BANISHED ANGEL ( Book 1) ( WON THE BEST CONCEPT OF THE SEPTEMBER AWARD 2020)

chapter 26

Raguel knocked softly on the door then popped his head inside and what he saw, made him smile widely.

Seeing Elena comfortable in the hands of her father, was worth seeing. He met Samael's eyes who smiled gently at him. Raguel, not wanting to disturb the bonding time between them, left the room, and quietly closed the door.

Raguel was going to meet Raphael outside when he saw Michael sitting at a corner, looking lost in thought. The expression he had on his face was not good.

"He looks so pained."

Raguel wondered why. He did not know anything about Michael. He did not know why he looked so pained. Raguel stopped thinking and approached Michael.

Immediately, Michael saw him and brushed off whatever was bothering him. He put on a small smile on his face which looked forced.

"Hey," Raguel said.

"Hey," Michael replied. 

His voice was sounding as if he had a sore throat, but Raguel knew it was because Michael hardly used his voice. 

"Do you want anything?" Michael asked, sounding a little harsh than he intended to sound. He was getting impatient with Raguel's silence. He did not have anything against him, but he liked his own company and Raguel seems to be intruding in it.

Raguel did not take his words personally. He knew Michael did not mean to be hard on him because he knew that was who just Michael was. The little time he had spent around him, he had noticed too much to know that there was something up with him.

"Is everything alright?" Raguel finally asked Michael.

Michael, who had stopped looking at him, turned to face Raguel immediately when he heard his question. He gave him a blank stare.

Raguel did not feel fazed about the way Michael was staring at him. He just waited patiently for Michael to answer his question.

"Yes," Michael said bluntly without even asking why Raguel asked him the question. He stood up from the spot he was seated and started walking away.

"I will be here when you need someone to talk to," Raguel said, making Michael stop walking. 

He turned and faced Raguel, who gave him a small smile but Michael just stared at him without even saying a word. He continued to stare at him until Raphael walked in on them. He looked back and forth between the young men who were staring at each other.

Immediately, Michael noticed Raphael's presence; he averted his gaze, turned around, and left the house. 

"What was that about?" Raphael asked because he felt the tension between the two young men when he entered the house.

"It's nothing, Dad," Raguel said. 

Raphael was about to protest that it was something but Raguel knowing Raphael, cut him off before he could even start.

"It's fine. Just let it go," Raguel said, making Raphael nod, but Raphael was not done talking. He stopped walking, making Raguel stop too.

"If anything is wrong, don't hesitate to tell me," Raphael said sternly, making Raguel smile.

Typical Raphael. Always worried about him which he was thankful for and would never take it for granted.

"Yes, I will tell you," Raguel said, hugging Raphael briefly before pulling out of the hug. 

Raguel just hoped that Michael would take him up on his offer; he knew within himself that Michael had a problem that was bothering him but he was not going to push him. He would let Michael tell him, taking his own time. He sighed softly and followed Raphael outside.