Church Chronicles: Part 2

Two: Getting Caught

We were returning from a prophetic conference in Durban and Mike had suggested that we reschedule our flight to an hour or two earlier than the originally scheduled time so that we could spend enough time together, so I called and did all the necessary changes as per his request.

Excitement got the better of me, I published my location on my Facebook without even thinking twice, why would anyone think I'm with him at that location anyway? At least from what he said, the new girl, his PA wouldn't come looking for us.

We ordered lunch, I ate while he freshened up and when he was done I went to freshen up and then we got on to the business of the day.

Throughout all the years that I had known him, he had never mistreated me in any way. Sometimes I wondered if he was that sweet even at home, to her. He had no problem showering me with compliments, sometimes gifts but mostly, attention. He had this thing that when he's with you, you know very well that he's with you. You don't doubt his commitment, even if it's just for those two or three hours that we had managed to steal. That day, we made love, he made me feel loved, wanted, and special in so many ways. Two condoms down, I was out. He pulled me to his chest, pulling the covers over us and we both rested.

"Oh my God"!

I heard a faint exclamation, I didn't really want to lift my head from Mike's hairy chest but his jolt woke me up abruptly as he almost jumped off the bed at the realization that there was an extra human being in our hotel room. I looked at her, I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe my eyes. How did she get in? How did she know we're here? I didn't even know what to do, or say, I was stunned. Shocked.

Mike: Yandi, what are you doing here? How did you even get in?

My eyes were glued to her surprised face but I couldn't really read her, yes she was surprised but there was something else in her eyes. Something I couldn't really pin, but I watched, as she turned and walked out without saying anything. Maybe she was shocked, I don't know.

**** **** ****

A week later I decided I'd go and speak to her, beg her not to tell Sis Sikhona because she would tell my father who would then kill me. My dad would kill me with both hands, without thinking twice. He wouldn't kill me because of the sexual orientation, but he would kill me for messing up a "good deal". My parents didn't know that Mike wasn't a "good deal" as they assumed he was, they were under the impression that I played the keyboard at church and got paid for it, whenever I sent them money they'd ask where I got it and I'd tell them I got paid extra. So that was a good deal to them, not lena mna ndiyenzayo (not what I was secretly doing with him).

After a lot of consideration, I called Mike, I needed directions to his PA's workplace.

"Lakhe?"

"How are you holding up?"

"I don't know... Hanging there. How are you?"

"I'm scared"

"She won't do anything, she won't tell a soul"

"That's what you said remember? She won't come looking for us? And what happened?"

He sighed, and I continued "I know she's your Personal Assistant but you have to admit that you don't know her that well... What if she blackmails you? Us?"

"She won't"

"Michael Ndizi! Yiyeke lento yakho yo undermine'a abantu" (Stop this habit of undermining people)

He laughed.

"What's so funny?"

"You, when you're scared you even lose your sense of humor I see"

I sighed.

"This is not funny, I don't see why you think it is"

"Why are you so scared? I'll be the one to get the most backlash even if she does decide to tell people", he said with a chuckle.

"You might not care about the church, your wife, and your reputation but I do care about how this whole thing could affect my family, so please."

He didn't answer me...

"Directions?"

"I'll send them to you now"

"Thank you"

**** **** ****

I took a very deep breath and walked into the building, signed a visitor's form, and then waited at the reception as the receptionist called her to come and fetch me. I was so nervous my palms were sweating and my foot was blind-mindedly yet rhythmically tapping on the floor. Under normal circumstances or let's say if Mike wasn't a pastor, just a random guy that I had hooked up with, I wouldn't be so afraid. It's just that in as much as he acted like he didn't understand what was at stake, my fear was my father and the church. How would the congregation listen to anything he would have to say to them again? How would his wife react? You know, I was thinking of him instead of myself because he would lose quite a lot but he didn't care. Or he acted like he didn't care.

Her presence (and scent) filled the room as she walked in, and in a matter of seconds, she just opened her arms and invited me for a hug. I fell right into it, I needed it.

"What brings you here?", she asked with a broad smile, but I could tell that she was trying. Trying to sound excited about seeing me.

I sighed and ran my hand through my uncombed hair. How was I supposed to say what brought me to her at the reception area?

What about the people around?

"I haven't slept much since that day", I managed to say.

"Mh, let's go to my office", she invited me leading the way.

I followed her to her office, she closed the door behind us and offered me a seat and a glass of water.

She waited for me to drink the water and then without a warning she asked: "I know it's none of my business, but please help me understand Lakhe, why?"

"I don't know... Because I like him, maybe? Or because he provides for me?" I answered with a shrug.

"Provides for you how?"

"He pays my rent and gives me allowance on a monthly basis"

"And your parents?"

"They pay the tuition fees only, I had to work two jobs before until I met Mike now I work one and he does the rest"

"But he doesn't work"

"His wife does, and the church tithes, pledges, and offerings"

"Wow!"

I didn't even know what to say to her but I had to say something, I had to plead.

"I came here to plead with you not to tell his wife, besides him standing at a greater chance of losing her and receiving backlash from the church, I'd be dead. My father would kill me with his bare hands" I pleaded.

"What you guys are doing is wrong, but it's not my place to say anything. Y'all are both grown men so I'd like to believe you both know what you've gotten yourselves into."

"Thank you", I managed to say with a sigh.

She nod and asked, "Don't you get paid for playing the keyboard at church?"

"No, it's voluntary work. I only charge when it's a conference, from three days upwards"

"I see"

"I know this may seem arrogant or it may be too much to ask for but can we just pretend like everything is still normal, you never walked in on us, we never went there... Can we just pretend none of this happened and swiftly move on from it" I suggested between gritted teeth.

"Sure, why not", she answered so quickly I was caught off guard. She was either a really kind person or she was a good pretender, why was she giving me all the right responses? Everything I wanted to hear, she said it.

As my mind raced over her responses, I looked at her and she had this weirdly mischievous smile on, but I decided to switch that pad of my brain off. I drank my water, we hugged then I left.