A Match for Me

Chapter 4: " The Dinner and the Meeting"

                                    Nelly.

The dinner went well, just only the four of us. My sister's husband could not make it; somehow, it's good for us to have time as a family. We had a good laugh recollecting our memories, those craziness, struggles, and even our travel together that turned into a disaster when Dad was assigned to Panama then Germany. Mom was able to laugh with us.
But right after our dinner ends the conversation suddenly turned to me.
"Nelly, how about you?Is there someone special in your heart already?" My sister asked; I looked at her intently, trying to stop her, but she just brushed it with a smile.
"Nelly, is there anything you are not telling me?It was mom felt offended .I looked at my brother, who just shrugged his shoulder. I growl; how can my sister put me in the hot spot? She knows that I don't want to be involved in anyone's life right now. And my brother just acts like he's not interested in the subject. My mom is the one that concerns me because I know this will create curiosity in her; she's been asking me about this topic since the last time she knew about my so-called "heartbreak," but that was a couple of years ago. They thought I still hadn't moved on from that man.
By just thinking about it makes me realize how young I was back then, trying to take matters seriously, and in the end, it was just a vain promises, but I learned a great lesson from that past, and now entering into relationship is not in my plan yet.
"I heard that there are plenty of handsome men from your congregation" my sister tried to push the topic. My mom looks at me, waiting for an answer, with eyes more curios.
"I don't know much any of them Lizzy, and some of them thought I am married," I said.
"You what?!, why is that?"  My sister asked in horror.
"It's because I always hold Pete's hands every time we attend the meeting. I was unaware of it until last Sunday; Cecilia told me about the rumor going around," I told them.
"And what did you do? Pete?" mom asked Pete. "Nothing," Pete and me answered in chorus. "Why not?!" My sister asked, raising her voice. "After what our family has been through, Correcting the speculation is the last thing I wanted to do," I told them, making them all silent.
After that, the ambiance of our conversation changed, and I felt responsible for it, but I was just honest about what was in my heart.
A few minutes later, my sister bid good night to us, and we went to each of our rooms.

I was in the room, trying to think what would be their reaction if they just knew what happened during our fasting days.
Sometimes our whole Congregation agreed to do fasting and to dedicate more time to prayers, that's why we have fasting days. But one of those days that I was there, our Pastor called me.
"Nelly, do you like somebody here from our Congregation? He asked me directly. I was so shocked that I could not answer anything to him. I just looked at him with my eyes wide open. "Because I cannot take it anymore! I am too tired of these young men coming here telling me that "you are the girl for them", that "they dreamed that you are their wife", that "it was revealed to them that you are their perfect match."Can you choose one of them so that this all will be over? He continue his statement and looked at me sternly. I was so ashamed and shocked that I ran out of our meeting place before he sees me crying. Many people might think that I enjoy attention, but they are all WRONG. I don't want any of it. I only want God in my life, to be my all in all and nothing more.
That fasting week turned out to be my tribulations week. Nobody knows about it, and I intend to keep it that way.
I fell asleep with this thought as it makes me feel so exhausted.

**********

In the next morning...

I woke up thirty minutes later than I was supposed to. So I ran into the bathroom, took a quick shower, went to the kitchen, grabbed one piece of toast, and ran outside to go to the bus station.
"Nelly, don't tell me you're going to forget your lunch box again," I heard my mom from our backyard. So I returned to the kitchen, picked up my lunch box, and left in a hurry.
"Thank you, Mom; see you later."
I am glad to see Mom in her garden.

Today is Tuesday.
And is my favorite day of the week because we usually have a small meeting with some students in the university, mostly from our Congregation; it is mainly for encouragement, advices, sharing, and to be together. Honestly, being with this group has greatly impacted my life. It changed many things in me, in my ways of living particularly. Meeting God has helped me to discover the purpose of my existence.
Those people who knew me enough, they can tell how different I am today. Several weeks ago, I left being a Catholic, and I don't regret my decision. Though mom disapproved it, she cannot do anything for I have decided already. My brother was the first who left being Catholic and started attending this Congregation.

My experience happened one day when I saw my brother coming from his walk. As he entered our house, I noticed something on his face. There was a change in him which I could not tell what, so I went to his room and asked him what had happened to him later that day. There, he told me everything about how he found this Congregation, how he gave himself to God, and the peace he obtained after that. On the same day, I told him I wanted to have what he had. In the next Sunday he invited me to go with him. After my first two visits, I understood what my brother was talking about. Since then, we always go together, and it's my great joy to hold his hand entering the meeting place. I feel that I have found a best friend in him.

"Daydreaming, Nelly?" The voice of Don Julio startled me. I looked around and found out that I was the only one left on the bus. My thoughts must be so deep that I didn't even notice that the bus had stopped. I got up immediately.
"I am very sorry, Don Julio," apologizing to him. "No worries, that is normal for a beautiful lady," he said these in Spanish words, making my face like burning hot. I felt so embarrassed. I stepped out from the bus and wave my hand to him.

**********

At the University...

As I arrived late, my day became marathon; all morning and afternoon I was running from one place to another.

And at exactly 4:30 p.m, I finally arrived at our meeting place. Oscar is the one leading the meeting.
"We will organize some activities for our community service today, the more booths we can have, the more funds we can gather  the better." I heard him say. I was sitting in the hidden corner of the room. I want to appear unnoticed today, and it seems that I am successful. The meeting had many suggestions, opinions, and concerns about the booths. Then afterward is a listing of volunteers; it was a little chaotic at the beginning, but in the end, it went well; we had students that would make some food, sell some personal products or memorabilia, collect donations of unused stuff, and also sell books. These are the donated books, novels, and even pamphlets we gathered over the past few months, and they will be for sale at a meager price.
"All volunteers, please don't forget to list your name under which booth you want; this is for scheduling." Oscar called everybody's attention before he adjourned the meeting. Some more students stood up and listed their names, and I did the same.

At almost 6 p.m., I was alone, walking my way to the bus station,when I spotted someone waving his hand and walking closer to me. My back stiffened and I wanted to run away when I recognized him.
What is he doing here???

___________
Hello everyone, Im sorry if this chapter did not meet your expectations. I just got carried away by how Nelly sees things from her perspective. 😊😊.
I hope to see you in the coming next chapters.

Hasta luego,
Joy-writer 😍