Ever Married

There is more than a minute of silence before Jamal lets out "So, tell us. How close are you to God?"

I am a tad befuddled about his sudden inquisitiveness. Before someone asks me a question like this, I ruminate on what he or she expects from me. My eyes are slowly forming into a crevice, brows coming together in a frown. His position is intimidating. His eyes are more than just demanding. His dreaded stare is pulling something out of me. Something vulnerable.

I didn't expect this from him, though I won't say I know him to an-extend. What should I respond to this young governor of Greece?

"As close as Christ is to the Father" my neck is strained to keep height with his enchanting iris that is simply stern.

Those eyes are emanating into mine, and we now split of one another. His nod is almost non-existent, as he rides into another question.

"What is your assurance?"

"God's spirit in me. It is right and just. I'm not saying I'm perfect. I'm just saying, it makes me do what is right. Unlike others who struggle to do the right thing, I receive divine righteousness by grace. And now I am made righteous, to perfect righteousness."

His facial expression is computing 'only God knows what' as he glares into my brown orbits.

I am not religious. I respect people's beliefs about whatsoever. But at some point when we know the truth about something, we can't help it to inform another man about our discovery. It's like the joy of finding gold or any other precious gem. Yes, most people will turn to hide it because they are protective or selfish, but someone else will come to you in love to show you where he/she got it; so that you can have what he has too.

So it's not like forcing you to convert you into thinking that is good but making you decipher between what is best.

"I don't want you to get me wrong here ok? I am very direct and strict with beliefs. And I respect yours, but I know many 'Christians' claims what they don't do. Most of them are hypocrites. It's said in the bible that anything we do should be done perfectly well. However, we can't see them portraying that even in their bad deeds"

I see where he got these questions from; he tried judging me according to his perspectives towards other 'Christians'

What he said is not wrong. I have come across a bunch of them. Nevertheless, this doesn't imply that the right ones aren't real.

We've been chatting as if we were just the both of us here. Patricia is staring at her brother; her eyebrows are pleated in confusion.

His mom is relaxed. And his fiancée is giving me her most downgraded look. Certainly satisfied as to how her soon to be a man is making me uncomfortable.

"What about your country of origin?" Mrs. Mehdi inquires

"Cameroon" I respond

"And you said you write books?" Jamal recounts questioningly

I re-direct my focus over to him "Yep. Scripts as well"

He tilts his head "Genre?"

"Any genre, apart from Science Fiction."

"Any movie acted?"

"Five. I sold to a production house."

"Where do you intend to be in two years from now? I mean, as unto all the careers you're managing"

I blink my eyes. Why is he this interrogative? Is he a journalist? These are my personal dreams. And I can't just tell them to anyone. I lunch on my seat. He's making me really uncomfortable. Like, I rarely get speechless towards anyone.

But right now, I feel like I lost my voice. I give a nonchalant shrug. I'm not forced to respond to his guts.

"If you have no idea where you'd be in two years from now, then why waste your time do all these things?"

I can't seat silently in this one "Excuse me?"

"No offense. I am trying to help you, help yourself"

I chuckle, "Help me!"

"Don't you think it's left for her to decide what to tell you or not?" Patricia covers me up.

He looks at his flabbergasted sister and his fiancée rolls her eyes towards the young gal. I can sense how uncommon they are towards each other.

I suspire chewing on my bottom lip, as a habit when I'm nervous.

He sighs, bringing back his gaze to me. What the F.F is wrong with him?

"He's right though. She needs to know all of that." Latif says and I give her a dangerous smirk. It makes her frightened, so she looks away.

Regaining my eyes on the arrogant Son of Mrs. Mehdi, he springs a brow; maybe astonished after seeing how masqueraded my appearance was towards Latif.

"I am a student. I have so many dreams because I love so many things. I don't have to tell anyone about what I plan or foresee. It's something very secret. But that doesn't mean that I am wasting my time doing those things, just because I didn't tell people about it. So it's ok if you don't want to say it. I understand completely" Patricia is staring at me remorsefully.

I render to her a half-grin, still suffocated by the earlier embarrassment.

"Do you have plans of ever getting married?" Jamal's inquiry earns another regard from his sister.

Ever married: in what sense?

My eyes are narrowing in his direction. He lifts his eyebrows, expectantly.

"Yes, I plan on getting married; however, not right now. Not even in two years ahead"

He smirks "Taking us back to the reason I questioned about where you'd be in two years from now. I noticed that independent characteristic in you. Don't you feel your husband won't want a woman who is always busy?"

I straighten my spine and drill deeply into his eyes. What exactly is he trying to imply?

"Can you come clear please?"

"You and I know a man wants a woman who'd always be there for him. I mean, support in-house choices, take care of the kids, and grow his enterprise. So, I'm just wondering; how will you cope with all your work . . . and mend a house?"

"Jamal!" Patricia calls in gritted teeth. But he doesn't give her his attention.

"I respect men a lot. But what I don't tolerate is letting women feel less important. If my husband loves me, he will support my career. He met them, so he has to accept it or leave. It's a choice. Not a must. And by the way, I'm not anxious to meet someone; the more reason I'd meet the right person. When he comes, we'd talk about this. Yes, I'd have to make sacrifices, and, so will he. It's teamwork remember? No need to worry about how I'd manage all these. You should be thinking of how you're going to treat the woman next to you, who will soon be your wife." I chuckle at the last statement.

Latif states "He's going to treat me really good. Because . . . he loves me" she's looking at him. All he does is faint smiles at her then re-face me.

"You're right Myla. Every woman needs to be respected. Her goals are as important as the man. So no discrimination because love is not selfish, but supportive" Patricia noted again.

Mrs. Mehdi grins broadly "I love your reasoning faculty. You know Jamal, and, his sister, were mended by me. If I was a complete parasite to their father, I won't have been able to spring them up to who they are now."

She sweetly stares at her puppies; who enact a gentle smile towards her direction. Jamal is humbled. I bellow my cheeks. What a headache. I touché my forehead and feel warm; hope my temperature comes back to normal sooner.

"Before I totally forget. Jamal and his fiancée will have their engagement party tomorrow. I'd be expecting you, my dear. That's if . . . you have nothing scheduled."

I smile "No I don't. I'd be there"

"Perfect!" Patricia grins her snow teeth on display.

Jamal's phone buzzes and he excuses himself to exit our presence. His mom sends him a short nod. I stare as he stands and walks away, his phone against his ear and his hands jamming their way inside his pocket.

The world is a crazy place. Who would have thought he can be so annoying with all that handsomeness? I know of so many men with a similar character. Yet, his shocked me to my brain cells.

He looks so gentle and educated to have such a mentality. Or was he doing that to tease me? Who knows? I wouldn't expect less from now on. I already know his classification in my anatomy.

To be continued...