Chapter two

As I entered the church, I stood beside a pew arranged in the sixth row. I was already noted as one who doesn't sit at the front owing to the fact that I was bashful. Even my smile was as bashfully as I was. 

"The front pews aren't occupied yet. Would you mind sitting there?" A lad enquired with a broad grin. He had a kindly face and a warm smile, and when he talked his sweetness shone through. He was young, tall, broad, black-eyed, with a crew cut. He looked impressive, like a Hollywood teen approaching eighteen. 

"Um... I... good morning," I said, with a tremulous voice while bending my head downwards like one counting the sands of the earth. 

"Yeah, good morning. How are you?" he said, turning his gaze downwards to figure out what I was staring at. 

"I'm fine," I managed to speak. He stood erect like an iroko and his eyes were fixed on mine. He then threw an ostentatious smile which carried me away and left uneasiness with him. I thought he was an usher at first but after standing for some minutes, he neither moved backward nor forward. I spotted two people; a male and a female ushering people. They were clad in white and black. I spotted another man standing at the threshold of the church with an akin uniform. It was crystal clear that they were ushers. I got a glimpse of the young man talking to me; his outfit were no match when compared to that of the ushers. He was in black suit. 

"My name is Jeffery but you can call me Jeff. It's a pleasure to meet you." The young man said stretching his right hand forward for a handshake. 

"I'm Breen. It's a pleasure to meet you too," I replied with a soft voice stretching my right hand forward to receive his hand. He grabbed my hand as one would an ice cream and gave a sweet smile which were soothing. Imaginations I had never had ran through my head but in some ways it helped, because it took me away from reality. 

"Is this your first time here?" He asked. 

"No, it isn't," I replied trying to gain confidence. 

"For how long have you been coming?" 

"I've attended here just once. Today made it the second time I've been here." 

"Oh, I see. You know, I was wondering how an angelic creature would be in my midst for a long period of time without my knowledge. To be frank, the moment I saw you, you radiated all the heartwarming thoughts inspired by love and affection. As a result, something gave way inside me. I swore silently that I had never seen any girl as beautiful as you are. And in all honesty, you're splendid in this multi flowered silk gown of yours." He paused for a while and looked at me from head to toe with a faint smile. 

"Thank you," I said almost naively. But my innocence shone brilliantly in my smile. 

"Wow, you have a nice smile, more than I thought," he complimented. 

I did not know what to reply. I felt it would be dumb to respond to his compliment. From his look, he was expecting me to utter a word owing to the fact that he stood with all concentration on me. There was a sudden silence that engulfed us, leaving me with thousands of reason to search for a way to take my leave. He noticed my unusual uncomfortability and from his look, it seemed he could give up the best of his presents in order not to lose his very chance of talking to me. There was no choice left for him than to break the silence, and that was exactly what he did. 

"So... can you tell me about yourself?" He said fixing his eyes on mine with all concentration, as though he was watching his favourite TV show. I wondered at the questions he asked and why on earth it was in a church that he had the guts to ask such questions. Although the church service had not started, I still did not find it pleasant to entertain such kinds of questions. But there was something about him that I could not fight: he really was one of the finest lad I had ever seen. What would it cost if I spent few moments with him? 

"What are you thinking? Don't tell me you're diffident... are you?" His face shimmered with a smile that amply measured the state of his being and I did not know what to say. I was actually diffident and in a way, I wanted the moment to pass but he seemed ready to listen to me with rapt attention. Just then, an usher walked up to us and saved the moment.

"Good morning," he said. 

"Good morning sir," we responded. 

"The service is about to begin so I advice you have your pews before the processing in." 

"Okay, thanks," Jeff said to the usher, then winked at me while the usher departed.