This story began in year 2006 when I just graduated from high school and started working in a local bank in Singapore. One day while out for lunch, I saw a small group of people walking towards the building I was working in. I thought they must be bank colleagues, as I could see their lanyards and they had just returned from lunch. In the group, one of the girls caught my eyes. I have never seen her before, but was attracted by her beauty! She had straight long black hair just like the ancient Egypt princess with her fringe just above her eyes. And yes, her eyes are beautifully black and big. Well, she did not notice that I was looking at her all along; I have done that very well. Ha!
But she was really so beautiful that I just can’t take my eyes off her. And I will always remember it was along the bridge at North Bridge Road where I first saw this girl who I already fell in love at first sight! I wish I knew her. As days went by, I would sometimes cross the road with the same girl while walking towards the office in the morning. Always I would intentionally walk slower than the girl so that I could see her from behind. Well that was normal right! Any guys will try to walk near to someone he likes. But still I did not know her name. The only thing I knew about her is that she worked on the 5th floor above me while I worked on the 2nd floor. It seemed to be a habit whenever I go to work, out for lunch or after work, I will look out for this girl, hoping to bump into her. I would wish that the lift or train would stop whenever we shared the same lift or train. I did not have the courage to approach her to know her, even asking for her name, as I thought such a beautiful girl, she must have a boyfriend already.
Knowing by her name
Months passed… Dec 2006. My office was shifting to a new location. I was disappointed. That meant I could no longer see the girl who I have liked for a few months. While chatting with my colleagues, I told them that there was this really beautiful girl working in this building. And it wasn’t hard for them to guess who she was, for such a beautiful girl will be noticed by almost anyone. For the first time I got to know her name. She is called Janet! It’s a common name, but to me, falling in love with her was to like everything about her, including her name! The best thing is I got her number through one of them!
Jan 2007… I have shifted to a new office. We exchanged a few sms, we introduced ourselves but never really met face to face. I tried to ask her out but was rejected by her. I could still remember what she said. She told me that she was preparing for her exam and had no time. Excuses, I thought. Well maybe she really did have a boyfriend.
Jan 2008. A year had passed, we hardly contacted each other, but she was always on my mind. This month, moved to my office and was seated very near me and I could see her every day! Some of her colleagues knew that I had secretly liked her and have warned me that she was a very religious Christian. Well, I was not a religious person and I can accept that.
The first move
Sep 2008. News of her leaving the bank soon came to me.
Sep 12th. I finally picked up my courage to ask her out for a dinner.
Sep 14th. Our first date at Suntec. This is the first time I spoke to her in person.
And after that for every 2 to 3 days, I will always ask her out for dinner or movie. We got along very well. She was a nice girl and I thought I have the chance of getting her to be my girlfriend. I would keep every receipt that we had for meals, every movie that we had watched the tickets were still with me. I could still remember our 1st movie and the last, place we had been to. The 1st time I held her hand. Although we had just known each other, it seemed like we have known for years!
What a girl wants
Oct 2008. After going out for a while and I think Janet knew that I liked her. So one day, she told me that while she really enjoyed being with me, but she would want her future boyfriend to share the same belief as her and guide her to the ways of God. That was what Janet had prayed and promised to God. He needed to be a Christian! It must be a struggle and terrible feeling for Janet. I could feel that when we were together, she was worried about our status as she couldn’t openly tell her church friends we were dating. Inside her, she felt she was betraying her God.
This was not the first time she had told me about this problem (I was not a Christian)
Well I told her I would convert and she said she would wait for me. But at that time I didn’t really mean it. I just thought no way I was going to be a Christian. I was just playing with time and always avoided this issue. After I had promised to become a Christian in future, she invited me to her church.
My first time to church
Nov 8th 2008. I went with her to City Harvest Church for the first time. My first impression was wow… what a big church and their services were like a concert. Her cell group members were nice and friendly. I could not feel God at that time and I just went to church because she wanted me to.
I even went with her to the Asia Conference at Expo, just because I wanted to spend time with her. Honestly speaking, I was struggling too. Having been to church for a few times, but I still could not feel the presence of God! Sometimes I wanted to give up, but I really liked her and wanted her to be mine.
The end of the relationship
Dec 1st 2008. She has not called or sms me for the day. I knew something was wrong.
And when contacted her, she finally told me she could not take it any longer. She had no confidence over this relationship. She had to give up on us in order to find peace. I was not willing but to accept because I loved her and it really hurt me seeing her so troubled over our relationship.
Strangely, after our so-called break off (we had not really been a couple), I started to be a believer of Christ! I brought my own bible (I have finished reading) and now I have my own cell group in the church. You must be thinking I am doing all this because of Janet, I go to church because of her! No, I attended weekly services at Expo, while she is at Jurong West. I never get to meet her. This must be the God’s will, in order to be my God’s believer, Janet must leave me.
Knowing my Lord
Janet will never know this as she has hardened her heart to stop contacting me. I have lost time once, when I have known Janet for 3 years but only started to know her for 3 months. She never gave me enough time to prove that I can be what she wanted and when I am really a Christian now, we are not together. I do not wish to lose time now, I must start to believe in Jesus now, which I really did. I thank God that I have known Janet. Now I thank Janet for introducting God to me! Hallelujah!
Maybe this is not considered a love story to many, but this is my true story with Janet and God. May God bless those who are truly in love with an everlasting relationship. Amen.
