In Love With Ms. Manoban

Part 36

"No!" Lisa panted heavily as her eyes flew open. She raised up from her lying position and looked around the room, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. She breathed a sigh of relief as reality sunk in. "It's only a dream," she repeated to herself until she calmed down.

She pulled up the blanket to her chin as the memories flooded her brain. This is the third time she has dreamt of Jonathan, of the way he treated her. His words were constantly in her head these past few days and she was getting stressed out. This wasn't good for the baby but Lisa didn't know what to do. She just wanted to be with Jeremiah right now.

Lisa ran her hand along the many stretch marks on her belly. She always had some on her calves and hips and that was the thing that man had hated the most, claiming it was a sign that she was getting fatter when in reality, she hardly ever gained weight with her fast metabolism. Lisa squeezed her eyes shut as the memories returned, willing them to go away.

It didn't take long for the baby to start moving around harshly after feeling the stress from their mother. At this, Lisa rubbed around her entire belly and started focusing on her baby instead of the stretch mark. After many failed attempts at trying to calm her baby down, Lisa sat up and patted along the bed until she found her phone, staring at it indecisively. She was hesitant at first after seeing it was only one in the morning. But she wanted to sleep so bad and she knew this was the best way for her to fall back asleep. So she dialed the number and waited.

"Lisa? Is everything okay?" Jeremiah asked groggily with concern in his voice.

"Everything is fine. I just wanted to talk to you," she said with a soft voice since it was so early in the morning.

"At one in the morning? I'm tired Lisa. I have to go to work tomorrow." His voice was louder that he had planned, and he immediately regretted it. He rolled onto his back and ran a hand down his face with a sigh.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you," she said quietly then cut the call before Jeremiah could reply. "Why are you so stupid?" Lisa asked herself as she felt her eyes sting with the water that was surfacing from them. "Always crying." She sniffed, trying to stop the tears but they just ran out. Just then, her phone rang. Lisa's finger hovered over the answer bottom as she harshly wiped away her tears, unsure whether to answer as she was now feeling embarrassed.

"Hello?" There, she answered. She just couldn't help it. She wanted to hear his voice so badly. Jeremiah could already sense that she was crying as soon as she hung up the previous call, but now that he heard the sniffing with his own ears, it was different.

"Hey. Forgive me, please. I didn't mean to be harsh with you." He sat up with the phone to his ear.

"It's okay. If anything, I should be the one to apologise. It really is early."

"If it was okay you wouldn't be crying." His words were met with silence, therefore, he spoke again, softly, "Why did you call?"

"I just miss you. I can't sleep and now the baby is awake."

"So you called Jerry to soothe you and the baby?"

"Maybe," Lisa replied with a baby-like voice and Jeremiah chuckled.

"Nice to know that I am the person you think of when you're in this type if situation," he smiled.

"I can't help it. I love how calm your voice is and how it makes me. That's why you're my man," Lisa replied with a blush she didn't know appeared on her face. "Listen, I'll find a way to sleep. You should get your rest."

"No. You're more important to me. Besides, I don't think I'll be able to fall asleep anytime soon so... let's talk."

And that's what they did. They talked until Jeremiah only got slow responses from Lisa to none at all while he talked to her. He sighed, a tired smile on his lips as he hung up the phone.

"The things you make me do, Lili," Jeremiah said softly. He tossed his phone aside, and plopped down on his bed, his eyes closing as soon as his head touched the pillow.

............

The next day was a Sunday morning. As Lisa sat at the table with her father, she was lost in her thoughts. There was something on her mind, something she had been wanting to do for a while but was still unsure of. Now, after seeing her father in his suit, she felt her heart ease as she finally decided.

"Dad?"

"Yes, princess." The man looked up from his plate.

"You're going to church today, right?" Her father raised an eyebrow at her.

"Every Sunday."

"Can I come with you?"

"Why are you suddenly interested? You never wanted to go before." The man's eyebrows furrowed as he stared at his daughter, the one who seemed so different from the last time he'd seen her.

"Well, I do now. So?"

"Of course you can come. You are more than welcome," he said as he pulled her into a side hug and kissed her temple, before she walked to her room to find something suitable to wear. "I'm just glad my prayers are finally being answered," he shouted after her, earning a chuckle from his daughter.

Lisa was soon ready in the best dress she could find and black pumps, the only thing she was comfortable wearing on her feet when going out. The two headed out the house and walked along sidewalk as the church was not too far away. They reached by 9:45 a.m. and the service started at 10:00 a.m. Lisa payed attention until the very end, caught up in all that the pastor had to say. Her father was surprised. He has never seen his daughter so interested in a service. This was something new.

"You don't have to fight alone. That's what the altar is for. You don't have to carry those burdens anymore; the burdens of sin and pain. God is waiting for you to reach out to Him. You just have to seek for His Spirit. He will give you peace, love and joy. Let us stand now and seek the Holy Spirit," the pastor said and the entire congregation stood at his words, eyes close and hands lifted up to seek the presence of God.

"Oh God. Take this pain away from me. I don't want these nightmares to haunt me anymore. I know I've sinned, but please forgive me. I don't want to live like this anymore. I'm broken. Fix me. Change me. I need your Spirit to live inside of me," Lisa prayed, and prayed, and prayed. And at that moment, her life changed.