Chapter 16

We talked for longer minutes, and I left after she already get better, but I know that in the end I was not doing well. I got ready for training and went to the gym, I couldn't stop thinking about Paula during training, how bad I was. So I had the idea of asking her to go to church with Nicolas and me, who knows, maybe she will be a little distracted leaving the house for a change . At the end of training I took out my cell phone and called Paula.

Call on:

Paula: hi

Isabella: let's go to church after 15 minutes ?

Paula: I'm not in the mood to go out today

Isabella: it's not because you're sad, a little relaxing will do you good

Paula: I don't know, no my friends

Isabella: come on, it will be cool

Paula: I don't want to disturb you and Nicolas.

Isabella: you won't get in the way

Paula: are you sure?

Isabella: absolutely !

Paula: alright then

Isabella: at 7:00 I'll pass by with Nicolas to pick you up , kisses

Paula: alright, kisses

Call off

[...]

Nicolas: Good evening

Isabella: Good evening . Is there a problem for you if I invite a friend to come along? _I ask insecurely waiting for his answer, sorry but I made the invitation at the last minute and ended up not letting you know ,I understand if you do not want to take her with us

Nicolas: don't say that , of course she comes

Isabella: thank you! let's go to her house then

Nicolas: you're in charge! Where is her house?

Isabella: it is a little close here, you can follow the avenue directly and I will let you know when we get to her house entrance

Nicolas: great so correct if I'm wrong , did you say she wasn’t well?

Isabella: that's right. Her sister disappeared just over a year ago. Today it would be her birthday

Nicolas: wow, that's a pickle

Isabella: it is really a tense situation, she is very gloomy today

Nicolas: you did well invite her over

Isabella: I thought leaving the house and relaxing would be good for her.

Nicolas: yes, yes

Isabella: turn around on the next corner, third house on the right is hers

Paula: Hi guys, good evening

Nicolas: good evening Paula

Isabella: good night darling

We followed in silence all the way, after some long minutes we arrived at our destination.

Nicolas: now it's better for me to introduce myself Nicolas said to Paula when we had already got out of the car, My name is Nicolas, nice to meet you

Paula: mine is Paula, it's a pleasure too

The church was not so full today we looked for a place to sit and settle in before the devotion started.

- hi big boy said a very well dressed guy to Nicolas

Nicolas: hi partner, long time no see buddy said Nicolas hugging him

- I was traveling, I arrived this week! how are things going around here?

Nicolas: awesome, everything is just great . Let me introduce you to the girls who came with me today, this is Isabella

Hi, Isabella, I'm Alexandre

Isabella: my pleasure

Nicolas: and this is Paula

Paula: hi, nice to meet you

Alexandre: nice to meet you Paula

After we introduced ourselves, we sat next to each other waiting for the worshiping and preaching to start . I felt something I never felt before in my life, a mixture of embarrassment and gratitude, I felt embarrassed and sad for everything that I was, that I've been , that I certainly did not please God, and gratitude for so much love, for so much mercy, for so care,how I needed to cry in that moment . to wash my soul with those tears and try to be a better human, in my heart, I asked God for forgiveness for never recognizing everything he had done for me, forgiveness for despising him, for not including him in my life as it should, because he was the center of everything, and it was just at that moment for some reason I didn't know I could see that some tears had fallen from my eyes running on my cheeks. I wanted to convert to the Lord, I needed to do that. The tears were continually falling, what a moment! Nicolas hugged me tight in order to comfort me.

it's okay princess Nickolas whispered as he ran his hand through my hair

Isabella: I've never felt like this before, I didn't want to be so vulnerable before Nicolas I looked him in the eye, and he just wiped my eyes and smiled

when the devotion was over Nicolas took me for a drink to the canteen while Paula were still there sitting on the bench with Alexandre

Nicolas: are you better?

Isabella: yes

We went back to the lounge and Paula and Alexandre were talking, we didn't want to disturb them so we went outside to wait for the two of them to leave, moments later there were the two smiles coming towards us.

Nicolas: how about we go out to eat something?

Alexandre: I'm in

Isabella: great idea, come on sweety?

Paula: yes let's go

Nicolas: perfect then

We got in the car and went to a pizza place, we talked a lot we smiled, it seemed like Paula was getting along with Alexandre, they both smiled a lot talking, I was glad the plan to have her out of the house to entertain her have worked out.

Alexandre: I hope to see you more often while we were waiting for Paula in the car

Paula :me too, see you later.

Alexandre: good night

Paula: good night

Alexandre: bye guys ,have good night

Isabella: bye, good night

Nicolas: good night

We dropped Paula at home and then went to my house

Nicolas: here you are, delivered again , he said when he stopped the car at the door but I wanted to him stay more

Isabella: I don't want to go in now, I want to spend a some more time with you. I smile sideways and Nicolas raised an eyebrow and smiles and turns the car off.

Nicolas: we stay here then.

We were in silence for a few seconds, the street was empty, everything was silent. Being in his company was the best thing ever.

Nicolas: the sky is amazing today, look at the moon.

Isabella: yeah, I hadn't noticed. It's perfect

Nicolas: I am very happy with you!

Isabella: why?

Nicolas: because you were touched by preaching today

Isabella: oh yes. Yesterday I prayed before going to sleep, the more I hear, the more I want to hear, the more I fall in love, the more I see things I didn't see, the more I feel things I didn't feel, you know?

Nicolas: perfect, God is approaching Isabella, this is wonderful! He holds my hand excited

Isabella: I think I want to convert; how do I do that?

Nicolas: do you want to convert? oh Isabella, do you want to convert?! he hugged me smiling happily, without believing it, as if I had just won the lottery or something, as if it were the best choice I was thinking of taking

Isabella: yes, what a blast right

Nicolas: of course, this is the best decision that anyone can ever make in life, Isa, to convert to God.

Isabella: and what do I need to do?

Nicolas: Calm down. Isabella do you believe with all your heart that Jesus is Lord?

Isabella: I believe with all my heart, Jesus is the Lord!

Nicolas: Do you believe with all your heart that God raised him from the dead?

Isabella: yes! i do Nicolas

Nicolas: in Romans 10: 9 it says that whoever confesses that Jesus is the Lord and believes that God raised him from the dead will be saved!

Isabella: Amen

Nicolas: To convert it means to undergo a radical change, a transformation! repent of all your sins, say no to everything that displeases the lord, and day after day hearing his words you will be increasingly transformed, built up, God will shape you again, you will not miss the old life, old one's customs, God will fill you completely

Isabella: I really want this, I really do. I want to go to church more, I want to hear the word of the Lord more, I want to be the best I can and ... I don't know, be more like you. You inspire me.

Nicolas: How beautiful. Good to know you admire me

Isabella: I do. big time

Nicolas: thank you princess. And much welcome to the body of Christ. From now on, just dedicate yourself more to the Lord, pray, read the Bible a lot and go to church, the leave the rest to the Lord

Isabella: for real

Nicolas: for real

I hugged him impulsively and extremely happy, and when I let him go I realized that we were with our faces very close to each other, too close because I could feel his breath, I immediately broke a smile and only managed to look at his lips, I looked into his eyes glazing on mine and we got even closer touching each other's nose, I never wanted to kiss him so much, I needed to feel his kiss.

It's happening, I gulped again, my hands were shaking and sweating, it was Christal clear that we both wanted it badly, but who knows, it was still early, maybe wrong or whatever. But I wanted to join lips with his more than anything, I took a deep breath and retreated with my head down.

Isabella: I think I better get of I said unable to contain the smile on my lips

Nicolas: all right, see you tomorrow then he answered with captivating wide smile

I couldn't resist looking back a few times before closing the door and to my happiness he was smiling waiting for me to get in

_____________________________________

Nicolas

I arrived home very thoughtful in Isabella and in our "almost first kiss", thrilled to see her closer to God day after day and I confess to be seriously thinking about asking her for a date after everything I have heard and lived with her, her way is impressing and has captivated me with each new encounter, each conversation, laughter, this time I feel that I am not wrong, quite the contrary, I feel that it is her.

Luana: we were talking about you right now, my mom said holding a popcorn bowl while watching a game show with Thomas

Nicolas: oh yeah? what were you guys talking about? i asked while I joined them on the couch

Thomas: Mom said that you wouldn't miss a question if you participated one day and I said that for sure you would, the questions are so hard

Nicolas: I agree with you, I'm not that smart mom

Luana: well, I think you are, and shrugged

We stayed up watching for a few hours eating popcorn, and soon afterwards each one went to his room to rest. After taking a shower, I knelt by the bed and talked to the Lord.

"My Lord, my beloved God, thank you for another wonderful day, my heart is full of gratitude to you, thank you for your speech, for your listening, for your love, thank you lord for your son's death for my sake and my salvation, for the opportunity to become one of your own and go to live with you, thank you for the privilege of entering in your presence, for your endless kindness and mercy, there are so many reasons to thank you father. traps of the world, the traps of the enemy, deliver me from the things that take me out of your presence and that add nothing to anything, take out of my heart everything that doesn’t please you, wash me, clean me, sanctify me, pour your spirit on me, and make me a better being in your eyes. May I can see everything you have to show me, that my ears are attentive to everything the Lord says to me, may I walk, think, speak, and feel according to your will.

Protect my family, protect Isa and her family, work within her, make your transformation, change what you have to change, work on her actions, on speaking, on thinking, awakens in her heart the desire to know you day after day , to seek you, to serve you, to adore you, to do your will, may she knows you, and that she loves you above all things. Hold in our hands and don't let us stray from your ways, thank you father . Amen"

I lay down thoughtfully and letting a silly smile escape when I remembered a few moments, I kept looking that way until I fell asleep.

Good morning dear son ,said my mother setting at the table.

Good morning mom I replied while I sat down, Today I will have classes all day, only 2 hours to come home for lunch and then return to college.

Luana: ok, I'll prepare a snack for you take it when you get back

Nicolas: alright just fruits then , okay?

Luana: yes, your favorites she answered then giving me a kiss on the forehead