The Favourite -My Own Flesh and Blood

                                              Chapter One [ The graduation]  

        The graduates are hard at work planning their graduation program and ceremony. Daniele is anticipating her valedictory address as the best among the graduates. Everyone is ecstatic.

        "At long last, our miseries are over; we'll no longer have to burn our brows and shed blood to review for a long difficult examination, and we'll have plenty of time relaxing and going to parties, camping, outings, and so on," Carla teases Daniele, who is reading and practicing her part for the graduation ceremony.

         " Can you please stop saying that my best friend? To do what you say is boring if we always are like that. We should be productive even during vacation." Daniele responds as they continue walking along the road going home that afternoon. The road is rocky and dusty but so beautiful to look at the green meadows on both sides of a long road.

       "Come on, I have no time for love right now because I'm saving my heart for my ambition to be a successful doctor," the paramedic group laughs as the young handsome man comes to a halt in front of Daniele. Daniele comes to a quick halt. "Come along with me, I'll take you home!" Ricky invites Daniele. "If you want it, Okey!" Daniele jumped on his back and wrapped her hands around his hips as Ricky rushed his motorcycle to her house every day.

         It is pouring heavily. They have to squat under the large tree to avoid getting wet. "How long will we be like this, Daniele?" Ricky wonders. "As long as I haven't realized you have a place in my heart," Daniele said. "Why don't you channel your feelings into another girl who might love you?" Daniele suggests. "Ricky looked at her, "you know I've loved you since I was a child. Why do you send others my way? "

           "Because you're just like a brother to me! Look, we've been together since childhood and we completely know each other's smells and behavior; it would be boring if we lived as brother and sister," Daniele says.

           "We need to meet and interact with other people to grow and explore," Daniele explains to Ricky. "Besides, I'm going to the United States to get specialization and mastery in my Psychiatry profession, and you'll soon forget me when I'm out of your sight!" As the rain stopped, Daniele and Ricky decided to walk through the flowery meadows, leaving his motorcycle leaning against a high wall of a building.

          The paramedic class receives their certificate of completion after graduation and must prepare for the medical board examination review class. "Oh, this is tiring," Carla exclaims. "Why don't you just do it instead of complaining, Best friend?" Daniele wonders, as others laugh. (A deep sigh).

        "Perhaps you're not really for the medical profession, Best Friend?" Daniele speculates. "No, Daniele, Carla is looking for someone who can inspire her during times of busy schedules and heavy mind works." Desiree interrupts, smiling as Ricky appears.

        Carla's heart seems to skip a beat every time Ricky appears. Desiree realizes this as she observes Carla's behavior." Psst! Come here," Desiree says to Carla as she places her hands to her mouth to secretly ask Carla.

          "I've noticed you have special feelings for Daniele's suitor," Desiree slowly whispered to Carla's ears as they parted a few feet away from Daniele, who was entertaining Ricky on the other table. "Why? Is it wrong to admire someone like him?"

        But Daniele is our friend," Desiree likes to point out to Carla. "But Daniele doesn't seem to be in love with him," Carla observes. Desiree suggests, and they both realize that they are just good friends and childhood neighbors, nothing more, nothing less. Carla inquires of Ricky. "Yes, we're just good friends because I'm just like a brother to Daniele," Ricky explains. "And she told me to find someone who will love me in return."

           Daniele, Carla, and Desiree have been separated for many years. Daniele is now a Professional Psychiatrist who is getting involved with a Charismatic born-again Christian group.

       "I feel like I'm still looking for something, and there's an emptiness inside my heart," she murmurs as she walks down the path to the Parish church near her workplace.

Ricky has long since vanished from her sight, as have her other suitors, all of whom are married and have families of their own.

         Daniele needs to buy groceries for her parents in the province one day. "Christmas is approaching," she says. "I wanted to be with my parents this holiday season," Daniele says as she requests a leave of absence from the hospital to spend a few months in the Province. She intends to drive there in her car. So she has nothing to worry about if she can bring many items for her parents and relatives, and she likes to include those poor and needy elderly people along the way.

          "This is the only way I can repay God for neglecting the poor and needy while I was busy with my studies and work, to share my success with them, and to be nice to my old parents who work hard to support my allowance during my studies," Daniele muses.

         "I need a lot of coins and a small amount to give to the children in Christmas Caroling," she explained. She notices a filthy old man with a small box standing in a corner near the shopping mall. She goes straight to the clothing section and chooses items with discounts.

         She dashed outside after paying at the counter to give the old man the clothes she had purchased and some bread to eat. The man bursts into tears as Daniele wishes him a Merry Christmas and tells him, "Jesus loves you!"

         She went to see the mentally ill patients and prayed for them. Applying some positive strokes to everyone who is emotionally down. She listens to their mental problems and provides them with free medical check-ups and medication for the glory of God.

       "This time, Lord, I find peace, and all the emptiness inside me has been filled by demonstrating love and concern for your people who are victims of their weaknesses," Daniele says to God. One of the doctors in the outpatient department was staring at her. Daniele notices him, but she refuses to consider having a boyfriend.

         "He seems like a brother to me!" Daniele muses again. "I thought of myself being busy with my studies only those younger years, but now that I'm 21 years old, I still find myself not interested in having a boyfriend."

          She has enough to bring to the province for Christmas. She has everything packed and properly loaded inside her car. She's on her way home after three years away, and she missed them terribly. She returns home only to discover that her mother's health has deteriorated and she is now bedridden.

         Danielle inquires, "How are you Papa, Mama?" "We're getting old and weak now, Daniele my dear," her father said as her mother slept. "I have some of your favorite delicacies and clothing colors; where are my other younger nephews and niece?" Daniele inquires about all her favorite relatives and friends in town.

         "Papa, I'll go around after I check Mama's health condition and so are you; you must be checked and given proper medications," Daniele instructed as her other favorite neighbors arrived to see her. "Hello, how is our favorite pretty lady in town?" they exclaimed. Daniele greets them with a big smile and a hug, as well as their Christmas gifts wrapped in paper.

          They are all overjoyed. "We'll cook some foods for Christmas Eve, and you come here to join our Christmas celebration," she invited them excitedly and joyfully. "Mama, you should get well before Christmas so we can prepare for the celebration as our family members arrive for our family reunion," Danielle exclaims as her mother smiles and moves from her bed slowly.

        "You take this nutritious food so you can gain stamina, Papa!" she gently instructed as she hugged them tightly.

Suddenly, Julie with her husband and children arrived to see her and visit their parents. "Wow, the favorites in the family have finally arrived," her sister mockingly exclaims. "How about the doctor?" Julie asked, smiling. "Ate Julie, I wanted to give you my gifts; they are not expensive, but they come from my heart and are full of love," Daniele says modestly.

       "Well, thank you for remembering me," Julie says as she hugs Daniele, tears welling up in her eyes. Daniele gives out all of her gifts to everyone who comes to her house. She went to the poor areas to give her gifts to them. Julie and her children assist her in carrying the load. 'She ran into old classmates and friends, as well as Ricky.

       Since she left two years ago, they are already married. "That's fantastic!" exclaimed Daniele. "I'm so happy for you both, my dear friends," Daniele laughs as Carla and Ricky accept her simple gifts.

         It's the nearly late afternoon after Christmas, and Daniele has just returned from visiting the poor area on the hilltop. She's walking down the crossroads when a foreigner notices her and Julie. He appears to be captivated by her beauty, but Daniele is too preoccupied with her mission to notice him. She continues to the tribes higher up the mountain.

         And the foreigner follows Daniele around without her knowledge. But Julie, her husband, noticed him from a distance as he watched Daniele. He even investigates her location with his binoculars.

        Daniele returns to the city for work after her vacation to ensure that her parents recover and regain their health and strength.

          On her way back to town, she encounters a group of nuns who are giving vocational talks to a young group of ladies in town. They are awaiting the bus to the city. She pulls over and offers them a ride in her car. They are all content. They are just enough to fill her car seat.

          "I'm amazed by your holy calling, and I'm eager to join you Sisters!" exclaims Daniele. "Great, we're looking for young ladies to join our congregations, and we need candidates to train as nuns." If I meant for you to serve Jesus Christ, I will do my best."

         Daniele joined the congregation of religious sisters that day, and she traveled to Rome, Italy, for free religious training until she became a professed nun.