Web Novel: SET APART

JEREMIAH

That night at the Cornelius Lounge differed from all my usual hangouts with friends. I couldn’t believe that Abrielle’s friend had spilled the tea — “Abrielle liked me.” A thought kept playing in my mind. I barely talk to her; I see her here occasionally, but not regularly. Does she even know my Fruit app username? I don’t think so and don’t make it obvious to anyone, not even my friends. I doubt they know my username.

“Jeremiah! Let’s take a break!” Elijah called out to me. We headed to the food concourse and chatted about the previous night’s events. We also discussed my upcoming return to Florida. “So, where are you most likely going to stay? In Seaside or Miami?” Elijah asked curiously. 

“Well, I have relatives in Miami, so I usually stay there whenever possible. I go to Miami to visit my cousins when I’m in school and on break,” I explained. He expressed his admiration for the beach and the cozy life in Seaside. I miss living by the Seaside, and now that I’m returning, I’m starting to feel nostalgic for Seattle, even though I haven’t left yet.

The thought of leaving saddens me. While Elijah was busy on his phone, I suddenly remembered Mr. Jose Ferrer. I realized I needed to let him know I was leaving Seattle and wanted to meet with him before I departed. 

I composed a text message to Mr. Jose Ferrer: “Hi, Mr. Jose. How are you? I hope all is well. I wanted to inform you that I am returning to Florida, but I’m unsure when I will return to Seattle. I’d love to meet for coffee in Bellevue if you’re free. Let me know what you think.” 

After sending the message, I put my phone in my bag and continued working.

Time is passing quickly, and my days in Seattle are limited. Should I befriend Abrielle since I’ll be moving soon? However, the fact that she is Mr. Jose Ferrer’s daughter still makes me hesitant. I’m unsure about it. There are some things I don’t need to know, and I prefer to leave them as they are. If it’s meant for me to understand, I will without having to figure everything out.

ABRIELLE

“I can’t believe it’s raining on my birthday! I love the rain anyway, but I’m still hoping for a breezy, rain-free celebration this month.” This hopeful thought lingers in my mind. God has blessed me throughout the year. I have welcomed new experiences while also cherishing those that remain. My Dad is healthy, and so am I. My friends are doing well, and I want to thank the Lord for all the blessings, favors, and especially the grace He has bestowed upon me. Some people may have left my life, but they always hold a place in my heart. What matters most to me is my faith in God. I can’t imagine facing life without Him by my side.

“Abrielle!” Jethro calls out from afar. “Happy Birthday!” he greets me. “Where are we going to eat later?” he adds. I responded that I was not sure yet, and if we could celebrate on my weekend off, that would be great.

“Jethro, should I say hello if Jeremiah is ever on the employee bus? I don’t want it to be awkward since he already knows I like him,” I asked Jethro enthusiastically. He replied that if that’s what my heart tells me, then I should do it, especially since it’s my birthday, and that’s perfectly okay. I brushed off the idea.

When the bus arrived, Jethro and I got on, but I noticed someone had already taken my usual spot at the end. So, I sat in the seat where Jeremiah usually sits. If he were here today, he probably wouldn’t sit next to me because he knows I like him and might feel awkward about it. But that’s okay; I’ve accepted and understand that part.

The bus began to move and soon arrived at Shelter Two. A lot of employees got on, and the bus was almost complete.

“Jethro, I still have a spot beside me,” I whispered. Surprisingly, no one chose to sit next to me, and some of the employees stood up.

I closed my eyes and prayed to God. “Lord, this bus is almost full, and we have not yet arrived at Shelter 3. Since it’s my birthday, please allow Jeremiah to sit beside me if it is Your will. I know he probably won’t because, first, he might feel awkward knowing that I like him—Eun-Yeong told him that; and second, it’s crowded, so he might prefer to stand rather than sit next to me. If this is in Your will, thank You for Your answered prayer and miracle.”

As the bus door closed, we headed toward Shelter 3.

This is the moment of truth. If Jeremiah is on this 11:30 am bus, I will finally receive God’s answer to my birthday prayer request—specifically, the bus stop at shelter number 3. I started to lose hope as many employees boarded, and I knew one of them would likely take the available spot next to me. I prayed to God for Jeremiah to sit beside me. As usual, Jeremiah was the last to board the employee bus. Many people entered, and not one of them sat next to me!

“Jethro!” I whispered. My heart was pounding, and I could feel God’s presence and answer surrounding me. I saw Jeremiah walking towards my seat. He looked unsure about whether to sit down. After a couple of seconds of hesitation, he chose to sit beside me!

I wasn’t teary-eyed because he chose to sit beside me when he could have stood up. What made my heart leap with joy was that the moment I prayed to God, He was there, listening and answering my prayer. It felt surreal to know that God’s presence was with us on the bus, and He heard my earnest plea. I felt incredibly blessed! 

I noticed Jethro sneaking in a quick, stolen shot of me and Jeremiah while we were on the bus to the airport. Two scriptures came to mind as I reflected on how God answers prayers that align with His will. Psalm 37:4 states, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” 1 John 5:14 reassures us, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” 

I believe that God grants the prayers and desires of my heart because they are by His will. He wants me to be happy and is a living God who sees, hears, and responds to our sincere prayers.

If we place the Lord at the core of our hearts, He witnesses our joy for Him. I’ve thought carefully about why God performed this miracle in my life. Is it because Jeremiah will soon leave the state? Does God want me to cherish every moment I have with him daily? Whatever His reason may be, my heart is filled with gratitude. That God heard my prayers and is present with us now means much to me. The verse states, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God.” God desires us to believe He can and will act if that aligns with His plan. He wants us to understand that when we express our trust in Him, we are granting Him full authority to navigate the depths of our hearts, allowing Him to take control of our desires and longings.

God has listened to and fulfilled our hearts’ desires. He does not grant these desires to perform miracles and leave it at that. He provides various purposes for our requests so they can serve as instruments to share with others or as living testimonies for all to witness. I can feel Jeremiah’s t-shirt brushing against my arms. I can hardly believe how close I am to him. I had hoped to be only a seat apart, but God has blessed me far beyond that.

What is Jeremiah thinking at this moment? Is he happy to sit beside me, or does he feel he has no choice? Whatever the case, I will leave it in God’s hands. I am reminded of Proverbs 15:3: “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.” It is such a blessing that God watches over His people day and night. His love endures despite the many reasons He could have to give up on us. Instead, He responds to our failures with love and grace—grace that we don’t deserve, but that is freely given to us.

1 Peter 3:12 reminds us, “The Lord sees what everyone does. He takes care of people who do what is right. When they pray, He listens to them.” As we arrived at the airport, employees began stepping outside. Jeremiah went out first, and when I saw him walking away from the crowd, I knew I would forever treasure the birthday miracle God performed for me today. I can’t wait to share this with Charity and Eun-Yeong. My heart is filled with joy, and I prayed to God that He would grant Jeremiah’s heart’s desires so he would wake up one day fulfilled and satisfied. May his prayers be answered, and may he find delight in the Lord. I hope Jeremiah can experience the same joy I feel for the Lord.