JULIET
By: Oluwasola Abiola Elisha - ABSOL
I woke up refreshed. It was a very great feeling, perhaps because it was a Sunday morning. And because I already made a promise to Tobi to follow her to church, I could not afford to do anything to jeopardize that. I was confronted with the main challenge that I have always ran away from – selecting cloth for a Sunday service. Most of my clothes were not church oriented and I did nothing to change that fate, rather, I chose to quit going to church. I could not afford to be the centre of attention at every service.
Tobi already fetched water for us all. That was a quality of hers a lot of us envied so much. I had my bath after I eventually settled for a black long gown that mom bought for me during one of her trips, it was not as revealing but it was tight enough to project in HD my curves and edges, I felt somehow uncomfortable but after two to three compliments, I started walking majestically in my white high heels. And like that we were set to go to church. I could not believe I was going to church after several weeks of no church, not my fault really, apart from cloth problem, even at home, no one cares when it comes to Sundays, Sunday is seen as the day of rest in my house and so dad and mom were always resting and we the children had no choice than to play along as well. Thoughts of Femi came to my mind when we were at the Moremi basement in anticipation of the arrival of Tobi’s church’s bus but I already planned to get his phone immediately after service and so I held myself in order not to spoil the surprise about to occur. I could have called Anthony, but I did not want him to capitalize on the fact that I could not speak to Femi except through him, so I put aside the thought and planned to get him a phone after service, after which, I would directly go to the room to check on him and then hand over his phone to him.
The service was about to start when we got to the church, it was quite a big church. The ushers were neatly dressed and they welcomed us so warmly that I felt like becoming a member immediately. I followed Tobi to have seat on one of the pews at the middle row. The backup singers were on stage, set for the commencement of the service. I kept on observing the church like i have never been to one. I scanned almost everywhere, no one looked familiar until I looked towards the direction of the instrumentalist, then I saw someone that looked like Femi. I did not want to believe it was Femi, because Femi was supposed to be resting in his hostel, just when I was doubting my sense seeing, we had eye contact, and truly it was Femi. Femi on the drums? I asked myself within myself as I called the attention of Tobi to it.
“Tobi, see Femi” I said with a mixed feeling of anger and happiness. Anger because Femi was supposed to be in his hostel resting, happy because I will have a chance to talk to him and also watch him perform, I was sure he was going to play his best.
“Oh really? Bro Femi?” There we go, Tobi and her church-centric way of referring to people, soon I will also become Sis. Juliet.
“You know him?” I asked curiously.
“Of course, I do, that is the Bro Femi I was talking about the other time, the one that asked me out and I told you I was not interested in him because I felt he was not sound enough spiritually” She narrated. My heart stopped beating and started pounding, my blood was flowing within my veins but no in perfect friction. I could not believe Femi asked Tobi out at a point. Men!
“But he is your drummer, why did you not go for him?” I asked to flow.
“Not all instrumentalists are spiritual jare, a lot of them are full of evils and most times they are womanizers” That statement further rendered me speechless. I wanted to talk but my audibility was betraying me big time. I held my peace and turned to look at him again, this time he was in communication with a young lady. That further set my blood on fire and made them boil red and hot. I calmed down as the lady later turned out to be the praise and worship leader, which made to conclude that they must have been discussing the sequence and style of the praise and worship, but that did not erase everything Tobi has just said from my mind. But come to think of it, why was I jealous? It was not that we were already in any relationship, we were just playing along.
The service was over, even though I did not participate in any activity of the service, I did not even remember dropping offering, all my attention was on Femi. I refused to stand to be recognized as a first time worshipper so I did not have to wait for much of the after service pleasantries. I waited outside for Tobi and at the same time Femi, because they both were in the choir stand throughout the service after Tobi made me settle down and broke my heart before leaving for the choir stand.
“Hope you enjoyed the service” Tobi asked as she joined me outside the church where people were exchanging warm and cold pleasantries.
“Of course I did, thank you for inviting me over” I said and just then, Femi also joined us.
“Hi ladies” He said not with his usual enthusiastic and sarcastic tone, but with one of tiredness and exhaustion.
“Hi Femi” I said.
“Hi” Tobi said and I could understand the reason for the coldness just that too much was too much in her own case. You were not interested in being in a relationship with him does not mean you should totally cut off relations with him.
“The first church bus will be leaving soon and it will be good if we could go with that since the second will be going later, just as in the morning.” Tobi said trying to pull us away from the presence of Femi. A wish I refused to make realistic.
“Actually, Femi and I have an appointment, so if you don’t mind, we will meet in the room, don’t worry I will be fine.” I said not minding either it was harsh or not. She immediately got the message and took her leave without looking backward. She was gone and finally I had my Femi to myself. I was really falling in love with this young man and I was loving it.
“You did not tell me you are a drummer” I said as we stepped out of the church arena.
“Well, let me say, we have not really talked that deep. Perhaps there is still much for you to know” He said with that sexy voice of his and I had no idea of what effect the echo of his voice was having on me, just found my entrance suddenly damp.
“So where are we going?” He asked curiously.
“Well wait till we get there” I said as we stopped the next available bus.
©ABSOL
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