“Are you sure you’re not coming?” his mom asked.
“Mom, we already talked about this.”
“I know, but it would be best for you to study abroad.”
“It’s too much pressure there. My friends are here, and the Philippines offers quality education too.”
Gabriel was busy packing his brother’s things. His family was moving abroad—his father, an engineer, had accepted a job in Canada, and his mother was about to begin working there as a surgeon. The whole family planned to migrate.
His parents wanted him to study at one of the prestigious universities in Canada and even encouraged him to apply for a scholarship. However, the team had already decided to enroll in the same university in Manila.
His mom still wouldn’t stop bothering him.
“Mom, seriously, I’m not a kid anymore.
This is my decision. I can take good care of myself now.”
“I know, but living alone in this huge house will be lonely.”
Gabriel stopped packing and looked at her.
“Mom, I need to learn how to live on my own. I’m twenty now. You and Dad just need to focus on Raphael.”
She sighed. “Alright. If that’s what you want, we won’t argue anymore. It’s your life, your decision. Our firstborn has really grown up.”
Gabriel smiled and hugged her before heading downstairs.
“Guys, where are you at?” Gabriel asked through their group chat.
“On our way to school,” Gabby replied.
“Same here. I’m getting ready—class is at 2 PM,” Kate said.
“I’m at the hospital with my parents,” Mikaela answered.
“I’m at practice,” Jun-so replied.
“Running an errand for my mom, but I’m almost done,” Eun Hye said.
“Alright, I’ll catch up with you all later. I’m busy packing too,” Gabriel responded.
Gabriel Lucas was the firstborn son of the Lucas family—twenty years old, born on February 1, 2001. His mother was a surgeon, his father an engineer. He was taking a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering at the University of Santo Tomas.
He was the team leader—happy-go-lucky, a natural magnet for attention, bossy at times, but strangely well-liked despite it.
As Gabriel continued packing, he heard his mom complaining about his younger brother’s dog. He smiled and went downstairs, knowing she wouldn’t stop nagging otherwise.
“What’s happening here?” he asked.
“Your brother let his dog poop inside the house!”
“Alright, let me clean it up.”
After cleaning, Gabriel went outside to tie the dog. Suddenly, he heard a strange sound—as if someone had fallen from their mango tree. 
He walked over and saw a man standing up, brushing himself off.
“Hey, guys! Someone broke into our property,” Gabriel called out. “He looks strange.”
“Who?” everyone asked.
“I don’t know. I’ve never seen him before. Just listen.”
“Hi, uh… I came from my girlfriend’s house,” the guy said nervously, pointing to the house next door.
Gabriel stared at him, waiting for more.
“Her mom doesn’t know about us. She came home early, so I ran and… took a detour,” he added.
“Detour?” Mikaela asked.
“Since when did climbing a mango tree become a detour?” Abby added.
“Ahhh… he should’ve come up with a better alibi,” Jun-so muttered.
They all smiled awkwardly.
“Ah…” Gabriel said. “Can you exit from here?”
Gabriel glanced at the mango tree, then back at the guy. “Yeah. This way, please.”
As they walked out, Gabriel noticed something odd—the dog wagged its tail happily at the stranger. That was strange.
Then he noticed a small tattoo on the man’s arm: angel wings with a tail in between, a halo crowned with horns.
Something about him didn’t feel right.
The man thanked him and left quietly.
Gabriel immediately rushed back inside, ignoring his mom calling him. He locked his bedroom door and teleported to the neighboring house—the one the man claimed belonged to his girlfriend.
To his shock, he appeared inside a girl’s bedroom and landed on top of her.
She was about to scream when Gabriel covered her mouth.
“Shhh… I’m sorry. That wasn’t my intention. Please don’t scream.”
He slowly removed his hand and sat beside her.
“H-how did you—?” she asked nervously.
“I’ll explain, but first I need to ask you something. Deal?”
She nodded slowly.
(Gosh… he’s so handsome…)
Gabriel heard her thoughts and felt awkward.
“Your boyfriend fell from our mango tree. He said he came here before your mom got home. Did you see a tattoo on his arm—wings, a tail, a halo with horns?”
Her forehead creased in confusion.
“Boyfriend?” she asked. “I don’t have a boyfriend. And my mom never left the house.”
Before Gabriel could respond, footsteps approached the door.
He quickly pulled her behind it, gently pinning her against the wall and covering her mouth again. The door opened.
“Leny?” a woman called.
They stayed silent. The door closed.
Gabriel exhaled.
“I’m sorry, Miss Leny. I need to erase your memory of this.”
He used his power. She passed out gently, and he laid her on the bed before teleporting to the base library.
“Gabriel? You’re here at this hour?” Asmodeus asked.
“I need to research a tattoo.”
“What kind of tattoo?”
“Wings with a tail in between, and a halo with horns.”
Asmodeus’ expression darkened.
“Where did you see that?” Amado asked, appearing suddenly.
“On the guy who broke into our property.”
Amado grabbed Gabriel’s shoulder.
“That tattoo belongs to a fallen angel—also known as a Dark Angel. He’s gathering intel.”
“What?” Gabriel asked.
“They’ve found you. Secure the location immediately,” Amado ordered.
Asmodeus vanished to spread the warning.
“Your family is no longer safe,” Amado said. “You need to move them immediately.”
“Their flight is at six today,” Gabriel replied.
“Then they must leave early.”
Philip entered the room just as Eun Hye suddenly appeared and crash-landed onto Gabriel. They both fell to the floor.
“Ow!”
“Eun Hye?” Gabriel groaned. “You really need to learn how to land properly.”
“Sorry! I’m in a hurry. My mom sent me to buy something, but I needed to return this book first—for safekeeping.”
The book detailed angelic powers and techniques—dangerous in the wrong hands.
“It’s fine. Are you hurt?” Gabriel asked.
“Aniyo, gwaenchana,” she replied.
Gabriel smiled. At least being an angel meant he understood every language.
As he turned to leave, he noticed Amado and Philip exchanging knowing looks.
“What?” Gabriel and Eun Hye asked.
“Nothing,” they answered in unison.
“Faith has a way of bringing people together—especially you two,” Philip teased.
“Huh?” Eun Hye blinked.
Gabriel shook his head. “Don’t mind them.”
And with that, he disappeared—returning home to protect his family.