<You can live for God and still be dope>

|24|

IT WAS really a big pity I wasn't listening to the priest's sermon because from the look of things, it wasn't a boring one. The congregation were all wide awake, nodding their head in affirmation to whatever Reverend Father Riley was preaching about and sometimes voicing out a loud, "Amen!"

Well, the reason I was rather occupied and not paying heed to God's word was that I was thinking of the almost kiss Kian had given me last night. Yes, almost because dude hadn't drawn closer to kiss me, he'd only done that for him to whisper, "You're more than welcome," in a sexy voice and then straightening himself up, drove off, but not before winking at me.

I was pissed. The stupid boy had me raising my hopes high and dashing them to the ground. I genuinely thought he was going to kiss me, no I knew that he was going to kiss me but somehow he'd diverted and chose instead to talk all hush hush in my ears.

Or perhaps you're going delusional and thinking things that aren't real. What if he didn't want to kiss you, huh, bad mind snickered. Shut up!

I remember standing on the doorstep for a long time---okay not that long, outside was freezing--- and touching my near kissed lips and wishing that he actually did kiss me.

Okay, that's enough Olay. Mad, I mentally hit myself on the head. Why did I want Kian to kiss me and why was I being all so emotional and hormonal that he didn't?!

We don't know either, good mind happened to whisper. Then shut the fuck up.

"Good morning to you, miss. I come in peace," a familiar voice greeted, wiping away my thoughts about Kian and the almost kiss. Whipping my head around, I saw Jayden sitting down next to me. Of course, it'll only be him telling me he comes in peace. The kind of weird friends I have.

"Wait, do you go to this church?" I asked him, surprised because I haven't seen him here before.

"Yup and is that how you return my greeting? With a question? Ugh, and why did Mom make this bowtie too tight?" Jayden inquired grunting as he adjusted the polka dot bowtie on his white shirt.

I crossed my arms and observed him from head to toe. "Yes and you look ridiculous. What's with the extremely silly outfit? Let me guess, your mother forced you to wear that?"

"Yes and no Olayinka." He shook his head.

"Don't laugh at me. It's her way of punishing me because I slept way past time and forgot to get ready for today. We always arrive for the 7 O'clock mass and when I woke up it was 8, and my family had already left so when they returned, Mom had to make me go to this one, the 9 O'clock mass. And that's why I look ridiculous." He was still struggling with his tie while I had a hard time striving not to laugh out loud at the sight of him.

Bundled up in a tweed jacket big enough to contain two of my Dad and Dad was huge, a bulbous equally tweed trousers, a shoe seemingly two sizes less, his hair combed back and gelled and with his hideous glasses enhancing the whole ridiculous style, Jayden looked like a toddler whose Mom had dressed in a haphazard manner.

"So that's why I never see you around, you come for the seventh while I come for the ninth. Hmm, you're still that same latecomer you are though," I said, my lips lifting up to form a tiny smile. I've always teased Jayden about his lateness to school and I couldn't help myself now.

"At least, I made it in time and please stop smil---" he started but I cut him off.

"Shh, the procession is starting." Placing my index finger on my lips, I gestured for him to zip it. He looked heavenwards for some moment and then continued trying to redress his stubborn bowtie, albeit in an indirect manner so that people wouldn't notice. Except that I did, because that was what he did halfway through the whole service.

Relieved my mind was finally present in the holy sanctuary of God, I promptly stood up when it was time for offering. The moment I moved away from Jayden, he stood up too and tied his humongous jacket around my waist and whispered, "The devil came unexpectedly."

"Huh?! What do you fracking, okay I'm not supposed to swear right now but what do you effing mean Jayden? We're in a church, remember? You're not supposed to talk nonsense!" I cried, mindful of the fact that his hands were literally spanning my hips and in perfect view of the many people in church. Luckily enough, we were in the last pew and nary a person was in our row.

"It's the devil's time of the month."

"Okay, enough about your cryptic talks and for God's sake, speak english and stop holding my waist. We're in a church," I reminded him again, this time stressing the word church and seeking to slip my way out of his hold.

He grinned, pearly teeth on display and tightened his hold on me. "What I mean and clearly meant to say is that you have a very huge stain at the back of your very white gown and that means you're on your very period."

Oh my God! No, I wasn't believing him. For one, my uterus didn't feel like it was being beaten by a mob and two, there wasn't this funny pinch in my underbelly. So he was obviously lying or pranking me. Memories of the period prank Katharina and her cohorts had made me go through and the realization that Jayden could be joining them in tricking me had my temper boiling hotly.

"Okay Jayden, you've got to be lying. During my period, I feel like crap and right now I don't feel any atom of pain whatsoever so you're obviously joking or you're pranking me. And I beg of you, can you kindly lift your hands away from me?" I retorted. It's pretty weird how I'm calmly talking with a boy about my period when I should be freaking out. And I actually was, except it was just on the inside. And I was freaking annoyed.

He slowly breathed out. "Maybe it's your hormones or something else that's causing you no pain but I'm not pranking you. By the way, I don't see the fun in doing that, pranking. You have a very huge stain at the back of your very white gown and that means you're on your very period."

"Can you please stop with the very?! It's not amusing!" I snapped, thinking he might probably be right because I was beginning to feel tiny pinpricks of pain in my tummy. Guess I wouldn't have to crane my neck to look at my behind.

God! How didn't I know?! Believe me I was, and still am, an ardent calculator of when and which date my period was most likely to appear but with all the Kian, dating and stuff I've been so busy and totally forgot. And the reason why I have been acting all emotional and shit, was because I was pms-ing. It also explained why I hadn't felt any pain, the burst of dopamine in my head due to all the excitement had surely taken its toll on me.

Jayden waved his fingers in my face. "Hey, are you there? What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking, you know, how I so much want to murder period if it was a real person or being or ughh!!" I screeched out.

"Calm down Olayinka." He held my shoulders. "Okay, about the offering. . . we're next and you could tie my suit around your uhmm. . . you know what I mean, if you want to come with." He withdrew his hands and scratched his neck, abashed.

"Forget it. Take mine and put it in the offering box for me." And that he did, while I sat miserable, watching him and his long sleeve starched shirt step into the teeming line. Truth be told, I honestly wanted to laugh at the funny sight he presented but the prickly feeling in my stomach wouldn't let me.

Confined, I had to stay put till the end of mass and trust me it was no easy task, not with my tummy and all.

Tying Jayden's jacket behind me was the only way to be able to get out of church unscathed and with Jayden tagging along I was embarrassed. My shyness which had seemed to go away on a honeymoon was back and boy if I wasn't blushing a crimson red. Thank fully, my skin hid that awful red.

"So uhmm. . . thanks for the jacket. . . I will be going now," I stammered, my face turned the other way and searched the crowd for Mom as Dad hadn't followed us today. Sadly, he'd had an important meeting yesterday.

"Oh, there you are, Olay, I have been looking all over for you. I didn't see you at the offering box today or during confirmation, why?" Mom enquired softly as she reached down to peck my pale cheeks, her soothing fragrance enclosing me. She wore a simple yellow gown with black pumps, her hair tied down with a scarf and looked beautiful as always.

Moving nearer, I disclosed to her the reason why and she muttered an 'oh' pursing her red lips.

"Who's this friend of yours, Olay? Seems you've been hanging out with the boys." Mom grinned wickedly.

God, this wasn't what I needed right now. Not my period pangs and my mom itching to match make me.

"And I didn't see you in a jacket this morning so why are you in one now?" she asked further, a tiny frown gathering on her face.

"He's the one who gave me the 'jacket'." I made air quotes for Mom to get it and she did. "Mom meet Jayden, my best friend and Jayden meet Mom, my mom," I introduced them to each other.

"Good morning Ma'am. It's an honor to finally meet you. Olayinka here has told me so much about you," Jayden greeted, smiling. I turned a little red and shook my head.

"Is that so? Olay, I didn't know you went about singing my praises." She laughed in my direction then returned to Jayden's. "A fine morning to you, my dear." Mom smiled back. They had small talk while I stood tiredly and wished we could start going home already.

"We're having our usual Sunday afternoon meal and I'd like for you to join us?" Mom offered. Why, oh why, is my Mom like this?

"Ehh mom," I blustered, not wanting to stay with Jayden--- I was still embarrassed, okay--- "aren't we taking his time? I'm sure he has somewhere else to be."

Jayden interjected, "No it's fine. I just need to call my mom to get her permission. Excuse me for a sec."

He left us and went to stand in front of the church step. The church was built like a cathedral, large and brightly stained windows with numerous doors and arches. Coupled with a big environs and a water fountain, it had other buildings and plenty of saint's statues to go with. St. Anthony and Jude parish was a beautiful masterpiece to behold, no lie.

"I see how you're admiring him." Mom gloated, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

"God, Mom I'm not admiring him, I'm admiring the church building," I groaned, my ire rising at the fact I was standing in a hot sun and that she might be right.

"Whatever you say darling," she cooed.

After getting the greenlight from his mother, Jayden and I had to take the back seat 'cos Mom's friend who was coming too, stayed in front. With him sitting next to me, I felt conscious of the fact his jacket was turning red with blood. Biting my lips, I stared out of the window, my uneasy stomach rolling and churning, the sweat forming on my nose. Then I felt a hand touch mine and I turned to Jayden. He gazed at me, "Are you okay?"

"Yes," I replied, unwilling to bother him with my current ailment. He stared at me for a short while, looked away but left his palm on mine.

***

"Guys settle down, I'm about to set the table. Olayinka, go change and Jayden if you will be kind enough to help me out I'll be very glad," Mom announced, placing her bag on the couch.

"Sure thing Ma'am." He nodded and followed her into the kitchen.

"Nope not Ma'am. Ma'am makes me sound old. It's Sasha and. . ." I heard her voice trail off as they went further into the kitchen. Of course, Mom's motive to get Jayden in the kitchen was to know more about him. Typical Mom.

Trudging up to my room, I removed my church outfit---a white flair gown, black hose, Jayden's jacket and Mary Jane flat shoes--- and rushed to the bathroom to have a hot shower in order to reduce the ache building up in my tummy. Sadly, that didn't work out.

Once I was done bathing, I wrapped a towel around my body then rummaged through my drawer for a black gown. Black so that if by chance I stained again, it wouldn't show.

Going to my toiletries counter, I found out that I had neither any sanitary pad nor a pill of Tylenol to stop the pain.

Man, was I scared. What the frack was I gonna do now? I couldn't inform Mom about my lack of pads or pills right away, she was downstairs probably attending to Jayden and her friend and there was no way I was disturbing her.

An abrupt knock on the open door had me circling towards it. Jayden. He'd only been knocking for courtesy sake.

Staring like a deer caught in a car's headlight, I stood in the middle of my room, drabbed in the skimpiest of towels, holding an empty sanitary pad bag and a boy scrutinizing the hell out of me.

Jayden was looking at me, no observing would be more appropriate. His eyes began their silent journey of appraisal from my tiny toes up to my knees, then to my bare thighs, next, to the creamy flesh that appeared from the top of my towel and finally to my heated face. Strangely enough, I didn't feel uncomfortable by his appraisal, it seemed I oddly welcomed it. I watched him as he watched my body, different emotions I couldn't quite place overcoming his facial expressions and I shivered, a tingle running through my body, my tummy forgotten. Those eyes of his came back to my thighs once more and his mouth gaped open.

Maybe it's because you're not looking sexy enough, bad mind snickered. Back out, bitch.

Bringing my head down, I saw what made his mouth widen. Blood was trailing down my leg. Frack, I should have put a tissue to hold it in for the meantime. Today just had to be the most embarrassing and horrid day of my life.

"Blood, are you wounded. . ." he stuttered, running his hand through his hair.

"No, I'm on my period remember? And it seems today's just not my day 'cos for one, my sanitary pad's finished and I had no idea. Two, the Tylenol pills I use to curb the pain are gone too and I feel like the walls of my uterus are being shaved by a blunt razor and later on mashed by a mallet. Three, I'm very quite naked and my guy friend is standing here and watching my vagina become Niagara Falls. If you'll excuse me." Getting a hold of myself, I tightened the towel around me and rushed to bang the door in his face.

Giving the door my back, I slid down to the floor, chagrined he'd seen me in nothing but a towel. If I didn't know better, I'd say I was cursed. Cursed that the boys I admired would always see me clad one day in nothing but a towel. First, Kian. Now, Jayden.

"I'm sorry Jamila, I didn't know your door would be open. Honestly," Jayden's contrite voice came through the door.

"It's okay Jayden," I said in a steady voice despite the currents of humiliation flowing through me. How on earth was I going to face him? I thought.

I heard him sigh loudly. "Your mom requested I call you. She said you should start getting down soon."

I wished he would go away. "Okay, tell her I'm coming right up." I wasn't coming right up, I was just going to stay in my bed, stare blankly at my ceiling and bear my period cramps.

Since there wasn't any response, I figured he'd left. Whooshing out a huge sign, I changed into an old dress and plopped on my bed.

Mom called several times but I refused to come down. Who would? A guy--- not just any guy, the guy you're getting quite attached to--- sees you half naked with your menstrual blood slithering its way down your legs, how would you face him?

There was a knock on the door. Probably Mom, she must be really worried.

Rolling my eyes heavenwards and irritated at the world, I sluggishly made my way to the door and opened it.

Then closed it back.

"Olayinka please open the door. I know you're embarrassed, as you should but please just open the door. I'm sorry, I really am. I wasn't supposed to look at you that way." He heaved out a painful sigh that tugged at my heart.

"But I did and for that I'm sorry. Can you let me in? Your Mom's worried about you."

I opened the door again and let him in. He was holding a pink nylon and a glass of water.

"I bought something for you." He gave me the bag and brought his head downwards.

Looking inside, I saw two packs of sanitary napkins, a packet of Tylenol and five cans of pringles.

Boy if I wasn't surprised but I managed to say, "How did you know I wanted this?

"You were holding an empty pack earlier and also mentioned that you didn't have those."

"Yeah right," I returned, my head bent and studying the floor of my room. Lifting my chin with a gentle palm, he handed me the glass and I took out two pills of Tylenol, washing them down with water.

"You didn't have to, not even the pringles," I said after a few minutes of silence. I was already getting better, thanks to the Tylenol.

"Oh I had to. You were in pain," he countered, smiling softly at me.

"Thank you Jayden. I'm feeling much better now and I'm really sorry for snapping at you in church and earlier now." I sent him a grateful smile, tears brimming over my eyes because apart from Kian, I couldn't remember anyone being this kind to me.

"You're welcome, Olayinka. Always," he murmured and hugged me. I tightened my hold around him, the sweet essence of him tickling my nostrils, comforting me. Few minutes later, he drew away and I took a step back to stop myself from hurling into his arms again.

"Since Mom's waiting for me, I'll change fast in the bathroom. Why don't you sit down on the couch to kill time? You can go through my books but not my pictures." I wanted to show him that I still wasn't mad or anything.

"Sure but I'm going through your pictures. Can't wait to see how baby Olayinka must have looked like." He shot me an evil grin and I threw him a 'I'm watching you' sign, my index and middle finger coming to my eyes, then pointing them to him.

He raised his hands in surrender, humour showing clearly in those hazel eyes of his that were woefully hidden by glasses.

Smiling, because I was better and today wasn't sucking anymore, I showered and changed into my underwear.

Then I reached out for the black gown I was supposed to wear, except that it wasn't here. Where else could it be then? Shit, it was on the bed.

I opened the toilet door a crack to see if there was a chance I could take it without him noticing. Lucky enough, he was facing the door doing something I couldn't see. I opened the door another bit and suddenly his eyes met mine. Kai!

It's official. Wahala be like bicycle.

A/N: Hi, this chapter was pretty bloodly, both literally and fictional lol. And I reached 3,380 words today! Mad, this has to be my longest chapter! So dear ole Den happened to see Olay almost naked and swee ole Kian never did kiss Olay. Chai, bby grl be riding on wahala ohh. But fashi, wahala for who no get Jayden and Kian as 'friends'.

I dedicate this chappie to my darlings, Chelsea and Precious with Sanna. They helped a great deal ❤❤ Thanks babies :-)

Nita.