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Chapter 27

Unedited

Gbadamosi sends in the flyer again on the group chat.

Flag it on your social media status. God has reconfirmed it, He is set do wonders

Hallelujah

We will be meeting up by 9 for prayers. Get ready to take Jesus to the streets

5:40 am

Ten years old Kilahi, whose dress was covered in blood walked up to a car that had crashed upside down with her parents inside. In fear she stretched her hands into the broken window glass trying to have a grasp at her father's shirt. Not minding the sharp edges that were piercing through her skin.

"Daddy come out!!! Mummy come out!!" She screamed then she gasped out of her dream to the the sight of Sewuese wearing a red stick.

"Hey... Are you okay?" Sewuese asked staring at her, a worry line formed on her face. "Yes. How long did I sleep?" "It hasn't been up to thirty minutes. "What happened? Did you dream?" "It's just a nightmare" "Like the rest" "You that don't even know what happens around you when you're sleeping" "You're still having the dream you don't like talking about."

"Where are you going to wearing lipstick so early in the morning?"

"I was planning on giving you a kiss on the cheek"

"Who wants your kiss?"

"Ah... It's true, the only kiss you want is the one you'll definitely have on your wedding day." She placed the tramsparent lid on the lipstick package then she went ahead to pressed her lips together.

"Well, i want to spend some hours with Sam before he leaves"

"Why are you wasting time wearing lipstick? As if we saw the one you wore last night"

Sewuese gasped and laughed, "So you noticed my lipstick were gone" "Only those without eyes didn't notice." "I couldn't sleep, I was just thinking and crying" She sniffles putting on a brown and blonde ombre wig, "If only i can just sneak into his bag and follow him"

"Sneak now, they'll throw you away at the check point, or deport you if you ever make your way there" She teased and they both laughed.

"How did I allow myself fall so deep? I knew Jamal for years and it wasn't like this, forgetting him was so easy" "Because you already met Sam by that time" "I wish we met earlier and spent more time together."

"What are you scared of? Sam obviously likes you"

"I'm just thinking about a whole lot of movie scenario in my mind. Where his mother will be like don't get married to a Nigerian girl. What if his parents are racist, or what if he gets there and realizes in between the busy schedule that this relationship was nothing but a fluke?"

"Where are all these negative vibes coming from? You are Sewuese, queen of positivism"

"Shey? Dont mind me, my imagination is running wild"

"Don't worry, God will preserve Sam, I know you love him but if he's God's will, everything will align in ways you can't imagine" "Will I be selfish to say I want him to be God's will"

"Trust me, i know how you feel. It's like someone telling me that my Gbadamosi is not God's will. I will first of all ask, which Gbadamosi they're talking about, whether it's my choicest they're talking about or not, cause it can't be him. Then I'll now cry until my eyes till i bleed" She confessed laughing at the same time.

"You know what they say, man proposes but God disposes. Deep down I know he's for me. Gbadamosi stepped into my life and it's like something opened up for me, something unexplainable, my spiritual life is finding alignment. If Sam is for you, everything will align, trust me"

Aunty Mabel stepped into the room clearing her throat continuously until she woke her husband up. "Sorry" She apologize still clearing the throat, "I'm having internal throat itch.. I left the room so I don't wake you up"

"Which one is internal again? is throat an external part of the body?"

His wife laughed then she dipped one of her finger to scratch her ears then she began to click her tongue while clearing her throat at the same time. She watched her husband squeezed his face.

"I only came to get my phone, I know you hate this thing I'm doing"

"Thank God you know"

"Do you it's wise to let Sefa go to this evangelism?" She asked but he shrugged in response. "Anything that has to do with Sefa, I have washed my hands"

"She's your baby"

"Girl that's sneaking out to meet her boyfriend, is that one a baby? I know how my blood pressure rose that day. Wasn't it last week Saturday she was kidnapped?" "Today is her kidnap anniversary" She recalled sitting on the bed.

Uncle Adzer chuckle, "Which one is kidnap anniversary again? Is it something we should pop champagne to?" "No but it's something we should thank God for. Not everyone is lucky to escape kidnappers den."

"Well.... You're right. The question is, the person we're grateful for? Has she regretted her action? Will she be wise enough to make a right decision when she's alone. Not all these acting she's putting up, you know that Sefa can act"

"True. I don't know what to do... If not that Pastor Gbadamosi requested for this, I wouldn't have allowed her leave, except to retrieve her sim of course. It's the same Sim she used in registering for Jamb, if not that.... I wouldn't have allowed her leave. I'm still scared for her"

"Like i said i have washed my hand"

"Are we being too hard on her?" She asked in tears, "I feel like we're being hard on her but I'm just so angry and worried at the same time. A mother is supposed to know her children, she is supposed to be her children's friend and confidant. That's all I ever wanted. Honey I'm so angry at her and I don't think it's healthy, I can't pray freely, I see her and it constantly reminds me of how I have failed as a mother"

Sefa sat on the bathroom floor naked with her arms wrapped across her legs. She leaned against the wall sobbing quietly. Her mind flashed back the previous Friday and how that man had walked up to them in front of the church building.

"Are you two here for the meeting?"

"Yes Sir"

"Why dont you stay for the program, there are more you can receive"

"Let's just attend the program, Dotun said something about a church jinxed"

"What church jinx? I won't be the first to lie using the church, neither will I be the last"

"You know wetin I dey do stubborn bitch like Una? Buchi asked holding her firmly as she whimpered, "I go fuck you till you faint"

"Please, I'm just eighteen"

"Even better"

Bella threw her head back in abandon, grinding against Tito and while he grunts in pleasure. She screamed her release even as he pulled her head down to him and kissed her.

They lay together in a warm, damp tangle of limbs, hearts beating in sync. She was in bed with another woman's fiance, she felt no shame or regret, only a strong sense of satisfaction from a good sex. She closed her eyes and bit her lower lips still trying to catch her breath.

"Whoa! That's the best way to say good morning on a Saturday. Mehn, I've missed you" Tito confessed running his hands across her face. "Was that why you invited me? Cause you knew something like this will happen eventually"

He laughed shaking his head, "No. Although, the thought of ripping your dress off did cross my mind when I saw you yesterday. That reminds me, I owe you new clothes"

"I bet your fiance can't make you feel this good in bed" She snapped and he frowned, "Don't involve Nneka. My sex life with her is secretly between us. What about your boyfriend? Although I never knew you had one until yesterday and this morning"

Bella scoffed, "You have a horrible informant, you should fire him because I don't have a boyfriend" "Then who is Gbadamosi?" "What?" " You called me Gbadamosi thrice, you said make me feel good Gbadamosi, take me to heaven Gbadamosi, and"

"It's a lie, I'm sure It was the drink I had last night"

"No. You don't call just any name at such a crucial moment. It's always the name of a boyfriend or someone you're fantasizing about"

Bella rolled her eyes, "It's none of your business" "You seemed pretty mad about something yesterday before you came at me. I would have said you were jealous about something" He nibbled on her earlobes and she pushed him away recalling how Gbadamosi left with Kilahi after the speech she gave.

"So if this Gbadamosi is not your boyfriend, who the fuck is he?" He asked then it hit him, "No fucking way... The only Gbadamosi that showed up yesterday was Pastor Gbads"

Bella rolled her eyes again and that gave her away, "No fucking way..... Bella that's a fucked up thing to think of. I know you're fucked up but how far now... That man is a clergy" "And so?"

"Kai, no now. I have one simple rule, i don't mess with clergies. I don't, if you want my advise, don't. It'll get ugly, are you doing this to ruin his image?"

"I like him okay? And I care about him"

"We both know you don't care about anybody but yourself. You're the most selfish bitch I've ever seen" "Fuck you" "I love to fuck you too but it is what it is... I've known you how long now?"

"You also know I'm a pretty determined woman, you know I always get what I want"

"God you're fucking shameless"

"Just like you banging another woman when you're getting married soon"

His phone rang and he lifted it up giving her a look, "Let me guess, your fiance?" "Hey Nekky Baby" He answered and Bella ran a finger across his chest so he quickly rose up walking towards the toilet.

"The event was fine but the night wasnt. I couldn't sleep well without you, the bed was lonely" He walked into the bathroom and Bella cringed in irritation then she groaned shaking her head.

"Men!" She exhaled tiredly then she bit her lips as Gbadamosi's face flashed through her mind. "At least I deserve a good man for once, don't I?"

Hilary watched her son play Word scapes games on her phone while the bus was moving, "What game is that?" "Word scapes, I downloaded it on playstore. I'm trying to get to the level I'm in on Aunty Chinaza's phone" "You have access to her phone?"

"Not every time, most times she'll be there watching to make sure I don't call you. But there's no use, she doesn't always have airtime only data. She's owing airtel 1280 naira, if not more now"

Hilary gasped, "How, what does she use it for?" "Instagram and to do video call with Chijioke" "Who's Chijioke?" "Her boyfriend" "How do you know he's her boyfriend? How do you even know the word boyfriend?"

Ossy smiled, "Everybody there has a boyfriend and girlfriend, that's how they will be carrying pregnancy around. Oneday, grandma looked at Aunty Chinaza and said, I hope it's not pregnancy you're carrying like Nweke's children. I'll terminate it and terminate you. That was the first time I heard terminate and I checked it in the dictionary. Thank God the T part of the dictionary was still surviving that time. They've used A to R to do sacrifice"

Hilary laughed.

"Was she pregnant?" "No. Grandma said it was Malaria, she said malaria symptoms and pregnancy are almost similar that I should take note as a doctor. Aunty Chinaza would have been beaten to death."

"Wow"

"Mummy... Even children in my school are having boyfriends too" "Seriously?" "Yes. During valentine's day one girl came to me and told me to be her Val" "How old is she to be saying that?" "9 years old, I'm the youngest in my class"

"Oh my God, what did you tell her"

"I asked her why she wants me to be her Val?"

"And what did she say?"

"She said because she wants to have a boyfriend too then I told her to spell Valentine on a sheet of paper. Mummy I almost cried for the ink she wasted to spell it, she adder R and used Y, she omitted E too. I told her it's because of that kind of thinking she's still struggling to have 2 over 10 in all her class work and she still doesn't know how to spell Valentine yet she wants someone to be her Valentine. They will just be doing follow follow, I'm not copying anybody oh, anybody that does not want to copy me is on their own. I can't copy bad thing"

Some persons who were listening in broke into laughter including Osita who was sitting beside them in the eighteen seated bus. Ossy quickly hermits into a shell, he didn't understand why they were all laughing. "Did I do something?" He whispered then his mother shook her head with a smile.

"No. So what did the girl do afterwards?"

"She left. Mummy, you know that one time, Grandma told us that we should not touch any girl or else we'll get them pregnant" "She did?"

"Yes, they way I will be avoiding am the girls In school even on assembly ground. One day, I think last year, I touched a girl while I was trying to get my eraser from her, and cried for months. I said i was too young to be a father, I didn't tell her but I was waiting for her tummy to grow"

Hilary laughed, "Did it grow?" "I waited and nothing happened then I remembered that I'm not a stupid person. I started to add thing together. It was when that thing happened that I started to think of all the girls I have touched before. Why is Isioma my cousin not pregnant, why is Aunty Chinaza not pregnant, why is grandma not pregnant? That was when I knew that Grandma has scammed me once again" He groaned and everyone laughed again.

"You have yourself a handful, don't you?" A woman in front of them asked turning her head at them and Hilary nods. "Yes." "How old is he?" "Seven" "I wish my children can be expressive as he is, my oldest child is 9 and I still beg him to talk" She answered waving at Ossy.

"Hello handsome"

"Good morning Ma"

Kilahi treads the sewing machine carefully as she made adjustments on one of the dress she had gotten from the market. It was a fluffy peach gown. Meanwhile Aunty Mabel was gisting her about how she walked the whole Oshodi market in search of a material she needed to use in church, all to no avail.

"I was like, a whole Oshodi market. The stress I went through to travel there, cause it feels like j travelled oh, Geskia, I almost cried. I was so angry, the stress, the traffic I had to endure"

"Sorry" Kilahi replied feeling bad for her, "I had to down one cup of malta Guinness and yoghurt afterwards to replenish the lost energy" "Enjoyment after the stress"

"What kind of nonsense enjoyment is that? I was now craving for barbecued fish. It's not as if I want you to be jobless but I miss you"

Kilahi laughed, "Today again I won't still around but I'll try to get back early to cook if something does not come up like Hilary and Ossy, they're coming today so I might meet them at the park. My schedule has been crazy lately"

"I'm just so happy for you, I miss you but I'm happy"

"Mom... Adiya messaged me yesterday" Kilahi announced taking a pause from treading the sewing machine. "She did?" "Yes. She showed me the clothing materials for her wedding" "Did you see all the material?"

"She sent it the rest this morning"

"My personal favorite is the lace, I hate the Ankara, it's too common. Everyone is wearing it in Lagos"

"Yes I saw it but I love the color combination, its nice"

"What's your color combination going to be like that?" She asked and Kilahi laughed. "Mom, the guy has not even proposed" "You had better start thinking ahead" "I know that Gbadsmosi is serious with me but you guys should not make it look like we're getting married next month. One step at a time, we're still getting to know each other"

"I had a dream, I think yesterday or so. I saw you on a wedding gown, you walked into my room and you said, Mummy let's go, I'm ready and then I said, ready as how? I didn't noticed the gown you had on that time but you were dressed on the wedding gown. That was when you laughed and said, "Have you guys forgotten? It's my wedding day" She ended her story and they both laughed.

Kilahi heaved a smile, "That's sweet righ. I saw myself dancing in my wedding dress in January. I didn't believe it and when Durojaiye, Sewuese and I made that deal. I was so sure I'll win until Gbadamosi came along and proved me wrong. Beyond doubt, I'm certain our wedding will come up this year. There are still a whole lot I need to figure out for myself"

"I understand, but you're doing it already and I want you to know that I'm proud of you. Your parents will be proud of you too"

At this point, Kilahi's eyes moistened, "You think so?" "I know so" Aunty Mabel replied watching her wipe her tears off, "Why am i crying now?" "Have you spoken to Gbadamosi about it" "I think he understands that I don't want to talk about it just yet. Let's not dwell on this, please Ma"

"You need to talk to him about it at least. You think pushing this away will make things better, everytime I try to avoid this topic cause I know what it does to you. I want to be able to talk about your past without you pushing it under the rug. There are times I just want to talk about your mom and her clothing preference. I want to talk about everything your parents has done for us to get to where we are, how your parents contributed to the building of this house without having to worry about how you might react. I know their death was a painful experience for you but you need to talk to someone about it. If you can't talk to your immediate family about it, then at least talk to your future husband"

Tears trickled down her cheeks then she wiped them off. "I understand. I just don't want to relive the experience again, the accident, mummy and Daddy's dead body in the car, its too much"

"You saw that?"

Kilahi's heart clenched, at this point she was finding it difficult to breathe. She rose up then she sat back wearily, "I'm sorry, I didn't know you saw them..."

Tear ran down her eyes then she heard her Uncle's mumbling complains from afar so she quickly wiped her tears. "Am I dreaming or is Kilahi marching the machine?"

Kilahi rolled her eyes forcing a smile,"Uncle what do you mean?" "It's been long now, I'm sure the machine misses you" "Haba... I still did it last week oh" "Once upon a time, the machine was the only work you had. God is faithful ehn... Now our Kilahi has turn into a big woman, she now has a boyfriend, she's now going out for events, I'm even shocked she's home now and she does not have an appointment with the Governor of Lagos State. Before you know now, she will be Lagos first lady"

She gasped in shock, "You don't mean it" "Let me give way to the future first lady of Lagos state" "Daddy, be whine-ing me there." "What did you just say?" "I said you're whine-ing" "Before that.... There was this special thing you said in between"

Kilahi laughed then she lowered her voice, "I said.... Daddy" "No oh, say it loud so that your mother will hear it" He requested watching Aunty Mabel clap her hands in wonder, "Look at this jealous man"

"I said Daddy" Kilahi repeated and he planted a kiss on her forehead. "I hope your night was fine" "It was, thank you Sir. It's official, you guys don't like seeing me at home shey? I'll soon leave"

"We know already. Appointment minister, before you know, I might have to write a letter before you'll have chance to cook me Egusi soup"

"Daddy now!!!" She stomped her feet watching him laugh. "Where is Sewuese?"

"With Sam... You know he's leaving today"

"Ehya, that's true, I said I'll call him sef" Aunty Mabel

Sam spreads his palm on Sewuese lower back. They both pulled their bodies even closer on the couch as he went in for another kiss. This one was more intense, he slipped his tongue against her lips until she opened to him and let him in.

Suddenly he stopped running his fingers across her lips that were swollen from his kisses, wet with moisture. Her eyes were wide, and she stared back at him biting her lower lips while panting heavily.

"Let's talk" He suggested and she laughed in mockery, "You said that twenty minutes ago"

"This time I'm serious. I'm supposed to say goodbye to your parent before leaving" "True... But then... they already called they also prayed for you. I want to spend every second that counts with you"

He cupped her face in his hands, "What would you probably like me to get you before I leave?" "Nothing... Just stay here, I just want to look at your face enough to last 21 days you'll be awake" "A picture will last long. Besides, we'll talk over video calls, I'll call every day if I have to"

"Don't make promises you can't keep, four times a week is okay." "You seriously don't know Sam Thompson, when I'm in a relationship, I give my 99%. There's nothing like I was too tired to call, even if it's 3 am Nigerian time and I'm free at that time, get ready for a video. Na you go taya"

Sewuese laughed, "For where? You and who?" She asked and he stifled a small chuckle, "I want you to trust me, I want you to know that this Oyinbo loves you and he's ready to make this relationship work, Greenwich mean time or Central African time." he said softly cupping her beautiful face his hands and all she could do was stare into his blue eyes as his promises resonated through her.

His gaze roamed over her face then she leaned in closer claiming his lips and he kissed her too in spite of his intentions to slow down and have a conversation.

She pulled away licking her lips and he skimmed his hands up her waist pulling her forward as he stole in for another long kiss. The warm swells of her breasts pressed against him through her dress.

A sense of urgency was growing between them. She heard herself moan the moment she felt him through the thick fabric of his jeans. Sam cursed softly then he cleared his throat lowering his head in guilt , "Sorry" She apologized laughing at the scenario.

"It's my fault"

"For being so damn beautiful" He replied and she resumed kissing his lips.

His phone beeped so he lifted it up to check the ID. it was a video calls from Tess. "I have to take this" He said and she moved back, "I can give you your Privacy" "Why? You can stay, It's Tess" He replied answering the call. "Tell me you're in a cab heading to the airport right now"

"I'm in a cab, heading to the airport right now"

"Really Sam?" That doesn't look like a cab"

"I acted on your request"

"What are you doing? You should be on your way to the airport or else you'll miss your flight. I heard the traffic there usually take four hours even with the traffic lights on"

Sam laughed, "Who said that? You do hear a lot about what people have to say about Nigeria don't you? You should come, it's a beautiful place" "I'll pass, I don't want to be scammed, the whole 419 scheme and juju... I heard there's one where they'll touch you and won't remember your name until you are robbed of your lively hood. Nah! I'll pass"

Sewuese rolled her eyes and mouths, "Ouch" "Sewuese is here" "Oh my God.. Did she hear that?" "She did. Wanna talk to her?" He turned the camera towards hers angle and Tess waved.

"Hey. This is really awkward"

"Good morning Tess"

"I'm sorry for saying that... I'm not racist, I've heard a lot about Nigeria. There are some good parts, you guys are talented, making waves in movies and music industry. I personally love Burna boy but you have to understand that some aspect of your reputation proceeds you. Not you perse, I mean you Nigerians.... Tell me you understand what I'm saying and you don't think I'm being racist right now"

"You have a right to your opinion, I guess some of our reputation does precedes us but if you must know, not all of are into the 419 scheme. I'm not"

"I didn't say you are. Ugh! I'm sorry. But thank you for understanding though. Sam, can I see you now?" She requested and Sam stared into the phone screen staring at Tess who was slapping her face silly. "I'm so sorry."

"No wahala"

"What's that?"

"No problem"

"Is that a Nigerian thing?" "Yes. Well, the traffic here is bad but not that bad" "Should I remind you of a certain Quabena Tedson you're supposed to meet on Monday"

"You just had to rain on my parade"

"Are you having cold feet?"

"It's not even snowing here"

"Ugh! Stop it Sam, you know what I mean"

"Don't worry, i'm not planning on falling your hands"

"Why will you fall my hands?"

"That's Nigerian for I won't disappoint or bail on you." "I hope you'll still remember how to to speak in English when you meet Quabena" She asked and he laughed.

"My flight doesn't move yet.. I still have time. I want to spend it with Sewuese"

"Do whatever you have to do. Just don't fall my hands"

Sam laughs, "Sure" "My regards to Sewuese and send her my sincere apologies, tell her I have African American friends and I'm not racist" "I'll definitely relay it to her" He ended the call looking over to find Sewuese's head thrown back as she abandoned herself to laughter. The sound was so delightful, he could not help but smile.

He glanced at the time, it was already 7:40 am, "Oh, good Lord," He mumbled as he raked a hand through his hair and dropped his gaze to Sewuese. "I wish I had super powers" He added and she leaned against him leaning on his chest.

"What will you do?"

"Stop time, it's moving too fast" He answered, "If I had super powers, I'll wish to have speed that will make me run in and out of Nigeria to see you"

He sighs running his fingers through her hair, "Do you have a particular school you want for your masters education?" "No. I just want to do a mass application, anyone that will click. Some of my friends have been sending me links, I know some travel agency that help out with this things" She shrugged.

"There was this travel agent i was talking to one time.... The price he called to process my visa and all. It made me realize I need to work hard. When I've made enough money to start the process then the Japa mode will be activated. I'll miss my parents but I need to fulfill my dreams. I'm not scared to dream"

"Because all thing are possible, I remember you said that...from the sticker in your room"

Sewuese laughed, "Let me not fall your hand cause I wasn't gunning towards using the quote but I'm glad you remember. The things you remember shocks me every time"

He smiled and handed his phone to her showing her a file from it, "What's this?" She asked with a raised brow, "Just go through it" He demanded and she blinked her eyes completely puzzled, "Okay... Why are all secretive all of the sudden?" She asked feasting her gaze to consume the information in the document.

While she swiping through Sam cleared his throat in preparation for an explanation. "The institute is not far from my home, when we get married, it won't really stress you going back and forth. It's fine if you have something else in mind but I've done my short research, it's a good alternative but if you want something different, I'll do all in my power to support you as the good Husband that I'll be"

Sewuese's eyes suddenly became all cloudy, it was about to rain tears. It felt like she was finally realizing how sincere he is about sticking with her and how serious he wanted to get.

"I was thinking... You'll start working towards your Visa and you don't have to pay a dime for it. All on me"

"You can't do that"

"I want to"

"I don't know.... Its tempting but..."

"Just say Yes"

"Well.. I'll accept on the condition that I add my quota. As much as I'm tempted to say yes, the independent African woman in me is saying no, I don't like my man doing everything for me" She climbed on him and he wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Isn't that how an African Queen should be treated? All that's missing now is a ring and a proposal"

She lets out a throaty chuckle then she inclined her face toward his and claimed his mouth.Their mouths crashed together.

Tongues entwined.

Mr George found his way into the kitchen after he noticed his wife's absence in bed. He saw her by the cooking gas. He could perceive the aroma of chicken sauce, for a moment, he wondered why the chef wasn't in the Kitchen with her. He moved close wrapping his arms across her chest and she giggled.

"Good morning dear" He greeted planting a kiss on her cheek, "Good morning. I hope you slept well"

"I did until I woke without you by my side"

"I'm sorry... I had to fix you breakfast"

"Why? I didnt know you still knew your way around the kitchen" He teased and she frowned at him, "Just because I went on a break doesn't mean I don't know how to cook again" "You didn't take a break, no. ... more like a retired"

She clicked her tongue slapping his arms but he still kept his arms wrapped around her irrespective. "Just know that I taught you and your son all you know about cooking. I made the yam exactly how you like it and a chicken sauce that will take you the third heaven"

"Why today?"

"Well... " She trailed off turning off the gas. "Maniola challenged me and I know I've been overbearing and I may have pissed you off last night so this is my apology breakfast"

"Why don't you thrown in a morning kiss to it?"

Mrs George laughed, "I certainly will, after you brush your teeth and have breakfast" "Are you trying to say something to me?" He tickled her and she laughed, "No. I'm not saying anything." She replied now looking at his face.

"No oh, I got the information loud and clear, Enu mi n run abi? (my mouth is stinking right?)"

"No. It's the same mouth i've woken up to for thirty eight years. If there's anything bad, I think I may have gotten used to it" She teased feeling a strange sensation brewing inside of her like he would slide his finger underneath her armpit.

He didn't disappoint her, he tickled her her and it forces her lips into a giggle. And then she laughed.

Then they exhaled together. "Honey, you know I love you right and I don't mean any disrespect but I'm not just too sure about the girl"

"She's sweet, smart"

"Is that the only Adjective you can come up with? Do you know she tried committing suicide?"

"Oh?"

"Yes she did, i saw it there in the file. That's not wife material at all" "I'm sure that was in the past" "It didn't say so on records, it happened this year and this is just March. Gbadamosi has not seen well"

Mr George exhales tiredly, "Can we just calm down and get to know her better? Maybe over dinner today. I'll call Teni and Badejo over, maybe Manny too" "I don't want to" She pouts, "Please, just see it as killing two birds with one stone. Those gossips around will finally see our son come into the house"

Her eyes twinkled in joy, "Salome will definitely hear, I wish I can see her face when she does" "Promise me you'll be in your best behavior love?" "I dont know" She replied rolling her eyes.

"Promise me" He pressed on then she exhaled in defeat, "Okay fine! I promise"

Bimbo got out of her room clad in a white T-shirt that had 'The word is our foundation so we can't crash' imprinted on it. It was one of the church's outreach T shirt. She paired it with a pair of black trousers.

She rolled her eyes on seeing Deja hugging a pillow while watching a netflix movie on television. "Are you not coming?"

"To do what? Preach to lost souls when I'm lost myself"

"Lost and found kor, Abi you don't know Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound" "I once was lost, then I was found, now I'm lost again" "You've always been lost you just didn't know, now you're on the verge of being found. It's like the slap that Mummy gave to you really sent the message home. Let me exercise the evangelism here. Get your ass up, let's go a fishing. It might be a way of finding yourself"

"I'm not interested. I had sex with a stranger, what if I meet the guy while I'm out evangelizing! Who am I deceiving" "You've been deceiving yourself and everyone, pretending you're nice"

"I am nice!" She snapped then she mumbled the rest, "When i want to be..." She hissed speaking loudly this time. "At least I wasn't having sex then. I was trying my best to live the Holy life, I had issues but I was Holy"

"The important thing is that you regret it."

"Doesn't change the fact that i messed up. I'm sure God is looking down at me with so much disappointment. Like, look at who i sent my son to die for! Gosh I can't go! I might meet him"

"Are you also going to confine yourself to this house forever? Didn't you go to work yesterday?"

Deja hissed, "You don't understand, I am going through a lot" "Abi you don't want to see Papa" "That too!" "Papa didn't do anything wrong" "He broke my heart, "Pele glass heart, He didn't break your heart, it's you that kept your heart in the wrong place. This accident is all on you"

"Just go away abeg!"

"What if Papa asks about you, what should I tell him?"

"That I traveled to meet Mom"

"See as the lie came out from your mouth, So i should look Papa in the face and lie when I'm not Lai Mohammed. Wo, Madam better pick the phone to tell that lie yourself, anyhow you want to do it, via WhatsApp, via Facebook, via phone call, cause as you see me like this, I am not go to a man and preach what i can't practice. Thank you very much"

"Why are you bothering me then? Go jhoor!"

Kilahi arranged the gown she wore while looking into the standing mirror. It was the short fluffy short knee length gown she was working on earlier on that morning.

Severally she'll turn her back side and then her front to ensure she wasn't going outside looking odd. "Are you going for evangelism or you're going for a fashion parade or you're going to see Pastor Gbadamosi?" Sefa asked.

Kilahi didnt even noticed when she walked in.

She gasped feeling uncomfortable, then she took a quick shy glance at her. Sefa had an adjustable denim jumpsuit with a black T shirt underneath. "I was just checking myself to...... I can't go out looking weird now"

"If you say"

"I'm not looking nice because of him"

"Why is your conscience disturbing you then? Is this a new dress?" "Yes, do you like it?"

"It looks nice" "Thank you" She picked her perfume spraying it over her dress.

"Ugh!" Sefa cringed her nose in disgust, "What's that smell? Is that new too?" "Yes" "Is it a mosquito repellant? It smells like something you used In killing insects and it's mixed with all these strong Northern scent, but the insecticide overshadows the scent"

"Me I've already used my money to buy it, I can't go and return it. Get ready to be smelling it from now on"

"Aunty Kilahi, it's bad. Spray another one on it"

"For real? Sewuese said the same thing yesterday"

9:32 am

The black Toyota hiace bus broke down along Enugu road so the driver pulled over at the side of the road through the help of passengers who pushed the car to the side walk.

After a long call, the driver assured all passengers that another bus will be sent from the nearest terminal down to where they were so they could continue their journey.

There were sighs of relief from some of the passengers while some complained bitterly. "Driver e be like say you think say na Anambra we dey go! If by this time we still dey Enugu and bus down break down. Which time we go enter Lagos?"

The murmuring continued as everyone get out of the bus because of the heat.

Road side vendors quickly ran towards the passengers seeking patronage from them.

Osita and Ossy settled down on a plank while a man advertised his product to Hilary. "You see this earpiece? I say you go use am so tay, you fit even will am to your generation" "I'm not interested"

"No be all those one wey go cut anyhow... This one no be Aba... Na Carry come earpiece, straight from the makers

"Okay.. I don hear but i don't need it"

The man waved it at Os it a before leaving, "Una go buy Okpa? I get hot Okpa oh?" The woman asked and Hilary gave Ossy a look, "Do you want?" "No"

"Cashew nko? Fresh cashew"

"No! Thank you" Hilary answered in frustration. Her phone rang she pulled it out from her bag then she answered the call with a wide smile.

"Hey Manny"

"Hey" He said hearing noises from the other end. "The network here is kind of bad... Can you hear me clearly?"

"Yes. That place is just noisy. What time is the flight?" He asked when he heard.

"Give me one ripe Plantain!

"Why is someone asking for Plantain?'

"I'm in a bus.... Actually I was in a bus"

"Heading to the airport?"

"No. To Lagos"

"Jesus Christ Hilary.. You'll be put your son through twelve hours or more of sitting down. Why?"

"Sorry Manny but you're beginning to piss me off right now. I told you already, I have plans for my money"

"Didn't I volunteer to help you? But you've refused sending me your account number"

"You're not a charity organization and I certainly don't take charity donations"

Manny let out a sharp Insincere laughter, "Wow... Donations.. Is that how you see it?" "I'm sorry... I didn't mean it that way"

"No. You did, it shows how you view me. I doubt if you even see me as a friend"

"Are you playing the victim card right now?"

"No. Ossy is the victim here, a victim of a proud mother"

Tears formed in her eyes, "That's not fair" "Can I speak to him?" "We're not done yet, I deserve an apology. What was that for?" "I'm sorry...Can you please give the phone to Ossy?

"You didn't mean that"

"Hilary.."

She handed it to Ossy, "Good morning Uncle Manny" "Good morning little man. How are you this morning" "Fine" "Your Mom said you're on your way to Lagos" "Yes. We've not reached anywhere but the bus broke down. Everyone is complaining."

Hilary tightened her fist then she mouths, "Don't tell him"

"The bus did?"

Ossy sucked his lips knowing he has messed up, he hopes it doesn't make her angry with him. "Yes. We are waiting for another bus. We're just stretching our legs. My bum bum is already paining me though" "I'm sorry about that. Have you at least had breakfast?"

"Yes. Bread and tea"

"Good. Sorry about the bus. Can you give the phone to your mother?"

He stretched the phone and she collected it placing it against her ears, "I know what youre thinking right now but its not as bad as it looks, there's a bus on the way."

"Is it not a company bus? Did you take one of those.."

"No. It's a company bus, why will I take the road side bus"

"I don't know... Maybe because you have other money plans and you're not willing to accept donations from charity organizations"

Hilary shut her eyes, "That's not fair" She replied, he could hear the hurt in her voice, it broke his heart as much as it broke hers. Manny exhaled, "Do you think i'll request for something in return if I do you this favor? Like sex, Is that It?"

"Ugh! I don't like getting help from men, well of course, except Osita and that's because we bonded overtime before I got married and he has been with me for years"

"And I'm just a guy you've only for a month, I get your point, I'm not important"

"Stop saying it like that. You're making me feel bad," She paused and whispered, "You're hurting my feelings"

"It's fine. I understand better. I'm about getting into the studio, I'll call you later. Send me a message when the replacement comes. Stay Safe" He ended the call and she groaned stomping her feet.

"Why are men so complicated?"

"Mummy I'm sorry. I didn't know that I wasn't supposed to tell him that the bus broke down" Ossy apologized in guilt, "Baby, it's fine. I'm not blaming you" She answered turning towards Osita, "Can you believe Manny? Angry over not taking a flight, now he's picking a fight with me"

"Na the way you answer am, you wound him feeling. Why him no go vex? Person way wan help you"

"Osita abeg, no pour sand inside my garri, I'm angry as it is... Whose side are you on?"

"What's your fear really? You no trust am enough shey? You think say him go end up being like that Mimi wetin be that him name" He asked and she nods, "Manny is not like him clearly..but... I'm scared"

"You no trust am naim you dey kiss"

"Kiss his textbook" Hilary chipped rubbing Ossy's head, "I kissed the textbook... Whew!" He creased his brow trying to make sense out of what they were saying, "You kiss someone's textbook?"

"Yes. It's ..." She shut her eyes thinking of an excuse, "It was a game, you kiss textbook if you lose"

"And your mother Kissed this textbook twice. So much for not trusting someone."

"Twice? She couldn't play the game?"

"Well... I couldn't resist losing" She answered giving Osita a sharp glare.

Osita exhaled, "Hilary, Life just be like that game. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, just because say you being lose the first one and the other ones way don come make you be look like say you no go fit play the game; that one no mean say you no fit win this one"

"Its complicated and you know it. He doesn't want to play the game"

"Trust the process then, don't overrule the possibilities or push him away. Something good might come out of it or you open your eyes to other opportunities."

"Not when I'm the complication"

"You're not the complication, na you dey make things dey complicated, those are two different things" He rose up from the plank dusting his trousers, "Make I find Abacha buy" He said walking away.

The church auditorium occupied with church members. Some who had come mainly to clean up the church and others for the evangelism. The turn out shocked Gbadamosi cause he expected a lot of people to evade the responsibility. Even some non members voluntarily joined the evangelical movement.

Ever since Kilahi got to the church, she and Gbadamosi only sighted each other from afar. Even after the prayers, they didn't speak, Ade and Bimbo stopped once in while to cheer her on but they were also busy.

Sefa abandoned her after she noticed an old secondary school. She soon joined the team thst were sorting T Shirts.

Sefa handed a T shirt to her, the imprint on it was:

#I am a Jesus lover, I have a tag do you?

#WFT

#Taking Jesus to the street

"I was stuck in between choosing the one that had I'm living under the wings of the Almighty and i don't pay rent and this one but someone dragged it from me so..."

"Am I supposed to wear this on this gown?"

"It will reduce the smell"

Kilahi rolled her eyes then she wore the top on the gown. "Are you happy that I look like a villager?" "Yes. I'm sorry, I don't mean to be rude but the smell is making me feel somehow queasy"

Kilahi pulled her closer then she placed her right palm on her cheek, "Are you okay? Are you feeling weak, fever, maybe you're coming up with something. Sewuese already left the airport, I can call her to"

"No... I'm fine. So my future Oyinbo in law has gone like that"

"Abi. But are you sure you're fine? I sense you're hiding something"

Sefa shrugged, "Like what? I'm fine" "Okay..." Kilahi answered looking towards Gbadamosi who was everywhere at the moment. "Have you said hi to him? I did oh but he didn't have time to speak to me like that."

"Uncle is ghosting me"

Sefa laughed looking at his direction, "God.... I never want to be in his shoe. See as he's everywhere because of one evangelism. Hei God! All these ministers of God and their wives. I pity you"

Me too, the Evangelist Sefa She said within then she laughed out loud.

"What's funny?"

"Nothing." She replied swallowing the rest laughter still building up.

Gbadamosi managed to steal some glances at her then he wave at her for what seemed like a microsecond. He was so busy prancing left and right while other Pastors followed him.

She heard them talking about focusing on Area 1... Perhaps they were encountering issues with location.

Funbi walked up to her, "Hey...Good morning Ma, your face looks so familiar." "Are you sure?" "Were you at one Art exhibition yesterday?" "Yes. Were you there?" "No." "How do you?"

"There's this post I.."

"Sister Funbi oooo" Someone called on her, "I have to go. Nice to meet you Ma" She replied making Kilahi dazed.

"Maybe she saw you pictures from last night, shebi that news was on Punch newspaper. I'm sure other blogs must be posting it... Assuming I have my phone I would have searched it for you"

"Maybe. You can use my phone sha"

"Then I'll be tempted to go on social media and not be able to answer my messages... What's the use?"

"Teju sends his greetings... He has been sending messages"

"Okay" She returned back to conversing with her friend leaving Kilahi alone. Ade advanced towards her with a smile, his own T shirt had, No delapitation fit affect my #Foundation, na on top solid ground I dey.

KiLahi smiled at the quote, "I love this, why didn't the church media just make everything uniform? My own is plain" She complained and Ade laughed. "Should we exchange, all you just have to say is give the order and I'll give it to you, period!"

"Haba! It hasn't gotten to that"

"Anything for our future Mama" He called out and she gasped looking around.

"Stop it now!"

"That's close to being a reality now, if it's some people that I know they would come in today with a big tag that says, Mama- to -be on their fore head"

"Are they paying Salary for being one? Why will someone carry it on her head?"

"You know that Papa is a hot cake and now you'll get to have the cake to yourself and eat it"

"So I'm the cold Cake abi? I'm not hot"

Ade shook his head, "No Ma'am. I think you're the Mama we deserve, the social media just did a little to capture the beautiful anatomy of your heart. You may not be the most beautiful but you're beautiful inside an out and that's more than enough"

"Where did you hear that from?"

"You haven't seen the video?"

"No. What video?"

Ade quickly showed her the video, "Jesus Christ... These social media generation can put generally anything on the Internet. I'm suddenly a shame. No wonder that girl recognized me" Her eyes widened when she saw the number of shares. "60 shares?? In a post made one hour ago? Which site is this?"

"Ng blog but Tricia Tales was the first to post the video. I even posted one of your quote on my status. You just gave the lady a run for her money and the real anatomy of beauty. We should call you an advocate for all oppressed, I mean what else does that world need? I saw the video and deep down I was like that's my Mama, that is my Mama"

Kilahi rolled her eyes, "I was angry" "Angry? Angry is you tearing that girl's face for calling you ugly." "She didn't call me ugly... She said I'm not pretty" "Ugly, not pretty... Kini Iyato (what's the difference?) It's cute you're even defending her! Wo, someone like me, i would have used vawulence to end the night, which one is word Is wisdom, so it's me that will stand and be racking my brain to give inspirational speech when I'm not running presidential election. Ever since the time of John the baptist people have settling things by the virtue of Vawulence, ww We die there, I'll give her word of insult, shebi she wants to be mad, let's be mad together. Abi ewo ni were?"

Kilahi busted into laughter, "Wow, vawulence Ade" "You can say that tomorrow today is for winning souls. We are going in peace but anybody that wants to do wèré... We will show them were"

She pressed her lips together, pushed her ears towards his lips, "Esope? You say?" "We will show them the gospel of peace" He rephrased and they both laughed.

"Yooowa!"

"But now.. You're now the advocate for the oppressed, let me be the first to have this exclusive interview with you Ma. How does it feel?"

Katty scrolled through comments from the video: More comments were still rolling!

Go girl! I have melasma and people literally mock me for it! I've felt ugly for years now. Seeing this video made me realize they're just as ugly as I am, only that I can actually conceal this decoloration with make up but even your make up can't hide you real color

#No_to_bodyshaming
#I_am_beautiful_inside_out

Bad habit has a strong odor... just like MTN, it follows you everywhere you go

Body Shaming subscribers... I hope you're glowing with pride. I'm so ashame of Katty, to think I'm following such a person. Na wa oh

#No_to_body_shaming

Wahala be like trend. How camera take enter the matter? Person just day public wan trend
una sef believe. Abeg, what's the title of the movie please? 😂

Her DM was flooding with messages but she couldn't reply any. She didnt even know how the whole thing escalated till this point. She went through the post she made about the art exhibition in order to check her comments but more bad comments kept coming.

"Mehn these guys aren't loyal. Which kain wahala I don give myself like this?" She paused in thought then she went live on Instagram.

"Hello guys" She waved, "Its Kitty Katty your favorite collector and I'm live, please share if you have to... Take your time and share. I mean I have a right to an explanation of what happened yesterday. I understand people are taking this personally over some charade stunt pulled by some wannabe trendsetter. Please share... Please share" She said looking at her comment.

"Hello Chantelle... Welcome live!"

💓💓💓

You love hot katty🔥

Share what? Share your love for body shaming?

Aunty rest! You have been caught

"Please share... Cause I didn't say anything about her being ugly. She's just trying to trend, even though I said she is, is she pretty? What are you guys making a fuss about? No to body shaming, no to this, does it make sense? So because i'm hot as it is and i have an argument with a not-so-hot person, does that it automatically mean I'm body shaming? You guys are being bias. Even if I said some things that I shouldn't have doesn't that make me human? We make mistakes. It's part of life, we move on! I didn't call her ugly... I didnt say it in...." She exhaled going offline.

She poured herself a drink into her then she gulped it all. "Fuck!"

The church atmosphere switched in a bubbling one in matter of minutes with the members catching cruise, it was a fun sight to watch especially when Bimbo came to keep her company.

Kilahi laughed the moment she saw women and men 45 years above marching in clad in the new T shirt and a jean trousers, some women were on jean skirt.

The song on their lip was : Oh when the saints go marching on, oh Lord I want to be in the number

"Give way the real youths are here!" The women President yelled while other oldies made a fuss all about the place. "Where were they when we started evangelism? Some of Una still dey wear napkin by then" She screamed looking at Kilahi.

"Aunty are you shocked to me here? No shock oh. I'm still a youth"

"Let's welcome, Awon used to be youth" Bimbo announced and everyone laughed.

Kilahi chuckled and wondered why every old men and women love claiming to be youths in every church setting. Her eyes caught Gbadamosi's eyes, apparently he had been waiting to have another eye contact with her.

He quickly threw a quick wink then he returned back to what he was doing. Almost as though he didnt do anything.

Soon everyone were shared into groups, Kilahi's group was led by one Evangelist Mannasseh, one of those proud ones who felt like everyone should take cues from him.

Sefa was grouped along side those going for Prison Evangelism. She even sort to complain to Gbadamosi but he was too busy so she had no option but to accept. A brown sienna pulled over in front of them and her heart jumped in fear.

Flashes of how the men got out of the sienna swept through her mind then she walked backwards shaking her head. "Not again" She muttered.

"Our ride is here!" The leader of the group, Pastor Nath announced then he noticed how startled she was. "Sister" He called out and she gasped back to reality. "Are you okay?"

"Huh?"

"Are you sure you're fine? You look startled, like you've just seen a ghost. Our ride is here, we are going to different police station where we usually do minor prison evangelism. Don't be scared you hear? The prisoners will not do us any harm. You'll be fine"

10:55 am

The hotter the sun, so was Evangelist Mannasseh's zeal to win more souls without involving the other people that had followed him. "Brother Manasseh, I don't understand, are we the ones doing the evangelism or you are the one doing the evangelism cause ko o ye mi (I don't understand). They say there's no 'I' in team but it's like pe, in your dictionary team work, is spelt with 'I' cause you have i-ed the whole team."

"I don't understand, that's why I'm the head here"

"Pele Sir and we that are following you, we are the tail abi? Do you know how I feel right now? Like you're the bride wearing the gown and we are bridal train holding the tail of your long gown as if we don't have work to do. At least even though we know that we can't preach like you, involve us, boya we should read Bible while you're preaching cause now I'm wondering pe boya are we standing fans in your eyes, even though gan we are standing we should be blowing something to your face"

"Sister Bimbo"

"Don't be angry oh. Its just question that I'm asking"

"I'm not going to get angry cause I'm sure you're just being yourself. I don't bother you when you're in your ushering zone, this is my zone"

"Pele Zonal Coordinator of world wide evangelism, se e o binu? (I hope you're not angry)"

"Unless you repeat this 70 x7 times today" "Evangelist and Statistician ... Let me cut my tongue, Statistician, so you're counting, kukuma add raise to power two to it"

He sighted a woman who was sitting in front of her shop. With the same smile he has been putting on, he slowly made way to her and the other followed. "Uncle wait, you're running fasting than you're bridal train"She announced and everyone laughed, "He's running faster than his Shadow, even shadow gan, sometimes shadow always stay in front. Bobo yi o nbe oh" She whispered and Kilahi gave her a look.

"Just calm" She whispered.

Evangelist Manasseh, "Good afternoon Ma, we bring you the good"

"Abeg make una carry una preaching go I no wan hear" She snapped and he stood still slightly embarrassed, "God bless you Ma" He bowed his head leaving along with everyone.
"That's one thing we always encounter in evangelism. You must meet the dogged ones, if you don't, then it's not complete"

"Evangelism 101" Bimbo teased and everyone laughed again..

"Are we going to leave her?" Kilahi asked, "She doesn't want to be preached to we can't force her, abi?" "My spirit is bothering me, I think we should"

"We should what? Force her?"

"No. I think we should use a different approach"

"I'm the one leading the team here, we can't force people to listen, we have other places to cover so we can, you know go back to church and our businesses. There's no time to waste on one person"

"I think you should listen to her" Bimbo suggested, "As what?" "It's because pe you don't know who you're talking" "Usher Bimbo" Kilahi cautioned her then she proceeded to answer him.

"I just think we should speak to her based on what I'm feeling right now"

"What are you feeling?"

"That we should use a different approach. That woman might be going through a shitty day, permit my use of language. She might be depressed over an occurrence, maybe her electrical supply got cut off and she doesn't have cash to buy another unit"

"Are you going to give her cash?"

"No. We'll give her something more than cash. Silver and Gold we have none but what we have is Jesus. Maybe all she needs is a compliment, I know what it feels like to be a messed up situation and someone is coming to preach to you. I've been there but if they had said, hey beautiful lady, fine woman can i speak to you. If i didnt see the scornful look on their faces, maybe they probably would have gotten my attention"

" Erm.... Ma, with all due respect. I know we also have volunteers on this mission but I'm an Evangelist in church, i've been an evangelist since my time in Plateau, not just that, I'm a bonafide church member and I've done this a lot of times. Have you evangelize before?"

Bimbo rolled her eyes, she was so close to telling him who Kilahi was. She has never seen anyone so humble!

"I evangelized during my University days"

"Have you preached on the altar before?"

Kilahi exhaled shaking her head, "Now you see my point, i have the experience, you don't"

"Let me just speak to her, if she gives me her undivided attention to me, God wins, if she doesn't, you win, deal?" She demanded and he sucked his teeth looking at the other two except Bimbo. "There's no harm in trying" One of them answered and Kilahi made her way back to the woman.

"Should we follow her?"

"Let's just stand here, she will soon come back. Is it today that I'm doing evangelism? I know people like this. Orrh! Let her be doing her own, even the word of God says that not every one can be saved so... I don't necessary force myself on anybody oh"

Bimbo removed something invisible from his shoulder, "What's that?" "No oh, I just said I should remove something" "What did you remove" "Your pride, I know that you normally have pride before but today, its like that pride wore shoulder part. Even the bible said Pride comes before fall"

"This isn't pride, it's experience and it's the best teacher"

"Suit yourself Sir" She snapped running to meet Kilahi. "Why are we quarreling in between evangelism?" The other female group member asked.

"Because they sandwiched me with women and just one guy." He complained pointing to a guy, " Olu here has not complained or challenge my authority since morning but you women, always acting what you're not" "Now you're being sexist"

"You too?"

Kilahi approached the woman pouting like a child, "Good morning again Mumcy" She said slowly like a child who wants to win her way into her parents heart. "Shebi I don talk say I no wan hear" "I know... I just want point say your hairstyle fine oh" She complimented watching the frown on the woman's face turn into a smile.

"You wan bribe me shey?"

"Small, just small. I hope you no go vex Ma. I'm having this pressing feeling in my heart to speak to you." "Abeg keep english somewhere oh, if you sabi to speak broken English, abeg, do am for me. Nor be everybody go school "

"Good morning Ma" Bimbo greeted and she responded back warmly.

When the others noticed the woman's countenance was no longer harsh, they approached the shop.

"Ma, you go just manage my pidgin anyhow sha... I'm not really too fluent, any ho, I'm a Nigerian, we go flow like that . My body dey do me like say if I no talk to you. I won't find peace with myself"

"I no get interest for all these preaching"

Evangelist Mannasseh gave everyone a familiar, 'I told you so' look. "No be 'Jesus loves you' una wan preach again? I know now. Me sef na Christian I be but I don taya to hear Jesus Loves but you no dey see the love. E be like make man day confess say him like you. 5 Kobo for him money you never chop"

"Eweh! Na the first time way i dey hear that one oh. So you never chop five Kobo for God money, no worry I dey carry your matter go meet God like this, we go settle am today"

"Which Kain matter... I don drop am! Me and God, we no get business again. As in Him wash hand commot for my matter, me sef join wash my hand for him matter. Him think na only am get water, I don wash my hand with soap. Na everytime I being dey pray since when my children small. Where God dey when them turn to tout, all the time way I go dey pray make him change them, where him carry ear put? E no fair now, you sef reason am"

"Toor... Na the same complain now... God where you being dey when this thing happen, God why you no dey give me wetin I dey ask for at once? Toor, God this, God that but we dey always dey count all these bad things, we no dey count the good one way him done do and the good ones plenty. How many burial you don attend way you go say, thank God say no be me dey that coffin. A whole lot of persons didn't wake up to smell the fresh air as you did this morning. Some are living on oxygen but you're breathing for free, 5 kobo you no pay God oh and you say you never chop from God money. Him goodness worth pass money. You venture on journeys and you come back safely, isn't that God's hand? Why don't we always count that? When God saved you from that accident where everyone died and you were the only survival, why aren't you grateful over that but instead as human being as we be na to they find one thing take fault God"

The woman blinked her eyes in shock, "How you take know?" "Know what?" "1999, I being dey motor accident, everybody die, na only me survive"

Kilahi shrugged, "I don't know... I thought I was just citing an example." She paused, at this point her head was swelling without control. Not out of pride but the reality of what had just happened provoked a spiritual atmosphere.

The woman folded her arms in shock then she exhaled looking up at her, "You wan sit down?" She requested cleaning the surface of a small bench and Kilahi sat on it even though she didnt feel like it.

She didn't want to come off as rude, especially now when she has the woman's attention.

"Mumcy, I know how e feel to forget the good things way God don do. I no innocent for the matter, if we wan check well, we dey guilty one way or the other especially when e be like say all the trouble for this world dey our head. I've had my own share Ma"

"Life just dey somehow, I no know wetin to do"

"That's what we'll be diving into right now Ma. Sometimes you fit feel like say, your life dey fall apart, like everything dey crash, the reason why is because you haven't experienced the balance our life needs" She paused and the words on Ade's T shirt flashed in her mind.

"When some houses dilapitates, that is when house crash to the ground. Its not just because of the wind that pushed it down or the result of the outer energy exerted that destroyed the house."

"But the wind sef fit push am"

"That's the external cause but assuming the inside dey okay. No breeze for fit destroy the house. The internal cause fit be the mixture way them mix before them build the house; Sometimes e fit be say na the cement plenty pass the water or sand plenty pass cement."

"Na true oh, assume the mixture good the wind for no fit push the house"

"Exactly. E be like say you dey follow me preach this thing. Before you for build house make e fit stand earth quake, make e stand storm, it takes the right amount of building mixture na so the thing take apply to our life. Before we go fit stand stand well on our own, before we go experience that peace way trouble no fit thief, it takes a balance. Sometimes we go say life no get balance but we have a balance as Christians. Wetin be that balance? Jesus as our foundation. He's our anchor in which we hold on to, you need to trust Him, he is the hope you should rely on, the only ground that you should build your life upon, all other ground Is sinking sand. Ma have you given your life to Christ? Have you accepted him as your savior"

"Yes but my life no get balance and I for like make him make am get balance. I no get peace for my house. My children wan give me hypertension, them they steal up and down. I don taya to pray, e don tay way I go church sef. If God fit give me this peace, I go happy"

Kilahi exhales, "Okay Ma, but you know say even people way they build house. If them sit down fold hand for site, nothing go happen right? The house no go fit build him self na so e be for reality your effort go carry you go far for this journey, but e no go easy like that, the devil will always try to steal our joy"

"That one theif e kukuma be. Wetin make I do? My children don taya me"

"Ma, no allow them taya you. You can't give up on them, they are your children, God's children, God's heritage. If the devil is trying to steal them away you're going to stand in the gap as the mother that you are and say no"

"No!"

"You go steal them back to God through Prayer as your weapon. It might not happen at once but I want you to know that God is still in the business of winning souls. Wherever they are, we will put them in prayer today, all of us way dey here, you will continue the prayer this night and i will put them in prayer too, if possible, the whole church will put them in prayer."

Tears trickled down the woman's eyes, "Ma, why are you crying?" "E don tay way I get hope like this... I don throway my hope put for shalanga oh. I for happy if God fit do this one"

Bimbo clapped unconsciously while Kilahi waved, "Hallelujah, Glory to God Ma. It's a good thing but I want you to stir up your faith when we pray cause you see as I take come meet you so? No be by mistake"

She nods still sniffling, "The first thing we're going to do is you're going to rededicate your life first, then you'll take some steps as the spirit will help us. " She answered looking up to Evangelist Mannasseh who was in awe, "Can I go ahead Sir"

"Y..y..yes.. Why not?" He blinked, "Continue Ma"

"Thank you Sir"

Mr George knocked on a door and Reverend Badejo Coker opened up, walked into the office and returned back into his seat. "Welcome George, good afternoon" "Good afternoon" He replied looking around, he noticed some clothes lying around.

"You didn't sleep home"

"I didn't. That was why I locked the door, so that people don't barge in. It's Saturday and I'm not expecting anyone"

"Why didn't you sleep home?"

"You know why now. It's not what you're thinking oh, I'm not cheating. I'm just tired, I'm tired of the complain, I just didn't want to have another argument with that woman." "There are many bedrooms in your house"

"I know. I'm just avoiding her, I should stop work but.. I need to come everyday so I don't run mad In my own house"

"She's a plague now right?"

"She's worst than the plague of egypt, those plagues came and go but this one is.... " He sighs, "I'm tired. When is she going to allow the devil to stop using her to destroy this family? My family is falling apart, I need a miracle. I wish mine could be like yours."

"Becareful of what you wish for"

"Temitope is not as bad as Teni, she's not mad at you"

"They are both pushing their children away unconsciously. What do you envy about that? I'm just as unhappy as you are" "My wife's own is consciously, yours is unconsciously. I'll head back home this evening so we can end up going to church tomorrow like the happy couple that we are. Sometimes it's like church service should never end cause that's the only time she speaks respectfully to me and that's the only time she ever smiles at me, even if it's fake, it's still a smile. Anything is better than the woman I go back home to, you're the only person she listens to"

"I was thinking we should have dinner tonight. Gbadamosi is coming with his future wife"

A wide smile formed across Reverend Coker's face, "Praise God! I knew it was going to happen someday. Wow... Finally, I won't mind coming. Does Teni know?" "Yes. She already agreed" "Yes! I'm so happy for Gbadamosi, soon it will be Manny, Feyi and the rest. I am so happy"

At the Third Police Station visit, Sefa entered with the three persons including the leader of the group. There, they heard a girl tearing up at the counter, her voice was loud, she was almost creating a scene. "All these tears you're shedding will do nothing... Wait till twenty four hours"

"Tomorrow is Sunday!"

"We are available on Sundays too. If you can't come, come back on Monday"

"I'm telling you that my friend was kidnapped right in my presence and the best you can say is come back on Monday"

"Oga Cornelius" The group leader called out to the man at the desk. "Hey... Pastor Nath Nath, good morning. How you dey?"

"Excuse you?" The girl screamed, "Are you going to ignore me?"

Oga Cornelius rolled his eyes, "Oh my God! Na people like this this dey make this police work taya me. Madam, what do you want from me" "I want the police to do something" "Like what? March to Sambisa forest to look for the girl that was kidnapped?"

"How can you be so thoughtless? You can have the police do a search for her"

"I no blame you. Na the movies way una dey watch, even Nollywood don dey follow do action film, I miss the days when it was just Liz Benson and her clay pot, the only place way them dey go na evil forest to look for egg of life or staff of life. Now everybody is holding gun, you think say na every policeman dey hold gun"

"But when it comes to police brutality or stopping protesters, you guys will magicallly have a gun to shoot poor protesters"

"Madam call yourself to order or you will sleep in this cell. After twelve hours, your brain go reset"

"Haba!" Pastor Nath chipped to calm the situation, "It hasn't gotten to that, Oga Cornelius, you sef answer the girl." "I don answer her"

"You've not! I deserve to attended to, it's my right"

"Look at who you want me to attend to, Pastor Nath, let her be the first person you preach to cause I'm sure she hasn't given her life to Christ"

"I'm a Muslim! Thank you very much!" The girl snapped. Pastor Nath exhaled, "Miss... What's your name?" "Safiyat Dauda" "Okay... Miss Safiya, Can you explain to me what's going on? I'm a lawyer, I can be of help"

"Okay..... " She exhaled, "Um... My friend and I were walking by the road side by 6 thereabout, we went out last night and we just arriving so..... This Sienna pulled over, a brown Sienna"

Sefa shut her eyes in worry. She hoped to God for it to be a coincidence.

"And they wind down the glass. The driver and the guy by the side started speaking to us, started flirting but I didn't take it as anything serious. We're in Lagos, nearly all the population are mad. I just assumed It was another drunk driver flirting."

"We decided not to pay attention to them but they kept following us still whistling and cracking lame jokes. I was already hastening my feet ready to run, i even told Moyo to get ready for anything. Suddenly they drove with speed to the front, blocked us and stopped the car, the back door opened and one other guy and one in front stepped out. It was begining to look dangerous so Moyo decided to trust in her flirting skills in order not to be a victim of rape. At this point, I was slowly moving backwards, that was how they placed something on her head and she fainted in their arms"

"Was it like a smooth stone" Sefa asked, "Yes, I don't know if it was smooth but it was a stone" "How did you escape then?"

"I ran and hide in the gutter"

Oga Cornelius hissed, "Where the gutter cloth? Bring the gutter cloth as proof" "Is this man kidding me? I stayed in that gutter for thirty minutes! Rats were passing my legs, all these blood sucking worms were sucking the blood out of me but I remained still. You expect me to come directly with that smell?"

"Why you no come?"

"Of course I had to go home and take my bath"

"Did you capture the plate number of the Sienna?" "I was too busy running for my life" "Make you just say, una go do runs... Something come go wrong" "I didn't go for runs!"

Sefa had to step in,"Officer, she's telling the truth. I was kidnapped myself last week Saturday. These guys are kidnappings girls, if they're doing it on Saturdays then there's a pattern, they can be stopped. It's the same people"

Oga Cornelius groaned tiredly, "See what I'm saying... Too much movies"

"Who is this man?" The lady snapped, "Why are you all the same? I went to the other place to complain, they said the same thing. What is this world turning into. My best friend has just been kidnapped!" She slammed her palm against the counter busted into tears.

Pastor Nath creased his brow turning towards Sefa, "Are you sure?" "That I was kidnapped? Yes Sir" "This is looking serious. Oga Cornelius, you sure say you not fit do anything?"

"There's a difference between film trick and reality"

Oga Cornelius looked over at Sefa, "How come you dey here if them kidnap you?" "I was just lucky and God saved me. These guys took me to Anambra. I'm sure her friend must be in all these cargo trailer heading to Anambra. All you have to do is report to the appropriate channel, a simple call to all check points"

"James Bond weldone... Them go call all check point, like say e easy. No be America film be this oh

"These are organ harvesters, sex traders. I know what I went through the few hours I was there. This is a case of national security"

"You be law student?"

"I will be"

"Good luck but this case no be wetin you fit win"

"If It was a Senator's daughter that was kidnapped, would we be having this discussion now? Wouldn't they have declared this as a case of national security? I'm sure you have a daughter too, if she was kidnapped, what would you have done? Is it not better to get this threats out of the way so we can once again feel safe?"

"Aunty... It's a strong argument but like I said, there's a difference between film trick and reality. There is truly nothing we can do, for all we know, she might even be dead"

Mrs George paced left and right in her room bitting her fingers nervously while conversing with Aunty Toyin on phone, "So she tried committing suicide this year" Aunty Toy in asker and she gave a nod, "Yes" "So that's the person that our Gbadamosi wants to marry. Ko o jo! (It can't be) We can't close our eyes and allow our son to make that mistake"

"Exactly."

"I saw that boy when they gave birth to him"

"Actually you didn't. You weren't even in the UK then"

"Now that you have proved your point and interrupted my own point. What did you gain?" She snapped and Mrs George tightened her fist, her little sister's audacity usually have a way of getting to her nerves.

"You can continue"

"Even though I didn't see him when he was given birth to, I visited UK when he was a baby and we've watched him grow in a fine young man. He can't waste and risk the future of God's church and his family on a mental patient. Cause its only mental patient that try to commit suicide. I'm sure she had mental history in their family"

"Her parents are dead"

"Ehya... Did they commit suicide too?"

"No. They had a Car accident when she was ten"

"Ehya.. So she's an orphan too. That's... Bad, at a very young age like that" "You're missing the point" "I know! I'm sympathizing with her on that part"

"I just want to ask questions. My husband doesn't want me to create a scene"

"And you want me to do it for you"

Mrs George groaned, "When you put it that way, I'll look like a bad person but you understand why I'm doing this" "It's what every good mother will do" "Exactly and you're also a mother" "There's no need to explain yourself, sha cook my specialty with plenty meat for me"

"You can bet on it"

"Oda naa, expect me in the evening. Wo, It will rain Drama tonight, the way I will interrogate her left and right, she will not know what hit her"

Mrs George smiled, "Thank you. I know I can count on you any day" "What are we sisters for?" "Bye, greetings to your husband" "He'll definitely hear" Aunty replied ending the call.

Mrs George then sat on her bed with guilt burning in her heart. The promise she made rang in her head, "I won't be the one to cause the drama, I won't do anything. I'll just sit and watch her..." She trailed off shutting her eyes.

"How did it get to this point TemiTope?"

Just as Kilahi and the team walked deeper into the street, they noticed some people staring at towards their direction. "What's going on?" Kilahi asked and a young girl approached her, "Sorry oh, good morning everyone"

"Good afternoon"

"A quick question Ma" She paused facing Kilahi then she showed her a video of her from the previous night. "Are you the same person from this video or you're just a look alike"

"Oh my God, this post again?"

"Someone shared it and I saw it. Is it you?"

"Yes. I was just venting"

"Madam chill... Nobody is judging you. If anyone is judging you, me I'm not. I admire the way you spoke to her, nobody deserves to be called ugly and you're very beautiful Ma"

"Awn. Thank you"

"You're welcome"

"Can we have a minute of your time to share the gospel?" "Yes Sure. My friends are there too, they must be implicated too, they are the ones that directed me to ask you"

"Great! Let's implicate them then! Shall we?"

At about past 2 they decided to take a walk back to where the car was parked so they can head back to the church but the walk was rather a quiet one especially for Evangelist Mannasseh. He needed to clear the awkward air among members in the group.

He was clearly ashamed of how he reacted and no one was talking about it so he decided to address the elephant in the room.

"Sister of God, are you sure you haven't preached before?"

Kilahi looked up at the tall man, "I haven't" "Don't be modest Ma, just say the truth" "Apart from the little evangelism I did in school, I've been basically running away and avoiding anything that will put me in front of people"

"I'm sure you're just being modest, didn't they show you a video of you online." "That video is something different." "I just want to say I'm sorry about how I behaved... I wasn't being mature, I thought I knew it all, like... I don't know what came over me, whether it's pride or what"

"Uncle it's not whether... Its pride" Bimbo noted, "Pride that wore shoulder part" "You too it's okay now! Point taken, it's not you I was apologizing to"

"Me I'm angry on her behalf"

He lifted his hands in surrender, "I've been humbled. Thank you Ma" "There's always a moral lesson for every situation. Besides, you were just being a leader"

Bimbo lifted her fingers, "A leader leads by example not by the size of his pride" "Hei Usher Bimbo, let him speak now" "She's right though, even though I don't agree with her methods. I was driven by pride. They should have kukuma made you the leader. You're a lot more calm headed than I am, I think Sister Bimbo finally preached for the first time in her life"

"Don't insult me, I am a Mummy GO in the spiritual realms"

"OPoor!" The evangelist snapped and they all laughed.

"I have my own period where I'm not hot headed, don't paint me as a perfect person, I'm not"

"We all have those moments but with what you just demonstrated right now ehn! It's enough to leave a long lasting impression. I'm really humbled. What's your name Ma?"

"She's taken already" Bimbo walked in between them and Kilahi laughed shaking her head, "Usher Bimbo" "Me I'm protecting my Oga's investment"

"Sister Bimbo you're embarrassing me" He replied, "You will not be angry oh but before your mind will start adding two plus two before you will now start to see vision of one Agbani fetching water from the stream, I just said I should inform you that she's taken"

Kilahi rolled her eyes, "He has heard. Is your own not too much like this" "No Ma oh." "My name is Kilahi Agbo" "Sister Kilahi... Wow. From which unit did you hear about this mission walk?" "I don't understand"

"Is it from the GMM or REM missions or.." "I don't know what those acronyms stand for. I was invited personally" "By who?"

Kilahi shrugged, "Pastor Gbadamosi" She replied receiving a look from Bimbo who was trying not to laugh. "Oh. Are you one of his Pastor friend? Ah! So you're a Pastor and you're here forming humility. I'm sure you're one of those online ministers. I have offended God and man, please forgive me Ma" "Jesus" She screamed and laughed with her hands on her head.

"Please you guys should beg this man oh. I am not a Pastor, I am not even an Evangelist. I don't understand what you're talking about, I'm just a friend"

Bimbo cleared her throat, "Yei... It's like something is coming in my throat" "Do you need water?" She asked, "No.. I think we should call your friend, sorry Papa to let him know we're done with..."

"I don't think that will be necessary. I'm not an evangelist or online minister"

"That's how they always say oh, before you know you'll be seeing her face on Billboards " The lady in the group chipped in and then Kilahi laughed clapping her hands in wonder. "You guys should just avoid me please. I am not a Pastor, I am just a worker in the vineyard"

"Hmmn!" They all answered at once raising their nose at her.

"I can't take this." She laughed watching Evangelist Mannasseh go through his phone, "Wow.... The media team just sent in pictures of the someone on a wheel chair that just started walking after Papa prayed.... The sick has been healed too"

"Wow. Mama.. Sorry Sister Kilahi, the ginger in me has arisen, let's look for the sick to heal. You will be the one to lay your hands on them" Bimbo suggested and Kilahi hastened her footsteps walking past them, "You all should avoid me! I can't anymore" She blushed hearing them laugh from behind.

The good side about the Evangelism is that it gave her opportunity to know her future church members before time. It wasn't a bad experience after all.

Her phone rang so she dipped her hand in her tote hand bag, brought out the phone and answered the call. "Hey Manny" "Your driver is here to take you to Ivory Health club. Gbadamosi called me, he said he can't drive you there and besides he doesn't know when he'll be done so he asked me to take you there. Secret Agent Manny at your service Ma, where are you?"

"Huh... Wait, I'll have to call Sewuese first to make sure she picks Sefa up or else mom and Dad won't let her to out again"

Sefa sat in the Sienna crying over the news she just heard. Her heard bled for the girl that was kidnapped, she couldn't begin to imagine how she'll feel. Except she'll be all zombied up like the way the others were in the truck

She was deep in a pensive mood she didn't notice the group leader sit close to her. "Now i see why you were scared when you saw this Sienna" He muttered and she gasped in fear.

"Calm down, it's just me"

"Are you guys done?"

"The rest are still in there doing God's work, I wanted to check on how you're faring" "Those guys...deserve to rot in prison." "This is just a jail visit... We've not even gone to prison to see how it looks like" "Why are we bothering ourselves preaching to criminals? They should rot there for their crimes" She snarled.

"Haba! Not everyone in this cell or everyone in prison deserve to be there. Even those with the maximum sentence , they didn't deserve it. Some were just victims of circumstances, as a result of this, they lose faith in God, someone of them hate God for putting them in such circumstance. What we do is rejuvenate their faith once again and pray for them. We've seen miracle interventions where prisoners were set free all of sudden as a result of this evangelism movement. You remind them that Peter was kept in prison and the church prayed and the chains were let loosed."

"And those that deserve it?"

"We reconcile them back with God, we make them find salvation"

"They don't deserve it, these people kill humans, they harvest human parts, they sell babies, they make women sex slaves. They don't deserve God's mercy at all"

"I understand your point but God's merciful hands is stretched out to everyone, irrespective of your religion, irrespective of your sins, even when we were yet sinners he sent his son to die for us. We all don't deserve this mercy we're enjoying but he shows us anyways. I find joy when I see these notorious prisoners being reconciled back to God just like Anini"

"The same Anini?"

"No. Another Anini, he was not being creative with his name, he said An in I was his role model but his baptismal name is Simon. He was a very notorious man until he was caught and sentence to life imprisonment . Even in prison, he was fear until we came and started talking to him, he was 46 years old then. Anini accepted and made Jesus his role model but at that time, he had cancer of the colon, it didn't stop him from evangelizing in prison. Oh Simon was burning for God, until he died. I wasn't there but from the testimony I got, it was so glorious that even the prison guards and prisoner felt it. One man died and that that, 10 inmates that had been given the maximum sentence gave their life to Christ, they said they want to experience the same thing he did. Without a doubt, I can say Simon has made it to heaven. Honestly I find it a thing of joy and as a challenge, I can't preach this gospel and end up in hell. No!"

Tears continued running down her eyes, "Do you do this for a living?" "No. I'm a lawyer" "I'll like to be one too, my Jamb scores don't usually meet up the school cut off mark" "Oh look at my prospective colleague. Don't worry, God will do it this year"

"Amen"

"Maybe you can be a prison Evangelist too."

Sefa shrugged, "All I want now is Buchi caught and put in prison where he belongs so people can be safe. Then i can now negotiate whether to preach to him or not but he has to go down. He has to!"

"You do know they are many more sick and heartless people like him and there'll still be"

"I don't care, I just want him caught!"

"You said you were kidnapped, did you deserve the mercy God showed to you? Be sincere"

Sefa cried shaking her head, "No, I was in a bad place when it happened. I ..... I left the house to have sex with my boyfriend in disguise of going to church"" "But God saved you and gave you a second chance right? Don't you think another person deserves a second chance too especially when they finally realize their wrong"

"I didn't kill anyone and i've changed and i'm trying to get my life back. They only realize it because they're in a bad place and they don't have a choice" "So you only realized you were in that bad place after the kidnap so if you weren't kidnapped last week, you'll probably be in that bad place still, wouldn't you have gone for another youthful escapade with your boyfriend again, pretending to be in church?"

She sobbed wiping her cheeks dry off tears, "Stop it! My sin is not be compared to theirs." "Wow, you're measuring the sin now abi? There's no weightier sin oh" He replied laughing.

"80% of people usually get their brains reset when they're in a bad place. Prison is not an exemption, and the devil still wants them for himself, that's why we try our best to arrest them in prison for God's use afterwards. When I step into the prison yard, where people see criminals, I when I look at them and I see people that deserve a second chance. People like are like Anini, that when given a second chance can set the whole prison burning for God. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise"

"Sometimes I wonder why God saved me"

"It's up to you to figure that out, you can ask Him for answers. You know the story of Daniel and how he was thrown into the den of lions and God shut the mouth of these lions that they did not harm him. Other persons must have been thrown there in the past and even after Daniel but it was on record because Daniel carried something. I think you're carrying something special that God wants to use but it's up to you to figure it out" He patted her on the back then he left her alone.

What do you guys think about this Chapter🤔

Kilahi has humbled 'Uncle know it all' oh😂

Peaceful Bimbo or Violent Bimbo.... Make a pick🤣🤣🤣😂

Who's ready for dinner?

On the scale of 1-10, how peaceful do you think the Dinner will be? (1 for the least)😂

There'll be Plenty Sauce🌶🌶, bring your water tomorrow

Let's go there!

Second update coming up tomorrow! 💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽