A Match for Me

Chapter 11: " Friends "

                                     Nelly.

As I turned around when I heard the voice of my fellow volunteer. I saw Val standing not far from us staring at me with a smile on his face.
"Hi," he said. I was caught by surprise. I was not ready for his civility.
"H...i" I responded reluctantly.
"Is there anything I can help with?" he continued asking me directly. I pointed out the pile of books close to me and told him " yes, in this one".  He nodded his head and began to work with it.

As he was working I had the opportunity to study him closely, he has old leather brown shoes, faded pants, and a sporty t-shirt. He is thinner than I thought but he looks perfect in it, he is very neat. His hair is well combed, and he has a long nose but not pointed as mine. He has a well-emphasized jawline, his beard is neatly shaved, and his skin color is darker than mine. His pimples didn't escape from me, but what surprises me is that they don't look bad on him. He looks attractive in it.
Attractive??
The word suddenly rings in my brain that made me stand straight immediately, I feel embarrassed with myself. I feel my face blush. I looked around to see if someone noticed how I assessed Val but everybody is busy. I sighed, I felt relieved. I was about to continue what I am doing when I heard the voice of Val.
"You can rest for a while, maybe you feel hot. Your face is getting red," he said in a very concerned voice. I looked at him for a second, did he notice that I examined him? The question in my head.
But before I could answer, one of our fellow volunteers called his name for help. I was saved.
Since then I tried to keep my distance from him and be occupied packing books. I was dumbfounded at how I become aware of his presence. Is this the result of not seeing him after our last meeting?

__________

At 5 p.m, we finished everything. I was ready to go home when Val approached me.
"Can I walk you to the bus station?" He asked me politely.
" S...ure" I answered hesitantly.
He smiled then we started walking to the bus station.
The bus station from the university is not that far, just several minutes away only. We were silent walking.
"I'm sorry"
"I'm sorry"
We said in chorus. And smiled at each other.
" You first," I told him.
" I'm sorry about last Thursday, it's not my intention I was caught off guard knowing that you volunteered too in the same booth as me, and I don't remember you in the room at the last meeting," he said.
"No worries,"  I told him "I am sorry about last Friday too, I did not expect to see you there and I don't know how to react" I apologized my head down.
"Apologies accepted," he said half laughing, and continue saying,
"Last Tuesday was your first time in the meeting?
" No, I've been in the meeting more than a couple of Tuesdays already" I answered.
" Really? I have never seen you there. What a mystery" he said wondering. It also brought me to think.

We were almost at the bus station when he suddenly block my way. I looked at him frowning. What is he doing?

"Nelly, I want to know you a little more. Can we be friends? He asked, my heart skipped beating for a moment. I was so nervous about what he was about to say.
" Okay, no problem" I answered him not so sure.
" Thank you!.. Thank you. See you around then" he said winking at me then start walking away. I shake my head at how he behaved before I entered the bus. He is strange.

As I was seating inside the bus, I tried to recall our conversation. "Friends" sounds good to my ear.

_________________________________

                                   Val...

After I walked Nelly to the bus station, I went directly home. I laughed at myself thinking how I asked her to be my friend knowing that deep in my heart I want more than that but it was not the right time yet. Being friends will give us opportunities to know each other more. And by it, I can show my intention to her little by little.

Several weeks passed...

My friendship with Nelly bloomed. Now, she knows already my favorite spot in the University, it's under the Mango tree, which I guess she likes too. I already meet her Mom and brother Pete. We are talking almost every day, we eat lunch together sometimes in the canteen. We discover a lot of things from each other. I learned that she is a passive kind of person, very calm, and doesn't have a strong character which is very opposite to mine. Knowing her more makes me fall in love more too, how many times I was tempted to just confess my feelings for her but I hold myself? I want to be more ready.

Our time together as friends helped us to grow more in the Lord, and I love to share with her. The passion she has for God encouraged me a lot. Now she's one of our choir singers, things that I just recently know, It never even crossed my mind that she has a very nice voice. To summarize all of this, I can say She is  A MATCH FOR ME in every way.

Now, what can I do to escalate this friendship?

______

During these days, I started saving money for a secondhand car, I took the idea of Oscar seriously. I start accepting tutoring, but I gave up because my life became so busy, It came to me that I need to set my priorities. So, no car for a moment no matter how I want to give Nelly a ride home. This is my fifth year, and I was challenged in every way, from my studies to my service to God. I need my every step to be guided by God.

"Val, are you ready?" That was Nelly asking me. We are going to have lunch together. No mango or orange for lunch today. Hehe.
"Voy,"  I said meaning 'coming'. We will go to our university canteen, I honestly want to take Nelly to Cafe y Habichuelas but as usual, my finance cannot afford it yet. But maybe one day.