© Ayo Omolayo
“Good morning sunshine!” I greeted smiling.
She groaned and winced in pain.
“I was almost forgetting you here”, I added with a smile. I was so happy to see her.
“Somehow, we got so busy with a lot and almost forgot our unfinished business”, Silas said.
“She didn’t had a strong body though. I would have survived and recovered on time if it were me”.
“God forbid bad thing!” He replied and I started laughing.
“What kind of statement is that? I should allow tugs throw punches on you or what? God will not allow such an evil thing to happen to us in Jesus name”.
“Charming I was only joking ooo!”
“Say amen before I sieze your phone!” He said as he snatched my phone from my hands.
“Charming! Give me back my phone”, I squealed and stood up.
“Say amen first”,
“I said I was joking!”
“No phone for you”,
I made to grab his hand, but he moved swiftly and I missed.
“Stop na!”
“You’re the one lingering. Say amen and your phone is yours”.
“I’m not saying amen!” I said sulkily.
“Let me enjoy the phone while it’s in my hands”, he said and unlocked it. Of course he knew my password.
“Hmmmmm! Let me snap a picture of angry Jemima!” He said and raised the phone to my face.
I quickly blocked with my palms and attempted to snatch it again, but he was too swift for me.
“Pose well na! I’m trying to take a picture”.
“Give me my phone”, I said and made to grab him. He raised his hand, taking it out of my reach.
I jumped in attempt to reach it, but couldn’t.
“Charming! Stop! We’re in a hospital!” I reminded him.
He placed his arm around my shoulders and held the phone up for a selfie.
“Pretty Christy! Say Charming!”
I smiled and held up two fingers.
“Charming!”
He took the picture.
“Hurray! Does it look good?” I asked.
“Beautiful!” He replied.
“Let me see”.
“No no! You owe me an Amen!”
“Amen my Apostle Paul”.
“What? Say it again”.
“Amen my Apostle Paul. Can I please have my phone?”
“What did you just call me?”
“Give me my phone”, I said and grabbed his hand.
He raised his hand up, preventing me from reaching it.
“Charming please na! I will kneel down for you ooo!”
“Don’t try it!”
“Hmmmmm! You know I’m still studying you. I’m beginning to discover the secret to your strength. It’s like you don’t like when a lady kneels down for you. I’ll see if my discovery is correct very soon”, I said grinning.
“Happy discovery pretty Christy. So back to the question, what did you call me?”
“I don’t know”.
“You don’t know?”
“Yes!”
“Okay”, he said and tried to keep the phone in his trouser pocket.
“Give me my phone! I will shout oo!”
“Shout na!”
I let out a threatening scream and he quickly covered my mouth. I laughed uncontrollably.
“Oya give me my phone”, I said immediately his hands were off my mouth.
“Just say amen and we’re good to go!”
“Okay, let me shout another shout”,
He quickly covered my mouth.
“Okay! Okay! Amen!” I said in muffled sounds.
He released me and gave me my phone.
“You’re not a Charm anymore. You’re a Spell!” I replied as I unlocked my phone.
“Charm or spell. I’m still the best thing that happened in your life”.
“Look at you! Proud man! Jesus is the best thing that ever happened to me in life”. I said admist laughter. He laughed too and held up his hand in surrender.
“Please, I’m not a proud man ooo! I no want trouble ooo”.
“You are! You are taking the place of God”, I said in a mocking tone.
“Okay. Let me rephrase that. Apart from Jesus, what’s the best thing that happened to you in life?”
“The Holy Spirit!” I answered, giving him a mischievous grin.
“Okay fine! After the Holy Spirit”.
“The love of God”.
“After the love of God”.
“The word of God”.
“After the word of God”.
“The Anointing of God”.
“After the Anointing of God”.
“The promises of God”.
“After the promises of God”.
“The revelations God showed me”.
“I give up”, he said and sighed in defeat.
I laughed so hard that my stomach tightened.
“Come and see our pictures!” I called and we both stood looking at them.
“I love this one!” I pointed at one of them.
“I’ll use it as my screen saver”, I said.
“Look at this one. It’s so beautiful and Maggie’s sitting up looking at us…..” Silas said and we both realized that Maggie was still in the hospital ward with us.
How could we have gotten so carried away? Was my Charming this charming? We both got carried away and forgot about her. Not to think of it. Playing in her presence, especially when she’s so much against our relationship. And the painful part was, she’s here in the hospital because of this same relationship.
It must be seriously hurting to watch what she laboured to destroy flourish in her presence. It was as if the love fot more stronger, instead of weaker.
We both turned and saw Maggie watching us.
“Maggie! Sorry to have disturbed you”, I quickly apologized.
“It’s okay!” She said and looked away from me.
I looked at my Charming with that questioning look of, ‘what should I do?’
He shrugged and said nothing.
“Maggie! How are you feeling?” I asked.
“I’m much better”, she said in an unfriendly tone.
“Christy girl! I’ll leave you both. Take it from here. I’m getting the message that she’s not comfortable with my presence”, Silas whispered into my ears.
“Please don’t leave me. I need you by my side”, I whispered back.
“No you don’t. Who’s the best thing that ever happened to you in life!”
“You!” I replied swiftly.
“Big liar!” He replied.
I giggled in low tones and held his hand.
“Oya, I’m sorry! Please stay with me. Tell me how to handle this situation. Give me the tips”.
“Sorry Christy! You have a better tips giver. He wants me to step aside for him. It’s going to be you and him. Just allow him guide you”, he replied and squeezed my fingers gently.
“See you soon. I’ll do a backup prayer as soon as I’m out of here”, he whispered and left.
As soon as the door was shut, Maggie turned to look at me.
“Cris! What’s the meaning of all this? How can you still carry that riff raff around as a husband?
I fought for you and it got me here! Cris! I tried to help you and this is what I get in return. Bruises all over my face. Cris, please I don’t want you to make the biggest mistake in your life. This guy will ruin your reputation. The media would soon be at your doorsteps. Please turn around, now that there’s still time”.
I smiled and placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Maggie! You’re indeed a good friend. You have stood by me and fought for me like a friend should. You went the extra mile just to help me. I really appreciate everything you have done for me.
But there’s one more thing you can do for me. Promise me you would do it”.
“What is it?”
“Stop fighting against my God. You’ll only end up hurting yourself more”.
“Wait! Are you saying Silas is your one true love? That you’re really in love with him and not that he didn’t charmed you?”
“Yes!” I said and have her a warm smile.
“Cris! You mean you did this out of your own freewill?”
“Yes”.
“So you weren’t charmed?”
“Yes”.
“And you said I should stop fighting against God. You mean God is involved in this relationship?”
“Yes”.
“Hmmm! Cris, I was just watching you and Silas as you both were out of this world. All my life, that has been the kind of relationship I dream of having. I was somehow jealous of the two of you.
I saw love. I saw friendship. I saw humility beyond description. You are seriously a rich but humble woman. You know this guy doesn’t deserve you. But you are so humble enough to call him your head. That’s humility. I really wish to enjoy what you’re enjoying.
I’m tired of all my relationship failures. I have failed enough. I want to see myself succeed. Not just in business, but in relationships. I’m tired of all the relationships that never last. Look at your own. Despite all attempts to ensure it doesn’t last. Yet, it’s getting stronger and stronger everyday.
Please, give me this power you carry. This power that makes love look so real and beautiful. I never believed there can be anything like true love. But what I saw today defied my thoughts and conclusions. Please, show me what made you, you”.
I smiled and sat beside her on the bed.
“Maggie! It’s Jesus. Jesus is the secret to this power. But I don’t want you to give your life to him out of your hunger for a happy relationship. Because the first thing to do after surrendering to him is to spend time knowing him.
I want you to accept Jesus for who he is, not for what he can give you. I want you to open up your gates and let the king of glory come in. Yes he can give you true love. Yes he can make life so beautiful for you.
But I don’t want you giving your life to him based on the goody goody he can give. I want you to accept him because you want a relationship with him. I want you to accept him because you love him.i want you to open up your heart and let the King of kings come in.
What do you say? Are you going to say the usual? This Christianity stuff is nonsense. Only fools have time to become Christians. Or will you throw away your garment of pride and humble yourself before God! Will you say you want to think about it? Or grab the bull by the horn.
Now is the accepted time. Tomorrow may be too late. Why not accept Jesus right now and let him give you that satisfaction that boyfriends cannot fill”.
She looked at me with curiosity. I guess she was shocked I mentioned that.
“Yes! There’s a satisfaction that comes only from God. No boyfriend can take his place. No human being can take his place. Nothing in this world can satisfy, except Jesus.
You keep changing boyfriends, but that’s not the solution. The more new boyfriends you have, the more you need a new one. The more you have a drink of immorality on the bed with a new guy, the more you want another guy.
You never get satisfied. Jesus is the satisfaction you have been searching for. Open your arms wide and recieve him. Maggie are you ready?”
“Yes I am! I am tired of becoming a laughing stock among men. I want to be completely different. I want to serve this God that made life heaven on earth for you”.
“Then let’s take the bold step. Give me your hands and repeat these words after me”, I said and stretched my hands towards her.
She gave me her hands and shut her eyes.
I led her to say the sinner’s prayer and she became a born again Christian that very day.
To be continued……
Congratulations Maggie!
At least she’s out of the way. It’s uncle Akinyele we’re coming for now.
Please marriage committee. Is the bridal shower ready?
