Chapter 2

MARIA’S POV

“Hi, please I need your help” a stranger's voice spat from behind me. I creeped my hand away from the tin of milk I was about to pick from the ledge in the grocery stall.

I met a handsome and stunning man. He had brown curly hair with deep chestnut brown eyes. “Hi” I reciprocated with a smile. His body fitted perfectly in the thick blue shirt and gray pants he wore.

“Please I need your help, I don’t know if you can help out” he echoed in his husky baritone voice.

“Sure.”

“Okay, so the thing is, I have been trying to make Ribollita, but then I just can’t seem to get anything together.” His right hand held his phone as he glided through the screen with his eyes gawking at it. His left hand hung behind his neck, scratching his hair in confusion. “Cooking is just so hard,” he added.

I couldn’t hold back my chuckle. His expression was goldenly hysterical.

“Okay, I think I can help out with that” I moved closer to him still chortling. “It’s all easy, you just have to know the right way to go through with it”

“It’s not easy. No, not at all. You know what, I think I’m gonna give up on cooking. It’s big-time stress!” He swished his head in letdown.

“No, you shouldn't say that.” I can't help but hold back the laughter in my stomach. He looked quite frustrated. “ I will help out.”

“You don't need to, I don't think I need the meal anymore” he spurted. My eyes flared open. There was a change in his countenance and the innocence he portrayed at first vanished.

“Why?” I queried.

“Why should I need that meal when I have you here right with me? You can be my meal and I’d eat you all day” he said with a more firm stare. His eyes dilated. A sly beam rushed to his face abruptly.

I was so caught up in the spontaneous blushing and giggling that I couldn't say a word.

“Hi, my name is Romero, and you?” he swooped his right hand out for a handshake.

“Mary” I spat and traversed my right hand with him amidst the rising noise of shoes creaking by other customers in the store. His eyes were magically enticing. His smile just showed me another gem he had. A deep dimple on only one cheek, the right cheek.

“Okay, in order not to waste your time and mine, I'm not like others who'd beat around the bush unnecessarily trying to find their way to your heart. How about you simply sit on my face and allow me to eat my way to your heart?” he shrugged and gave me an opaque smile.

At that point, I lost all balance. I felt a spasm that dragged the muscles on my legs to my neck which made me freeze for a split second, maintaining a rigid stance like that of a mannequin. All of a sudden, a certain cold clutched me.

“ I'm a Nun!” I winced.

I knew that was a killer!

His countenance fell and his almighty endearing smile vanished. I really did want to continue staring at his face though. Hell No! I would never allow myself to fall into temptation.

“Ding!” and “dong!” The Convent bells chimed. It's 5pm. It broke me away from my thoughts about Jayson that I met two weeks back when I had visited the mall for some groceries.

I stood up from the creaking bed and got dressed after a warm shower. It was time for mental prayers. Fully dressed in my tunic and my coif covering the upper part of my head. I picked up my rosary and headed out to meet the others at the chapel.

***

“The mother superior wants to see you,” Luciana, one of the nuns, said to me. She dropped her message and walked away. We weren't quite the best of friends. Anyways, that is a story packed up from another day.

I was standing down the pathway close to a gigantic pillar. The bright radiant sun illuminated the space and rays flickered into my eyes.

“I’ll be right back” I smiled at the two other nuns I was standing with. I walked behind Luciana who moved very briskly advancing towards the Abbess’ office. The Reverend Mother’s office was close to the chapel.

“Luci” I called out for her to wait but she acted as though she didn’t hear me calling. Just before she got close to the office, she walked to the other pathway leading to the upstairs that led to the rooms.

I stopped in the middle very close to the office of the Mother superior and stared at the right side, watching as Luciana walked away without a word. I whiffed a sigh.

I pounded on the door. “Come in” Abbess’ thick but frail voice broke out. I walked into the office.

“Good day, Reverend Mother” I greeted with a slight nudge with my head as I stepped in.

“Sister Maria” she smiled and dropped the pen in her right hand on the table, shifting her hands towards the standing crucifix on the desk.

“Sister Luciana said you want to see me” I moved forward with multiple thoughts as to why she wanted to see me roamed my head.

“Please sit”. She spat.

I pulled the chair and sat facing her. She wore a black tunic and a long brown cross strapped around her neck and dangling to her chest. She was aged and wrinkles filled her forehead. Her eyes black and skin white and slightly pale. One special thing about her was her smile. She rarely did smile, but it was a thing of joy to behold it when freely dished.

“Yes, I have something to discuss with you.” She paused. “You know, since you were a postulant, I had always liked you because of your immense and genuine devotion to God and the order. You have been so committed to the extent that your sisters nickamed you Maria la madre di Dio.” At that point, I couldn’t hold back my brief chuckle.

“That shows how serious you are with God to make your fellow sisters refer to you that way. However, you’ll be taking your final vows in a couple of weeks to come. Two weeks to be precise.” She stopped.

“Yes Abbess” I nodded after her Seconds of silence. I thought that was what she wanted.

“I was having a quiet meditation time and I couldn’t stop thinking about you.” Now this grasped my attention. My smiling face framed up an intent outlook. “Don’t you think it is time? You know what I mean.” She spat at last. My countenance instantly froze up.

“No, Abbess. I don’t think so. Not at all. I am not yet ready” I wagged my head swiftly.

She reclined on her chair and ducked her head backwards. Her eyes peered up at me but she said nothing for about ten seconds.

She exhaled heavily and pulled forward again.

“I have watched you since you were a postulant till you took your temporary vows. In about two weeks, you will make your perpetual vows. You have spent close to seven years here. I am not going to talk more about it, but at this point, I’d advise that you think and pray about it tonight, then you’d tell me your final decision tomorrow.” She said,

After some moments of silence and introspection, I said “Okay, Abbess”

I left her office afterwards and went to my room. After my conversation with Mother superior, I thought it wise to go on a stroll with Molasses, my turtle. I descended down the stairs with Molasses curved in my hands. I strolled out of the four walls of the convent.

I walked on the tarred road drowned in my thoughts. My eyes burned alongside my thoughts as I walked In the burning sun while disturbing vehicles swayed the road. All of a sudden, a black van swung in front of me and blocked my way askewly. Fear gripped me. Molasses fell out of my hands as three men came out of the van and grabbed me coarsely.

“Aiuto!” I screamed but It couldn't reach anyone, I was captured…