WALK THROUGH WALLS

SEVEN

After some time, the mass started. It was a Korean mass that was conducted by Fr. Cyprian himself. I was amazed by how he spoke the Korean language. I was able to follow through the mass even though some responses were challenging for me. One thing about the Catholic mass is that even though the language my differ all over the world but the order is universal so where I could not answer in Korean, I mummered the response in Kiswahili or English. The prayers were easy because I had my catechism teaching when I was young thus, I learnt it in Korean language. Nowadays I know the Catholic prayers in Korean, English, Kiswahili, Portuguese and French. When it was the time for offering the sign of peace, Fr. Cyprian came to our pew and smiled at me. I guess that was why Felix insisted on us sitting here.

When the mass ended, Felix guided me to the waiting bay near the sacrist to wait for Fr. Cyprian.
" You also have an appointment with him today?"
" Not really, I want to greet him. Why does it bother you that I came back here with you."
" It's nothing like that. I am humbled that you are here with me. I just remembered you saying that you don't want people to recognize you. That's all"
" Is that so. It's ok. It is our first real face to face meeting so I want to hang out with you even if it means that we will be in Fr. Oduor's office, I don't mind."
" Ahw! That's sweet Fel. So after here, where should we go?"
" To the music room. I have a project I want you to help me with."
" Music room, a project, ok you lost me there."
" Let's finish the meeting first then I will tell you."
" Ok then. I think Fr. has finished changing, here he comes.,"

Fr. Cyprian was walking towards us. He was smiling so much that it made me blush. Ok, something about this priest is that he is very handsome, very very handsome. I think there was a time when I told him that he was very unfair to decide to be a priest with all that handsomeness. Yes, I am that daring. With him, I always see a big brother. I can always tell him anything under the sky.

"Franchesca Okoth, ithi nade jaber!" He greeted me in dholuo.
" Fr. Don't start speaking Greek here. Not everyone can understand.'' Felix complained.
" Sorry about that, I was just greetings her. That's dholuo by the way, you should understand it by now." The priest apologized.
" When am I suppose to learn it if you two are not willing to be my teachers. Anyway Fr. Good to see you again. I will leave you to bond with your village mate. I will come to look for her later."
" Sure thing mate. By the way, how is the project coming along." Fr. asked
" It is coming along and with my best friend from Kenya back in South Korea, trust me, it will reach there in no time. Lensah I will be waiting for you ok. " Then he hugged me,"See you later then."
" See you later then." I answered and then he went away, leaving me with Fr. Oduor.

" How are you. When did you land in Korea?"
" I am fine thank you. I just arrived yesterday."
" Your mother told ma to expect you anytime from today, I thought I will wait until Sunday to see you again. How is everything, Asenah, your parents and siblings back in Kenya?"
" They are all fine. Asenah is in a boarding school now. Mom sent me back here to face my nightmares. She called me yesterday to tell me that you were posted here. I think that is why she was confident that nothing bad will happen with you around."
" Hahaha, your mother never changes. So for how long you will be around?" At this moment, we were walking towards the garden. It was a beautiful, peaceful place. Birds could be heard chirping. There was a statue of the Virgin Mary. We went and sat on a bench a distance away because there were people praying the rosary there.

" So how do you feel now that you are back. Anything interesting happening"
" Ah Fr. I just arrived yesterday. Nothing yet but if my life becomes interesting, obviously you will be the first to know. Ok! "
" Ok then. Felix said that you will help him with a project. Do you know what it is about? "
" Not yet but I believe it has something to do with music because he told me that we will be hunting out at the music room later on."
" Ok, let me explain it to you. We want to have a children's mass every Sunday and so I wanted to introduce a mass the Kenyan way with liturgical dancing and all, what do you think? I am in charge of the PMC, and they are not that out going. Being that we are the central church , I believe that we should be different. I believe that with you here and being that you were once a PMC animator, you will be beneficial to us. I choose Felix because he is a talented dancer."
" Interesting indeed. So, you are planning to have a children's choir and they will be dancing also. This one I have to see it myself. I will help out, but I can't promise to be actively involved."
" Why is that?"
" Yes, why is that Lensah?" Felix came out of nowhere. He looked disappointed.
" Oh Felix. You heard that. Ok it's like this......" I had to explain to them about the mix up auctions and my entry to the music Festival competition.
" Lensah, are you sure you want to subject yourself to that competition? You know..."
" Fr. It's ok, I came back to face my deepest fears and maybe this is God's way of showing me where to start. I believe in fate and whether good or bad, I will face it head on."
" Wait you too, am lost here. Fate, past fears, is there something I am missing here?"
" It's nothing of that sort Felix. Fr. Oduor is just afraid that I may be bullied during the competition."
" Oh. I thought that something happened already. Fr., Lensah is a talented person and I believe that she can do it. She is an African woman, and they are the toughest ones out there so I know, anybody who will try to bully her will be digging her own grave. Give her some encouragement."
" Felix is right and I have you two and my brothers, if anything happens, South Korea is my second home, I can't miss places to run to. Niamini Fr."
" I want to but... Ok then, just this one. Just promise me, if the going gets tough. You.."
" I will be even tougher Fr., Give me your blessings. I believe that I will be ok."
" I wanted to say that if the going gets tough, you pack your bags and go home but seeing that you are this enthusiastic, I will give you, my Blessings. By the when am I meeting these famous brothers of yours?"
" I can't promise that I can drag them to church but I can give you a secret, if you want to see Jimin, Kai and Taemin here, call my mother, trust me, she has become more of a Luo woman, a nyar Alego to be exact. You are a Kenyan Luo man, I believe you understand."
" Perfectly. No need to explain. Ok I will leave you two to bond. I have a lot of paperwork to hand in the office." He then stood up, bid us goodbye and walked away. "By the way, why do you call your mother a Luo woman and yet she is Korean?"

"She has been assimilated by the traits of the Luo women, so much that you can believe she is Korean unless she speaks or you look at her long silky hair. My father says that she speaks better Dholuo than her. Anyway Father, let me leave you to your paper work. I am in Seoul for now so I will definitely visit you again."

All this while, Felix was staring at me.
" What's the matter with you. Why are you staring at me like that?."
" It's nothing, am just happy to meet you face to face. You know what?" He said as he stood up and held his hands out so as to help me up. " I feel amazed and intrigued every time I talk to you. "
" Or really. You don't say!" I said as I brush off the dust from my dress.
" I do say. What is it about Luo women that you said and how can your mother make your brothers to come to church?"
" All I can tell you is my mother is that powerful. Fr. Oduor has told me about your project. Wow, that's noble of you."
" It's nothing. I love working with the children and Fr. Oduor showed me a video of a Kenyan mass. I was very amazed. Your style of mass is very interesting. I think it will be refreshing to have something like that here. I believe that the fate you talked about is real because who better to teach about the Kenyan Catholic mass than a Kenyan Catholic herself. So Lensah, whether you like it or not, this is your fate young miss." He then took my hands and gave me a handshake," welcome  aboard."
" Is there room to refuse?"
" No, I don't think so. We will have fun with this Lensah, don't worry."
" Do I look worried?"
" Yes, you do." And with that the conversation ended with him just laughing out loudly as we headed to the music room.