The Chronicles of Jo-kiel

SEVENTEEN: Zadkiel

"What's up with you and Jophiel?" I looked up from the paper I was reading and stared at Josephine with raised brows. She forced a smile on her face and shrugged, "I saw you two again in the garden, in each other's arms" she said, still smiling but there was a hint of anger and disappointment in her voice, but noticing it did nothing to keep my mind from drifting off to that moment.

The feel of her body on mine was still very vivid, and thinking of it made me feel like I was back in that garden, on the cold floor with her wrapped in my arms. I felt bad for having such thoughts but at the same time I couldn't shake it off, I just wanted her back in my arms, watching the clouds and slowly processing the nature and goodness of God. I felt complete ever since I encountered God, but in that moment, I felt a new sense of completion and I wanted that moment to last forever. I would have done anything to keep time still at that moment, but unfortunately, or rather fortunately, our moment had to end.

But the very moment it did, I wanted to go back in time and have her in my arms all over again.

"Zadkiel?" Josephine waved her hands over my face and I snapped out of my thoughts "Where did you zone off to? Thinking of your Jophiel?" She teased and my heart leapt. The corners of my lips tugged up in a small smile, calling her mine has a nice touch to it. "Guess I was right" she mumbled dejectedly and all traces of a smile disappeared from my face.

"What..." My words trailed off as I stared at her intently, but she easily avoided my gaze.

I stared at her for a while longer before I sighed and shook my head, "Nothing is going on between Jophiel and me, Josephine. I was just there for her when she needed someone" I said and she snickered.

"Yeah right" she retorted and I tilted my head, "I've caught you two cuddled up together twice and nothing is going on? Yeah, I definitely believe you"

"Are you calling me a liar?" I asked immediately and her eyes widened a fraction. I sighed and pinched the spot between my brows, "nothing is going on between Jophiel and I, we are just friends" I breathed out, trying to keep myself calm and I couldn't tell if it was because I was annoyed at being called a liar or the realization that Jophiel and I were just friends. Josephine stared at me for a while longer before she gulped and nodded.

Silence loomed over us after that but the door burst open the next second, ruining the silent atmosphere as Gabriel strutted in with a grin on his face and I immediately tensed up. "Hello children, missed me?" He said as he plopped down on the vacant chair, "Hi Zadkiel" I gulped and looked away from him.

"Hi Gabriel" I mumbled and pretended that I had gone back to reading the material even though my mind couldn't register a single word on the paper.

It was easy to forget all the encounters and questions swirling in my mind about Gabriel and who he truly is in his absence, but once he was around I found the thoughts harder to ignore. I find myself wanting to lay all the questions on him and get the clarity I want, but each time I tried, my throat gets clogged up.

"Am I the only one that thinks Zadkiel doesn't love me anymore?" He asked and I immediately looked up to see all eyes on me and I forced a smile on my face "he doesn't want to be near me anymore, he doesn't talk to me the same anymore and it feels like he's avoiding me" he pointed out as I sighed. I didn't think it was that obvious

"Why are you speaking like we are in a relationship?" I asked trying to lighten up the mood but that only made his frown deepen even more and I groaned internally. He instantly exchanged glances with Josephine who immediately dropped what she was doing and pulled closer to me at the exact moment Gabriel did, and I instinctively pulled back, "What?"

The both of them exchanged glances with each other again before Gabriel turned to me and grabbed my hands in his, "Baby, what did you just ask? Have you forgotten we are in a relationship?" He asked and it took me a few seconds to understand and register what he said and once I did, I glared at him and immediately snatched my hand from his, and they both immediately burst into laughter.