Chapter 32

John

Early this morning, I got a call from the hospital saying my dad had a mini heart attack so I took the day off to go and see him.

He's hard this heart problem for years and it got worse ever since my mum died. Now,he has to deal with it alone. Growing up, I was never close to my father. I was always closer to my mum ( probably a boy's thing) but that's never stopped him from teaching me valuable life lessons as I became older.

Getting out of my car, I slammed the door before making my way to the Doreen's hospital building.

I was still bothered about last night's events with Ruby. When she left my house, I was unable to get the image of her wet body out of my head. The way her wet clothes clung to her body. The way I wrapped my arms around her as if my life depended on it.

As if her body wasn't perfect enough, her mouth, her scent - the sweet smell of flowers drove me insane.

In less than 5 minutes, I was standing next to my dad's bedside

"Son" he said as soon as he noticed my presence

"Hi dad"

I took his hand and squeezed it

"How are you?" he asked me

Even now, with old age catching up to him and his heart slowly coming to a halt, he was still kind enough to ask me how I am.

"I’m good, thank you. You?"

He chuckled

"How am I? Well I almost had a heart attack this morning, that's how I am"

I sighed

"What's wrong, boy?"

Even in his sickness, he could still see through me

I couldn't look at him as I remembered the memories between Ruby and I. I was supposed to be a teacher, a Good Shepherd to my students yet I gave in so easily to temptation not even thinking about the consequences.

I even gave her my house address

"What's bothering you?"

I couldn't tell him. These are my problems, not his

“Nothing sir. I'm fine"

He narrowed his eyes at me as if not believing a word I just said

"You're gonna be ordained in a few days. Are you re-thinking it?"

"No Dad" I lied swiftly

Of course, I'm rethinking it. How am I going to cope in the priesthood? Ruby just came into my life and my attractions flared up.

What if a life of pure celibacy isn't for me?

What if I’m meant to love freely and date and stuff? This situation got me messed up in the head and has me thinking differently.

"Is it a girl?"

Just that sentence alone had me nervous. Of course, it's a girl

"Yes" I admitted

"What's the matter? You're handsome, Young and successful. Doesn't she like you back?"

I looked at him with the weirdest look ever. Is he saying what I think he is?

I'm getting ordained soon" I reminded him just in case he forgot

He waved me off with his hand

"Pfft. We both know you're doing this for your mum, yeah?"

"Yeah"

"It was just a wish son. She wasn't forcing you. She's gone now and she would want you to be happy"

"But"

"But what? Go home and read Ecclesiastes 9 vs 7 to 9. The lord wants you to be happy too"

I was in shock for a second. My dad practically hated church ever since my mum died. How come he can quote the Bible so correctly?

"How did you?... You don't even read the Bible"

He smiled weakly

" I kept that passage by heart because of you. I knew you would need it one day"

And just like that, as if the odds were in my favor, my phone vibrated

Ruby: I heard about your dad. Hope you're ok?

me: yes. wanna hang out later?