Shalom

Chapter Six

Alex continued to pester Shalom severally. He didn't let her breathe.

"Jesus loves you, Shalom." He would continually say to her.

Unfortunately, Alex found out about her details at the university she was schooling. And thankfully for Alex, he got to know that they were in the same department. This gave him an upper hand to continually disturb Shalom's peace.

"Alex, what do you want from me?" Shalom blurted out one Friday afternoon. She had met him at the cafeteria. She had gone there to relax and there she met her resilient disturber who wouldn't let her be. She saw him smiling sheepishly. He sat down with a chilled malt.

"You can come and have your seat," Alex said and pointed to a chair that was before him.

"Huh!" Shalom sighed in frustration and obeyed.

"What can I get for you?" He asked after Shalom had sat down, rubbing his palms, smiling.

"But why is this guy smiling? Nothing is funny here." She muttered under her breath.

"You said?"

"Nothing."

"Like you don't need anything." He asked again.

"Yes," She replied rather too quickly.

Alex laughed at her response much to her anger.

"Damn!" She banged the table. "Why are you laughing? Nothing is funny here mehn!"

Alex came back to his senses.

"I'm sorry." He replied and pouted.

"Better!" She said and turned her gaze from him.

"Alex, what do you want from me?" She asked, returning her gaze to him. Her anger had simmered down.

"Erm... I... want you," He stuttered.

Shalom looked lost. "I don't understand."

Alex cleared his throat and held her hands.

"I don't know how to say this but I think I'm in love with you. I don't know what happened to me that night when I saw you. I..." His voice trailed off.

"And why did you preach Jesus to me?" She asked, giving him a look that said 'You don't know whom you are dealing with'

"I wanted to say something else to you that fateful night when we were together in the toilet but I didn't know what happened. It was just as though an external force controlled my tongue." He said.

"I see..." Shalom said, laughter breaking from her lips. It was her turn to laugh.

Alex somehow felt mocked.

"Shalom, this is not funny," Alex said and gave a soulful look.

She removed her hands from his.

"Oh really? Are you joking right now? Do you know whom you are talking to?" She asked.

"Of course, baby. I know." He said.

"No. You don't. I was done with Jesus a very long time ago. So you are not the only one who has been in this Christianity stuff. I've made up my mind not to have anything to do with Jesus again because He is too holy to save me. And now, one of His sons asking me out, nah, it's not going to work. It's just a sheer waste of time." She stood up and attempted to leave but Alex stopped her.

"I know you are angry. Please find a place in your heart to forgive me for what I did to you that night. As I said, it was beyond my control. I love you so much, Shalom. I want to make you happy again."

"Really?" Shalom smirked. "This was the same thing the guy said to me a few years ago that made me what I am today. I am a prostitute. Don't you get it? I believe as a Jesus boy, you won't like partying. Maybe out of peer pressure, you went out and you disobeyed God. Please, I beg you in the name of God, I don't want your trouble."

Alex was completely lost for words. What Shalom said about him was true. A part of him wanted to obey God and live for Him but another part wanted a sprinkle of bad boy in him. He wanted Shalom badly.

"But I love you. That is what matters to me right now." He finally spoke up.

"I know," she said without expression and found her way out of the restaurant.

"Gosh!" Alex exclaimed. He puffed out some air and sat down, ruminating on what Shalom had said.

To be continued.