If Love Be Sin

Chapter 1Israel Taylor"Israel, put your phone down," Ma had hissed at me and I jerked into action, switching it off and forcing in down the pockets of my slacks.I folded my hands on my lap, looking at me fingers and biting my lip as I avoided making eye contact with her - I could feel her still looking at me until she finally looked away, turning her attention back to the front where the mass was still going on.Please God don't let her take my phone after this, I prayed in my mind knowing I'd just committed an offense. Ma took church way serious and she doesn't tolerate things like this."Behave," dad leaned down to my ear to whisper before sitting up straight again.I remember taking in a deep breath to calm my nerves and collect my thoughts before looking back up. I wasn't like that, I was the good quiet boy who paid attention during masses a

Chapter 3Israel Taylor I know for a fact that I wasn't popular in school. I was that kind of student who actually succeeded in blending in like a shadow and was going to finish highschool without any problems at all. I literally only ever talk to three people in the walls of this school and if I talk to anybody else, it's because I absolutely have no choice but to.I remember back in sophomore year when I got paired with Freda in Chemistry lab. I knew Freda because she was one of the two coloured girls in the cheerleading squad and Jamal once found her beautiful. Freda however, didn't know me and the first five minutes of our praticals were spent asking if I was a new student. Then a guy behind us scolded Freda for not knowing meek Israel. That's when I discovered that the handful of people that might know me thought of me as meek. And of course, a church boy. I don't know if t

Chapter 5Israel Taylor"I agree with her on this one," I say avoiding Mal's eyes and looking at the label on my juice bottle. "It's high time she breaks up with you, you don't treat her as well as you should.""Wow, best friend." Jamal says looking at me like I just betrayed him.I shrug, "I'm on your side and the truth hurts. She needs the kind of attention you can't offer now, let her go.""True that," he sighs, "I'll still miss her."He just recounted the events that led to his girlfriend breaking up with him over a text while he was at his mum's. I feel bad for him but I'm also happy for his girlfriend, she finally had the courage to end things. Gone are the days when she'll be following me around asking about his whereabouts and I'd just keep telling her about the different things Jamal was always involved in. He barely had time for himself

Chapter 7Israel Taylor"Why exactly is this place your favorite?" I had asked confused, looking around the semi empty place. Only two other people were in here and one was basically sleeping. "I mean, there's that other Frozen Yogurt shop out there by the markets. More popular and everyone goes there.""Not everyone," he corrected, pointing a finger to himself."Right." I nodded. "Most people."Sky leaned forward, his eyes twitched and I don't know how but I knew he about to say something serious. Maybe the most serious thing he has said all this time. "Frosty was the very first frozen yogurt shop in town. People flooded here like mad and it was the absolute best. Until that new guy comes and opens another shop just as Jake divorces his wife and the bitch runs away with his money. Slowly it all starts going down until it's here now." He looked around the

Chapter 9Israel TaylorI am deeply engrossed in solving my maths questions under the dim glow of my table lamp in the otherwise dark room— I was done with English already and is hoping to be done with the fifty mensuration questions before midnight — when my phone chimes lighting up where it was lying in between the pages of a closed textbook.I distractedly reach for it, swiping it open and what I see captures all my attention, leaving none for maths again as I relax into my chair, eyes zoning in on the picture lighting my screen.He wasn't joking.There on my screen was a picture of Sky. He wore different clothes now, a plain white shirt and what I'm now assuming to be his trademark black jeans. His hair was glistening looking damp as they fell around his face, his eyes with a certain spark that made my heart thud again, more gently this ti