Chapter 1: Chapter I: New People and Places
It's winter. Perhaps the most beautiful season of the year when our souls feel like children again, and adults joyfully recall the happy childhood spent with parents, grandparents, and important people in their lives.
In such an atmosphere begins a new chapter in Khristian's life, a simple 25-year-old boy who, after many more or less revealing experiences, decides that after graduating from the Faculty of Economics, he will become a student at the Theological Institute in Washington. Some of his friends and acquaintances start to ponder this seemingly incomprehensible attitude of their friend, the life of the party in their groups.
"Brothers, I don't understand why you're so surprised. If I want to become a priest, you can't stop me from doing that, can you?" Khristian would often say.
"Oh, come on... Have you forgotten what we all did last week? How can you give up such a wonderful life like ours?"
Whatever his friends and former colleagues told him didn't impress him at all. One morning, as he stood on his parents' apartment balcony sipping coffee, he saw a flock of white doves floating above his head.
"What could this be?" Khristian wondered. "I've never experienced anything like this before. Anyway, I think it's just my imagination."
Khristian was a very energetic guy who had made many friends during his college years due to his openness to people close to him. With hair as black as coal and piercing green eyes, he had won the hearts of many girls. People around him always felt listened to and trusted him. His height was 1.80 m, making him seem like a giant compared to his girlfriends who never exceeded 1.70 m.
However, this didn't stop him from thinking about what he had just seen and the ideas that had come to his mind lately, and he came to a decision. He decided to dedicate his life to the Lord and become a student at the Theological Institute in Washington, which was opening its doors to future students.
"Next week will be the Open Day at this Institute, and I heard you want to go, is that right?" one of his close priests asked the young man.
"Honestly? I think I want to go, but I don't know if it's a good idea or not. I heard that desire is important, but I don't know if I can handle it. Usually, those who enroll in such institutions have just finished high school, but I'm already 25, and I don't think I'm ready."
"You'll be fine, you'll see. I just spoke to the rector there, who was my classmate, and he agreed to have you. Plus, you'll meet different people there and make many friends, don't you think?"
"If I have to... I'll try to go there and see what can happen. I sincerely hope I'm not getting my hopes up for nothing."
After a few days of thinking, the day came when he had to leave for the Institute. Due to some issues, he decided to take the train, probably the cheapest type of transport in the area, and go to Washington to attend the event. He had about 6 hours to travel, and he decided to sleep a little so as not to be tired when he arrived. A weekend full of wonderful activities awaited him amidst people he wasn't used to and whose mindset he didn't know, but he had to try anyway.
After arriving at his destination, Khristian decided to take a taxi to the building where the activities would take place. From the moment he left home, he had taken everything necessary to spend two peaceful and problem-free days and see if the decision he was about to make in the coming period was a good one.
Standing in front of that imposing building, hidden in a setting reminiscent of the novels he had read in childhood, Khristian was astonished and began to marvel at the things he was seeing for the first time in his life.
While he was gazing at the building that was unfolding before him, a priest over 50 years old came out to greet him.
"Hello, young man, I believe you've come for the Open Day organized by our Institute, right?"
"S-Sure... Just wondering, who are you?" Khristian somehow timidly replied.
"I am the rector of this Institute, and I am extremely pleased to meet you. My name is Joseph, and you must be..."
"Khristian, pleased to meet you."
After they introduced themselves, Joseph took Khristian inside to show him around. As they walked through the long corridors of the building, discussing the history of the institution and the reason the young man would like to become a student here, a student passed by them, greeting them.
"Oh, Alexander," the cheerful rector said, "I'm glad you're here, and I wanted to ask you for a favor. Khristian, this is Alexander, the president of the student council, and he's in his second year of studies."
"Yeah... To be honest, I was busy with some stuff right now, but if you want my help, I'll do it. Anyway, I guess you wouldn't be able to climb all those stairs, right? If I were you, I'd go to the office and let John handle the guests."
"Oh, come on. Although I dislocated my knee playing football last week, I'm fine now, believe me. I'm not as resistant to pain as you are, but I'm not that weak, you know," the rector joked.
"Anyway, I think I'd better accompany him from now on, right?" Alexander said.
Alexander was the star of that institution for several reasons. The first reason was his appearance. Alexander was a brunette with ruby-red eyes, making him extremely special because of this color. His height of 1.85 m made him look like a true actor from the American movies that his colleagues watched with bated breath. Being the top student in studies, sports, and other activities made him appreciated by his peers, including teachers and their rector. However, he had a flaw. He was so cold towards others that you could feel the outside temperature drop in his presence. Anyway, everyone's opinion about him was that he was a model student with an actor-like appearance and tolerable behavior toward others.
"Um, my name is Khristian, what's yours?"
"You just heard it earlier, right? I don't like being sociable with strangers, but I have to help my superior. Anyway, this is the library, and next to it is our archive. Also, in this area is the cafeteria where we have breakfast, lunch, and dinner."
Khristian was completely surprised by what he saw. He couldn't believe that there could be a student preparing to become a priest who was so cold towards people. Anyway, it wasn't his business, and he hoped this would end sooner.
"Oh, Alexander. Who is the guy next to you?" another student passing through the area asked quite friendly.
"He's one of those who came for the activities these days. Why do you ask?" Alexander responded in an authoritative tone.
"Well, I think you shouldn't scare him away on the first day, right, Alexander?"
"Really? Then, how about you accompany him instead, don't you think?"
Saying this, Alexander headed towards his dorm room, leaving Khristian with the other student.
"Don't mind him; that's just how he is. Anyway, my name is Antonio, and I'm the vice president of the council. Nice to meet you, and if you don't mind, could you tell me your name?"
"I'm Khristian, 25 years old, and I plan to come next year to study here. I don't know what to say, but that guy seems pretty cold, and I don't think I'll get along well with him."
"It'll be fine, I assure you. Anyway, do you smoke?" Antonio asked Khristian.
"Yes, why do you ask? Is that a possibility here?"
"Yes, we have a special place for that on the terrace. If you want, I can show you."
Antonio was the total opposite of Alexander. Brunette, with blue eyes and a charming smile, was Alexander's desk mate and the vice president of the student council. However, in terms of behavior, he was very friendly and sociable and never refused to help those around him.
While they were smoking, Khristian received a phone call from someone. Quite embarrassed, Khristian asked his conversation partner for permission to answer the phone to see if it was important or not. Antonio, being a very understanding person, allowed him to answer, leaving him alone for a moment.
"Who is on the phone?" Khristian asked curiously.
"Seriously, you don't recognize me anymore? You've just arrived in Washington, and you've already forgotten me. Then I guess you won't be thrilled by the news I'm about to give you."
"Raphael, was that you? Man, I forgot how long it's been since we last saw each other. I should have visited you, right? What do you want to tell me?"
"Well, I just found out that you plan to enroll at the Institute next year, and I was thinking of telling you that I'll do the same. Anyway, did you arrive?" Raphael asked over the phone.
"Yes, I'm behind with the vice president of the council; did you come?"
"I'm already at the door. I don't know where you are, so you'll have to come after me."
As soon as the call ended, Khristian and Antonio went to the entrance of the Institute to greet their future colleague. When they met, the two old friends shook hands and embraced.
"Oh, brother! It's been a while; how have you been since graduating from college?" Raphael asked, breaking the silence.
"It was good overall. Anyway, I thought you would continue with the Economics faculty. Why did you withdraw?"
"Well, I decided that economics no longer interests me, and I want to become a priest and theologian. I think the most important thing is other. How did you conclude that you want to become a theologian?"
While they were talking, Antonio stood next to Khristian, smiling and waiting for the two to finish their discussion. When he noticed that the conversation was over, he began to get involved in the discussion.
"Greetings, I'm Antonio, a second-year student and the vice president of the student council. Could you introduce yourself?"
"Sure. I'm so inattentive. My name is Raphael, and I'm 21 years old. I'm very glad to meet you. I've heard a lot of things about you."
"I'm glad to hear that. I hope they're good things, right?" Antonio said with a big smile on his face.
Something was changing in Raphael. He had never felt so embarrassed, but at the same time, he had never felt so happy. In his opinion, Antonio was a different person than he had imagined, although he had heard many wonderful things about him from friends, former students here, or those who had heard about him.
People at the Institute were quite open to newcomers. Professors, instructors, and colleagues were extremely happy to welcome their future classmates. The only one who was ignored by everyone was Khristian. Being quite old for the first year of study at this Institute, he seemed to come from another universe or another era.
Unsatisfied with such things, Khristian decided to go and pray for enlightenment from the Divine. As he entered the small chapel of the Institute, he discovered that a fairly well-known person was inside, sitting rather sadly in front of the altar and praying.
Approaching closer and closer, he realized who that person was, and he found out that the young man was Alexander, the coldest guy he had ever seen and the star of the Institute. What is happening?
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