The sun hung up there, it shun on its fierceness. There were sounds of band, multiple bands. There were trumpets, it was like a funfair as the fiercing sun glittered on the lemon apron of the church members. They were in our area announcing their up coming crusade. There were many horses which were worn those aprons, so were Keke and motorcycles. The entire area were charged with the church members and their aprons.
Then, army of the congregation moving, dancing, gyrating, singing and sharing their flyers aggressively. Some of them with their megaphones, announcing about their upcoming church program, inviting one and inviting all. Igwe and I sat in a beer parlour consuming our beers, eating our dry meats and discussing when she came to our table to share the flyers and their testimonial magazines.
She wore her apron on a fitted long gown. I looked at her deeply, she did not belong to the church, she was not supposed to be among them. Beyond her face which was devoid of make up, no earrings on her ears, and her knotted headgear, she is very beautiful. I began to imagine how her shape would look like on jeans trousers.
She looked at me closely and told me she would want me to to come to that crusade because there's something special about me. I accepted to come because there's something very special about her.
"Yes, I will come if only you could give me your number. I have driven passed your church and have embraced the mammoth crowd at your Ijesha headquarters." She stretched her hand to collect my phone, her fingers were so slim, so fair, so straight and so long. I tossed my phone, she dialed her number and it began to ring with their usual church song.
"Why not save your name on the phone?" I said, as the sounds, the announcement and the noises occupied the space. She saved her number with 'Sister Chiamaka.' Immediately Sister Amaka left, I felt like leaving with her, I felt like borrowing an apron and megaphone to announce with them. She had charmed me, not with her religious flyers but with her beauty and shape.
Igwe tried to make me to concentrate on our discussions and drinks but he himself lacked concentration as Sister Amaka's presence violated our concentration. Nothing made sense than to join Chiamaka. Igwe confessed she is very beautiful, begged me to share her number with him. We usually do that with other girls but not with Amaka. He tried to blackmail me on how we usually share phone numbers of our newly catch for everyone to try his luck.
That had been our characteristics. Get a girl, sleep with her, find out her key points, and share her numbers with your guys but with strick warnings of not bringing her where she could meet the other guys. The rules are simple, make it look like none of us know each other. Just play your own card and pass the numbers around to other guys.
For three days, I did not call Sister Amaka, three long days unlike me, but there's something special about her. Every time I dialed her number, I would end the call before it rings. Her phone number was registered on WhatsApp but I didn't want to chat her. I was just contented on dating her in my imagination but scared of losing her for real. I decided I could call her whenever I get to her church.
A day before the date for the crusade, my phone rang.
"Am I on with Brother Iyke?" Amaka asked with sweetness of her voice.
"Yes, Sister Amaka, this is Iyke."
"I called to remind you about the crusade and to encourage you to come and receive Christ in his fullness."
"Sister Amaka, I have ironed my clothes, polished my shoes and washed my car. What remains is for the day to burst free and you will see me." I told her and heard her crackled with laugher.
"You are just funny Brother Iyke. May God bless you. Just call me when you get to the church." She hung the call.
As usual, Pastor Laz did not disappoint on his sermon as he mounted on the pulpit with his exaggerated coat worn on the apron. No sinner who would not repent on the message, I almost repented but how could I repent when Amaka was my target? While she was after my soul, I was after something else. I was not sure what it was but Sister Amaka was just difference from other ladies I have met.
The church was over, Sister Amaka was with me, but she was occupied with other activities. Despite the shapeless gown she wore, she was still very beautiful, extremely beautiful. Five days of the crusade, I attended religiously, I also made sure she saw me on those days.
Soon, we gradually became friends that we could share little things about ourselves. What we do and where we were from. Amaka is from Anambra State, I am from Abia State.
A few months after, our closeness were becoming closer that Sister Amaka promised to visit me, I could not believe me, Igwe could not believe either, Saturday she promised to visit refused to come....
The Chronicles Of Bad Boys!
Episode 2.....
Amaka was the first to initiate a conversation on WhatsApp. As early as 5am, she would send me a copy and paste religious or motivational bible quotes and prayers. At times, she would send me her own voice prayers, all for encouragement. These had given me enough room to carefully snailed into her heart.
One thing I found about Amaka was that she genuinely liked me and freely getting close to me. She had mentioned about our Saturday appointment many times that I understood she was looking towards a robust outing. I had kept this appointment away from my guys lest they throw spanner in my workshop. Igwe was no longer comfortable with my activities and constant going to the church.
He was concerned that soon, I would join them to wear apron. He said he did not hate the church but he dislikes the apron most of them wore on their beautiful clothes. I did not like it either, it most times make one appear awkward. However, I must tolerate it and start to like it.
Amaka had made it known to me that we would not see in an enclosed area, I was not expecting to see her in any place enclosed place. No matter how sluggish and refusal of Saturday, it finally came. I did not sleep because it would be my first time I would see Amaka outside the church.
Chicken Republic had newly opened at Ago/Okota Round About. I told her we would meet there, she wholeheartedly accepted it. A few minutes past 3pm, we were already there. Amaka wore a finely tailored gown without apron. She had a long virgin hair which she weaved all back.
We lined up to buy food and drinks. She took a plastic fanta, I took water, wishing I could do the miracle of converting the water to beer as Pastor Laz recently preached about the first miracle of Christ.
Chicken Republic was no longer conducive enough as children and teenagers did not allow us to eat our food in peace. Amaka did not want to mention it, but her silence had said it all.
"Can we leave here for another place?" I asked her, admiring her natural beauty. She was blushing and refused our eyes locking together.
"Another place like where?" She asked avoiding my eyes.
"Possibly a bar."
"A bar is Okay but definitely not that area I saw you at first time. It's too open." She said curtly staring at her almost finished food.
We drove to a bar within Ago. I bought her a plate of fish which she insisted we would eat together. I ordered a bottle of beer for myself to know her reaction, she did not condemn me but reminded me of my new faith and implications of taking it too much.