⌜diggy x jesus saves ⌟
Mekhi.
"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
The voice seems to become quieter in the male's mind as each Sunday passes. There's no trace of regret or guilt on his face as he passes the collection plate on without dropping a single dollar in. The white glove that grazes his hand is the only thing that manages to turn his attention away.
"Mekhi, are you for real right now?"
The memories that flood his mind from the voice alone are enough to give him a migraine before he even properly gets a look at their face. There was much more attached to the person than Mekhi was even willing to let on. The mere fact that they even still held so much power over his demeanor got under his skin and only made it more evident that they weren't wanted in his presence.
"Savannah, cut it."
He doesn't even bother to give her the satisfaction of eye contact which only furthers the blatant annoyance that is sprawled on her face.
"I'm just genuinely curious on who you think you're fooling right now. You really have the nerve to walk up in here with these pleated pants like your mama got up and did them for you and a fuc-... you have on a freaking cashmere sweater on and can't give a dollar to the church?"
The only hint of a reaction that he gives to her words is the slight clench his jaw makes in response. The weight of his wallet that seemed to be burning a hole through his pocket was the only thing that kept him grounded. The look in his eyes was one that the female should've remembered all too well. The glare he meets her eyes with is enough to make her bold persona cower into silence.
Standing to his feet, he embraces in her in what appears to be a friendly hug. He can feel her shivering down her back as the heat of his breath brushes her ear lightly; his grip on her tightening ever so slightly to keep her steady within his hold.
"Now, Sav. We been through too much together for you to be playing this stupid. The fact that you have the nerve to show up in my face as if you ain't disappear on me for a year and a half is astounding to me. Not only come up to me like you comfortable, but then judge me on my offerings or lack thereof? Your father oughta be ashamed."
He knew this woman like the back of his hand. Never one to own up for any of the wrongdoings in her life even it meant losing everything around her because of it. It was a sad sight to see, truly. Mekhi didn't express the same sentiment, though.
"There's all kinds of blood on this money, yet you're begging for it as if this gon' bring any kind of good karma to the congregation... Your naivety is almost comical, baby girl. But, you don't care, right? Money is money; I understand. Get it by any means. Remind me... what scripture of the bible that's in?"
She tries her best to mask the look of embarrassment on her face, but Mekhi can see right through it. He didn't plan to kick her while she was down; but the feeling was one that she rightfully deserved to feel. They both knew that.
She looks up at him for a moment as she pulls away from the embrace. Her expression softer than he's ever seen it before. "The story behind that all that money never mattered when it came to our son..."
"Now, that ain't something we gotta worry about anymore, now do we?"
The words leave his mouth with a sharpness that nearly feels like it's piercing the both of them in the chest. It's a sensation that Mekhi has learned to ignore over the past year and a half of her disappearance. Digging in his wallet, he pulls out a crisp hundred dollar bill as he grabs her hand and opens the palm of it. Placing the bill inside, he closes her hand into a fist before clearing his throat and tearing his gaze away from her.
"Take care of yourself, Savannah."
He has a half a mind to walk out of the church all together. He knew that it wouldn't be fair to himself and most importantly, God, if he sat up in His house harboring the negative energy that he did. However, it seems as though there's a force of energy that's preventing him from leaving despite how much he so desperately wanted to.
Taking a seat in the last pew that was thankfully the closest to the door, Mehki can barely keep his mind focused on anything but the actual service until he can hear the faint singing of the person sitting next to him.
He can barely make out the face of the female, the long dreads cascading down her face hiding any glimpse of her that he can manage to see.
Her singing barely comes up above a whisper, but he can't help but notice that she rides the gospel song as if she had been singing it her entire life.
"You supposed to be up there or something? What you do? Skipped too many choir practices?"
There's a snicker that leaves her mouth as she turns to face him. Her full lips curving up into a smirk despite the conflicted look in her eyes.
"No, none of that. All this was real cute a couple years ago, but that time has come and gone for me, trust me." There's a silence that falls between them as the choir seems to get louder; praises and rejoicing shouts seeming to practically bounce off the walls at this point.
"My sister's in that choir. She doesn't know I'm here watching her, not that she would be to appreciative of the idea, anyway. But, I try to come here whenever I can... just to check up on her and make sure's she doing fine."
Mekhi keeps his eye forward, already making a mental note on who he assumed to be her sister from the unmistakable resemblance between the two. She led the choir in what now seemed to be a softer hymn that bought a hush over the church. She seemed soft spoken, but her voice spoke volumes above than anything else in that very moment.
"She looks like she's doing good to me. She's doing her damn thing up there... Excuse my language."
"Yeah, that's Noelle for you. Not one of many words, but when she does open her mouth she demands for everyone to listen."
"You anything like that?"
He raises an eyebrow as he peers over at her from his peripheral view. She meets him face on as she turns her entire body in his direction to face him, making it no mistake that she was now giving him her full attention.
"I'm sure you would like to know, Mekhi Young."
By the time his face is even able to turn up in confusion, she's already got her bag placed on her shoulder and has already risen to her feet to make an exit. She begins to squeeze her way out of the tight space before pausing for a moment to take a look back at the male. Not being able to help the amused smile that plays on her face at the mere sight of his perplexed expression.
"I'll see you next Sunday, eh?"
