Chapter 70 THE REUNION
The Fellowship, where Sobrina had met Pastor Melvin many years ago, announced their annual reunion. Sobrina was never the type to attend such gatherings, since it involved a lot of spending and traveling. But she was still around the University environment, even though she was done with her second degree, she hadn't completely graduated because the University was demanding for another tuition which she couldn't yet afford, plus she also needed to submit her completed Dissertation, which she was working on. It was therefore convenient for her to attend.
It was a three day program held in the University's largest auditorium. The reunion began almost a week after Sobrina survived Osano's anger, and the beginning of the mental attacks of the underside of her church - Gracedome.
They had decided it was best to scare her out of their church, and if she still wouldn't go, they were to make sure she became permanently mentally damaged, like they'd done to Kate. Pastor Davies, Pastor Miraya and all the members of the underside had agreed that it was the best action, to prevent an occurrence of another sudden change in Pastor Melvin, whom they believed actually loved Sobrina.
They had also made a customized beaded bracelet for Pastor Melvin. Each squared bead on the bracelet bore a letter. It read thus - M. I. R. A. Y. A. It was fastened to his wrist by Miraya at Pastor Davies' house, and in his presence. After Pastor Melvin been made to promise to marry Miraya.
Pastor Davies warned him never to take it of for any reason. To make sure he didn't forget his priority, until he'd married Miraya.
Sobrina had noticed the bracelet on his wrist on the Sunday leading to the week of the reunion. She had been trying to talk her lady friend - whom she was now staying with in the hostel - into joining the church, but the girl had refused to accept the message of Gracedome, either because of all she was witnessing around Sobrina, or just because she didn't want to. Sobrina had left for church late that day after trying to convince her without any success. She saw Pastor Melvin walking past the hostel accompanied by Miraya. They were stuck to each other, walking side by side, and Pastor Melvin was carrying her handbag on the other hand.
She later noticed that Miraya was crying all through the church service, and so she thought Pastor Davies had finally revealed his actual intention of getting married to herself to her.
They were asked to wait for a Post Graduate meeting after the church service, and that was when Sobrina, who was sitting behind Pastor Melvin, saw the bracelet. She thought it was probably his goodbye gesture, since he wouldn't stop staring stupidly at her.
Sobrina was surprised to find that the bracelet was still on his wrist during the Fellowship's reunion that weekend. She had thought they could be free here, away from the spying eyes of the members of Gracedome, and around people whom they had known for a very long time, and who knew them in return. She went to speak to him.
"What are you doing here", he questioned in anger.
"How are you?", Sobrina questioned.
"Get away from me or I will report you to Pastor Davies", he threatened like a child. Sobrina laughed out loud.
"Why are you still putting on this bracelet?", she gently questioned.
"I said get away from me", he shouted. Sobrina decided he was probably in a very bad mood, and left him alone, feeling very confused.
The next day, there was a workout exercise scheduled at the University's Long Tennis Court, for the members of the Fellowship.
Sobrina happily jogged down to the location. Pastor Melvin arrived later dressed in a tight Polo top, and slacking clinging workout pants, that printed his massive manhood. The bracelet was also missing on his wrist.
The guy beside Sobrina was visibly attracted to her, he was constantly speaking to her, in a very amicable manner.
Pastor Melvin noticed this, and got jealous. He began to film the workout exercise with his smartphone camera. He arrived very close to Sobrina and stopped. He stood there filming only Sobrina, shamelessly, until the workout exercise ended.
He kept moving around Sobrina later, pretending to be talking to other people. He also secretly confronted the guy and warned him to stay away from Sobrina. Sobrina rejoiced in her mind, thinking she was right, he was hers as he'd always been.
Sobrina noticed a few members of the church among the Fellowship members, she spoke to one and the young lady said she was also a member of the Fellowship.
Everyone was later given customized uniforms, imprinted with the Fellowship's logo, in honor of the occasion.
That evening, during the evening section of the reunion, Sobrina noticed the presence of Reverend Saul.
She'd always known that the Reverend was a member of the Fellowship during his undergraduate years. She also knew he had even once attained the position of a President.
The Reverend's wife was seated on one of the chairs in the row, few feet in front of Sobrina. He, himself had stepped outside for one reason or another.
Sobrina went over to say her greetings. "Mom, good evening ma", she said, bending one knee, according the custom of the members of WUCC. She was squatting in front of the woman who skillfully hid her astonishment at the sight of Sobrina.
"Ah, Sobrina. It is you... How are you?", the woman questioned.
"Very well ma. How about Dad?",
"He's around somewhere, he'll soon return to his seat",
"Alright, you're welcome ma", Sobrina responded and returned to her seat. As soon as Sobrina saw the Reverend return to his chair beside his wife, she went to say her greetings at once, like she'd done with the wife.
"Dad, good evening sir", she said, while bending one knee in front of him.
"Good evening Sobrina", he managed to respond. Sobrina had made sure to appear before his wife could intimate him on her presence. He was shocked to see her.
"How come you're here?", he questioned, he wasn't aware Sobrina was a member of the Fellowship. He'd left the Fellowship long before Sobrina had joined it.
"I'm an old member of the Fellowship",
"Is that so?",
"Yes, you're welcome sir", Sobrina concluded, and returned to her chair few rows behind the couple.
But something else seemed to be bothering the Reverend. He kept turning around staring at Sobrina, as if he couldn't believe his eyes. His wife whispered something in his ears fews minutes later, and they swiftly left the gathering.
"Nice riddance", Sobrina thought.
Sobrina later noticed the entrance of four ladies from Gracedome. She went over, as was the custom when someone saw people they knew. Partly, to say her greetings, and partly to skillfully find out why they were actually there.
They all - except one - said they were members of the Fellowship. They explained that they were combinning attending church with attending the Fellowship.
Sobrina knew they were spies. It was against the laws of the the church to attend any other religious gathering.
There was a singles forum on relationships discussion, scheduled for that evening. Pastor Melvin was one of the yound men to be interviewed, he was called upon, and he appeared, dressed in jeans and the Polo uniform they'd been given that morning at the Long Tennis Court. He also had his office identification card hung around his neck, and the bracelet had returned on his wrist.
"When is it right for a Christian student and member of this Fellowship to start dating?", the moderator questioned Pastor Melvin.
"Let me tell you, a student is not ready for dating not even after he'd graduated and gone for the compulsory National Youth Service", he responded.
"Did you date any sister while you were still a student?",
"Not exactly. I saw every lady of the fellowship as my sister. Not that I didn't feel attracted to anyone. But I reported every feeling of attraction to the authorities, who cautioned me",
"Are you dating anyone right now?",
"Yes",
"Is she present in this gathering?",
"No", he responded.
Sobrina was mad with annoyance. It was now obvious why the spies had come. The ladies left as soon as the interview was over.
Sobrina wept all the way back to the room she was sharing with the young lady, at the hostel.
