Something Set Apart.

“Kemi!”

“Kemi!”

“Kemi!!, dide jare.”

“It’s almost 5:30. Shey you don’t want to go for bible study nii?

Kemi grouchily got out of bed and rolled her eyes at Oyin who was adjusting her scarf in front of the half-length mirror in their room.

She couldn’t understand how somebody she literally started dragging to church was suddenly more enthusiastic about bible study than she was.

If the fifth layer of lipgloss her friend was applying was any indication, she had found a new brother she was interested in. She prayed that whoever it was this time had an atom of sense at least because Oyin was not particularly famous for her taste in men.

Her last love interest, brother Pius, after weeks of pretending that he didn’t notice her affections, finally decided to talk to her and proceeded to unceremoniously ask for steamy pictures stating that it wasn’t sinful to see what he might go on to date and probably marry.

“Ahh, brother Pius!!!”

Oyin had been genuinely shocked and upset. Kemi was not the least bit surprised. She had always seen brother Pius for the lecher that he was. She wondered at her friend’s naivety sometimes. For somebody who was supposed to have the Holy Spirit, she was blatantly unaware and undiscerning. Thankfully, she had friends like her who could spot a fraud from a mile away. Sometimes she let her make silly mistakes like bro Pius for…what was that thing again? Character development. Oyin moved on fast though. Kemi would give her that. The entire brother Pius episode was only six weeks ago.

“Kemi be fast na.” Oyin called out.

“ Oyin shey you’ll ni suru, you’ve had like one hour to prepare, allow me to look fine too abi?”

“Ehn, sha be fast.”

“ Yes ma.” Kemi sarcastically replied.

By 5:45 they were both out of the house. During the ten-minute walk to church, Oyin droned on and on about the keyboardist’s new friend who had been coming around for about three weeks now and how calm he was whilst praying, unlike the other brothers who always looked like they were convulsing. Kemi was barely listening.

As a matter of fact, she was thinking about how rigged the entire Christian dating thing was. Men in the world had more game. This was something she felt people often didn’t speak about. It was hard when she would see her mates getting gifts and flowers and princess treatment and going on vacations. Then people like her “Miss born-again and keeping herself till marriage” were left with the “wonderful” brothers in the church. Brothers who were either fire-brand hypocrites, lascivious and uncouth underneath all the spirituality, unfashionable and broke with little to no ambition, or had absolutely no emotional intelligence whatsoever. The ones that were slightly attractive carried themselves about like they were God’s gifts to all his thirsty daughters. Just wow.

She understood that believers weren’t perfect but come on. With all the drive and lofty goals she had for her life, she needed her God-sent partner to spur her to fulfill purpose. And all these “brothers” she had seen so far just didn’t cut it. At this point, she had ascertained that Jesus Christ indeed was her only reward. Maybe she was one of those people called to singlehood.

Her friends thought she was too strict and had no bone of romance in her body. What they did not know was that she was in fact, a hopeless romantic, albeit one with high standards.

They walked into the auditorium now, service would start in a few minutes.

“ Sister Kemi, good evening. How are you today?” Brother Tobi called out to her.

“I’m very good thank you.” Kemi replied with as genuine a smile as she could muster while silently praying that the said brother Tobi didn’t come any closer.

He was sweet and liked her but he obviously hadn’t discovered deodorant. And nobody had told him yet. How would a person not know they were smelling? It was one thing that she could never understand.

“Lord have mercy.” Kemi chided herself. She should not be thinking such thoughts. Maybe this was why God had not sent her her husband yet because he was sure she’d find something to say about him.

“Let us begin to bless the name of the Lord, he’s so good to us. He’s faithful, He’s loving, He’s consistent despite our inconsistencies…”

Kemi got lost in the worship session. It was honestly one of her favourite things about church. She could sing her heart out and just bask in God’s presence and love.

Then she felt someone settle in the seat next to her and then rise again. Kemi was not usually one to be distracted during worship. But for some weird reason, she just couldn’t wait to see who it was that stood next to her.

Her senses were on high alert. It was definitely someone new. Kemi didn’t easily find people attractive but here she was, obviously moved by someone she hadn’t even seen yet.

It was his scent maybe. It was unlike anything she had ever smelt before. She made a mental note to ask him what perfume he used if they ever got to talk. Because it was hitting all the right notes with her.

“ I see sister Kemi is still in the spirit.” The voice from the podium and a sharp nudge from Oyin who sat on her other side made Kemi realize that she was the only one left standing with her hands in the air.

Kemi sat down, very embarrassed. If they had known what she was thinking about.

She turned to look at the mystery guy and the cause of her embarrassment. He was dark, a little less than 6 ft from what she could tell. Not conventionally attractive, but there was definitely some sort of appeal. What she found most impressive was the quiet confidence he radiated. Not pride but that aura you have when you are quite sure of yourself. He looked at her and smiled.

That smile.

“God.” Kemi thought.

She turned away and listened to the word with more concentration than she usually would.

After service, she and Oyin stayed back to exchange pleasantries with other church members.

“Hello.” A voice behind her said.

She turned and was met with a very firm handshake from her mystery guy.

“Hi, my name is Kunmi. Kayikunmi.”