IS HE THE ONE? Episode 2 – Rejoice James Jev
I unfolded the sheet of paper with a plain mind.
I was ready for anything, even if it was an insult.
I could feel a few eyes staring at me in a questioning manner, but I cared less.
I didn’t think there was anything that was going to be worse than what I did out there, so anyone could do whatever they liked.
It read, “Please, I will like to see you after the rehearsals.”
I exhaled in exhaustion.
If this guy wanted to tell me about how awful I performed out there, I expected him to have told me straight away and not beat about the bush.
He was looking expectantly at me for a sign of compliance.
I looked at him, and nodded.
After the songs had been properly rehearsed, and duties had been assigned, we welcomed the first timers in our midst, and alowed them to introduce themselves.
We had other first timers in attendance, but I could see the eagerness on the face of almost everyone, when the guy by my side, stood up to speak.
I no longer felt those electrifying sensations I felt earlier on when I saw him; not after publicly disgracing myself in front of everyone including him.
“Good evening, everyone” He had a deep baritone voice, the type that most girls could die for.
He was cool, calm, and collected.
“Good evening, brother” The choir echoed.
“My name is Gideon Jonathan.
I’m a vocalist, and a keyboardist.
I’m excited to be in your midst today”
He said.
“You are welcome!” Everyone said aloud, as they clapped to celebrate him.
My ears went deaf for a few seconds.
Did I hear him say he was a vocalist, as well as a keyboardist?
Goodness! My fears had been confirmed.
This meant that he knew about music to a large extent, and I had performed poorly on stage.
I was certain that he was going to talk to me concerning that.
I was too sure.
The choir rehearsals soon came to an end, and the young men and women found their way out of the auditorium in twos and threes.
Sister Amaka who was well known for her slandering and trouble making, approached me.
I wondered what she had come to say this time.
“Hello, sister” She greeted.
“Hello, sister Amaka.
How are you doing?”
“I give the most high and king of the universe all the praise, my dear sister” She began with her dramatic way of speaking.
Of course I knew that God was the king of the universe, as well as the most high, but this particular question I asked her, didn’t require such an ambiguous response.
She failed to answer the question.
“Alright, sister Amaka.”
“Please, don’t go yet, sister Martha” She told me.
I paused.
“Err… Sister Martha, I have something very serious to tell you.” She informed me.
“Okay, sister Amaka.
Please go straight to the point.”
She cleared her throat mischievously.
“You see, as a fellow chorister, I have your interest at heart.
As a beloved sister of yours in Christ, and as a loving fellow, I want to give you a piece of advice” She began.
I listened on.
“I know you’re already aware that you are not making our MD proud.
You’re supposed to grow above this level, sister Martha.
Why are you doing this to yourself?
With all of your beauty, you still end up embarrassing yourself each time you hold the mic.
Don’t you pity yourself?
Look at how you made yourself look stupid today.
Is it…” She was still saying, when I cut her short.
“Sister Amaka, thank you for your candid advice.
However, I won’t tolerate any form of insult.
Please, next time, don’t use any insultive word on me again, because I won’t take it lightly” I told her, and left.
She was a trouble maker, and I wasn’t going to let her mess with me.
I knew how to handle her kind.
I saw him sitting patiently on a chair, and walked up to him.
“Good evening, brother.
I’m sorry I kept you waiting.
Someone wanted to see me” I apologized.
“No, it’s fine.
I’m not in a hurry anyway.
Do you stay around here?” He asked.
“Yes, where I stay isn’t too far from here.
I’m heading towards that way” I pointed towards the left.
“Alright then.
I think we’re heading the same way.
Let’s be on our way. We’ll discuss as we move.”
We were both silent for about a minute, as we walked out of the church premises.
“You look tensed.
Please don’t be.
Feel free with me.
This is not an interview” He tried to make me feel relaxed.
“No, I’m not tensed.
I’m fine” My shaky voice betrayed me.
I was somewhere between scared and embarrassed, and that restricted my flow with him.
He was sensitive.
He knew I was still locked up.
“Okay.
I wanted to let you know that I like your voice.”
That came as a bomb!
What did he mean by that?
Did he intend to mock me?
“You… You like my voice?” I stuttered.
“Yes, I do. Why are you surprised?” He asked.
“I can’t imagine how you like my voice.
Like, how?
I don’t even like the sound of my own voice.
I know how bad I am at singing, so it’s ridiculous for you to like my voice.”
“Yeah, that’s the problem.
Why don’t you like your voice?”
“Because it doesn’t sound pleasant” I answered.
“It doesn’t sound pleasant to you, because you have registered it in your mind, that you don’t sound nice, and your brain has digested that information.
You have a great voice.
All you need to do, is to be intentional about managing your voice while singing on stage.
Years back, no one wanted me to hold the mic too, because I sounded awful each time I did.
But things have changed now, because I underwent serious personal and group trainings”
He told me.
I was encouraged.
I don’t know why, but the way he pointed out my limitations didn’t make me feel bad.
I was interested in his personal story.
“So, you now sing better than you used to?” I enquired.
“By the grace of God” He answered.
“Can you teach me too?” I didn’t know when that came out of my mouth.
“Okay, it’s fine.
It’ll be my pleasure.
I’ll teach you.”
“Really, thank you so much!” I screamed in joy.
I was happy that finally, I was going to change from a bad to a good singer.
He smiled at me.
I was too happy to care if anyone looked at me or not.
I made some funny dance steps, and danced to an imaginary tune.
This was good news!
Soon, we arrived at our parting point.
I appreciated him and bade him goodbye.
We then went our separate ways.
As I went home, I hummed softly.
The Joy I now felt, overshadowed the feelings of shame and discouragement I felt earlier.
This guy was indeed godsent.
I felt light, and alive.
I was about to take the last turn that would lead me to my house, when I felt a terribly sharp pain in my abdominal region.
It was unbearable.
Unable to move, I bent over to gain some relief, but it didn’t help either.
I decided to squat under a tree close by, till I was able to get relief.
I was menstruating, and I usually had painful menstruations.
It was getting dark, but I couldn’t walk yet. I had to wait.
I ended up staying there for about 15 minutes, before I felt better and strong enough to move on.
Maybe I should have waited a little longer.
I guess I wouldn’t have met them on the way that night.
To be continued…
OpraDre IS HE THE ONE IS HE THE ONE IS HE THE ONE IS HE THE ONE IS HE THE ONE IS HE THE ONE IS HE THE ONE IS HE THE ONE IS HE THE ONE IS HE THE ONE IS HE THE ONE
Inspired by the holy spirit.
Rejoice James Jev
