1: New Neighbor




"In the name of the Holy God, Amen. This service is now dismissed."

Jeongguk whispers amen back, forming the cross with his fingers over his body before fluttering his eyes open to face the pastor up ahead. The man dressed in black with the white collar smiles to the audience - who are slowly leaving the premises. A few stayed as per usual, waiting for the pastor to move off from the stand to be able to approach him with their troubles or appreciating his words for tonight's ceremony.

One of those people also being the silent man sitting on the pew, but raised up to his feet and quietly moving to the pastor but doesn't go directly to him as the small crowd is. Instead he stands behind the young man, hands to his back with a head down to avoid the eyes of the brothers and sisters of this church.

Listening.

Only left listening.

"I haven't gotten my period for over a month Father Min, I am growing concerned something is wrong with my health."

Irregular periods, should get that checked out if haven't already.

"My son has been misbehaving and he's starting to lose his faith in the Lord. Please, what should I do?"

Bring him here.

"My mother's condition with her cancer is growing worse and I don't know what I could do to help her."

Nothing, she's going to die in a month from now.

A small nudge to his abdomen catches his attention, flickering Jeon Jeongguk's eyes from the ground and to the finger pocking his stomach from over his black vest. Slowly he trails the hand with his gaze to the pastor, who has his hand clasped behind him while still wearing a tight smile.

Jeongguk only stares at the hand and tenses his jaw, keeping his opinions - well thoughts - to himself as the pastor finished up speaking to every one of them until the church was finally empty. Once the last person exit out through the doors, the pastor looks at Jeongguk with a sullen glare in his eyes.

"What did we talk about keeping your thoughts at bay?"

The blonde man purses his lips, gripping his hands tightly behind him, "Sorry.... I was just stating the truth-"

"But you must give people faith, that's important to being an angel," The man bellows, rolling his eyes before moving aside, "Have you done your session yet?"

Jeongguk flutters his eyes up to the raven haired man, who was grabbing his bible from the stand, "I have prayed this morning and the second I got here. It's starting to burn every time I touch a bible though. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong."

The pastor's heavy footsteps goes down the steps and goes to face Jeongguk once again, "That's because you're fallen side is starting to adjust to this world, tempting to do evil. You must think as an angel, perform as an angel, use your angelic abilities to heal and perform good to the children of God."

The regular scolding is something Jeongguk has grown to adapt by now from the holy man, noticing the visible white halo above his head when he stood in front of the glass window behind him.

Meanwhile a dark one flashed Jeongguk's head; the bright light flickering and dimming of color.

He's been trying to be good and do his duties as he did as an angel, but lately he sometimes feels his mind being drawn to tempting things, such as falling for lust when he saw a beautiful woman past by his side this morning down the side walk. Or wrath when this man beside him during service was chew his gum a bit too loud for his liking.

Before he use to be calm, collected, and kind to anyone who he came across. But after a month since he's fallen to this Earth, he's slowly being drawn or tempted by the dark desires that this world pours out. Things he use to not pay mind to and use his holiness to avoid are now are things he's thinking about or wishing for.

That's why he's always with this pastor, Min Yoongi, to help him stay in this path of righteousness to enter back into the Heavens.

Yoongi is the only one who knows he's a fallen angel, and that's because he's an angel himself.

A whole, pure, angel.

There's this bizarre myth in this world about how angels don't come to Earth and help God's children, but that's obviously false. Some angels are assigned to travel to Earth, appearing as humans, and guide the misguided to God's path. Majority are doctors, a few officers to stop demons in the shadows from growing closer to the humans, firefighters, those who help the Earth in nature; the list goes on. Yoongi in this case is one of them, being a pastor and helping the people here to live a holy life.

He can't exactly lead Jeongguk to enter Heaven again after his sin, but he can guide him on how to avoid the demons and temptations of the Earth. Jeongguk hopes that by being good and doing good, eventually he will be forgiven.

Remembering God's face filled with tears when he fell is something he hates to remember, and that's his daily motivation with life. He didn't want to disappoint him again, that's why he's doing this.

All Jeongguk needs to do is fight it off for a little while longer.

God is forgiving, but that is when Jeongguk learns from his mistakes.

He's still figuring that out though - if he learned what he needs to learn or if he regrets it.

That's still unclear.

So Jeongguk curtly bows his head to Yoongi, "I understand."

"Good," The angel then removes his cloak, revealing the white clothes from underneath, folding his cloak neatly in his arms, "Now get home before it gets too late. And remember, control and think like an angel."

After one final curt nod, Jeongguk adjusts the black tie on his collar snuggly and walks down the aisle and exits the double doors of the vintage church. There's still a few cars in the parking lot of a few brothers and sisters from the church, talking amongst themselves of their day and assuring that they will see each other sometime in the week.

A couple of them waved at Jeongguk, to which he would wave back with a smile before going along his way to his apartment building. The streets are quiet. Little to no cars roaming and less of people, but definitely a swarmed of creatures lingering in the dark.

Jeongguk has grown to ignore them, unlike the first few times he would slash them with his strength or minimal angelic abilities he has. But within time he has learned that many of these creatures are just lost spirits roaming the streets, not really causing harm, and more so just lost in their way. A couple of ghosts, who didn't go to Heaven or Hell, just roaming somewhere in between until they fulfill their purpose.

Or sometimes not fill their purpose.

Majority of these souls were once humans, but ended up taking their own life ahead of time. Instead of being sent to hell as many would think, their punishment is roaming the Earth for the rest of their lives while watching the people they left behind suffering. The guilt, anguish, remorse will forever haunt them, without finding peace.

Most of the time Jeongguk doesn't pay mind to their screams when he would pass a few of them, but it did hurt thinking of living this never ending nightmare for eternity.

Somewhat like what he's living - Roaming the Earth, immortal, regretting the day he sinned and was exiled from Heaven.

Maybe they aren't so different after all.

"There you are! I was waiting one, two, three- five hours for you!"

Speaking of lost souls.

Jeongguk shifts his gaze to the side upon hearing the voice, seeing a familiar man dressed in old fashioned brown slacks, white blouse tucked under it and brown suspenders in his transparent form. His youthful face isn't any different, neither is the expression of joy that Jeongguk only has seen since they've met.

Despite being one of those ghosts who took their own life.

He manages to form a small smile to the shorter man, "You didn't have to wait for me."

"You're the only company I've got. Of course I would wait for you!"

In 1870, a farmer in America by the name of Park Jimin took his own life by hanging himself from a tree outside his home. He had a family; beautiful wife, two kids - twin daughters, and a dog that he adored so much. He enjoyed his life as a farmer while it lasted.

It all changed when he met a man, Taemin, in a bar by town. The two grew closer together. Taemin would visit his home and eat nice meals made by Jimin's wife, and the two would watch over the farm in late hours and would go hunting in the day.

Somewhere in between a temptation grew, and the sin of adultery blossomed. A hidden romance they swore to keep secret. After months of those being hidden in the shadows, Taemin wanted to run away together, and Jimin couldn't leave his family behind.

Then a few days after that argument, Taemin was shot dead because someone from town found the history of him being a homosexual from another local. Drowning in grief and wanting to meet his lover to the other side, Jimin grabbed a rope and hanged himself from a tree.

Because he didn't want a life if it wasn't beside Taemin.

A decision that he soon regretted.

Jeongguk would know this story well, since after all he was there.

Through it all.

He watched Jimin trying to comfort his family in desperation when they would scream and cry for his death, and see his little girls growing up without a father with daddy issues of letting another man love them again. Jeongguk didn't feel sympathy for him, after all, Jimin was the one who fell for the temptation.

But now Jeongguk gets it.

How one sin, one mistake, can easily change one's life.

Just like it did to both of them.

Their paths crossed when Jeongguk was slashing onto a demon during the first week being here, outside a bar. Jimin was alone, drinking. He was dragged here to Korea since his family branch brought him here. After all, he is their ghost, so he has to watch them living their life in this never ending punishment.

Not like he has a choice on the matter.

Since then, somehow, the two just became.... Friends? Perhaps?

Maybe just something to not feel lonely in this world, especially for Jimin since Jeongguk was the only person who was able to see him.

After all, Jeongguk is a bridge from the goodness and darkness, spirits and lost souls.

Happens after being a fallen.

"Did you see your family in the meantime?"

Jimin doesn't like to talk about his family, but Jeongguk tries to bring it up in hopes the man has learned to forgive himself for what he did.

He never does.

Softly a frown shifts down Jimin lips, almost a scowl, as he looks ahead, "You know the answer to that boy."

And just like that, Jimin disappeared, leaving Jeongguk alone to walk home.

Whenever Jimin gets emotional like this he has this habit of disappearing. Perhaps it's a way to prevent Jeongguk from seeing how the topic is delicate to him, or maybe to not show how hurt he still is about wandering this Earth for decades without being at peace.

Jeongguk could easily summon him back, but he has learned to let the man be instead.

He'll come back cheerful as usual, the act to cope with his life.

Now coming across the apartment building complex, Jeongguk takes out his keys from the pockets of his dressed up slacks and opens the door, stepping in and going past the lobby. No one is here, besides the old lady behind the desk just looking at cat videos on her phone with healing giggles. Jeongguk has had a few interesting conversations with her, but tries not to get too attached since her time is slowly coming up around the corner.

She definitely is a good woman, no doubt the Heavens will open up for her during her last breath in this world.

Jeongguk has even given her the small blessing he has from his angel capabilities, hoping other angels see it as a sign that she's a good woman.

Going up the elevator now, Jeongguk starts to think of the work he has tomorrow. He works as an EMT - those in ambulances taking people who are injured or in need of immediate medical attention. It's a suitable job for him after all, and that's the best way he can stay help people and do some justice to make up for his sin.

So it's very suitable, especially for his angelic abilities.

Tomorrow he has a twenty four hour shift, meaning he's working around the clock. Not like he finds those moments exhausting, since he's use to the no sleep schedule, so this shift isn't exactly something he's dreading.

After all, he has to pay rent so this will have to do.

He doesn't really have other things to do either way, since there's no service tomorrow, so not like he has to worry about plans or meeting up with friends.

The only people he can consider friends is Yoongi and well, Jimin.

And they tend to appear when the time is suitable.

The elevator arrives to Jeongguk's floor and he cracks his neck a little to how sore it is, walking out and down the hallway with the keys dancing between his fingertips just before he stops in front of the door to his apartment.

But then he froze just as he puts the key in the lock.

A strong aura suddenly presents itself around him, something that immediately flared his angel senses to warning and caution signals. Goosebumps flooded his skin, breath uneven, instincts pulsating just as he hears in a distance footsteps approaching close to him.

His grip on the key tightens.

What is this being?

Jeongguk could feel his muscles tense up, this dark looming presence crawling up closer to him. Usually demons don't approach him, since they can sense the angel in him and prefer shrieking away in the darkness. This aura is similar to a demon, but also as a ghost.

Perhaps it's another fallen angel? Jeongguk has came across a few in his time here, but they are far too reckless for his liking.

The presence is now beside him, precisely on the door next to his, and Jeongguk slowly fixes his eyes to where it's oozing from.

There stands a man, appearing as a human, with raven hair tied away from his face and melancholy eyes staring at the doorknob as he shoves the key inside - rather to hostile. It's an unfamiliar face, Jeongguk would know since he has recognized every single person in this building, and this man clearly is entering a room that was previously unoccupied.

In that case, is it new neighbor?

But if he looks so human.... Why does he have that presence?

Usually Jeongguk is able to see the demons in disguise for who they truly are, especially the fallen angels with their raven black wings. This man doesn't have wings or have some claws on his hand to give away he's really anything.

Just.... Human.

"I would appreciate if you would stop staring at me, thanks."

His voice is deep and a bit.... Mellow. Holding onto a foreign accent in his tongue - Something Jeongguk wasn't expecting.

Maybe Jeongguk's just overanalyzing things, or his senses are just spiked up because it's night.

Yoongi's right, the world temptations are getting into his head.

So Jeongguk grimaces, fixing his eyes away from the man, "Sorry," Was all he muffled as he turns the key from the lock and steps inside his home, not saying anything else to the other man.

Or even realizing the piercing red flash of his eyes that gazed at him the second he closed the door shut behind him.


_____________________________

A/N:

Hey lovelies!

So this is just a chapter I wanted to show to you guys, but the story is still not official yet. I know it's been a while since I've had this story here, but I will be publishing it soon enough.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!

I PURPLE YOU! <33

Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top