it'll be fine..."
On the table, my bag was already filled with books and a few things a student needed for school. I had to pack them up last night myself because my parents were too busy banging their heads on the wall. It took even more strength for me to pick up a pencil which has more colours and a chance to get me on the stage.
That should be everything to go to school. I don't think there's anything more to bring for a cookie like me, who couldn't carry anything more than two bricks per day. So I went down to have breakfast before I went to school and welcomed the humans.
From upstairs, I could smell a fried egg from a distance. I didn't like eating something savoury because it doesn't taste well with a sweet like me. I head downstairs to find everyone is already at the table, including Samuel, who has already worn a suit for me. He looked so much better in that blue than I did.
"Mom? Dad?"
"Dorriel! Oh, you're awake...! Time for—hey, what are you wearing?"
When I found my mom in the kitchen, I didn't expect her to be messy and confused like a stray cat. She didn't look so well, and I was worried about how she was holding that hot pan without a glove. She's drooling as if she were hungry, but she was more lost than she was feeling a void in her stomach.
"Uhm...school's clothes?"
"School? Why did you go to school? Aren't you supposed to stay home?"
"But you said I had to go today. Well, Samuel said I had to..."
"Did I...? Yeah! I did...I do...right..." She pauses.
I sat at the table, pretending not to think about what happened with mom in the kitchen. But when I saw my father's face, he looked even troubled than I thought. He didn't even hold that newspaper straight, and nobody was helping him to look at that precious news about a town 'Gold Creek' right now.
I gently asked my brother about it, but he dismissed it and continued eating his cereal. A hungry me wanted that cereal now, so I asked him if I could have one. But he didn't respond to me with anything other than a glare, before giving me a milk and a cup of those flakes.
"Thanks, brother." I took a spoon and ate from the cup. Silly, I've never eaten from the cup before.
"Dorriel, dear. W-would you like some juice on your—cereal?"
My mother wanted to serve me a glass of juice. Sadly, I couldn't say that compressed orange on a glass was a juice. I didn't want her to look at me refusing such an offer, but I also couldn't drink out of lack of taste. So I could only smile for her and wait until she left the table, loosening my grip on the glass.
"You'll get used to it. Just be ready to live your life like I do, Dorriel..."
"What does that mean?"
"That means we're having fun! Like a family, woo!" Father blasted out momentarily with joy before he went stiff like a puppet on the chair. Like one of those puppet merchandise from the Happyshow section.
"Oh, that's amazing! Hehe..." I pause and look at my brother for a moment. "You really are not lying about them being unhappy here? I'm sorry if you had to live like this..."
"Sorry not. Now that you lived here with them, at least I'm not going to be haunted alone anymore." He whispers. "Just finish your cereal so we can go to school..."
"What about you? Where are you going with that black tie...?"
My brother and I were the only ones in this chair that seemingly were in the moment of happiness—or sanity. I sat thinking about how my cereal hasn't run out in my bowl yet, and I still see my family being terrified of the past.
"To a place. I have to go to a place as an adult. Everyone does..." Samuel looks fine in that suit. Like those humans who would make a contract on the extension of my channel. I can see the paper on the table, but I can't see the signature to put my own on it.
"Like a studio?"
"No. I'm going to work."
"Ooh...congrats on you! Hope you get your application there! I mean, I got mine on the show and it was amazing."
"Really? Woah! You're so amazing, daughter! That's why we always love you! Haha!"
Father bursts again. He looks so unwell and troubled than before. I would say he was such a happy Joyling, but there's nothing happy about a human who can't tie his shoes well. No wonder they have to stay here alone, while we have to go on our own.
Suddenly, it hurts my appetite to eat anymore. I couldn't watch my parents being burdened, so I decided to give them the leisure they needed with the help of my Joyling's nature. I have my lyre out, and so I was ready to sing for them.
"Mom, dad! Looks like you need some help..."
"How about a tune from the Ring of Roses? Maybe I could help with that!"
"Oh...?"
I started with a slow rhythm, echoing with serenity and wonder. It was a harmonious one, something that didn't have to be so tense and messy like this home. It was supposed to give their head a freedom from the negativity of grief and loss.
"Dorriel, I don't think you could help them with—"
As I began to sync with the melody, sugar started whirling around my body, and my lyre produced a music that forged such pink dust all over the house. My music started to rise a pitch, and I began to fly among the clouds.
"—that?" He pauses.
"What is this...?" Everyone was looking at me with surprise.
For a moment, I can feel myself lighter than air and watch a blue sky like heaven. Everyone was surprised, but nobody could see what I saw from that music. Somewhere, it was a place that was promised to a cookie like me. My tune went from a wisp into a whirl.
"Oho! What is this? What is this?" Mother muttered.
"Haa! Haa! I love this!"
"Dorriel?"
We were floating in the air together, and everyone was so excited for my performance. The pink peony petals are flying across the air in a spiral. Spotlights didn't shine today, but my wings are the curtains they need to see.
We are dancing in the air. But my song wasn't over, it was only one last release of serenity and happiness before I could finally set peace on my family's head. The flowers around the house are dancing alongside, spewing the sugar out altogether to create a choir with me.
*Choir*
"Do you love this? I know you do! Don't you, brother?"
"I'm not!" He yelled.
The yesterday flowers returned to blare a trumpet, and not one place in this house could ever be so festive as a heaven's song. Everyone in the room was a happy family as I wanted. My parents no longer lie on the frowniest days. Happiest day ever for every human here.
"Wee!" I float freely on top of their heads.
"Dorriel! What are you doing...?"
"Dorriel, stop it! It's too much...! You're tearing the house!"
"Did I?"
At last, I put a final show by a slow silence. My family returned to their seats as if nothing had happened. But now they knew what choir had just struck their heads before. I returned to my seat, taking off my lyre and watched as my family's face was clearer than before.
My brother was sitting confused, not as happy as I thought. Something grim is brewing in his head, and he couldn't feel the serenity I gave him. He returned to his seat and continued his cereal, but not before he gave me another grim stare.
"Yeah! So how was it, everyone?"
"Good! Good! Again!" My father claps before me. He no longer has that messy head thanks to the petals I gave him.
"Dorriel, that was...spectacular! Oh, I started to miss you when you were here to do that!" My mother swings and drops her pan on the floor, losing her balance. But at least she looks so much better on that new flowery face.
"She can't do that back then..." Samuel objects.
"Oh, really? I feel like she does! It's like a year ago she just did that...on this table...with that...lyre..."
I was alone, and I watched my brother with another angry face. He was ready to scold me again like yesterday, but I was too excited that I couldn't frown in time against his anger. So when I turned around and packed my bag, it was already too late for me to turn back.
"Dorriel, what was that?"
"What was that?"
"That. You just...you just make a mess in the house!"
"What mess?" I looked left and right. Everything was as clean as it was left untouched.
"That mess you—made?" He pauses, as if he were looking for something. Instead of being satisfied, he was filled with disbelief.
"Everything's clean here, brother."
"Well, how about our parents you just lobotomize right now with your absurd tune?"
"I think they're way better now. And what's 'lobotomize'?"
He was angry about our parents. But there's nothing wrong with our parents. I assured them that they were satisfied, and it is undeniable that they are happy bloomers. Doorwell was doing her best for her family so she could help Samuel with what he couldn't do. After all, I couldn't let them like this while I'm away.
"Oh, Joshua! I think we should've gone out to buy vegetables again! Looks like we're running out of one!" Mom was busy cleaning the kitchen. But she wasn't too fond of the mop and the bucket.
"Not now, Mary. I have a new show to watch today. Can't you hear the screenshow?"
"Wow, they look fabulous, aren't they?" I muttered.
"Forget it. At least they're not our trouble any longer."
We were waiting for the doctors outside to escort us to school. It felt like years since I met them, but it was just two days ago. I can't wait to see Dr Volcker's face again. My brother was sitting beside me, carrying a suitcase like a gentleman or Graham. It was a beautiful day for us.
The morning was shining bright for the two of us. And it was warm, too. I can breathe freely from this tightening tie. I had to make sure my wings didn't break while I'm here, which already hurt my ribs when I spread them. It was the only thing I could do while waiting for others to come.
"Dorriel, lower it down! Your wings are clashing on my face..."
My brother looked at me with a glare on my wings, before grasping the feather. It was painful, worse than even losing a piece of my dough. But at least I know that my wings are well and sensible as always.
*Rail screeching*
"There they are!" I yelled. "They're here..."
"Finally..."
I saw the white carriage coming towards us. It slowed down at the fence of our home, and the one who came out of it was none other than Dr Volcker and a few doctors. I was so excited that I couldn't handle my wings. I flew slightly higher to get their attention.
That was a long carriage waiting for me, polished with some of the best metal, if I could say. I do not know how the doctors manage to own one, but if that means I could get a ride rather than fly out awkwardly with my brother, then there's nothing else to complain about.
"Doorwell!"
"Dr Volcker!"
That reunion was the happiest day I've ever had. But if I said so, that would make my family jealous of me. Samuel was standing there and eavesdropping on us, but a pat on the head was enough.
"Woah, look at you, Doorwell. You're all clean and suited like a human!"
"So I guess it means you're ready to go to school now? Private school does gave the best offer for children like you."
"Don't worry about the bill. It's all covered up as long as Dorriel remains acceptable in society..."
"Assuming she couldn't?" He replies.
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We went on the carriage and travelled towards the city behind this white shell of a beast. I have never seen one before, and I don't think a Joyling like me could get to one. It would be someone like Pearl who can get to ride one with the fame of a star. Sadly, she was demoted from that career long ago for a ballet.
"Ooh..." I pondered and I walked back and forth with joy.
"Alright, listen up, you two. Once you're out of the carriage, the press will come and have a picture of you on the street. The moment you stepped out of this carriage, your life as a human has been forged in society..."
"The moment Dorriel gets to be known, everyone...like your friends, far relatives, and the world will know of the Joylingers studio conspiracy as true."
"Dorriel...you are going to be a star in a way you wouldn't expect. Are you ready?"
"Yes, I am ready."
"How about you, champ?"
"Just get this over. I just want my life to get back with Doorwell..." Samuel muttered nonchalantly.
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The school was far in the distance. It looks like the same Institute my brother had, but it looks grey and younger. One giant sign on the front of the school is enough to tell me where I'm going. But I could say that those children are nothing like my Joyling's friends.
"Ooh! Oh! Oh!" I jumped in excitement.
"Dorriel, stay down. you're hurting the carriage..."
"Oh, but how can I be down when I get to look at these people?"
Looks like everyone was waiting for me to show up. Humans are such curious and impatient creatures, waiting for the love from a Joyling like me to share. But I wonder what kind of face they would give from a cookie like me when I showed up. I could not wait to find out.
"Would you look at that, Doorwell? Everyone's waiting for you there! Those children...those adults...they are wandering why there are so many commotion out there."
"You wouldn't let them waiting, aren't you?"
"Are you ready, Doorwell?" The door was opened before me. And on the other side, there was only a bright light.
I catch a deep breath and a strength. "I'm ready, everyone!"