The Habit

Chapter 12

Chioma mum was watching a music video from soundcity, the title of the music video was Alcohol by joeboy as soon as chioma heard the music she started singing along.

"Chioma"(Her mum called) as she jerked back to reality,

"Will you switch off that TV my friend,you’re not supposed to be listening to those worldly songs" Her mum said.

Always listen to inspirational and gospel songs like Don Moen,frank Edward, Nathaniel bassey and others, do you hear me ?,yes pastor(she replied).

"Someone cannot groove a little before going to church" chioma said.

"When you get to church you can groove there with Jesus" (chioma mum replied).

Suddenly her phone rang and she answered, hello? okay you’re there now?,alright we’re coming, chioma it time to go now (as she hung up), the uber is waiting for us outside (she said) as she got up and picked her handbag.

Chioma quickly ran to the kitchen to grab a soft drink along with her.

She opened the fridge and saw different types,coke,fanta,Pepsi, malt,lacasera(she started selecting).

"Chioma,where are you? (her mum yelled from the living room), she just quickly picked anyone, slammed the fridge and ran out…

They got outside, good morning sir happy Sunday(she greeted the uber driver),same to you, how are you doing?(he said with a smile) as he turn on the engine,fine sir,after her mum locked the door, she sat down at the front seat while chioma sat alone at the back.

20minutes look later they are now in church(Daystar christian center),they got out while the man parked his car well in the motor back,that where they will meet him after they close.

He was also on suit so she guessed his also coming in to attend with them, she said goodbye to her mum as she walked to the the teens auditorium.

Chioma got to the entrance,

"Chioma"?(she heard her name from behind), she turned to look and saw esther, they are friends only from church and no place else,come and sit here(she said) as she placed her hand on an empty seat, chioma shrugged and joined her.

"I like your dress"(she commented), thank you(chioma replied) and her eyes sighted emeka at the front sitting with his friend(Gabriel) who never goes to church except he want to find girls.

The pastor was preaching on the altar about s****l immorality,the dangers and rewards for s****l immorality,while he was preaching his gaze was on emeka as he was chatting with gabriel,he noticed him looking at him.

David? David?,he turned to his seat but his nowhere to be found, he looked around and found him sitting beside a girl forming fine boy.

Emeka looked at the pastor again and he was still staring at him.

"Is this pastor normal"?, I'm I the only sinner in this auditorium" (he said).

Emeka got pissed off watching the pastor staring at him while he was preaching so he brought out his phone to keep himself busy,a message buzzed in his phone immediately, he opened to check and saw that it was from the corper he had s*x with.

She said " emeka how you doing?, I missed you, can you come to my house after church when you close"?then she sent her house address below.

"This woman house is not far from where i stay (he said within himself),HELLO?(came a voice behind him), he turned to look and saw this light skinned beauty staring at him with the perfect smile.

"Please is anybody sitting here"?(she asked)as she pointed at the empty seat beside him, he quickly glanced at where emeka was flirting with the girls, he didn’t even look at his direction.

you can sit(he told her),thank you(she said) and crossed her legs as she sat down,she wore a little bit short mini skirt and a T-shirt, he glanced at her seductive laps and he imagined what she might be wearing inside, he looked at her hands down to her nails,she got the most beautiful colored nails.

"Sorry is there a problem"?(she asked) as she caught him staring at her hands,yes there is a problem (he replied), pls what wrong(she asked)..

"I thought angels only stay in heaven but I just saw one just now on earth" (he said),really where(she asked),sitting beside me ( he replied),she stare at him for 5seconds and she bursted into laughter, so am the angel you’re talking about ?(she asked), definitely (he replied), thank you (she said)…

Am emeka, he said (as he stretch his hand for a handshake),am Gift(she replied),indeed you’re a gift from God (he said),she only smiled and faced her front.

Time for offering was announced and they all got up to dance,suddenly his little brother(kelechi) ran up to him.

Brother emeka mummy said I should give you (as he brought out a 20naira note from his pocket to handover to him.

"God,my village people have finally succeed this early morning again" (he said), he looked at him with a frown.

"Do I look like I don’t have money for offering"?(he asked him) as he gave him a cold stare.

"So because I came to stay with you guys for holiday you now want to turn me begger.

"Brother emeka you are the one that said whenever it time for offering I should go and collect your own money from mummy"(he said), he looked at him with an angry face, if you don’t leave this place I will slap you(he shouted).

"After you will start shouting for person to give you back the 20naira"(he said and ran away before he slap him)he turned to Gift,sorry about that,that my aunty son.

"I stay with them for holiday before my parent comes back to pick me"(he said),it okay,you know that how families can be(she said).

The ushers passed the offering basket to him, he just put his hand inside like he dropped money and he passed it to Gift.

They finally shared the grace and Gift turned to leave,excuse me angel(he said),she turned to him with surprised look.

"Hope you don’t mind if I have your number so I can know you better"(he said with a huge grin).

" Am sorry but I don’t give my number to strangers"(she replied),what do you mean stranger?,do I look like a stranger to you?,cmon just your number (he said).

"I appreciate the fact that you offered me a seat and complimented me but I can’t give you my number",she said,(raising her voice a little),okay fine, you don’t have to shout,am not forcing you (he said)okay is it because of your parents that you can’t give me?(he asked),just ordinary number?, okay(she sigh) you can have it,he brought out his phone and started typing her number while she was saying it,suddenly Gabriel walked up to him.

Who is this beautiful girl, how did you get to see her?

"Come why will you be disturbing me, we will talk later (he said to Gabriel).

"I'm I the one you are speaking English for because you have seen a girl, better clear and talk normal" Gabriel said.

Thank you I will chat you up on whatsaap he said to her ( as she joined the crowd walking out of the door.

After they closed by 11:o’clock, chioma was beginning to feel hungry,the only thing she took in church was the lacasera she took from home which made her stomach grumbled the more… she walked quickly to the motor park,the driver was already in so she greeted him and waited inside for her mum, 5minutes later her mum wasn’t here yet and she look f**king hungry.

The driver noticed she look bored so he switched on the radio to listen to some gospel music which made it worst,suddenly the door at the passenger’s seat opened and her mum entered with a nylon they wrote Mr Biggs on it.

Sorry chioma i knew you would be hungry so I had to go to the nearby eatery to get you this,before she even raised the nylon up she grabbed it from her and started eating,she opened the take away as the mouth watering aroma filled the whole car,the plate was filled with fried rice and a huge lap of chicken in no time she started battling with the food.

Her mum greeted the driver as he started the car,she gave him the address to Mr smart house as he started the engine and entered the road.

After emeka got home from church,he quickly took his bath to smell fresh and put on something nice and spray some perfumes on his shirt.

"He have to form a lie to his parents to leave the house, he did the sign of the cross before coming out of his room then he saw his dad discussing with a visitor in the sitting room, papa(he called), they both turn to look at him.

Emeka are you crazy? (he said), what have I done papa? can't you see that I am discussing with someone

That's how children of this days don't have respect(the visitor added).

"Who is this goat that came to my house and started talking to me anyhow,I am very sure he is here because of food"(emeka said).

"You are still there standing like a fool I say bend down and greet"(his father shouted), so he prostrated and quickly walked out before they ask him any other questions.

He checked the corper address from his phone before stopping a bike to take him to her house..

5minutes later, they stopped at a two storey building with few tenants in them,after paying his money to the bike rider he entered the gate and saw a little girl coming towards his direction heading outside.

"Pls am looking for the corper living here(he said to the girl),go upstairs, first room by the left(she said as she pointed up),he thanked her and quickly jogged upstairs before anybody sees him entering her room..

He knocked twice, who is there(came her voice from inside), it me emeka(he replied) she immediately ran out,opened her door, looked left and right before dragging him inside,wow glad you could make it (she said) as she shut her door,there was no chair he could sit so he sat on her bed,have you eaten?(she asked),not yet (he replied),I will soon eat when I get home,before you eat at home why don’t you eat something I prepared specially for you(she said) as she brought out a cooler and a plastic coke, wow thank you he appreciate, he collected it and opened it,it was a cooler of jollof rice and fish she prepared which was still very hot,am coming let me go and buy something(she said),won’t take long I promise, then she quickly walked out…