Amidst Temptations

Episode 18

A year passed with so many things happening,
Serena had lost her mother eight months ago
and I didn’t go for the burial because I didn’t want to see him..face him, but I gave my condolences to Serena when she was back in school. Martin had graduated and had been posted to Calabar for NYSC, I was now in 500 level preparing for my next professional Exam,

Erica had finished service and was back home
applying for job, it wasn’t easy for her as a
young graduate especially in a country like
Nigeria, my brother David had since moved out to his own place and had a girlfriend named Jennifer, um, that’s about it..and yes I was still dating Martins.

“I think Moses would do a better job, he’s bold and fearless, a good leader, all that we need in a president”I said

“Emilia you know its not about that, we need
somebody that God has chosen..am considering Paul”

“Paul?..he just became a Christian not too long ago”

“Two years now, but he’s been fervent..like a fire that won’t go down ”

“So you would chose Paul over Moses who had worked under you, you had basically fathered him in school, besides I doubt Paul even wants president”

“Its Paul..no one else” he insisted with
conviction I sighed”I just feel we should pray more about it,
a wrong leader would lead to the fall of the
fellowship ”

“That is correct” he agreed.
That was the conversation between my boyfriend and I over the phone, he was currently in Calabar so it was all phone dating. We needed a new
president in the fellowship so the Excos had
been asked to pray concerning it. When I did, it
was very clear it was Paul that would be our
new president, I was shocked, God hadn’t spoken to me in a long while and I feared it was Sean’s fault. I hadn’t heard from him for almost a year and was glad he had forgotten about me and
found a girl to his taste.

Paul was made the new president and Moses
was devastated, his true colors came out when he blurted
“F–k all of you” and walked out on the
fellowship. Paul ascended the podium
speechless on the standing ovation he was
getting, everyone was happy we had chosen the right person. It made me decide not to judge a book by its cover.

When I told Martin that night during our call he
wasn’t surprised

“Told you..I’m glad we chose the right guy for the job…am more glad I have you in my life”he said out of the blue
I giggled

“I can’t wait for you to meet my parents”he said Uh…”Really..”
“Yeah..”

I was silent “you told them about me?”
“Well yeah..it kinda just came up”
“Don’t you think its too early…We so young”

“Come on..I’m not asking to get married..yet.. I just wanted you to meet them, I’m sure they would love you”

I felt special but it didn’t feel right, maybe I was just scared…of what?

“Uh..ok”

He was silent. “Do you have second thoughts
about us?”he asked

“What..no Martin..I love you” it was what I
dreamed of, at least before I met Sean
“Ok” he paused “thought you were thinking of him”

” Wha..”my face flushed “why would you even say that, Martin he’s an unbeliever I could never..”I was saying

” so if he becomes a Christian you would date him?”

Were we having this conversation..but really
would I..

“Are you being insecure?”I asked him
“Course not..just asking”

“Can he not like come up in every of our
conversation.. he wasn’t even my ex….just a
guy”I sighed exasperated, was he scared or what

“Okay..so after you meet my parents I can come meet yours?”

I froze blinking”you mean ..m..my Dad?…he
..doesn’t really approve”

“Oh..like the Bishop uh..?”
“He’s very protective of me..am his favorite”

“Fine..just felt I should at least know a fam
member by now..its been over a year”
“I thought you met my sister..its not a big deal,

for now my family is out of it” I was having a
headache from the conversation but couldn’t tell him that..

“Martin you don’t have to worry about anything, I love you and when the time is right I’ll meet your family and you’ll meet mine” when he got silent i
decided to change topic..

“How’s work?”I asked rubbing the side of my head…

I sat in class thinking about my father, it’s been over a year since he told me about the dream, and nothing negative had happened, at a point I thought it mearnt my exams but I had passed it, what did it mean?..I kept praying though that nothing bad would happen. Serena sat beside me
now because she was Serena, even though I had not gone for the burial she forgave me, I guess she just finally understood that it would never work and had given up on her scheming, though I
also always refused her invitation to hang out,
she was associated with someone I didn’t care to think about, hanging out with her would make it impossible not to think about him.. so it was a no no..especially as Serena told me he was returning to Nigeria from where he had been after his mother was buried. I hoped and prayed
he wouldn’t come looking for me..going for the party in the first place had been a huge mistake on my part.

I knew now without a doubt that who my father had seen was him, Martin would never watch me like that, it was Sean who was dark and brooding..as for the tears, I feared for the worst, my Virginity or my Salvation are the only two things that would make me cry like that…and he was capable of taking them..
Serena snapped her fingers in front of my face
“Earth to Millie”
“How long is he staying?” I suddenly asked
“A month I guess..then he’s going back for his masters and might never return, he says there’s nothing here left for him”