MULATTO (Iyila) (Editing)

chapter thirty four ~ Happy New Year

Iyila spent the following week, rearranging her opinions about her master - Gabriel and developing new ones. At the end of that week, Iyila had already concluded that the man was insane with knowledge. A thirst for knowledge that she had never believed existed. He was always with a book, either reading or writing when he had no company. She always found him in his clothes in the morning and eyes as weary as that of a watch guard. But aside from his books, Iyila had come to realize that he was a loveable person. A passionate man and she saw it in his green eyes when he looked at Anne, Collete, or Susan. She saw the love he had for the women and he took them to the theatre, the market, and every exciting place. It made Iyila wonder how it could feel if she had a caring older brother but she always wiped that thought away before it could spread in her heart. She had seen that he had a weak relationship with his father and Zachary and their arguments usually filled the whole house with tension. Their voices, all alike seemed like rumbling sky and Susan's tiny pleading voice was usually faint. And, beside studying Gabriel, Iyila spent some of her time asking him questions about the Bible on areas she didn't understand. She was shocked to see that he knew all and his patience to her incessant and foolish questions at times kept her wondering about the material that the man was made of. One saturday while scrubbing the floor, and Gabriel busily reading a book entitled Constitution, Iyila asked him about John 3;16. She couldn't understand why a man could give his only begotten son to a crowd of worthless people and why the mother would allow it.

Gabriel's response was a laugh and it baffled her.

"What is amusing?" she shyly asked. She knew their relationship was a gamble yet a part of her was comfortable with it although she refused to believe that she trusted him.

"Liya, Jesus christ is a supernatural being, therefore he does not have a mother," he said admist a chuckle. She had heared that before but she didn't believe it.

"It's impossible."

"Nothing is impossible, with God of course. Mary was only his earthly mother, she was but a vessel. A tool in the hands of God, a passage from heaven to earth," Gabriel calmly explained.

"But she carried him in her womb," Iyila insisted, not understanding why a mother could let anyone harm her son. Turning around to face her Gabriel spoke.

"God is mysterious Liya, all earthly theory indicates that Christ was not the son of God. It takes only the courageous to believe in something that faint."

"Faith?" she asked. Gabriel nodded, "Faith, and no man can show the love which God had shown to mankind, no man is capable of such love." Iyila thought of what he had said, then continued to scrub the floor.

"I could never give away my child," she blantly stated. Gabriel smiled, he also couldn't.

"But God did, because he loved man, even though man has proven to be worthless all the time. I know it's difficult to fathom, I also do not think I am capable of such love."

Iyila stared at him. She did not believe him, he was a good man, he loved his family, he even regarded her. Perhaps he didn't regard himself.

"You are a good, I believe you can," she said, scrubbing the floor.

"I do not think anybody can, it has nothing to do with being good, it is sacrifice, I am not capable of love."

"But you love your sister, your mother and most especially, Miss Anne." Iyila included. Gabriel stared at her, he held all of them dear to his heart but loving Anne, he was unsure. "Or do you not love Anne?" she asked when he saw the distant look on his face. Gabriel got up from the chair and walked to the window. He sighed, no one had asked him about it except her.

"I do not believe in love Liya. I only believe in satisfaction. Anne satisfies me," he coldly replied, that instant Iyila became alert.

"I am sorry if my question rattled you I__"

"I am happy you asked," he quickly interrupted and turned to face her. She noticed he was smiling.

"Liya," he called and paused. "Love is more than what we imagine it to be. It is endurance, patience, long suffering, sacrifice?" he said as Iyila calmly listened.

He continued, "Love is beyond the colour of our skin, love is boundless, beyond social, political, religious status. Love is trust, love is giving and not hoping to receive, it is beautiful and fulfilling. It is smiling in the midst of pain. Love is___"

"Indiscribable," they both said in unison. Gabriel smiled when he saw that suprised expression on her face. "Yes, indiscribable Liya. Anne is a beautiful woman and she meets all my physical criteria but I cannot tell you that what I feel for her is love. I am satisfied with her and I tell you, I will be a good husband to her even without love," he finished.

Iyila managed to swallow and wiped the sweat off her face, she had not anticipated love to be all he had mentioned, yet she knew it was true.

"Tell me, Liya," he abruptly said, startling her. "Yes sir"

"Have you ever loved?" he asked and folded his arms. She stared at him, of course she loved Dede.

"Yes," she managed to say after a small silence. But she did not know why it sounded so foreign to her. As though she was lying to herself.

"Then you must be very brave."

"Why?"

Gabriel chuckled. "Unlike what people think, only the brave can love," he said and walked to his chair. Iyila nodded again, he was as usual correct.

"Tell me again, Liya, what do you think of my Anne?" Iyila was taken aback by his question, she did not see the relevance.

"Go on please," he said, turning. She cleared her throat before she spoke. "Well she is a beautiful woman as you said. She has nice even teeth, a firm nose, dazzling fair skin. She__ she is graceful, elegant, a fine lady and her jewery_all I have seen so far is expensive. Before I forget she has vety curly hair and beautiful pair of__"

"Enough Liya," Gabriel was laughing, Iyila smiled. " I did not ask for her description which you did a very fair job with."

"I do not know more than I have already stated," Iyila said. "Very well then, many thanks, now I need to return to my book," he said and turned to his book.

Iyila frowned, she could have told him that Anne was no good for him. That she was a pretentious woman and didn't deserve a man like him, but she concluded to hold her tongue and resume her scrubbing.

She thought of what Gabriel had said that night while she lay on her mattress in the warm dark room. She pondered over Gabriel's definition of love and wondered if she truly loved Dede. Gabriel had mentioned long suffering and sacrifice in his explanation yet she had ran away the minute she saw an opportunity. A part of her tried not to believe that she was like Gabriel,satisfied with Dede.

Authors note; Please read. Hi everyone. I am sorry about d late update. I have been quite busy, however I am in dire need of an editor. Pm if ur interested. Read, comment and vote. Enjoy!!!!!