Caught In the Storm – Chapter Four

2:00pm

The sun was still hidden by dark clouds, casting a gloomy hue over the estate. The rain had slowed to a drizzle, with the cold winds still blowing across the scenery.

Monique had eased onto a sofa while David went into the kitchen to get some refreshments. She gave the room a cursory glance, her eyes searching for the slightest hints on the kind of man he was. It was classy yet simple, having a crisp earthy floral scent that added elegance to the room. It had the exquisite designs that portrayed his bachelorhood.

However, it lacked the grace of a feminine touch, raising her hopes that he was single. Her eyes caught the large TV, noticing the PlayStation with two consoles sitting there. She debated if requesting to play a few rounds of FIFA would paint her as being too forward. It probably would.

David soon returned with two cans of soda and a large pack of Oreos. Her stomach fluttered watching him serve her.

“Thank you,” she said coyly. He simply smiled in response and reclined unto a different sofa. Her eyes followed his every move, gazing at him like some work of art. He was a sight to behold. Brown-skinned, muscular and bearded, definitely her kind of man.

After a while, she noticed how uneasy he was under her steady gaze; how he pretended to study the list of contents engraved on the can just to avoid her eyes. His body language revealed how nervous he was around her. Occasionally, their eyes would meet, but he would give her a quick tight-lipped smile then he’d turn away. This went on for a while, and she was starting to regret coming over.

She wondered if he was always this shy. Surely, a man with a face like that would be used to this much attention. She longed for him to say something, the silence was getting really awkward. Suddenly, an idea crossed her mind and her eyes glinted with mischief.

“You’ve got a nice place, David.” She said, finally breaking the ice.

“Oh, um…thanks. I haven’t really settled in yet. It’s just been a week, you know.” He replied, raising the can to his mouth.

“Cool. So, where’s the bedroom so we can get down to business?”

His soda went down the wrong pipe, causing him to choke and spill it unto his T-shirt. He coughed while holding his chest, half-wondering if this was a mistake while her naughty laughter rang across the room.

“I’m so sorry, you should’ve seen your face,” she said, slightly wheezing from hysterical laughter. “You were nervous, so I figured I’d lighten the mood.”

David gave a nervous tight lipped smile, dropping the can on the stool beside the sofa while trying hard to reel in his displeasure for such jokes. Staring at the stain on his white shirt, he grimaced slightly.

“I’m really sorry about your shirt,” she said apologetically, noticing the change in his demeanor.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s alright,” he said, trying to brighten his countenance. “To be honest, you’re the last person I expected to be at the door.”

“Yeah, I can understand that. Well, the thing is, my friend’s been out all day and the silence at home was choking me. Plus, I kinda had a bad day,” she replied, turning her attention to the can in her hand.

David noticed the pain hidden in her tone. “I’m sorry to hear that. But is that why you came over?”

Monique kept her eyes on the can, thinking of her response. She truly didn’t know why she had come here. It seemed like a good idea at first, but now all logical reasons seemed to flee from her mind. She had no idea what to say or how to begin.

The Spirit echoed something in David’s heart. The instruction came with clarity and his nervousness dissipated. He edged forward on his seat, his expression laced with concern.

“Why don’t you… tell me about your day? What happened?” He asked, his tone revealing his concern.

Monique looked at him for a moment, feeling a bit skeptical. Of all the things she had imagined she’d be doing in his house, a therapy session was not one of them. She was silent for a while, running her fingers through her hair while giving it some thought. Looking into the eyes of this masterpiece of a man, she didn’t know when she started talking.

“You know how… you just wake up and you get all up in your feelings?” She asked softly. David nodded.

“Well, that’s how my morning went. And when that happens, I just begin to remember a lot of awful things that have happened over the years. It’s been rough, I’m not gonna lie,” she continued, opening the can.

“I’m sorry to hear that. Do you want to talk about it?” David asked, his gaze still on her.

“Well, I obviously… can’t exactly… tell you everything… right now. But I can tell you the most recent crap I’m dealing with at the moment.” She replied, half-enjoying the attention he was giving her.

“I’m all ears. Shoot.” He responded, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“Okay, um… yeah so, Eight months ago, I worked for an independent sales agency. You know, generating leads and some other sales rep stuff for companies that needed it. I mean, It was time consuming and nerve wracking for me, but the pay was worth it so I couldn’t complain…” She began, casually taking a sip from her can.

“Later on, business went south for the agency and they decided to lay off some people. Unfortunately, I was one of those people. Since then, I haven’t been able to secure a job.” She said, a strong wave of sadness suddenly hitting her. Her mood began to wane almost instantly, feeling the emotional wound open again.

“Wow, that must’ve been hard for you.” David said softly, his gaze filling with compassion.

“Oh, it’s alright. I mean, when bad things keep happening, you tend to stop being surprised when they do.” She said with a sad smile. It was a smile that had a certain twist to it, like the smile of a child determined not to cry. She paused for a while, her eyes fixed on the can while she struggled with her emotions.

“Now I have all these debts to pay, and no source of income.” She said finally. She could feel the frustrations build up again, just like in the morning with Sonia. She had come here to get away from all of it, and so far it wasn’t looking like such a good idea.

Her sad gaze stayed locked on the can in her hand, staring at it intensely in a bid to avoid his eyes. What on earth was she doing? This was certainly not the kind of conversation she thought they would be having. She had to think of a way to change the subject.

“By the way, this soda tastes amazing. Must be the way you carried it…” She chortled with a fake smile, desperate to keep her emotions in check.

David gave her a warm smile. He could see the pain she was trying to hide. It was like a dark cloud, just like the ones outside, waiting to empty itself of all the weight it’d been carrying.

“I feel you’ve got more to say, Monique.”

“God, please just let it go. I mean, I’m darkening the mood with my sob story,” she lamented.

“I’m not complaining. Maybe, rather than just laughing and forgetting these issues that’ll come back to haunt you later, we could just confront them. Maybe… this is what you need.”

Monique let out a heavy sigh, jutting her bottom lip out and redirecting the airflow towards her dangling braids. Emotions had welled up inside her. A part of her wondered why it was hard to say no to him. She barely knew him, and yet she felt so comfortable talking to him. Nervous thoughts flooded her mind, questioning her choice to share more. Why did he even care?

Everyone had their own problems to deal with, why would someone who barely knew her care? Most people who showed interest often had ulterior motives. But then again, there was this aura around him that felt different. She couldn’t quite tell what it was, but it was there. It was like an atmosphere of peace oozed from within him, and it scared her.

Realising she had been quiet for a while, she cleared her throat.

“Well…umm, sorry,” she stuttered, breathing out a pained laugh. She could feel the emotions climb up her throat and form a lump.

“Wow, this is… harder than I thought,” she said with a wry smile.

“Don’t worry, take your time.” David replied softly.

Turning her gaze again to the can in her hand, her eyes glistened with tears she begged not to fall.

“I… um, I got… an eviction notice last night. My rent is due… and I don’t have any money.” She began, her vision blurring slightly from the tears. “I don’t exactly have the best relationship with my parents, so I can’t… ask them for any help. And, my siblings say that they don’t have any cash to spare.”

She turned to look at him with her glistening eyes. “I just feel like less of a person, because I have to constantly keep asking my friend for help. Don’t get me wrong, It’s not pride, it’s just that… she’s done so much for me already and I can’t help but feel like I’m leeching off her. Sometimes, I really wish I could do something to appreciate her but…” her voice trailed off, choking on her tears. She sobbed softly.

David got up and grabbed a tissue box from a wooden cabinet.

“Hey, it’s alright.” He cooed, handing her the box of tissue. Reducing his frame to a squat, he let his hand rest on her arm.

“I just feel like a burden some times, you know? What if she feels that way too? What if she can’t help me out this time?” she sniffed, wiping her tears with the tissue.

“I understand how you feel…”

“Gosh, I’m really sorry. I’m ruining your evening.” She said quickly wiping her tears, trying to control her emotions.

“No, it’s okay. You don’t have to apologise.” David replied softly. “I think that it’s a noble thing, to want to be independent. But I also believe that these assumptions you’re making won’t solve your problems.”

She turned to face him, raising a curious eyebrow.

“Asking for help doesn’t make you a burden, Monique. I mean, even the richest of men have needed help once in a while. Being helped sometimes just means you have favour with men, that you have people who really care about you. You’re very lucky to have a friend that helps you out. People don’t usually have those kinds of friends. Some people have friends that would love to, but lack the ability to do so. Others have friends who can, but won’t. You have both in a friend, and I believe she would be happy to help out. And for what it’s worth, when you get on your feet again, which I know you will, you’d be able to reciprocate, even though she may not be expecting you to.” He explained.

She nodded slowly, feeling the emotions clearing up. “But what if I never get on my feet? What if she feels I’m asking for too much but doesn’t say anything about it?” She asked, anxiety cowering beneath her tone.

“Every friendship needs communication. Talk to her about how you feel. Make her understand that ‘no’ isn’t offensive to you. If she cares about you, and it’s not much of an inconvenience, I know she’ll help you out.” He said finally.

A small smile tugged at the edge of her lips. Just like that, some of her insecurities were gone like smoke before the wind. She felt the burden drain out of her heart. Sonia actually did care about her. She stared at him for a while, finally registering how close they were to each other. In seconds, her mind created scenarios of her reciting her wedding vows to him.

“Thank you, David.” She said smiling, trapped under his smoldering gaze.

“You’re welcome…” He replied with a smile. Raising his frame, he stood up and walked back to his seat.

“Just to be clear, if I hear anything about this from anyone, I will kill you.” She warned. David responded with a hearty laugh.

“This is absolutely weird. I never discuss my issues with people I barely even know. I hardly even do that with the people I do know. What did you do to me? What did you put inside this drink?” She asked playfully.

“I guess this evening was a surprise to both of us,” David replied with a laugh.

“Do you know the weird part?” She asked.

“What?”

“I…feel a whole lot better,” she said with a small laugh. It wasn’t just about the words he said, there was something about him that put her at ease.

“Thank God. I’m really glad I was able to help out a friend,” he replied, picking up his can again.

Friend. The word went into her heart like a sharp knife, causing momentary chest pain. The distance between their hearts suddenly became very clear to her. Fighting the look of disappointment from reaching her facial muscles, she forced a smile.

“I also want you to know something, Monique. I need you to know that God loves you. And…He’s the reason all this happened.”

“That’s really cute, David.” She replied, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. God loved her? Well, He had a very funny way of showing it.

Her phone buzzed, cutting the conversation short. It was a message from Sonia.

“I’m sorry, I have to go now,” She said getting up.

“Oh, everything okay?” He asked.

“Yeah, my friend’s back.” She replied. David stood up and offered to walk her out.

At the door, she gave him a tight hug, burying her head into his broad chest. “Thank you for today. I really hope we can hang out again some time.”

“Um, sure… maybe …anytime.” He stuttered, awkwardly hugging her back.

---

Days later…

Sunday was never like any other day of the week, especially in Lagos. It was a day the streets were blissfully empty, the traffic jams were minimal and everyone tried to rein in their ill behaviours in an attempt to keep the day holy. It was a day the sounds of praises collided with the swelling voices of preachers, and the sound of mighty organs rendered blissful nostalgic hymns. It held so much importance that it began the previous evening for most people. The nerve wrecking task of choosing a good outfit, the bubbly excitement of meeting fellow brethren, the strenuous cooking done the day before, and the realization that the weekend lasted only thirty minutes, all made Sunday stand out from other days of the week.

At 6:30am, David was already in the shower, being one who hated being tardy. He had been a member of ‘The Assembly of Saints’ church for a couple of years. Having received the life of God as early as his secondary school days, and having a strict moral upbringing thanks to his parents, he didn’t have much trouble fitting into the church.

At some point in time, David had been confused about a lot of things. His life had hit rock-bottom and his faith had become weak. It had been a blessing in disguise when a member of the church walked up to him during one of his extremely unsure job hunts. He was given words of encouragement that lifted his spirit, and afterwards was handed a flier. Five years later, he now served in the local assembly as part of the protocol department, hence the need to be there early.

Gazing into the tall modern mirror in his bedroom, he quickly knotted his dark-coloured tie over the white collared shirt. The dream he had the previous night kept replaying in his head. It was about a little girl, running around in circles with her palms covering her ears, crying out in pain. Dark figures in the form of shadows were floating around her, screaming horrible accusations into her ears. She had kept begging them to stop, verbally denying all their horrid accusations. But after a while they wore her out, overwhelming her with their dark screams. She had sunk to her knees and dropped her palms, finally accepting every derogatory name they had called her. The dream puzzled David greatly because it was the third time this week he had it.

Realising he had been lost in thought for too long, he quickly slipped into the pair of black polished cap toe shoes and reached for his black suit. Slipping it on, he gave his look a thorough assessment. Turning his face to the side, he admired the new haircut he had gotten the previous night. The crew-cut fade connected perfectly with his neatly carved beards. After striking a number of magazine-cover worthy poses, he decided he was done with his vanity. Glancing at his watch, he hurriedly put on his cologne and set off to church.

~~~~~~~~

Service was glorious. Every single section had pointed to the person of the Christ. The worship had sent many into tears, leaving people standing with lifted hands, some completely lost in the bliss of God’s presence as the lyrics escaped their lips. Others had laid flat on the ground, silently soaking in the atmosphere. The prayers had been heartfelt and intense, relieving many of the burdens they had carried. The word had come with power and precision. Pastor Nathaniel had spoken on “God in the believer”, reiterating the gift of the Holy Ghost. Spontaneous shouts of joy had erupted at intervals with each point he dropped.

At the end of the service, the building buzzed with warm greetings, photograph sessions and unit meetings. David stood by a corner, waiting for a time when pastor Nathaniel would be free from the people surrounding him. Whilst looking, he felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning, a smile broke out on his face.

“Ah oga! how far na,” Simon greeted cheerfully.

“Ah ahn! Baba wetin dey happen,” David replied, clasping his friend’s hand and pulling him into a pound hug.

“Bros I just dey o, see as you fresh finish! Ah ahn, James Bond for Jesus. We are at your mercy sir, please teach us your ways.” Simon said, glancing at his outfit.

“Abeg bros leave that thing, who we be for where you dey? See as you sharp, you sure say you no dey steal this drip from that una hospital?” David joked, admiring the sleek blue senator attire he had on.

Simon laughed and surrendered in humility. David quickly gazed momentarily at the pastor, confirming he was still occupied.

“It’s good to see you, man. We missed you last week. How’re you settling in and how’s the new job going?”

“Oh, it’s been good. The job is a bit tasking but we are strong. The house is amazing too, quite big for a bachelor though,” David replied, slipping his hands into his pockets.

“No worry, we go soon do official visit. Make we pop small wine ontop your head,” Simon joked.

“Ah Bros, nothing spoil na. Provide the wine, I’ll provide where we will pop it.”

“Who is this one? No use us play o!” Simon warned jokingly. They both shared a good laugh.

Simon was one of the first people that had warmed up to David when he first arrived at the church. He had followed him up personally on teachings and commitment, ensuring he understood whatever he needed to.

David admired Simon for his dedication. Whilst working a nerve-wracking schedule as a young doctor, he still managed to teach during bible study anytime he was opportune to. They had become very good friends, even though they seldom saw each other due to his busy schedule.

The crowd around the pastor had greatly diminished. Seeing his opening, he waved his friend off politely and rushed over. Bowing respectfully, he greeted Pastor Nathaniel and requested to see him. After a few more pleasantries with other members, the pastor led David to his office.

“Please, have a seat.” Pastor Nathaniel offered, reclining unto his chair.

“Thank you very much, sir.” He replied, wearing a bright smile. Pastor Nathaniel had been his mentor for the past five years, but he still never got used to sitting with him in the office. There was a mixed feeling of excitement and honour he had towards him.

“So, how are you? And how’s everything going?” Pastor Nathaniel asked with a warm smile.

“Everything’s wonderful, sir. I just wanted to let you know about some recent developments,” David replied, trying hard to contain his excitement.

“Oh please, go ahead.” The pastor replied, inching forward.

David went on to narrate the events of the past few weeks, from meeting Tony to getting a good job and finally moving into his own house.

“All glory to God, David. That’s very wonderful. I’m happy for you. God is indeed faithful.” Pastor Nathaniel said.

“Thank you very much sir.”

“And I pray you see more favour in your life,” Pastor Nathaniel blessed.

“Amen, sir. Thank you so much.” David replied. The image of the girl in his dream suddenly flashed across his mind. His eyebrows furrowed slightly, debating on whether to share it.

“Is there something else on your mind?” The pastor inquired, sensing the burden in David’s heart.

David nodded. He went on to narrate the strange dreams he had been having. He described the strong desire to pray that followed each time he woke up. Pastor Nathaniel looked at him intently, his intense gaze nearly piercing through David’s soul. Muttering under his breath, he smiled in a way that put David at ease.

“David, be at rest. God is just trying to show you what He is set to do through you. He is set to use you particularly for something, or for someone.” He explained, smiling all the way.

David nodded slowly, still harbouring some skepticism.

“But what am I supposed to do?” David asked.

“Your part is to be led, David. It is God’s will, and it is God’s work. Just follow the leading of the Spirit. As the instructions drop in your heart, don’t argue with them. Just do them, and God would work out the rest. Be watchful in prayers too. It’s imperative that you do so. Prayers would keep you in line with God’s will, and put your feelings at bay. The work is great, so you’ve got to be prepared.” The pastor replied.

David was starting to worried. What on earth did God want him to do? And why was it sounding so big? Who was the girl he kept seeing in his dreams?

“Don’t be troubled, David. Don’t think this is something that’s beyond you. You are mighty in God’s hand. You carry Him in your inside. You’re going to be alright, just trust God. It’s the only way to be about His work. Let me pray with you.” The pastor offered, stretching his hands across the table.

David held them and bowed as Pastor Nathaniel prayed for Him.

---

Sunday night…

Nestled in her comfy sofa and cozy with her blanket, Sonia’s eyes were glued to the large TV while she munched from a bowl of popcorn. The lights were turned off, allowing the flickering screen illuminate the room. The volume boomed through, giving the room a cinema feel. Her body was covered in a sea of stray popcorn, with some littered on the ground.

Monique walked into the sitting room holding another big bowl with two spoons sticking out of it.

“I thought I told you to pause it,” Monique whined.

“Yeah, but you were taking too long.” Sonia replied, pausing the movie.

“I wasn’t even gone five minutes, you will just be misbehaving anyhow,” Monique replied, clicking her tongue in fake annoyance. “Abeg shift.“

“What flavour is it?” Sonia asked, scooting over.

“Chocolate and vanilla.” Monique replied, smiling sheepishly.

Sonia smiled and adjusted to grab a spoon. Taking a scoop, she rolled her eyes, moaning at the sweet flavours dancing on her taste buds.

“Thanks for letting me move in with you,” Monique said quietly.

“Oh please, don’t worry about that. I mean, we’re practically sisters. Besides, this house is quite huge.” Sonia replied, filling her mouth with another spoon of ice cream.

Monique smiled, feeling grateful. She had been served an eviction notice a week earlier but found it hard to tell Sonia because she didn’t want to burden her with her own problems. Distraught and confused, she found herself walking round the estate under the drizzling rain until she found herself infront of David’s door. David had been right, Sonia nearly threw a fit about her not saying anything earlier.

“I Iove you, Sonia.” Monique said softly.

“Don’t be weird, please.”

Monique frowned and pinched Sonia’s legs, making her laugh.

“When will you be done moving in?”

“Don’t worry, by tomorrow I’ll officially be your personal parasite.” she replied.

“I’ll just chain you outside. Try me.” Sonia said giggling. She took another large scoop.

“See the way you’re eating this thing like yam, ehn? Chill na babe,” Monique joked. Sonia nearly snorted ice cream out her nose while Monique cackled at the sight.

“So I went to see the new guy earlier.”

“Oh God, You’ve gone to embarrass yourself.” Sonia facepalmed. Monique rolled her eyes at the comment.

“Anyways, can you believe this guy legit locked me in the friend zone? A whole me? Like, can you imagine? The one guy that I actually feel I could settle down with, shows absolutely no interest in me. This life no balance sha.” Monique lamented.

Sonia was hysterical. “Don’t beat yourself up about it. He probably wasn’t any good.”

“I mean, who wouldn’t want all of this?” Monique asked, ignoring the previous comment.

“I’m sorry, all what?” Sonia asked sarcastically, raising her eyebrows in amusement.

Monique got up and spun round dramatically. “All this! You see these hips? They don’t lie. You understand? Sho ti gbo?“

“Okay, okay, you don’t have to go all yoruba on me,” Sonia said giggling. “So did you tell him you had feelings for him?”

“I’d rather eat a Jean jacket… with all the metal buttons.”

“Don’t kill me…” Sonia said laughing as she hit play on the remote. Monique deadpanned her.

The movie ‘Everything, Everything’ played with Sonia’s emotions. Thoughts of love, her parents and other tragedies sprung up in her mind. Gradually, her mood waned like a tea bag put in warm water.

After the movie, she put on her sweatpants and a hoodie, grabbed her Airpods and headed out for a walk. It was a cool windy night, perfect to clear her head.

The neighbourhood was quiet, with just a few people outside. Some jogged, others were couples taking a stroll. She slid her hands into her pockets and watched her feet as she walked, drowning in the music ministering to her soul. The wind whisked gently across her face, slightly cooling her body temperature. Her mind wandered back to her Aunt. She wondered how her Aunt was able to find peace, or at least look that peaceful. Was it real? Did God really give her aunt peace of mind? Her mind echoed Aunt Helen’s words.

‘The peace that you need, is not something you can give yourself. It can only be found in one person alone. And that’s God.‘

What did that even mean? Frustration built up inside her. Peeved, she pulled off the Airpods and looked up into the sky. She imagined a huge ominous being staring down at her. Her voice was silent, but her heart screamed her questions. Why don’t you care? Why didn’t you show up when I needed you? Am I not worth your time? You gave my aunt peace, but left me like this?

“At least, show me for once that you care,” she finally whispered, her eyes glistening with tears.

“Beautiful night, isn’t it?” A masculine voice said. Sonia lowered her head and wiped her eyes. Her nerves buzzed with irritation, wondering who wanted to be unfortunate at this late hour of the night.

“I’m sorry if I interrupted anything. I hope you don’t mind.” he said again, walking closer to her.

What were the odds? It was Monique’s spec. She remembered how he had shown concern after her horrible date night. Sadly, she had been too choked up on emotions at the time to get a very good look at him. With a quick once-over, she understood why Monique acted like she was brain damaged around him. However, she just wanted to be invisible tonight. Any social interaction would probably not paint her in the best light.

“Hello.” She replied coldly, continuing with her walk

“My name’s David,” he said, trying to match her pace.

“Not in the mood, David.” She responded, her eyebrows furrowing in irritation.

“Yeah, I kinda noticed that. What’s wrong?” He asked, still following her.

Sonia facepalmed and let out an exasperated groan, turning to face him.

“Look, David. I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but I really want to be alone right now. Can you make that happen?” She asked in a cocky tone.

David halted, wondering why his nice gestures were met with such animosity. He nodded slowly, taking a step back.

“I’m sorry for the disturbance. Please, enjoy the rest of your evening.” He replied with a tight-lipped smile

“Thank you. Have a goodnight.” She quipped, putting the Airpods back on and walking away.

David stood transfixed. This was not how he expected this to go. Why would He be led to someone so arrogant? Maybe he had heard wrong.

Breathing out softly, he made his way back home.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Hey guys❤. A bit longer than usual, I know. But it was necessary. It’s all gbas gbos from here🔥😁. How do you feel about this chapter? What do you think about David’s advice to Monique? How do you think God would pull this off? What do you think about David and Sonia’s second encounter? Let us know in the comments👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾

Next chapter comes out during the weekend❤. Stay tuned 🔥