Dedicated to lemmysong ❤

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And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. --1 Corinthians 3:23 (KJV)

Good morning, Abba.

Posi muttered as she awoke just before her alarm went off. Recently, she noticed that her alarm clock was almost useless as she almost always woke up before it.

Well, since the Holy Spirit has added Personal Alarm Clock to the list of His seven workings, what more could I want?

She snickered to herself as she reached for her Bible and devotional. She was sure He was more than happy to wake her.

Some minutes later, she began to pray for her day and her relationship with her parents but before she knew it, the prayer had turned to one for the Sijuade family. Yes, she knew something wasn't right but if her prayers turned to them, then it must be for a reason. She continued to pray till it was time to prepare for work.

She stood to go about her preparation when thoughts of her previous phone call with her mum sailed back into her mind. Her mum wanted her to go see her dad but she still didn't know how she felt about that.

With her mum, she'd known what to say and how to act. Well, to some extent. But with her dad, that would be a totally different scenario. Her relationship with him had never really been cordial. He had been one of those dads who didn't express themselves very well. It was all about the provision of money and basic components of living, with him. She couldn't even remember one time when he had spoken words that weren't borderline commands to her.

Now, he wanted to mend their relationship. But there hadn't been one. Posi had told her mum that she'd think about it. And she knew soon enough, her mum wouldn't accept such statements from her.

Posi's thoughts turned to Tayo. The guy had been radio silent for roughly a week since they returned from their trip to his family's home. Even the times she saw him at church, he was a mellow version of himself and he always seemed to be trying too hard to be his normal self. He had promised to tell her what was going on with him, but that had been when he dropped her off at home, one week ago.

She called him but he just seemed to not want to talk. So, she changed tactics by sending him texts or chats. Even their WhatsApp group page was filled with messages for him. He always read them and would reply with an emoji. So, at least, they knew he was alive. Gerald and Funmi seemed to think she was his P.A because they kept asking her how he was doing. She never had much to say because she also didn't know.

As soon as she had her stud earrings clipped in, she picked up her phone and dialled Kazeem's number.

"Hello, Miss Faleye. Good morning," Kazeem greeted.

Posi smiled. "Good morning, Kazeem."

They exchanged pleasantries before Posi asked, "Is your boss in today?"

"Yes, he said he'll be in by noon."

"Okay. What time is he free to receive guests?"

He paused to probably check his boss' schedule. "At about 2:30 p.m."

"Okay. I'll come in then and do me a favour, don't tell him. Okay?"

"Yes, ma'am."

She chuckled as she dropped her phone. If Mohammed doesn't come to the mountain, the mountain will go to Mohammed. In fact, the mountain must go to Mohammed.

She called for a cab as she went into the kitchen to pack her breakfast.

*****

"Good morning, egbon," Tayo spoke into the phone. His brother, Adekunle, was coming to his place before his flight back the next day.

His brother had said he needed to talk to him and he already knew what it was about. Even his friends hadn't left him alone for the past few days and he couldn't blame them. His usual sunny persona hadn't been in view for about a week and he was sure they were worried.

His brother's voice brought him back to the present. "So, the driver says we are almost at yours. I will see you in a bit."

"Alright. Expecting you." He tapped END on his phone and rubbed his left palm through his face. In a few minutes, he'd be talking about what he had been avoiding for the past week.

Even Posi had tried calling him too. He needed to apologize to her about his silence. He just couldn't help it. He had weathered enough storms on his own, or at least, with people he was familiar with. He didn't know if he should bare himself to her. It wasn't that he didn't trust her. It was that she may just see something she didn't like and maybe she'll just stop talking to him.

The question was: how did he open up to someone he was just starting to love? Someone who thought he was someone else when he just discovered he wasn't.

With a swat of his hand, as if he was swatting off a bugging fly, he pushed all thoughts out of his mind. He had already told Kazeem that he was going to be late to work today so he could receive his brother. He needed it. Even the past few days at work had been work. He was sure his P.A had noticed too.

Tayo heard a car honk and the sound of running feet he was sure belonged to Isaiah. He wore his slippers as he padded towards the entrance to welcome his brother.

Here we go.

"Welcome, bro," he greeted as he hugged his brother. His brother smiled, staring at his face, probably trying to decipher the fake smile he had plastered on his face.

"Good morning, Your Highness," the driver who brought his brother greeted. He jerked unconsciously and went silent, while his brother gave the driver a dismissing look.

"Kiitan, am I going to stand outside all day?" Adekunle asked.

He scoffed in answer. "Yeah, maybe I'm jealous of your light skin and I want you to become darker."

"You're jealous? That's new. It's not my fault you compete with charcoal now, is it?"

"That's not fair."

"You started it."

Tayo rolled his eyes. "Let's go in."

As soon as they walked in, Tayo ushered him to the dining area. "I decided to bestow on you my culinary skills. So, consider yourself highly favoured."

"Ah-ha!" Adekunle exclaimed after washing his hands. He picked up his cutlery before saying, "Let me taste what all the fuss is about."

"Eat and be amazed," Tayo replied dryly.

After eating a forkful of eggs, his brother muttered, "Not bad." The duo laughed.

"It's good to see you laugh, Kiitan."

Tayo went silent. He knew his brother was about to go into the why of his visit. "I'm trying, egbon. It just hasn't been as easy as I thought."

Adekunle dropped his cutlery. "I can't even imagine how you must be feeling now. I spoke with mum and dad. It's very much obvious that they love you, Kiitan. I doubt that will ever change."

Tayo rubbed his face. "I know that. It's coming to terms with the fact that I'm not a part of a family I'd always thought was mine, that I have issues with. I even put us through very rough times too, with all the stuff I dabbled in. Maybe if I'd known...," he trailed off.

"And if you'd known, what would have happened? You may have even gone in deeper than that. It was probably mum and dad's love, and ours, that didn't make you go off the deep end. It's also why they couldn't have told you at that time."

Tayo went silent. He was seeing things from another perspective and it was startling for him.

His brother placed his hands on his shoulder and squeezed. "If you think we would love you any less or ostracize you, then you are very wrong. You have always been our brother and you will continue to be."

With his head bowed, Tayo nodded. "I know, egbon. And I appreciate that, really. I guess my sense of identity has just been tampered with. Like, I have always thought and read that much of our identities come from our background. Discovering now that being a Sijuade isn't my identity, at least biologically and just finding that out at my age, has messed that up."

He looked up at his brother. "I know I shouldn't think that way but it's hard not to. My spirit knows that I'm God's, it's just taking the rest of me some time to get that. So, I just need some time."

"Okay. We will give you time. Only if you make it too long, we will come to carry you."

Tayo smiled. "I hear you."

They continued talking for a bit before Tayo checked his watch. "I need to get going. I have a meeting by 12:30 p.m but I'll return early. So, make yourself at home."

He stood and went in to prepare. All he needed was time.

********

Posi dropped her drawing pen after making the final curve on the painting before her. She rotated her head left and right and cracked her knuckles before standing up to stretch her tight muscles. Even her wrist begged for some tender loving care, so she rubbed an analgesic ointment on it as prescribed by her personal Physiotherapist, Gerald. He had spouted off some medical jargon about her having wrist pain due to overuse.

Or was it repetitive use he said? Anyways, he had given her some home exercises to do, which she did only when she remembered and told her to get the ointment.

She checked her phone. It was almost 2 p.m. Well, time to get a move on.

She freshened up and stood to leave. Here's the mountain moving.

*******

Tayo's meeting for the day was done and he sat on his chair putting finishing touches to his work before he began to pack his bag. His brother was leaving the next day and he wanted to spend some time with him.

His eyes caught sight of his mum's journal. He had unconsciously been carrying it everywhere with him and he read a few entries whenever he could.

He sat relaxed in his chair as he opened to a new entry.

September 30th, 1988

Adekiitan stood up using his dad's legs as support today. We were so excited as we watched him stand, well before he landed on his buttocks. He had that adorable toothless smile on his face. He's my miracle baby.

As much as I'm happy, times like this also make me remember that his mum isn't here to witness such milestones. And that one day, I'll have to tell him who his real mother is. And that just breaks my heart.

Tayo had a sad smile on his face and he was so sure his eyes were secreting that watery substance again. He blinked just in time to hear a knock on his door.

He slammed the journal shut before he cleared his throat. "Yes, come in." He pretended to put his table in order as he pushed files here and there.

"Guess who's here to see you," he heard a voice he was sure he would recognize in his sleep.

Posi. He looked up to see her smiling at him like he was the one who hung the sun shining so bright outside.

"Hey. What are you doing here?" He asked. He saw the fleeting frown on her face before he realized how that sounded.

"No, I meant that Kazeem didn't tell me you were coming around."

She folded her arms. "Well, you also don't look too glad to see me."

He smiled and shook his head.

"Good. You realize what you have done wrong. So, I'm going to go back outside to knock and we will do this again. 'Kay?" She said with her arms going all over the place.

As she turned to go, he stood up to go around his table and gave her a hug in greeting.

Now, that feels nice. If he was saying the truth, this was the hug he needed.

"Now, that's much better, right?" she said and he nodded in reply. He held her hand as he ushered her to the sofa in the room. His eyes caught sight of the nylon he knew instinctively was from Bites 'n' Chops.

"Is that for me?"

She looked at him in mock disbelief. "You noticed that so fast." He wrinkled his nose at her. "Yes, it is."

She pushed the nylon to him and he opened it up. "Small chops!"

"Yeah, you sound more excited about the small chops than you did at my arrival," she lamented dryly.

"Ahn ahn. That's not true now."

"Humph!" Posi folded her arms again. "So, are you gonna eat that or just admire it?"

"You're too smart-mouthed." He pointed at her as he stood to wash his hands. "No small chops for you."

"But I-"

He lifted his palm face up in her direction. "No, don't beg me. I'm not giving you out of mine."

She scoffed in reply. "I have mine, Smartypants. Did you think I'd buy just one pack?" She brought out another nylon from her bag. "The joke is on you, dude."

He laughed at that. She went to wash her hands too as soon as he left the convenience. By the time she returned, Tayo had already opened up his pack and he was sure he looked like a hungry lion devouring his meal. But he didn't mind, it was Posi.

So, why hadn't he told her about his family situation? He couldn't answer that.

*******

Posi had thought getting him to smile those his blinding smiles was going to be difficult. She also hadn't known how she'd break into a not-too-awkward conversation with him after days of exchanging just 'hey, how are you?-I'm fine' messages and calls. She didn't know it was going to be so easy. This easy.

The Tayo chomping on the piece of grilled chicken beside her was the Tayo she knew, not the one distributing quarter and half-smiles.

They finished their packs of small chops amid playful banter and teasing; the atmosphere was light and easy. But Posi knew she needed to ask him how he was really doing.

"Tee?" She called.

"Uhn."

"The small chops has finished now. Ahn ahn, do you want to eat the plate with it?"

The look he gave her was full of incredulity. His mouth was ajar and he stared at her like he wanted to give her a headbutt, a playful one. At least, that's what she hoped.

He burst into another round of laughter as he shook his head. "You're not even serious. You know that, right?"

Posi stuck her tongue out at him. She preceded him to wash her hands and wipe them off, after which he washed his.

They settled down sipping cans of chilled Malta Guinness. Tayo belched loudly and Posi poked him in his side whilst laughing. He just continued sipping his drink like nothing had happened.

"You know I'll hold that against you at least for a week, right?" Posi said to which he just snorted in reply. She sat facing him, with her legs folded on the sofa. Now, was the time.

"Tee, how are you doing? Like really doing."

He paused, staring at something over her head before he answered. "Honestly, I'm just trying to hang in there."

"Okay. I have been praying for you, like you asked."

"Thank you."

She shook her head. "No, it's fine. Nothing to thank me for. What's the challenge though? I noticed the change on Sunday night at your parent's and even on Monday. We all did and the gang is worried. Even GP hasn't told us anything."

She watched as he adjusted himself on the chair. "Yeah, because I haven't told him anything yet."

"Wanna share?"

******

Posi was looking at him so earnestly and he knew she had questions; a lot of them, but was trying to give him the choice to answer or not. He also knew the rest of the gang was worried. He could see all the memes, emojis and GIFs they had been sending to the group page and the private texts and messages too. They were trying really hard to make him laugh, which he did via emojis whether he really laughed or not.

Posi could have gotten annoyed, especially with the way he had left her hanging but here she was, trying to cheer him up and hear what was really happening.

He looked at Posi again. If he could eat like a ravenous wolf and belch in front of her, he should be able to at least, say a bit of what was going on.

And so, he did. From how he had gone to his dad's study to drop the frame and other gifts to how he had seen the birth certificate plus adoption papers and journal to his mild confrontation with his parents and the news of his real birth.

On and on, he poured it all out. She must have noticed something in his demeanour because she held his hand at a point.

When he was done narrating all that had happened including his fears and all, she just gave him another brief hug, held his hands and stayed silent.

After some moments, she said, "I'm sure you know this already. But as much as it's heartrending to discover they aren't your real parents, they are still the one who raised you and have been there for you."

She looked into his eyes. "Besides, Christ is your new identity. The moment you gave Him right of way into your life, He became your new background. He became the one from whom all that you are flows, not your family, both birth and adoptive. This means He's your source, no one else is. He is your identity, no one else is. Infact, you're royal with Him. He's the King of kings and you're His son."

Now, the words on the frame made more sense to him and he had an understanding about it.

King. Priest. Royal Priesthood.

It was who he was now. And he should be thankful for his parents. Hearing someone else say out loud what had been brewing in his heart hit differently.

He looked at Posi again and just shook his head in wonder. Maybe if he had just spoken with her earlier, he'd have seen this sooner.

"What?" She asked.

"Nothing. Thank you," he said earnestly.

She shrugged, smiling. "What are friends for?"

Hmmmmm.

Kazeem felt like a snitch. He had just given out his boss' schedule to the enemy.

What am I even thinking? I've been watching too many spy movies. He facepalmed.

"Miss Faleye isn't the enemy. She's an ally. She's the only one that can talk to my Oga right now. They must give me the microphone during their wedding reception so I can talk about my part in bringing them together. I was the behind-the-scene matchmaker. Hehehe."

He picked his work tablet as soon as he received word from Security that Mr Sijuade had just arrived.

Here comes the groom. Here comes the groom. He whistled along to the Bridal March song as he walked briskly towards the elevator.