Chapter 3

  A BLURRED DESTINY

  A week has passed. Although Gabriel has made progress with his mission, it is not enough, and each day it becomes harder to go unnoticed by Max’s parents. With no money to rent a place, Gabriel has had to stay at Max’s house, which has led to some awkward moments between them. But it has also been an unexpected opportunity for him—an angel who once resisted any curiosity about the Mortal Realm—to begin feeling excited about discovering the human world, the very world his own father came from.

  One morning, while Gabriel waits in Max’s room for his parents to leave for work, he mentally reviews his next steps. When the house is finally empty, he gets ready, eats breakfast, and waits for Max to finish getting dressed.

  —What are you going to do today? —Max asks, looking exhausted as he stirs his cereal with a spoon.

  —Maybe I’ll lock Laura and you in a classroom and see what happens —Gabriel replies, pleased with the idea.

  Max stares at him in disbelief.

  —What? No way. We’re not your lab rats for you to experiment on. I need you to find a solution soon. I don’t mean to sound rude, but hiding you from my parents has been exhausting, and I can’t have you glued to me forever.

  Gabriel lowers his gaze, embarrassed.

  —I’m sorry. I really am trying… I thought it would be easier in practice.

  Suddenly, Max freezes, struck by a realization.

  —Wait… Is this your first mission? —he asks, looking at him with irritation.

  Gabriel sighs, knowing he can no longer hide it.

  —Yes… This is my first mission. I never had training because… well, angels like me don’t usually get missions.

  Max blinks, confused.

  —Angels like you?

  —Yes. I’m a hybrid, half human. Hybrid angels are forbidden from coming to the Mortal Realm —Gabriel murmurs, feeling a lump in his throat.

  Max’s expression softens. He immediately regrets having been so harsh.

  —I’m sorry, I didn’t know… I know you’re doing the best you can. I’ll try to be more patient —he smiles, and Gabriel gets lost in the glow of that smile, so similar to the one he saw the first time they met.

  —Thank you, Max —Gabriel replies, quickly looking away, aware of what he is beginning to feel.

  —Everything okay? —Max asks, intrigued.

  —Yes, yes… I’m just going to get my bag.

  As he rummages through his belongings, Gabriel finds an old brown book with green heart-shaped details on the cover. Cupid’s Potions was its title. He feels ridiculous, but maybe… maybe it could help. Max knocks lightly on the door, reminding him that they need to leave.

  —Ready? —he asks with a smile.

  —Yes, of course! Let’s go —Gabriel replies, hiding the book in his backpack.

  That day, Gabriel is strangely absent-minded. Throughout the entire class, he reads his book attentively, and every time Max tries to talk to him, he ignores him.

  —Are you okay? —Max finally asks during recess, sitting down beside him.

  —What? Oh, yes… I’m fine —Gabriel lies, snapping the book shut when he notices Max’s curiosity. He decides to get up and sit in a corner of the classroom.

  Max watches him, feeling increasingly confused. All week long, he has been having unexpected feelings for this stranger—feelings he has never experienced with such intensity. Laura appears then and sits down next to him.

  —Hi, Max. What’s wrong? —she asks, noticing his frustrated expression.

  —I don’t know, Laura… It’s weird. Have you ever met someone, felt an inexplicable connection, and… just not known what to do about it? —Max crosses his arms, resting his head on them.

  Laura looks at him, astonished, before laughing.

  —You mean Gabriel? I can’t believe it!

  Max sighs, unable to hide the truth.

  —Maybe… But I can’t do anything. Gabriel won’t be here much longer and… besides, I think he’s straight.

  —Are you sure? —Laura raises an eyebrow—. And Max, if you feel something for him, wouldn’t you rather try? Better to have loved and lost, right?

  Encouraged by her words, Max approaches Gabriel, who is still reading in a corner.

  —Gabriel, can I ask you something? —Max bites his lip, nervous.

  —Of course, go ahead.

  —Are you… straight? —Max blushes.

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  Gabriel looks at him, amused, and answers naturally.

  —No, I’m gay.

  Max freezes, trying to process what he has just heard.

  —Oh… I didn’t know. I thought all angels were straight —he murmurs, unable to hide his surprise.

  Gabriel laughs softly.

  —Heaven is much more diverse than humans imagine. Anyway, why do you ask? —he closes the book, giving him his full attention.

  —Nothing… Just curious —Max tries to hide his relief. After a moment of silence, he adds—: Maybe you could talk to Laura’s ex. That might help you complete your mission.

  Gabriel smiles, grateful for the suggestion.

  —Good idea! Can you give me his address?

  Max writes it down and hands it to him. He watches as Gabriel leaves with renewed energy, determined to make his first mission a success, while deep down he knows that although he wants Gabriel to succeed, he fears what will happen once the mission is complete and Gabriel has to return to Heaven.

  Gabriel found himself walking through a maze of streets and alleys, trying to follow the directions Max had given him to locate Laura’s ex-boyfriend’s house. After more than an hour wandering under a relentless sun, he finally gave up and sat down on the edge of a fountain in a nearby plaza. The oppressive heat made him dizzy.

  —Why is it so hot here? —he complained softly, wiping the sweat from his forehead with his shirt.

  Lost in his thoughts, he suddenly felt something blocking the sunlight. When he looked up, he found himself face to face with an old woman with deep-set eyes and a face lined with wrinkles.

  —What is a being like you doing here? —the woman asked, her voice deep and piercing.

  —Hello… I’m just resting a bit —Gabriel tried to reply kindly, though an inexplicable chill ran through him when he met her gaze.

  —Now they send children and hybrids? How shameless —she muttered before sitting down beside him on the edge of the fountain.

  Gabriel blinked, surprised.

  —Who are you?

  —That doesn’t matter, boy. It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it? —The old woman lifted her face to the sky, closing her eyes as the sun bathed her features.

  —Yes… A bit hot, but beautiful —Gabriel replied, imitating her.

  The old woman nodded, as if approving his answer.

  —Our realm is much hotter. With time, one gets used to it.

  —Are you a witch? —Gabriel asked, unable to hide his fascination. He had always been curious to meet one.

  —Perhaps I am. I’m just an old woman strolling through the park, keeping company with a young man who seems lost.

  —Yes… I’m a bit lost —he admitted, showing her the address he had written down—. Do you know how to get here?

  The woman ignored the paper and took his hands in hers.

  —I don’t mean that, child —the old woman whispered, her voice ethereal and distant—. You think you understand your world, but everything you see is an illusion. When the time comes… simply relinquish control. The Great Vicenta knows what she’s talking about. Sometimes, it’s better to let yourself be carried by the current.

  Gabriel watched her, unable to look away. There was something about her that terrified and fascinated him at the same time. Her face, traced with wrinkles that looked like maps of ancient paths, radiated a strange, almost alien wisdom. Her eyes, sunken yet glowing like embers, seemed to look beyond his skin, probing the darkest corners of his soul.

  Suddenly, her voice—until then barely a whisper—exploded like an echo reverberating from all directions. It was a sound that seemed to shatter the air itself, raising a whirlwind of leaves and dust that coiled around them like an unleashed hurricane. The wind roared, laden with words Gabriel could not understand, yet which seemed to drill into his mind.

  —See you soon, sweet child —said the old woman, her tone now softer, almost maternal, as one of her withered hands slowly rose to Gabriel’s face. Her fingers, cold and rough like the bark of an ancient tree, brushed his cheek with a disturbing tenderness.

  Gabriel instinctively closed his eyes, trying to shield himself from the dust and the strange heat emanating from that touch. His mind was a whirlwind, confused and terrified, as the old woman’s words still echoed inside him like distant bells. When he opened his eyes again, the wind had died down, and the park lay in an almost sepulchral silence.

  The old woman was gone. There was no trace of her, except for a faint scent of damp earth and something Gabriel could not identify, yet which filled him with deep unease. He touched his cheek, still feeling the ghost of that touch, and realized he was trembling. No matter how hard he tried to understand what had just happened, all he could do was sit there, wondering who the Great Vicenta truly was… and what she wanted from him.

  —What the hell?… —Gabriel, who rarely used profanity, was too shaken to restrain himself—. No, focus on the mission… Crazy witches must be common around here —he told himself, trying to convince himself. He took a deep breath and stood up to resume his search.

  Hours later, Gabriel finally returned to Max’s house, exhausted and sunburned. When Max opened the door and saw him, he couldn’t help but worry.

  —Gabriel! What happened to you?

  —The sun is too strong in this realm —Gabriel joked, trying to downplay it as he stumbled inside.

  —Come on, take a shower and then I’ll put some cream on your burns —Max said, guiding him toward the bathroom.

  The cold water was both a relief and a pain for Gabriel as it ran over his burned skin. He felt frustrated and disappointed in himself; he had failed at a task that seemed simple. In his studies, everything had seemed so clear, but in real life, nothing turned out as planned.

  —Are you done? —Max asked from the other side of the door, pulling him from his thoughts.

  —Yes, I’m coming out.

  When Gabriel left the bathroom, Max made him sit in the living room and gently began applying cool cream to his cheeks and forehead.

  —Does it hurt a lot? —Max asked, carefully watching Gabriel’s reddened face.

  —A little… but I’m fine. I’m sorry, Max. I couldn’t find the house —Gabriel admitted, looking down, defeated.

  —It doesn’t matter. I was about to go looking for you anyway. What matters is that you’re okay. Well… burned, but alive —Max smiled at him, and felt butterflies in his stomach at the warmth in his eyes.

  —Do I have something on my face? —Gabriel asked, uncomfortable.

  —No, no… I’m done —Max said, wiping the excess cream away and pretending to focus on his hands.

  —Thank you. I guess angels aren’t made to withstand this world’s sun —Gabriel joked, laughing nervously.

  —Do you want to watch a movie? —Max asked, aware that being close to him stirred dangerous feelings.

  —Sure, what do humans like to watch?

  —Well, I can’t speak for everyone, but I love horror movies. How about I Know What You Did Last Summer?

  Gabriel nodded, intrigued.

  —Interesting… In Heaven, when we want to scare ourselves, we study books on demonology.

  Max shuddered when he heard that.

  —Demonology… Yeah, that’s something I didn’t want to know —he joked, laughing nervously.

  —I’m sorry, I forgot humans don’t know about those things. But don’t worry, demons rarely attack humans.

  —Yeah, let’s just put on the movie and drop that topic —Max said quickly, feeling a chill. He turned on the TV and started the movie.

  As the movie went on, Gabriel, exhausted from the walk under the sun and from the incident with the old woman, ended up falling asleep. Max watched him for a moment, smiling at the peaceful expression on his face, then quietly stood up to cover him with a blanket. He decided to watch one more movie before waking him to take him to his room, aware that his parents had not yet returned from work.

  After midnight, Max began to worry. His parents usually didn’t work such long shifts. He went to his room, grabbed his phone, and checked for any messages from them, but there were none.

  Sighing, he tried to convince himself that it was just an unusual night at work, though he couldn’t ignore the growing sense of unease in his chest.