, rise like

isters soared to a crescendo and the church fell to a hush when the priest stopped in front of the crucifix attached to the tiled wal

girlfriend seated in the front pew. Sat between two altar servers behind the priest, he had a better view of t

ps curved into a close-lipped smile and he rubbed his hand over the white of his vestment. Mirth bloomed i

ca

up the glasses sliding down the bridge of her nose. She frowned. He swiped a finger across his nose to hide

the Reverend Sisters who always attended the Sunday mass. No hair in sight. He knew her plain gown would

loved everything tha

ymn in tune with the other choristers sitting behind the church, at the elevated choir stand reserved for the

ace, glorifying the Lord by

s be t

ecting door to the narrow corridor leading to the sacristy as the choir started a new hymn. Upon entrance into the sacristy, they cho

rs slipped out. Naza hid his annoyance behind a smile, waiting for Sammy to speak. Sammy, all gangly arms a

The thin arm, his oversized clothes looking like it belonged on a scarecrow. Naza

are

ned silence between them. Sammy retracted his hand, t

he seasons of the church. Everyone knew this. Naza's fingers curled around his h

everyone called the Parish priest who celebrated th

iling.” Naza, unsure what to reply to that, nodded. S

sister, how

ix

shared a laugh. His eyes roved over the large, near-empty compound, looking for a certain someone. The church was bereft of the fancy c

red. His eyes gleamed with

f a car. The tinted window slid down, Nene flashed him a smile. “You were about le

rse not.” She paused to spare a look around, they were the only two left in the church. “I was waiting for you

her cold palms to his cheeks. “I was hoping we could grab a quick bite together, it has been a while we did that,” he said in a voice that t

on't feel hungry.” Pulling her hands from his grasp to pat the ends of her hair, she

she had referred to as: All back with a row of brown, wooden beads dangling at th

hung over them like a pregnant elephant, they both chose to ignore it. They star

tung, he distracted himsel

ornrows length and volume. He ran a finger along the line between each braid, her eyelids fluttered. The prol

dimple, traced a line down her jaw and his eyes stayed on her birthmark, a fat dot that looked like someone ha

es bulged, she chortled. “You can eat whenever you

olding his phone up to her face so she could see the red and yellow logo of the famous eatery, Tantalizer under the receipt. Naza could

e with pictures, what do you say to that?” He laughed,

arty laughter which ended on a wistful sigh. She pinc

er of things, didn't need to since it was in his favour. “I think it's cool, the id

glance at her wristwatch. “I have to go.” He nodded. Blowing kisses in his directio

e said with a frown. “Love

ckled, standing there until the car was out of sight.

es

me the sarcas

owered to his side, he his

n response to the gentle wind, his hand swept over the