14/07/2026
HOW I LOST RUBY by Sarah Adeniji
EPISODE 3
I got to Elhoro Junction by 10:30AM
Every passing minute felt like an hour.
I sat quietly in front of a closed shop, pretending to scroll through my phone while my eyes searched every face that walked past.
What if she doesn’t come?
What if Bim Bim set me up for nothing?
Then, exactly 11:00AM, they appeared.
Four ladies.
Matching oversized polo shirts with one bold inscription across the chest:
JESUS SAVES.
Ruby was walking behind the others.
The moment I saw her, my heartbeat betrayed me.
She looked even more fuller than I remembered. Her full upper body, almost made me shook.
“Can someone like this ever fall for a guy like me?” I wondered.
But I had already come too far to back out.
As they approached where I sat, Bim Bim suddenly changed direction and walked straight toward me.
The others including Ruby followed.
This was it.
The game had begun.
“Brother, we’ve come to share the love of God with you,” Bim Bim said with the most innocent smile I had ever seen.
I almost laughed.
If only Ruby knew this “holy encounter” had been rehearsed less than twenty-four hours ago.
I forced my face into a frown.
“Sorry, not today. I don’t have time.”
Exactly the response Bim Bim had instructed me to give.
She didn’t flinch.
“The Son of God died for you. There is salvation in Jesus.”
If I hadn’t known Bim Bim personally, If I hadn’t known the conspiracy she, myself, and my friend Folly cooked up, I would have sworn she was born again.
I folded my arms.
“Why should I believe in this Jesus of yours?”
Silence.
For a split second, nobody spoke.
Then I turned and looked straight at Ruby.
She wasn’t expecting it.
Our eyes met.
Just for a moment.
She blushed.
A tiny blush, but I caught it.
She quickly looked away as though nothing had happened.
Interesting, I smiled.
“Sister,” I pointed gently at Ruby.
“Do you think I should accept Jesus too?”
She hesitated.
Then she stepped forward.
“Everyone needs Jesus, bro…”
I interrupted with a grin.
“Mike.”
She smiled politely.
“Bro Mike, only Jesus has the answers to the problems of this world.”
There was something about the way she spoke.
No pressure.
Just sincerity.
I leaned closer.
“So you’re saying, this Jesus can solve my problems?”
“Of course.”
She answered without blinking.
By now, the other ladies had stopped talking completely.
Even passersby slowed down to watch us.
I stood up slowly.
“Well, I’m actually going somewhere now.”
Disappointment flashed across Ruby’s face.
“Wait, Bro Mike!”
Her voice came quickly.
“What if tomorrow is too late? You shouldn’t postpone your salvation.”
That line almost made me abandon the mission and genuinely give my life to Christ.
Almost.
I smiled.
“Tell you what,”
I reached into my pocket.
“Why don’t you collect my number? You can call me whenever you’re free and tell me more about Jesus.”
Before Ruby could respond, another lady spoke.
“No. You need to meet Deacon Kolapo. He’s in charge of evangelism.”
The moment I heard Deacon Kolapo, alarms went off in my head. That name sounded dangerous.
Like the kind of man who could look into your eyes, see through your gimmicks, expose every lie you’ve ever told, cast out every demon you didn’t know you had, and still insist on seven days of fasting afterward.
I shook my head immediately.
“I don’t want any deacon.”
The ladies exchanged confused glances.
Then I looked directly into Ruby’s eyes.
“I want you.”
The atmosphere changed.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Even Bim Bim looked shocked, though she knew this was part of the plan.
For a few long seconds, Ruby simply stared at me.
Then, to everyone’s surprise, she slowly reached into her handbag.
Pulled out her phone.
Unlocked it.
And held it out to me.
“You can save your number.”
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
“I’ll call you, and invite you to church.”
The entire evangelism team froze.
So did I.
Because something told me, Ruby had just broken one of their strictest rules.
And none of us knew what that single decision was about to cost.
To be Continued…
©️SARAH ADENIJI
Do not copy without the consent of the Author.
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