Shawn Mendes Imagines

Cultural Differences [REQUESTED]

Trigger Warning: Religion; if you feel offended in any way, please understand and accept my apologies! Having said that, I respect all of your beliefs but if you have nothing nice to say, please don't say it.

Requested Imagine from @GenadeMbenga 

Genade's POV
I felt a feeling of adrenaline rush through my body as me and my boyfriend Shawn were heading home to Belgium to celebrate Christmas. For most people, Christmas is about spending time with family and receiving gifts. Of course, that's what my family does, but we believe in a more deeper meaning. We celebrate the birth of Christ and the Nativity. In fact, my family's inviting Shawn to attend Christmas mass a few hours after we arrive.

He holds my hand and smiles. "Are you excited, hunny?"

"Yeah. I mean, this is the third time you've met my parents but they love you so much." I reply and he puts an arm around my shoulder.

**SEVEN HOURS LATER**

After landing, we took a bus to my house and not long later, we were at the front door.

I rang the doorbell and my mom answered. 

"Genade! Welcome home!" She pulls me into a hug and I return the favour. 

After pulling away, she greets Shawn. They exchanged formalities and we entered the house.

(A/N: I almost teared up here. Being a Christian myself, it was so hard for me to write the next few lines.)

"Get ready, guys. We're gonna go to Christmas mass in about half an hour...let's try to leave early so we can try and get a spot at the front of the church!" Mom says and I see Shawn groan as he plopped himself on the couch.

"Something wrong, babe?" I sat down next to him

"I don't wanna go! I'm staying here!" He sounded quite annoyed.

"Wait, you don't wanna come?" 

"I'm not a Christian, okay? There! I said it! I'm not going to church with you guys...I'm not a believer of God..." He starts and goes up to a crucifix hung on the wall. 

"...and I certainly don't believe in you!!" He shouts in front of the crucifix and I teared up a little. 

My parents were shocked. They've never seen Shawn act like this before, especially my dad who happens to be a pastor himself. Okay, so we may have different beliefs, but that doesn't mean he could just act all rebellious against my belief. I was scared of him, God forbid him to do that and he certainly will be punished by the devil if he doesn't repent. 

"Genade, can we talk to you for a moment?" I hear my dad whisper and motion me to the room, leaving Shawn by himself. My tears were about to turn into actual sobs.

"What's gotten into him?" Dad asks me.

"I-I don't know. I mean, I've never seen him all worked up like that. I-I don't know what to say..." I choked on my tears.

"I'll talk to him...get changed cause we leave in 10 minutes." 

**5 MINUTES LATER**

Dad finally convinced Shawn to go with us to mass, but he didn't seem to happy about it. The car ride to the church was an awkward silence. Shawn refused to look at me and at this at the front of our car: