Amongst the numerous adjectives that may describe Angel’s unbearable personality, He did at least make my journey back home felt a tad quicker. I usually hear people say that time would go faster when you are having fun. That is why people usually will not notice the time passing by when they are walking home with someone that they are fond of.

Wait... that makes it sound as if I was enjoying his company.

“Is this your home?”

But regardless, without much needed time, I found myself just in front of my house’s front gate.

Angel, who has been hovering behind me, now landed on his feet right beside me. With his head running around everywhere, he gauged the house in front of him.

“If this wasn’t, then do you think that there’s any reason that I would try to visit someone’s house at this time of day?”

But as it was reaching midnight, I could only find Angel’s question to be ridiculous. And besides... I don’t have any friends to visit to begin with.

As Angel did not reply back, I opened the gate and left it so for Angel. And when he had entered, I closed it and head towards the house’s door. Without much thought, I subconsciously walked towards the welcome mat that was placed right in front of the door. Once I was in reach of it, I grabbed hold of the corner of the mat. But as I did, I suddenly found myself yet in another doubtful state. And with my back bent and still, I stayed put for longer than I should have.

“Gwen.”

Suddenly, Angel called my name out of the blue. In response, I lifted up the mat in a quick motion, revealing the key which will unlock the door to my house. With the same hand, I raised the key along with my posture. And as I stood up straight, yet without turning my face towards him, I answered,

“Is there something wrong?”

Angel then chose to pause for a second, leaving the conversation at a stale, the silence only broken by the sound of crickets that I do not know of its whereabouts. With the awkwardness not lessening, and without me being able to decipher his thoughts, he finally replied,

“No. it’s nothing.”

“I-I see.”

I then turned my attention towards the key, which metal felt cold and sharp between my thumb and forefinger. But then again, I usually am tucked in my bed around this time. Maybe, I was just not used to the breeze of the night.

Directly, I slipped the key into the door’s keyhole and turned it around, unlocking the door without any hurdles. However, even though I knew that the door has been unlocked, I found my hands hovering just above the door’s handle, trembling as if it had not warmed up after touching the key.

“Gwen.”

Again, ever so suddenly, Angel called my name again. And due to the slight shock, I pulled the handle with exertion, putting too much strength on it. As the door slowly creaked open, it slowly revealed the condition within. Not for long, the darkness that was present in my home mingled with the night, pinning me between them.

Somewhat, I was wishing that there will be someone to welcome me tonight. But truly, even before I had opened the door, the house was dimmed of any light, indicating that there has been no presence within the vicinity. And no matter how much I tried to hold on to that glimmer of hope, the sight of the key, still present under the mat, was undeniable.

Pitted in the middle, whatever glimmer that had been consumed.

Right about now, the hospital staffs should have contacted my mother. Now that I think of it, the receptionist said that they have grabbed hold of her just before I left the hospital. Was it because I was already well that mother canceled her plans of coming home? Did the hospital inform my mother that there was nothing to worry about? But still... Maybe mother is still on her way? That’s just way too optimistic. Maybe she’s asleep in her room? What am I talking about? The house ke-

CLAP!

Just at the side of my left ear, a loud noise ripped through the silence. And as I instinctively turned my head towards the noise, Angel stood there with his hands clasped to each other. Slowly, he then parted his hands and then slid them into the pocket of his pants.

“Your house can use a little bit more lighting, don’t you think?”

With my eardrums still buzzing, I was presented with a fully illuminated home. And as my eyes steadily adjust to the brightness, so did my state of mind.

Truly, I cannot understand in total conviction of Angel’s actions. But somehow, even though there is a slight chance that his actions were not meant to calm me, it still did. And what I can believe is that I can no longer think light of Angel.

“Do you want to pay for the electricity too then?”

Lightheartedly, I commented back on Angel’s question, finding myself smiling in the process.

“Compared to the hospital bill, it should be cheaper.”

“I suppose.”

Somewhat, a tiny feeling of embarrassment filled me as I still cannot look at Angel’s direction. Instead of saying anything else towards him, I chose to walk in and enter the vicinity, removing my footwear beforehand. For no particular reason, Angel, who did not have to navigate with his feet, removed his as well.

“Pardon me.”

Angel spoke, lowering his head as if he was nodding in agreement. In sequence, I placed my shoes just in front of my doorsteps where I can find them easily the next day. Angel, however, decided to snap his fingers and somehow teleported them somewhere unknown.

Why did he have to remove them first then?

“Welcome, I guess.”

As I walked in, I casually allowed Angel into my home, only now glancing over my left shoulder to see what he was doing. With his hands tucked within the pockets of his pants again, he followed me inside and closed the door behind him. Once reaching the living room, Angel then replied,

“You guess? I should be a respectable guest here.”

While scouring around and with his eyes bolting from one corner to another, Angel replied with confidence.

In continuity, I sat down on the couch at the living room, dropping my belongings on the floor. Just as my back touched the couch’s cushions, I replied back.

“I agree. You should definitely try and become more respectable.”

Hearing my reply, Angel was noticeably inhaling as he was about to raise his tone in disagreement.

“Wh... That was a nice one.”

But somehow, it was drowned by admiration.

“Thank you.”

That made me think twice about calling him intelligent.

“Wait, you just insulted me.”

“No shit.”

Yeah, he’s an idiot.

Angel then paid me no mind and somewhat ended our conversation without much of a reason. After a while, he then walked towards the couch where I was currently sitting. However, he did not choose to sit but to only stand right beside the armrest of the furniture.

“Well, I guess you should go to bed now.”

Angel said with a soft-spoken voice. And to his statement, I took out my phone and looked at the time. It was 1 hour away from midnight.

“I agree. Farewell, Angel.”

As such, I did not find any reason to disagree. With a similar volume to his, I spoke. And in reply, Angel gave a chuckle.

“Aren’t you supposed to say “goodnight”?”

Angel then turned over his shoulders, showing his back to me. And right after, he took a couple of small strides towards the direction he was facing. In the middle of his step, he whispered,

“Goodnight, Gwen.”

After he bid his regards, he then took another step, looking arguably cool. And in rhythm with my eyes' blinks, he vanished into thin air right as I opened them.

Was he showing off or something?

“Goodnight.”

...

Without ever leaving my continuously running mind, Angel’s “instruction” lingers indefinitely.

To change one’s life for the better through one’s efforts.

It was a thought that I still believe as unfeasible. For who we would become, is not within our control. The variables which mold us into our current being, are the stimulations that were brought from predetermined environments. And thus, if Angel was referring to fix something that is within me, then 5 days is not going to be enough to change anything. Even if he did give me 5 decades, no amount of time would be long enough for me to be able to complete the quest.

“You’re not wrong, Gwen.”

Suddenly, Angel’s voice popped into my mind, sounding as clear as if it did just come from his actual vocal cords. Yet, of course, there was no trace of him left.

Angel did say that I was not wrong. However, does that statement refer to the things I have done prior to our meeting? Or was it referring to my whole existence? Nonetheless, both do not offer me much consolation. If I have not been wrong in being who I am, then what change could I ever make to my life now? When Angel said that there is something that has changed within me, it was just due to the fact that he was comforting me.

But in reality, something did already change. And the realization soon hits me straight.

“It’s been a while since I was able to bid goodnight to someone.”

In such a short span of time, Angel managed to alter the equation of my theory.

Changing yourself does not equate to a changed world. Yet a changing world will inevitably change who you are.

The result of the equation does not only have "you" as its variable.