Nineteen.

"Her name was Amelia. I met her in the church", he continued, and I thanked God.

"Her parents were pastors too, so we spent a lot of time together. She would always say she wanted to be a pastor, and she would make me her deputy", his head titled downwards, and he scoffed.

" Everyone knew her because she did a million different things in church even as a fifteen-year-old. Then one day ... ", Another pause went by, and I felt my heartbeat accelerating.

God, please don't let him stop.

"What happened ?", I prompted.

"She and her family were involved in an accident, she was the only person that survived it".

My mouth split open.

"Her father, her heavily pregnant mother, and her older sister died. A family that devoted their lives to the church just wiped out", he shook his head. " I went to that fucking church day after day praying that she recovered, day after day, I prayed. I hoped. She didn't do anything wrong, there were much worse people in the world that deserved to die. But not her. The church just went ahead to replace her parents, those people don't care. It's all a business. They didn't even bother to contribute to her hospital bills but would crowd her bed praying as if they cared, and leave. She ended up dying too".

Tears misted in my eyes and slid down my cheeks.

"I realized heaven, God, all of it wasn't true. The church was a scam, a business, that's it. She didn't deserve to die, she was going to become a fucking pastor. She was going to change lives". His voice revealed how painful it was for him.

" Why did God let them die ?".

" A lot of questions don't have answers Keith, but everything happens for a reason".

He faced me, and I saw the cracks and shadows of grief and loss he hid perfectly. "What's the reason, Eva ?".

I shook my head and wiped my tears. " I don't know Keith, I don't know".

He scoffed, and another round of silence engulfed us.

I stretched a hand because we were sitting close, and took his large hand in mine. He was as still as my father's red chieftaincy cap that he had never worn.

"Let's find our way together", I told him.

His eyes remained dark. " You don't know the things I've done".

"Everyone deserves a second chance, even when one's sins seem to be unforgivable". I was about to add God forgives all, and was glad when I refrained. I now understood why he was the way he was.

He was angry. Angry at the church, angry at God. I understood now.

I remembered I was still holding his hand and flushed. I made to retrieve it when he enveloped my hand in his.

My heart began doing somersaults in my chest.

"Why the hell is your hand so tiny ?", He joked, rubbing his thumb on my palm, and I ripped my hand away from his with a laugh, mainly because his touch always did things to me.

"That's nature Keith Johnson", I retorted.

He laughed, and I loved the sound of it.

" We should do this again", he suggested, and I fought the wide grin threatening to worm its way onto my face. He wanted to spend time with me.

"That's if you want to of course", he was quick to add.

I nodded enthusiastically. " Yes, I would love that".

"Only if you win our next bet", he stated.

I laughed. " Who are we betting on this time ?", I asked.

He smiled. "We'll see".

It felt so good.

***

Immediately it clocked five, we left the building, after we had spent the rest of our time trying to teach and learn Igbo my native language. I was the teacher, and Keith was the horrible student. His attempts were the funniest thing ever.

We were currently walking the same way we did when we were coming to the house. Keith had said that strolling would be better than driving in his car, and he was right. I felt so happy. I couldn't explain it, there was just a tangle of emotions in my chest, but I liked it. I liked it a lot.

"I didn't get to apologize for one more thing", he stated, drawing my attention.

" What's that ?", I questioned, a smile I couldn't take off plastered on my face.

His eyes slid down to mine. "What happened that night ".

I heated as I recalled, and turned away.

"I shouldn't have touched you", he said.

"It's fine", I mumbled.

"It's not".

"It's fine Keith. It's already in the past", I told him, and he didn't say anything for a bit.

I'm still sorry".

I rubbed my arm, and stared at the houses we passed like they were the most beautiful things in the world. I felt uncomfortable speaking about that.

It didn't take long for us to reach our houses, and as I stared at the entrance to my house, I realized just how much I didn't want to go in there. I wanted to go back to the large house at the end of the estate, and remain there with Keith.

"Are you okay ?", Keith's question drew my attention back to him.

I nodded. "Uh-huh".

He didn't look like he believed me, but he let it slide. "I'll be on my way then".

I panicked but didn't show it.

"Okay, thank you so much for today. I had fun", I told him.

He smiled, and his eyes were nearly electric, pulling me in. "I'm glad you did".

My lips stretched in a smile of my own, and before I could stop myself I confessed. "I love your eyes".

"Do you now ?".

I slapped myself mentally. "I meant to say that ... They're cool. The color", I rambled.

He chuckled at my awkwardness. "Thank you, Eva, I love your eyes too".

I heated and my eyes landed on the ground.

"I'll see you later, I have something really important I need to do", he announced, and I offered a nod.

He stretched a hand in my direction, "Friends ?".

I happily took his hand, "Friends".