Chapter Forty-six
Michael was so annoyed and frustrated that he didn't even eat before bed.
As he lay in bed, he kept turning, tossing, and hissing under his breath.
Of all the women God could have chosen for him, God had to choose the one who was as stubborn as a goat.
What did he say to warrant her saying they didn't have to be friends if he was ashamed of her? Was she that proud of herself? What was wrong with asking her not to expose herself that way to everyone?
Yes, he understood her points, especially after she said she felt led to do it, so why couldn't she have waited for him to say what was on his mind before opening her mouth waaa like a donkey?
Michael hissed again as he turned to the other side. When he remembered the following day was Sunday, he hissed and sat up.
He was sure she wouldn't expect him to pick her up or hang out with her as planned. Why would he do any of that after what she said?
From then on, he would behave as if he didn't know her. When they saw each other in church, he would treat her like every other congregant.
"God knows that I've tried. Let her go. It's not a do-or-die affair. I will rather remain single for the rest of my life than marry a stubborn goat abi donkey."
As he lay down again to sleep, his phone rang. He glanced at it, half expecting it to be Amara, but he was surprised to see it was his sister.
He received the call, "Why are you calling me so late at night?"
"Since when did 10 p.m. become late for you? And why are you sounding like you're upset? Did something happen?" Deborah asked, concerned by his tone.
"Because I am upset," Michael admitted.
"Hm. What happened? Who provoked you? Or did you quarrel with your babe?" She asked with a teasing smile.
Michael hissed angrily. "What babe? I don't have any babe."
Deborah laughed. "Ahan! This is about Amara, abi? I know you don't get angry easily. What did she do?"
"Just hear me out and tell me if I'm being unreasonable," Michael said, then narrated all that happened to her.
"Wow! You mean she told the whole choir unit something like that?"
"Can you imagine that? And I'm telling her, the best she can say is that if I'm ashamed of her we don't have to be friends. From where to where? Yes, I was annoyed and disappointed she told everyone about that, but I'm not the one they will gossip about at the end of the day. How can she not see I'm trying to look out for her?"
"Was that really what was on your mind when you were talking to her? Did you talk to her thinking about her reputation or how her reputation will affect yours?" Deborah asked calmly.
Michael hesitated, "Isn't it the same thing? If I'm marrying her, I should worry about her reputation."
"Maybe you need to make up your mind and decide if you can be with her or not. Whether you like it or not, she has that reputation already. It won't be hidden, no matter how you try to keep it a secret. You might even run into men she's been with some years down the line. What will you do then? Get mad at her?"
Michael frowned. "Are you supporting her?"
"I'm just saying you need to decide if you want her with her past or not. She is a person with a past. You can't embrace her but push away her past or hide from it simultaneously. You should know her past is also a part of her. And maybe you should open up to her and tell her why you feel so strongly about her decision. Maybe if she knows how you feel, she'll be more understanding and try to think about you before doing stuff like that next time."
Michael sighed. "I've heard you. Why did you call me?"
"No o. I can't tell you until you're in a good mood. They nuh dey beg who dey vex," she said, and Michael laughed.
"So it's about money?"
Deborah laughed. "Yes. But I will tell you the amount when you feel better. Maybe tomorrow, after you've settled with her. You can still settle before you sleep…"
"How much do you want?" Michael asked suspiciously.
"Good night. I will call you tomorrow," she said and quickly hung up.
After the phone call, Michael lay in bed for some minutes thinking about what Deborah had said, and then he said his prayers and went to sleep.
He woke up early the next morning, and after getting ready, he left for the workers' meeting in church.
Although he didn't want to pick Amara up, his mind kept troubling him throughout the workers' meeting, and when he remembered that she had a visitor over, he decided to go get her just before Sunday school.
As he drove to her place, he wondered what she would think when he showed up. As he approached the street, he saw her walking down the road with another young lady as they tried to flag down a tricycle.
Amara's heart skipped a beat when she saw his car approaching. She wondered if he was going to her place to pick her up or just passing by since he had not called to let her know he was coming.
"It's like that car is stopping for us," Ada observed when Michael pulled over a few feet from them.
Michael didn't get out of his car. He remained in his seat and stared at Amara, waiting for her to come. Amara also remained where she stood, waiting for him to beckon to her.
When Amara did not make any move, Michael sighed. "God, I know you created her, but why is she stubborn like a goat?"
Michael honked his horn three times to get her attention, and Amara almost smiled but pressed her lips together.
"It's like the driver is honking for us," Ada said, and Amara nodded.
"It's Pastor Michael. Let us go," she said, and Ada looked at her in disbelief as she approached the car.
"You knew he was the one, and you stood there like that? Wetin dey work you sef?" Ada asked, but Amara did not say anything as she stopped by the car.
Michael didn't say a word to her. He opened the car door from inside, and Amara entered, while Ada entered the backseat.
"Good morning, sir," Ada greeted politely.
Michael turned to her and smiled. "Good morning. Happy Sunday."
"Same to you. Thank you for stopping to carry us. My name is Ada. I am Amara's friend," Ada said, and Michael nodded.
"My name is Michael," he responded before returning to the road.
As he drove, neither Michael nor Amara said a word to the other. They both wanted the other to speak first.
Ada's gaze was focused on Michael in the backseat. When Amara said he was fine, she had not expected such a fine guy or someone with such a car.
She glanced at Amara and felt like using something to hit her head. How could she be acting proud and pushing such a man away if he was trying to be in her life despite knowing her past?
As far as Ada was concerned, she needed to talk some sense into Amara so she wouldn't chase away her destiny changer.
When they arrived at the church, Amara glanced at Michael as they all got out of the car, "Thank you," she murmured.
"It can't be me you're talking to, Sister Amara," Michael muttered before walking away, and Ada laughed.
"He's very petty," Amara said, smiling as she watched him go. She knew he had referred to her as Sister Amara because she had called him Pastor Michael before walking away.
"You get very anyhow character, Amara. You get luck say that guy like you sha. You just get eye but you nuh wan use am see," Ada said with a shake of her head.
Amara shook her head. "See as you dey call man of God guy. You nuh get fear…"
"Nuh be guy he be before? Na babe? Abeg, allow me see road," Ada said, walking away from Amara to get to the church.
Emma walked over to them as they approached the entrance and smiled at Amara. "Good morning. How are you?"
"Good morning, brother Emma. I'm fine. You?" Amara asked politely, while Ada looked at Emma, wondering how Amara was getting the attention of such fine guys.
"I'm okay," Emma said before glancing at Ada.
"This is my best friend, Ada. She's visiting me," Amara said.
Emma held out a hand to Ada, and they shook hands. "It's nice to meet you," he said, and she smiled.
"Same here," Ada said before following Amara inside the church.
The moment they walked in through the door, Amara could tell that almost everyone had heard the story. People turned to look at her, and some whispered.
"Everybody is looking at you. Be like say I choose the wrong Sunday visit you. Make they nuh go dey think say I be your partner," Ada whispered to Amara as they sat down.
Amara laughed and smiled at a lady she caught staring at her.
As the service progressed, Amara found herself staring at Michael often. When he came to lead prayers, she didn't close her eyes. She was too distracted to do that. She was busy wondering if what Ada said was true and if Michael really liked her that way.
On the other hand, Michael also discreetly looked at Amara as the service progressed. He noticed how she seemed unfazed by the attention she was getting from others.
He wondered if she'd be able to hang out with him now that her friend was around. When he caught himself thinking that, he quickly reminded himself that he didn't plan to take her out anymore, but even as he told himself that, he realized it was a lie.
Despite his irritation, he still wanted to go out with her. He enjoyed her company and didn't want to cut her off.
After the service was over, Amara hesitated, wondering whether she should leave or wait for Michael, who had gone in for the ministers' prayers.
Before she could make up her mind, his text came in. [Even though you're very annoying, still wait, I'll drop you off.]
"Why are you smiling?" Ada asked, and Amara turned and showed her the text.
"Better apologize to him and stop misbehaving. My head nuh dey forbid for my best friend to marry better man…"
"Marriage ke?" Amara exclaimed.
"Does he look like someone who will be with you just to date you? He will definitely want to marry you. Behave yourself o. You know that saying 'Show me your friend and I'll tell you who you are,' abi? This time, na 'show me your best friend's husband, and I'll tell you who your husband is'. I use God beg you, nuh let this guy pass you. Maybe na your marriage God wan use bring my own husband."
Amara laughed. "I thought you said if he enter your eye you go take am?"
"Man were dey vex for you and he still come carry you come church and still want drop you for house? Your personal, handsome, spirit-filled Uber driver? I want my own man abeg."