PART 19
“NWALA: THE BITTERSWEET STORY”
©️ Opeyemi Akintunde.
As Inspired by the LIVING WORD.
I didn’t speak to Reuben for three months but he made it a duty to send me messages on the first of every month and the fifteen of the month. He was using an unknown number; he must have guessed I blocked his line…
Daniel, on the other hand was beginning to take God seriously, or that was what he told me. According to Him, he had started attending a campus fellowship in his school.
‘This Your Bishop’s son is fineeee” June said one quiet evening
I noticed June had started wearing her headphones frequently. I didn’t know why, until that day.
“We must push for him to come to our school and ignite God’s fire here”
June said
“Who?” I asked
“Your Bishop’s Son, Pastor Reuben, he is trending now, that guy is fire, his messages are trending”
“Trending where?” I asked
June looked at me like I just asked a dumb question…
“You don’t follow him online?” She eventually asked…
“You know I have been off social media for a while”
“Yeah, so you can concentrate on your relationship” She answered sarcastically. She didn’t like Daniel one bit. She felt he was too possessive for a boyfriend.
“Yeah! I replied
She however had piqued my interest. I brought out my laptop and connected it to the internet. I searched for his name online and Oh my World! Quite a large number of videos popped up with hundreds of thousands of views. I began to read comments of how people treasured his messages
“Where have I been?” I asked myself
I became addicted to watching his videos. It became so obviously addictive that whenever I wasn’t studying I was listening to his messages.
Eventually, June suggested to the Student’s council to bring Reuben to our Spiritual week of Fire, and she mentioned my name as a member of Reuben’s church, hence I was given the assignment to contact him to ask for his availability…
“Why would you do that? The student council can contact them on their own” I said to June
“I am sorry if it is a big deal, I thought it would be easier & faster with you as a church member”
“I will try my best”
A part of me wanted to see him. I actually missed him. I was also curious about Timo…
I waited for June to leave the room, before dialing his number… I unblocked his contact first before dialing…
He picked up and for the first time ever, he was silent after picking up. Before then, he always had the cheerful “Hello” on his lips as soon as he picked up…
“Hello Pastor Reuben” I managed to say
“Hi Nwala” he replied
“I am sorry for calling, my school made me reach out to you, they would like to invite you for our spiritual week of fire”
“Oh… ok… when is it?”
“Next month, 1st – 4th, but you will be ministering on the 3rd and 4th”
“Ok…”
“Ok…so can the school can send an official letter?”
“Yes…”
“Can I have your email sir?”
“I will send to you as a text, I believe you should receive it since you have unblocked me” Reuben said
“Sure!”
“Nwala!”
“Yes sir” I replied with my heart racing, I didn’t know what to expect.
“What’s with the ‘sir’, are you in a meeting?’
“No, I am the only one in my room”
“So why the Sir?” he said with a more relaxed voice
“I am actually honouring God’s Grace in your life, I don’t see you the same ever since I started watching your online fire programmes”
“Oh… well, Reuben your friend is different from Reuben the minister… Please feel free to still call me Reuben”
“I will try” I said “How is Timo?” I asked
“Great… He now lives with me” Reuben said and I can’t say exactly what he did to my heart with those words. I was touched.
“What?” I asked
“I decided to adopt him as a son”
“Wow… Are you serious?”
“Yes…”
I was beyond shocked. I swallowed the lump in my throat.
“A lot has happened in three months” I said
“Yeah, but some things remain as they are” He said…
“Like?” I asked
“How I feel about You” Reuben said sweetly and calmly. I felt the Words. The five words were intentionally and deliberately said.
“Good night, Pastor Reuben” I said quickly hanging up…
I was still thinking about how He must have adopted Timo and how clean Timo would be looking, when his text came in…
“My email is [email protected]. It was fulfilling speaking to you tonight, it feels like having ice cream after a long while… I Can’t wait to see you next month… Timo sends his love…”
Reuben, Your Friend.
“God how can someone be almost perfect like this?” I asked the Lord…
To be continued…
