The Painful Pleasure (TPP)
EPISODE 19 &20
The next day was a Tuesday, and that day was bible study in my church. I didn’t want to go, as I could have just stayed in the room to read. Because that was a chance to see Aramide again. I wore my only and best pair of shoes, a white shirt with a black pant, and a red tie. I looked at myself in the mirror, and I looked really good. So I headed straight for church.
I got to church early, and I had to seat in front. The 2nd row precisely. In a service of about 800 people, how exactly was I going to see Aramide? The pastor really preached, as I could remember that he was going up, and coming down. My mind wasn’t in the service. I was just surveying the whole congregation. But I couldn’t find her. “Maybe she didn’t come at all.” I thought to myself. Aramide to me didn’t look like someone who would miss weekdays’ service unless she has to be unavoidably absent.
After about 1 hour 30 minutes, the whole programme ended and we shared the grace. I looked around, but couldn’t see any ‘lookalike’ of her. Well, I had to give up, as I was trying to show a strong resolve, though I was very sad on the inside. As I was on the main road looking for a bus, someone called my name. “Dapo!” I knew it was her, or let me say I wished it was her. But you know, wishes do come true. Indeed, it was Aramide.
Aramide: I looked around and didn’t see you, I thought you didn’t come.
Me: Really? I sat at the second row in front. (The reply should have been; same here, but I didn’t want to be forward)
Aramide: Hope you enjoyed the message?
Me: Definitely, I did. The man of God is just so blessed and anointed.
Aramide: Did you hear when he talked about the health center?
Me: Yeah, it was really profound. (I didn’t listen to anything, I just didn’t want to look like a bad Christian).
The buses were coming, but so many people were there, also trying to get a bus. Which means that one would have to struggle to enter the bus, since it was just some minutes to 7pm, I just continued my conversation with Aramide, and didn’t bother rushing for the bus. Aramide did same.
Me: So what church to you attend at hone?
Aramide: RCC
Me: Redeem?
Aramide: Yeah sure.
Me: So you are a redeemer?
Aramide: (Laughing) Jesus is the redeemer, and I’m just the redeemed.
Me: Wow, nice analysis.
We continued discussing, and it was getting really interesting. We just continued. . .
Aramide: Actually, to be sincere, I’ve been looking for you since I entered church. Because there is something I want to ask you, and something I want to tell you.
Me: (My heart beat became ten times faster, because the girl in question is a girl I liked since the first time I saw her. “Is she going to ask me to date her? or tell me she liked me? Or. . .” I kept wondering what she wanted to say as I prepared my big YES for the big question. I was keeping mute for too long, so I had to say something) You said you want to tell me something, and ask me a question. Which one do you want to do exactly?
Aramide: (Laughing) Both.
Me: (Now it seems like it’s what I was thinking, but I just kept calm) So let’s hear the question.
Aramide: The question is: DO YOU. . .
[The Painful Pleasure (TPP)
EPISODE 20
“Do you have a consistent prayer life?” She asked. When I heard the question, it was as if I had been dreaming all the while. What I thought the question would be was “do you love me?” But come to think of it, how can a girl I’m meeting for the second time ask me such question? My love for Aramide had probably affected my psychology. Even if she was so cheap, she couldn’t have asked that question so soon. Even Sandra can’t ask such question. She discovered that I was thinking for too long, then she broke the silence. . .
Aramide: Why are you quiet? You really don’t have a prayer life. Do you?
Me: (I was quite bewildered) Actually, I do have a prayer life. But it hasn’t been really consistent since I came to school. You know Awo is not really a place you can pray comfortably.
Aramide: Prayer isn’t about being convenient. Its a sacrifice you make in and out of convenience. As a Christian, prayer is very important. This is because God is our father, and without communication, we can’t have a good relationship with him. And the only way to talk to God is through prayer.
Me: That’s very true. You told me you both want to ask me something and tell me something, you’ve asked your question, what did you want to tell me? (Hoping for some ‘good news’.)
Aramide: You know what? For the past 3 days, I’ve been going to the sports complex to pray. And if you don’t mind we can become prayer partners.
Me: (I didn’t really like religious activities, but agreeing will make me closer to the one I love) Why not? I would really love to.
Aramide: If that’s the case, give me your number. So I can call you when I’m going.
Me: Alright then. . .
We exchanged numbers, and later on, we got a bus. Her hostel was Alumni, she got off the bus when she got to her hostel. “I will call you” She said.
I got to my hostel and told Mayowa the whole story. He made jest of me, and told me that he had warned me earlier about church girls. No matter what he said, I was still going to go anyway. If praying would make me closer to the one I love, I decided to become a prayer warrior.
The following day? Aramide called me as she promised and we went to pray together. We prayed for almost an hour. That was around 8pm-9pm. That became our regular praying time after which we will go to read. Aramide taught me a lot of things (not academics). I really gained a lot from being her prayer partner. We were always together from 8pm till 12am everyday. My academics and spiritual life took a new turn.
That made me love her so much, I was literarily burning with passion. “But what if I tell her and she decides to stop being my prayer and reading partner? How will I forgive myself? It is better to keep mute and not lose her, than to to tell her my feelings for her and lose her. If she should tell me “NO”, our relationship and closeness can never be the same.” I thought to myself.
So I decided to keep my feelings for Aramide to myself, and keep it strictly on friends basis. Though it was really painful, but I had to learn to control myself.
What next? Find out in Episode 21.
