Chapter 2: The Talk.

Chapter 2: The Talk.

We've been in the coffee shop for no more than 35 minutes about. It's getting late and as I was listening to Dan, "I hate when he is right" I said to myself, on the other hand if I am honest with myself, then everything that he just told me was correct. Dan's a clever guy and smart on top of that. Wow people really do change because who would have thought that a guy like Dan can become as devoted as a believer? Maybe he really is a change man like he said a few moments ago, because this guy was a cold-blooded player, back in the days I thought he never cared about girl's emotions. When he approached me, and asked me out I kept telling him if he wanted to see me or talk to me he should come to church. I guess the word did hit him and change his heart.

Well now he really got me thinking ...

"Anyway, I'm about to leave, going home, you want to catch the 72 bus together?" he asks when standing up.

"No just go... I'm going to call my boyfriend to come and pick me up" I reply.

"What??? You have a boyfriend now?" he asks surprisingly as if he couldn't believe what he just heard.

"No Dan, I'm a nun ... of course I have one! Is it a sin!? I can't have a husband without having a boyfriend. Like come on, it's the 21st century.

My attitude and sarcastic back talk upsets him.

"You know... it was just a question. You don't need to be all sarcastic about it, geez. Can't even have a nice conversation with you anymore"

"Look Dan I..." but he interrupts me in the middle of my sentence.

"Nah I'm out. Have a great evening. See you when I see you"

He walks out of the coffee shop as he's rushing to catch his bus. He left his empty cup of French vanilla he had and some napkins on the table. Dan is a hygienic and elegant guy but doesn't always have the habit of cleaning after himself.

It's been three minutes and a half since I texted my boyfriend to come pick me up, reasoning to myself "why does this guy always takes a long time to reply when you need him? Ugh I'll just let him know that I'll take the next bus or walk home!" as I'm going through my cellphone to write a text message to him. "Hey ... babe ... don't ... come... I... decided ... to ... just... walk... home ... Love ... you ... call ... me ... tonight ... xoxoxo". Afterward, I put away my cell phone and take Dan's cup and my half empty cup of the hot chocolate I had, which was already almost cold anyway. I swipe the table in one motion with the unused napkins we left. Rushing to the door, I dropped the cups in the garbage that's besides the door. Hurrying up to catch up with Dan, hoping he is not too far away by now. As I left to the coffee shop looking which way he went, as I look to my right, I spot Dan a bit further walking faster than I anticipates, so I run up to him.

"Hey ... Hey Dan! ... Wait up" I shout his name to get his attention. He turns to see who's calling his name, not too delight to see me when I approach.

"Hey, you walk too fast you know that?" he replies not, once again the silence between us took place. He is giving me the silent treatment. I have to admit that makes him even more attractive some reason.

"Come on Dan, don't make that face, look I'm sorry for what happened back there, but can we just put it behind us?"

"Aren't you supposed to be waiting for your boo to come pick you up?" he says it firmly with a calm tone. I don't know if he is being serious or sarcastic, at the same time I realize that I should be open and tell him my issues; after all he is my friend, so I reply by saying:

"I texted him to let him know that I'll just take the bus... besides, I didn't like the way we left things back there in the coffee shop"

"Well you don't need to tell me anything if you don't want to, I just thought we could have a conversation... I guess I was wrong"

"Oh, come on Dan don't be like that, and to be honest you are right. Everything you said in there..."

"Was I?" he replies not showing any facial expressions and the bus arrives at the stop we're standing.

"I have an extra token if you want, do you need one for the bus?" he asks me.

"No don't worry. I have a bus pass but thanks for your concern" I reply.

"Since when have you become such a gentleman?" I question him amusingly with a smiley face. And, we both laugh at the sometime.

"I already told you Tiya, I'm a changed man, is that so hard to believe?" He continues with that big laugh of his.

"Anyway, you wanted to know about me not showing up at church and leaving the choir, do you still want to know?" I ask him,

"Well sure ... I mean ... if you're willing to share then go right ahead but if you don't want to, it's OK as well. But I can tell that it's something that's been bothering you. So if you need someone to talk to ... I'm all ears" he replies with a serious look on his face. In my heart I knew that I have to talk to someone about it, but I didn't know who to go to, so I kept it in me for a very long time. I'm not and I've never been a person to be telling people my business. Plus, I feel like a lot of Christians don't really live up to that name. You tell them your secrets and the next thing you know, it's on CNN or on the local news. But this time I have to talk to someone, I don't care if the person goes and make a mockery of myself, because it was getting too heavy.

"But promise me that you will keep it to yourself Dan" I request.

"Hum OK sure, I promise" he answers.

"So basically... I was just hurt by the way things were going in the choir, like I would tell someone what I'm going through, but then they will just spread the news even make up stuff, especially people that I was close with. I mean... how can you do that? And, then call yourself a child of God? To me it makes no sense, so I just left because I felt like it was them against me and felt so betrayed by my so call friends" just talking about it makes me angry, I just told him not even half of what I went through because I know his stop was next, so I just gave him a small resume of my problems.

"There you go Dan, now you know a little bit about why I don't come to church and all. Any ways I know your stop is coming up next right?"

"Yes, my stop is next, but I can't leave a young lady going home alone when it's getting dark outside. So, I'll get off at your stop and walk back home, it's not too far anyway".

There's an old lady who sat right in front of us, she is getting ready to hop off the bus, but when she overhears Dan, she turns to us and say:

"What a nice gentleman, you hold on to this nice man young lady" after giving us a smile, the bus stops and she got off. I look at Dan and he looked back and we both smile.

"Don't get the wrong ideas here mister" I told Dan, but he just calmly replies.

"Hey, I didn't say anything ... back to our conversation ... you were saying?"

"Well I'm done, well that's pretty much some of what you need to know" I reply.

"Well If that's the case, I really don't see a big deal for you to have resentment toward your fellow choir mate or your friends"

"Dan, you clearly don't understand, put yourself in my shoes" I say to him as we are getting off the bus.

"Listen, I have to get going, but before I go I want to tell you something for you to think on alright?"

"Yea sure" I reply uninterested.

"Listen: *those who have hurt you in the past cannot hurt you now unless you hold on to the pain through resentment. Your past is past! Nothing will change it. You're only hurting yourself with your bitterness. For your own sake, learn from it and then let it go. The Bible says..."

"Oh boy ... here we go. Dan if I wanted to talk to a pastor I would have done so" I cut him off before he even finishes his sentence.

"No Tiya just let me finish, just hear me out... as I was saying. The Bible says: *to worry yourself to death with resentment would be a foolish, senseless thing to do*. Resentment always hurt you more than the person you resent. While your offender has probably forgotten the offense and gone on with life. Many people are driven by resentment and anger. I hope you're not one of them Tiya".