UNWANTED LOVE

Portia didn't like to mingle with boys since she was a child being brought up and raised by a pure Christian parents who go to church every Sunday and very active in all the church activities in their locality. Portia attended the Holy Mass inorder to develop her good character learning from her mother. What does she do when she is attending church? She listens to the sermon of the priest. That a good child must obey their parents. She must help them with house chores and if their is a request from them to help them to earn a living she can help them in their grocery store she had to do it willingly unlike others., Not only helping her parents but she shows consideration to their neighbor when they wanted to borrow many items at the store that she give it to them without informing her parents as per instruction from them knowing that she was kindhearted. The only thing she had to avoid at her puberty age are thw young lads in their community who beginning to befriend the opposite sex. Portia was intimidaterd when it comes to boys. During her mass attendance she saw the nuns attending mass and she asked her mother who they are. Her mother said that they are single ladies who had chosen to enter the convent and serve God. Serving God means they will not marry at all. Portia though that it is good to serve God. How can she serve God? Portia saw a nun taking care of children at the Adoption Center. This might be a good thing to do Portia thought. This is one way of serving God. At her religious school that she attends nuns and priests are teachers wearing civilian clothes not their holy garbs. Everyday the desire of Portia to become a nun grew and grew convincing

one of her friends who has desire too. The more they pray the more their love to serve God flourish. What Portia didn't know was that her classmate was eyeing on her. Portia tried to avoid him. When he came to their store to buy some grocery items like coffee or chocolate she didn't show up but let their saleslady attend to him. That's how serious Portia wanted to become a nun. Besides she saw at the Adoption Center children who were abandoned by their parents. She had to avoid meeting the opposite sex. Another thing aside from serving God Portia was afraid to have a family and raise her children. She saw how poor people struggle to raise their families so she must not get married. Yes thats the reason why s arehe doesn't like man marrying and let their children suffer. I would not become a mother too. she said. How big is that responsibility to take care of a family. Portia finished her high school without having a boyfriend. This made her parents happy. She had to finish a career to support herself since she was an only child. No boyfriend at this time. She had to finish her studies. Portia decided to take a course in Practical Nursing. Maybe when she become a nun she can work in a private hospital run by a religious organization. Going to church was her favorite past time thinking that she is closer to God and being away from temptation and no exposure with the opposite sex. Although Portia possessed a beauty that man couldn't resist she does not like that she will be attracted to man. That was already planted in her mind. She didn't go to parties unlike what her classmates do. They went to jam sessions after their exams and go to picnics and camping together. Portia seemed not to miss these kind of relaxations but spent most of her time inside the church. One day she was in shocked when she learned that one of her friends became pregnant that she had to stop and not able to finish her career. That's the problem of a man when he pursued a woman without thinking their future. The more Portia hated man. He destroyed his future and my friend. Nothing Portia could think about getting married. The fear was there not the fantasy of a man to love a woman. Or parents with children in tow eating in the restaurant. Or this nurse at the hospital where Portia was taking her internship showering her with gifts flowers and chocolate. Portia had also convinced Edward to attend her church activities only for company . She explained to him about her ambition to become a nun. telling him that she was afraid to raise children and she would prefer to serve God. Edward explained to her that raising a family was also serving God. God will be happy as His's creation multiplies. How many people are now living on Earth? Seven billion. We can add more if we have children. Portia didn't accept Edward's proposal until she left the hospital after her graduation. She was called to work at the local hospital in her hometown upon the released of her license to practice. She was assigned at the Pediatric Ward. She began to like and care the little children un der her. A child's laughter exudes true happiness. Children didn;t hold grudges and easily forget misgivings. Portia began to think that this was also serving God. Maybe I don't need to go to the convent. In a few months she felt satisfaction about her work. The sick children made her feel satisfied. Especially when a child was discharged and thinking that she had done something to make that child become healthy again. Portia was surprised to see a young man at their house after work. He asked her about her work. She learned that Michael had come for vacation and visiting her. He left when his parents moved to Europe as doctors. He also finished his degree as a doctor. Their parents have promised each other that their children will get marry when they are grown up. Portia was tongue tied. How about her ambition to serve God? How about her fear of getting married? Why do people decide for others? She heard that this kind of marriage is matching. Her parents had matched her with someone she didn't know. Did Michael knew this before? Does he agree to this kind of marriage? Their parents let them talk

by themselves to see what they felt for each other. When Michael told her that he knew it long time ago that he was willing to marry Portia, Portia couldn't believe what is happening. Her fear against the opposite sex was gone after hearing Michael will marry her. that she loved her since the day she left her. He would bring her to Europe where they would live all their lives. Portia comforted herself as her wedding day approaches gooing to church and talk tp the priest about her failed attempt to become a nun. The priesgt told her thagt it was God who chose the man for her.