Chapter 23

It was 20:30 in my watch and Nicolas hadn't arrived yet, I sent messages and he didn't replay either, I waited another 10 minutes and decided to go to his house, I was a little worried and didn't want to wait any longer.

-Hi Isabella, his mother said after she opened the door, giving me a room to enter.

Isabella: hi good evening i replied in my polite way

Luana: good evening

Isabella: Is Nicolas at home?

Luana: Yes, he's in his room, do you know where it is?

Isabella: Yes, thank you

I went straight to Nicolas's room, knocked twice on the door and then walked in, when I found Nicolas lying on the books spread across the bed, it looks like he fell asleep.

I took each of the books slowly, in a gentle way so as not to wake him up, covered him with the blanket and gave him a very lightly kiss and accidentally woke him up.

Nicolas: Isa? He said surprised in a sleepy voice

Isabella: Hi my love, sorry I didn't want to wake you up I said scratching my head.

Nicolas: what are you doing here? did anything happen?

Isabella: no, it's okay. It's just that you didn't show up and I was worried.

Nicolas: I'm sorry, I had a lot to study and I lost track of time I didn't even pick up my cell phone to let you know and I ended up falling asleep, I'm really sorry

Isabella: no problem! don't worry alright, I understand

Nicolas: what time is it; you know?

Isabella: it's 9:08 now

Nicolas: wow, very late he said and got closer to me, I'm really sorry, okay? he said and kissed me right before I got the chance to answer

Isabella: it's ok, relax

Nicolas: come here, I miss you he said pulling me gently and kissing me again

Isabella: Are you going to spend the day at college again tomorrow?

Nicolas: Yes. But I promise that when I arrive, I will go straight to your house.

Isabella: okay, but understand if you have things to do or you have to study, or if you're very tired, you don't need to come, you can stay here and rest, just let me know, don't let me worry about you.

Nicolas: Of course, I'll see you, I don't want to spent another day without looking at that little face, he smiled and stroked my chin with his fingers Now tell me, are you alright?

Isabella: I'm great

Nicolas: that’s great my love

Isabella: and you?

Nicolas: just tired

Isabella: well, I should go have a rest, ok? See you tomorrow. Good night, my god be with you, I love you

Nicolas: oh! stay a little longer, he said grabbing me.

Isabella: I can't resist I and we kissed

Nicolas: I spent the whole day thinking about you

Isabella: Thinking about what? I grinned

Nicolas: thinking about that beautiful smile, those honey-colored eyes, that beautiful mouth, your voice, how I love everything about you

Isabella: OH, that's so sweet honey! I keep thinking about you all day long too, you know? thinking about you makes me feel good and brings out silly smiles

Nicolas: And do you often feel good and have a lot of silly smiles often during the day?

Isabella: so many you can't even count

Nicolas: geez, he gasped and then kisses me, how about we walk a little in the square near here?

Isabella: fine by me

Nicolas: will you wait for me to change?

Isabella: sure, I'll be waiting for you downstairs.

Nicolas: Okay, give me a minute, okay.

Isabella: ok

I left the bedroom and headed to the living room which by the way was empty, I sat on the couch and decided to tell the girls that I had left and I would let them know when I get home for them to go there, after I have sent the message, I saw Thomaz opening the main door

Thomaz: good evening Isabella, how are you? He Said smiling.

Isabella: Hi Thomaz, good evening, I'm good and you?

Thomaz: thank God, I'm great

Isabella: wonderful

Thomaz: are you waiting for Nicolas?

Isabella: yes, I answered and then Nicolas appeared in the room

Nicolas: you're here Thomaz, would you Tell our mother that I'm going out with Isa and It won't be long.

Thomaz: it's ok he replied, settling himself on the sofa and turning on the TV

Nicolas: Shall we go Isa? he reached out to me

Isabella: let's go I replied holding his hand, See you later Thomaz

Thomaz: see you later Isa. Have fun

The square was close so it only took us some minutes by car to get there, we parked the car and went walking under the huge trees, it was quite busy.

Isabella: my parents traveled this afternoon, they will probably be back in two days

Nicolas: Wow, and are you going to be alone?

Isabella: not exactly, during the day Aunt Luh goes there normally, and at night I asked the girls to sleep with me.

Nicolas: Good then. Did your parents travel on business?

Isabella: Yes, to meet some representatives etc. My parents want me to take care of the family businesses soon, but I don't know if that's what I want to do, I'm actually not sure what I want.

Nicolas: I think they're thinking right about your future, you're the only heir.

Isabella: I don't see myself managing companies.

Nicolas: but have you ever tried to do anything in this field at least? a course or something to see if you like it?

Isabella: nothing yet.

Nicolas: So, you'd better start thinking about doing soon, maybe you'll end up enjoying it

Isabella: you're right, after graduation I'll see what can I do, the Lord will provide.

We walked around the square which by the way was quite big, after a few minutes it was time to leave, I pulled over at Nicolas' house because we were in my car and then we said goodbye.

- Calm down just one more kiss, he said pulling me slowly by the arm and kissing me. Good night my princess

- good night my prince

I went home, took off my sandals and went straight up to the bedroom, told the girls that I had arrived, then I threw my cell phone on the bed and went to the bathroom, took a shower, put on pajamas and lay waiting for Paula and Rafaela. I hadn't had dinner yet, however I had no appetite, for I was afraid of that horrible feeling of pain, thus I prepared a simple sandwich and a glass of juice, but it didn't seem like a good idea, I had a feeling of having eaten a watermelon, and suddenly I felt so full.

(Wednesday)

5:27 am, and I woke up feeling a certain discomfort, I sat on the bed and then I felt an intense pain spreading in my stomach, even breathing made it worse, I was afraid because I had never felt any pain like that, I started feeling really bad and sweating cold, I looked at the bed and the girls were sleeping peacefully, I didn't want to wake them up, I walked to the bathroom, leaned against the sink and when I looked at the mirror, I got astonished by my pale face.

What's happening to me? I wondered, Aunt Luh hadn't arrived yet, the sun hadn't even come out and the malaise is getting worse and worse, I turned on the tap and washed my face, but the maneuver of lowering my head a little wasn't a good idea, it made me even more nauseous and seconds later I started vomiting everything I had eaten last night and to my surprise there was blood on it, which made me extremely scared, but the running tap flushed it all away, soon the girls heard my noise and they rushed to help me but they didn't notice the blood I vomited, they helped me wash my face and mouth and going back to bed.

I was in shock, asking myself a thousand questions about that blood, if it was real blood or something else, my stomach still hurt staring towards the bathroom, thoughtfully.

Paula: Isa? Are you okay?

Isabella: being honest, I don't think so

Rafaela: what are you feeling, sweety?

Paula: do you want us to take you to the hospital?

Isabella: I'm in a lot of pain

Paula: where?

Isabella: in the stomach

Rafaela: I think you need to go to the hospital

Isabella: I'll do some checkups later, I don't want to go to the hospital, you know I hate needles.

Paula: but you're not ok Isabella, are you sure you don't want to go?

Isabella: I am, I just want to lie down, I don't think I'm going to school today girls, let them know that I'm not fine

Rafaela: all right, we will, now lie down and rest to see if this pain goes away.

After a few hours when the girls came down for breakfast and I was alone in the room, I grabbed my cell phone from the nightstand and texted Nicolas.

Isabella: Good morning my love, I woke up feeling bad. And i decided to stay home and not go to school, I'm in a lot of pain

Nicolas: good morning princess, I'll finish breakfast and stop by your house before going to college, then you can tell me what's going on, ok?

Isabella: Okay, thank you honey, I'll be waiting for you

- we're on our way, Paula said right after opening the bedroom door

Isabella: it's ok, thanks for coming to sleep with me and all that.

Rafaela: are you feeling better?

Isabella: I am

Rafaela: good, if you feel anything just keep us posted.

Isabella: I'll be fine, don't worry, Aunt Luh will spend the day here, usually she doesn't leave until 6pm, and Nicolas will come to see me in the afternoon

Rafaela: great.

Paula: at night we will come back to sleep over, be safe sister, bye

Rafaela: bye, see you later

Isabella: ok, see you later friends

[...]

- Hi my love, he said giving me a kiss shortly after the girls left. you face is very downcast, in concerned tone.

- My tummy still hurts, I said as I sat in a chair in the living room.

Nicolas: What did you eat for breakfast? he sat on the couch and took his backpack off.

Isabella: Nothing, I didn't even have breakfast, I woke up like this, with a blinding stomachache.

Nicolas: Have you taken any medication?

Isabella: No. I tried to find that medicine but I couldn't find it.

Nicolas: Do you want me to go and buy you some?

Isabella: if you would please, as long as it's not going to disturb you too much.

Nicolas: Wait a minute and I'll be right back, okay, he said giving me a peck.

Some minutes later he arrived

Nicolas: Okay, take it he said handing me a pill. it's here in case you feel anything again.

Isabella: Thank you my love, I said receiving them from your hands.

Nicolas: You haven't had breakfast, right?

Isabella: no

Nicolas: promise me you'll have a hearty breakfast before taking this medicine

Isabella: I promise, low spirited

Nicolas: I don't think I heard you right

Isabella: I promise I'll have a considered breakfast

Nicolas: and don't eat junk, eat healthy things

Isabella: that's ok my love

Nicolas: I have to go now, ok?

Isabella: thanks for coming, will you come see me at night?

Nicolas: Absolutely princess, I'm not going to spend all day there today, I'll come to see you in the afternoon, okay? you're not going to work out like that, are you?

Isabella: no, no. I'll just be waiting for you, see you later, he kissed goodbye

Nicolas: I love you he replied affectionately kissing me back

Isabella: I love you!

After Nicolas had left, I went to the kitchen to try to eat something, I had juice, a tapioca* with eggs and cheese and some grapes, Aunt Luh and I talked in the meantime. When I finished, I took one of the pills Nicolas had bought and went back upstairs to my room, my belly was sore despite the pain having eased, I thought about calling my parents but I would only worry them when I if I tell them what happened, I also thought I should have I immediately told Nicolas about the blood I saw but it was so fast that I ended up not mentioning anything, when he comes in the afternoon, I'll tell him. I sat on the bed once more thoughtful and questioning myself about that blood, I literally felt butterflies in my stomach and a cold chill taking over me but I preferred not to imagine bad things. I settled into a comfortable position, closed my eyes and prayed to God:

"Thank you for another day of life God, today I don't feel well both physically and emotionally, physically pain and malaise consume me and emotionally it saddens me and causes fear, but I deliver everything in your hands and I trust you, that it is fulfilled your will in my life, give me strength and perseverance, faith and positivity, and may the good days be 10 times the amount of bad days, may your peace reign over my heart and over my life during all my days, amen"

I put on my headphones and grabbed a book, and started reading so as the hours went by faster until lunchtime, however I couldn't concentrate on reading, I put the book back where it was and just listened to the music looking at the sun beams passing through the window, little by little the sleeping sultan caught my eyes in its tender way and I didn't even notice when I blacked out.

I woke up hours later at 1 pm, had a light meal and watched TV with aunt Luh, at 3:45 pm Nicolas arrived, we went to the bedroom and sat on the bed.

Nicolas: how are you feeling now? did you get better?

Isabella: yes, I'm feeling better

Nicolas: Did you eat properly?

Isabella: yes, I had breakfast right after you left, and had some lunch.

Nicolas: Why this sad face? he asked when he saw me thoughtful.

Isabella: it's no big deal my love

Nicolas: don't you want to tell me?

Isabella: when I woke up the sun wasn't even out yet, I was feeling very bad in a horrible pain, when I vomited in the sink there was blood on it, I think I'm really sick

Nicolas: blood? why didn't you tell me right away? this is very serious Isabella, why didn't your friends take you to the hospital?

Isabella: they didn't see know either; the tap was on and the water flushed everything

Nicolas: are you sure it was blood? was it too much or too little?

Isabella: I think so, it was very much alive, but it wasn't a lot

Nicolas: you need to go to the doctor, if it is blood, you need to know what's causing you bleeding. When are your parents coming?

Isabella: maybe tomorrow

Nicolas: maybe? don't you want to go today?

Isabella: I'm scared and I hate needles, my voice was shacking

Nicolas: Do you know what I do when I feel sad and scared?

Isabella: What?

Nicolas: First I pray, and I say everything I'm feeling to God, then I read the bible, I look for words of comfort in it, something that soothes my heart.

Isabella: And do you feel better afterwards?

Nicolas: yes

Isabella: I'm still kind of aimless in this new experience my love. I think I need to know God better.

Nicolas: I see, it's just a matter of time. But if you feel that you need to seek Him more and know Him, just do it, pray more, adore more, that's how you will get to know the Lord more. And no matter what we're going through, whether it's good weather or bad, we have to be incessantly seeking and worshiping the Lord. That's also how he blesses us.

Isabella: Shall we do this now?

Nicolas: Yes, we will. Go get your bible.

Isabella: ok, just a minute, I went to get the bible that was in my room.

I went upstairs, grabbed my bible, went down to the living room again and sat in the same place as before. When I came back, he already had his bible open

Isabella: do you always have the book with you? I said right after I sat down and saw him flipping through his bible.

Nicolas: Yes, I always leave this one in the car. Opens to Psalms, chapter 23, he said sitting in front of me with the bible on his legs crossed.

Isabella: Ok, I replied and started searching for the book and the chapter.

Nicolas: This is one of the chapters in the Psalms that I like the most. Verse 4 is my favorite in this chapter.

" Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me

Isabella: despite not visiting the church My mother always told me, that God loved me, and kept me from trails, and that wherever I went he would go with me and protect me

Nicolas: Yes. God is our shepherd He says he lays down life for his sheep, he is always protecting us my love.

There is no reason to fear, nor why to be that way. Okay sweety, don't be afraid, deliver your fears and pains to God and just trust, he said holding my hand and looking right to my eyes.

Isabella: thank you, you bring me peace, it makes me so good.

Nicolas: I am happy to know that I do you so well, you have the same effect on me, there is nothing or no one else in the world that gives me so much peace and so many good feelings as you, just by looking at you, It makes my day, when I walk hand in hand with you knowing I'm your boyfriend I think I'm the luckiest guy in the world to have the most outstanding girl, the most beautiful look and smile, I thank God every single day in prayer for giving me you.

Isabella: I love you! I hugged him tight and filled him with kisses

After several kisses, hugs, and sniggles, we went back to reading. When we were finished, we decided to choose a movie to watch, at that moment we heard knocks on the door

- come in

- I prepared a snack, I hope you like it

- oh, you didn't have to do that Mrs. Luiza

- thank you, aunt Luh,

As soon as she left, we put the movie on and watched it eating the sandwiches.

[...]

- Hi, I said happy to see them while I went downstairs with Nicolas

Hi sister both of them at the same voice hi Nicolas

Nicolas: Hi girls he replied and Paula just waved one hand

Paula: we decided to come earlier, we hope we are not getting in the way

Isabella: of course not.

Nicolas: I was on my way out, it's already dark and I have some college stuff to do so, she's all yours now.

Isabella: Oh, alright... I loved our afternoon I said kissing him

Nicolas: me too, it's always good to be with you my love

Isabella: thanks for everything

Nicolas: No need to thank me, I'm your boyfriend, I'll always be by your side, you can count on me for everything, okay?

Isabella: you too, I love you

Nicolas: check on her if she's eating properly, if you feel anything, call me. Good night princess, with a kiss on the forehead he left

Paula: oh my gosh, you are so very cute together

Rafaela: you get all silly, your eyes shine looking at him, you had to see yourself how you look

Isabella: I call them (side effects of love)

Paula: apparently, you're feeling better?

Isabella: I'm feeling much better thanks to God, I didn't feel sick, I just have a sore stomach

Rafaela: that's perfect darling.

Paula: Seriously though, I think you have to go to the doctor.

Rafaela: so, do I, because you have never felt anything like this before

Isabella: when my parents arrive from the trip, we will do some exams

Paula: you'd better do so.

Rafaela: but it shouldn't be a big deal

Isabella: yes, I said a little discouraged, because I end up remembering the blood, I thought about commenting on it, but then they would only egg me to go to the hospital and I prefer to go with my parents when they arrive, anyway...

Paula: so, everything is ok

Isabella: yes

Paula: you got little sad all of a sudden

Isabella: nah, it's your impression

Paula: Did you forget that I know you?

Rafaela: it's better to spell it out.

Isabella: these malaises I've been feeling lately are making me sad, what if I'm really sick?

Rafaela: oh darling, don't think like that.

Paula: yeah, don't let it crawl under your skin, it shouldn't be a big deal. When your parents arrive, you will go to the doctor for the medical exams and it will a tiny tiny and eventually we will laugh at this whole situation.

Rafaela: That's right, no negative thoughts, it's just nausea and a little pain, who has never felt nausea and a stomachache?

Paula: I've felt it myself several times after eating nonsense

Rafaela: so, don't be afraid friend

Isabella: you know, you're right, I think I'm making a storm in a teacup.

Paula: come her you little silly fearful cow she said hugging me by the neck

Isabella: What did I miss at school today?

Paula: Just a subject of Sociology and Chemistry exams.

Other than that, nothing extraordinary happened_ rolled his eyes.

Isabella: Normal. Then you can give me later, Other than that, any news?

Paula: Not as far as I remember.

but soon she snapped!

Alexandre invited me to go to church on Sunday, she said all excited.

Isabella: And you accepted right?

Paula: I did. Maybe something happens right, she shrugged.

Isabella: That's its girl, go ahead, I smiled Let's go to church on Sunday too Rafa?

Rafaela: oh, I don't know I hate to playing gooseberry. for two couples yet, I'll think about it

Isabella: what nonsense, we're going to church, we're not going to date, there won't be any gooseberries

Rafaela: in this case you can count me in

Aunt Luh had already left, but she left dinner ready, the girls and I went to dinner, I didn't have much appetite but I tried to eat as much as possible, we talked about random subjects at the table and when we were done, I went to the living room to call my parents.

Call on:

Lorenzo: hi daughter, how are you? we didn't call before because we were super busy and now that we arrived at the hotel to rest, how are you feeling?

Isabella: it's okay, I'm fine, I'm just a little sore in the stomach.

Lorenzo: your tummy is sore is that it?

Isabella: yes, I vomited today too and felt some pain. I think we'll have to go to the doctor when you arrive

Lorenzo: ok, let's go to the doctor when we get here, everything will be fine, stay well until your mom and I get here, okay?

Isabella: I'll be fine

Lorenzo: Are the girls sleeping over there?

Isabella: yes, there's nothing to worry about, when you arrive, we'll solve this, it shouldn't be a big deal, ok? do not worry.

Lorenzo: let's try to finish the business here and go back home soon, sorry for all this daughter, for getting away from time to time when these boring trips come up.

Isabella: it's ok dad, I understand. Where is Mom?

Lorenzo: she is taking a bath

Isabella: blew her a kiss from me.

Lorenzo: I will sweety, be fine daughter, take care of yourself, we will be back soon

Isabella: amen, be well too, take care, I'm going to hang up now, ok?

Lorenzo: ok, have a good night, daddy loves you, a kiss

Isabella: I love you too dad, good night, kisses

call off

tapioca : a Brazilian food made of Tapioca flour which is a food produced by hand from cassava starch.