Rorie

A man with no backbone and no guts to keep—that was what Rorie viewed himself all his life and even in death. Rorie, though fortunate enough to be born into a well-enough family, grew up rather unhappy and dissatisfied with everything he had. Even from when he was younger, he was bullied wherever he went—be it school or his workplace...even at home. His parents could only do so much as to try shielding him at first but eventually tire as they grew old, accepting that their only son is one of those 'hopeless cases'. Rorie's heart had always been weak, not only emotionally but physically as well and it wasn't uncommon for him to be sent to the hospital everytime it gets bad. The only solace Rorie ever had is when he found himself in front of a computer screen, not needing to worry what people would think of him and realize how much of a loser he was.

Eventually his ever growing time spent with computers awakened his potential in programming as he was a quick learner and had a natural affinity with algorithm. From what was just a casual hobby of making apps turned into a career in software development, landing him a job in the most prominent and largest software company in the world. Even though he thought himself as just 'one of the many programmers' they had, he was highly esteemed by his colleagues and finally earned the respect he longed for. Rorie thought his life finally turned for the better especially when the girl he had a deep crush on back in high school asked him out. After dating for nearly a year, they got married and had an extravagant wedding. Unfortunately, his life was then cut short during their honeymoon when he died of a heart attack, taking unprescribed drugs in hopes of impressing his partner when he knew it was bad for him.

Waking into his new life as an angel scared him. It was eerie having to watch one's own funeral and be grieved on. Upon grasping the situation he was in, he wasted no time in trying to get himself reborn as he wanted his life back, naively thinking everything will be set the way it was before he died. With the help of another angel, a girl with black wings named Hikaru, he strived to figure out what his 'unfinished business' was so he'd be set free of this ghostly purgatory. Rorie was thankful that Hikaru was a really kind person, she was very understanding and patient with him even when he did nothing but obsessed over his rebirth. He couldn't help but think she was different from all the girls he met throughout his life. For some reason she made him feel like he was worth more, something that even his wife couldn't make him feel throughout their relationship. Even though he was adamant in being faithful to his wife, he couldn't help but feel his heart waver even if he clutched his wedding ring so dearly.

Forty days then quickly passed by, marking the day of his memorial where everyone he knew—family and friends—gathered in front of his grave. Rorie was starting to feel hopeless until Hikaru reassured him it was still too early to give up as she had been in limbo for over four years. Thanks to her comforting he was invigorated to continue his mission until he saw his wife kissing a man who excessively bullied him back in high school. Little did he know that she had been cheating on him even when he was still living. Devastated, he stormed off and eventually settled by the seaside when the sun began to set. Together with Hikaru, he stared into the sunset and contemplated about his murky life, realizing that being an angel enabled him to finally see things clearly. Much to Hikaru's surprise, he threw the ring into the ocean.

"Instead of getting reborn only to live a blissful lie, I'd rather stay with you in this purgatory. But I couldn't help but still wish I met you instead...and maybe we would have both lived a full and better life," he told Hikaru. With a sniffle, he then told her he loved her.

A beautiful angel with black wings. Hikaru is one of the first to approach him and was kind enough to explain what the afterlife has in store for lost souls like him. Because of his extreme fear of the unknown he kept close to her while constantly apologizing. Even though she was kind, he found it hard to read her as she didn't talk about herself often. The only thing she hinted about her past life was the meaning of her black wings, and he can only think to give her a warm embrace. As she slowly opened up to him throughout his seemingly futile mission to be reborn, he started to develop feelings for her. Because of this he gave up the thought of returning to the life he once knew and concentrate on whatever time god is willing to offer him in this purgatory.