The Tale of Isaac and Nerrha

This is a story about two Star Defenders: Isaac and Nerrha.

Yes, this is a boy-girl story. Except that it's probably unlike any boy-girl story you've ever read before.

This story came out of working on the Ditto Story on narniaweb.com. The background is basically that Nerrha, who secretly likes Isaac, is upset at him because she thinks that he has found another girl. Classic story. But what comes next... is the story of me and my journey to discover the secrets of love and friendship.

Read on: Click here.

The link above will lead to the first of my story posts on the story of Isaac and Nerrha. Please read through it before going on; it will help you understand the following, which is really how I fit into the story.

I can't begin to tell you how many people have opposed my view of dating. Even my mom and dad are against it. Yet, this is how I feel. I don't want to make an emotional commitment to anyone when I can't make a physical one. I would much rather just be friends with a girl--hopefully close friends--than date, break up, and then who knows what happens. I know many of you will disagree with me on this, but that is my opinion. Yes, it has been influenced by Joshua Harris's book I Kissed Dating Goodbye, but then again, dating didn't exactly appeal to me from the start, and that book just gave me some good reasons as to why. (For anyone who's reading this who secretly wants to go out with me: I'm sorry. I'm sure you are a wonderful girl, but... for the reasons above, I'm not interested in that kind of stuff. Once again, I'm sorry.)

Alas, this kind of stuff would be much easier to deal with... if it weren't for the fact that I still have those hormones and whatnot that make me attracted to a girl. I still have that side that wants to go out with someone. And with all those outside forces telling me to go along with that side... I oftentimes feel caught in the middle. Sometimes, I think that it'd all be okay if I just gave in and started dating, but I know I cannot do that. I must stand up for what I believe in, no matter what. Otherwise, I'm wandering through the maze of life without a map.

I do find that it's easier to become friends with girls as opposed to boys. Now, don't get me wrong, I have plenty of male friends, and my best friend is a guy. (That's one big difference between my life and the story.) However, generally it seems that guys want to do "guy stuff" like partying and sports and picking up girls... stuff that I'm, quite frankly, not all that interested in. I find girls to be more sensitive and understanding and the type of people I'd like to hang out with. (Actually, if anything, I like to hang out with a mixed group: guys and girls.)

Sometimes, I become particularly close friends with a girl. At this point, I start to become vulnerable to what I call "pseudo-dating". In other words, I start to get jealous when she's with another guy, I'm almost too happy to see her every day... that sort of thing. Maybe you've gone through "pseudo-dating" too, so you know what I'm talking about. It's really not healthy for me, and that's saying nothing about the girl on the other end, who oftentimes feels like I'm stalking her. Seriously. (To all the young women who've been hurt by my actions... I wish I could do more than apologize, but right now, that's all I can do... I'm sorry.) I still struggle with "pseudo-dating" these days, and I'm doing my best to overcome it... more on that later.

I guess sometimes I just want to let a girl know how special she is to me. I really should do that more often... I guess part of the problem is that I've decided to add on to my little no-dating belief system the standard that I will never say "I love you" unless it refers to family, particularly, my wife. (I know of at least one other who shares my view of this... ;-) @ alora) *sigh* This is just one of those things I'm going to have to work on...

Now to finish up the story: Part 2. Once again, please read it through as I continue to explain my place in this story.

It's going to be hard to avoid "pseudo-dating", to put my feelings for a girl aside and to relate to her solely as friends. It'd help if they were doing the same thing, but then again, usually they are. ;-)

Admittedly, oftentimes my "pseudo-dating" comes from personal insecurity. I want to know that I mean something special to someone, in this case one of my female friends, and when I don't sense that, I can start to feel, well, jealous. That's when the whole "pseudo-dating" thing comes in.

Alas, to get a friendly, non-romantic hug from a girl... is it okay to want that? Am I being too selfish in this? Does this come from a secret desire for a romantic relationship? I don't know, sadly. I'm still discovering more about the secrets of love and friendship every day.

So now you know the kind of troubles I'm going through in this area of my life. Prayers are greatly appreciated.

And now, I shall take a cue from alora and officially say: If I ever say that I "luv ya" or that I "luv y'all", it doesn't mean that I "love you" like that. (As for inanimate objects, I'll borrow from McDonalds and say that "I'm lovin' it!" :-P)

So, that said, goodbye, and I luv y'all!!!

So this is Case Western...

Well, I have now settled into my room in Case Western, and I have my internet set up as well.

Classes don't start yet. First there is orientation, and then this thing called "Welcome Days". I believe classes start next week.

I'd have more to say, but... ah well, I just needed to update this thingy. I haven't done so in a long time.

The Universal Gazette Special Headline: Willy Wonka's Factory Found in State of Mass Confusion

The sane majority of America is scratching their heads at a discovery that proves that nothing can be proven for sure. While on a walk through the existentially questionable State of Mass Confusion, Frank Sun was said to have found the actual factory belonging to the literally literary figure, Willy Wonka.

"He even came out, greeted me, and invited me to look around his factory," Frank said.

Reputable scholars and geography teachers argue that Frank's story is a hoax. "Neither the State of Mass Confusion, nor Oompaland where Willy Wonka supposedly found the Oompa Loompas, exist anywhere on Planet Earth," said one geography teacher, Mr. Teevee.

Some scholars proposed that the two do exist, only on shifted dimensions. Some even went as far to say that the two worlds compete with each other for delicious food, as evidenced by the shortage of delicious food in Oompaland and the bounty of such food in the State of Mass Confusion.

Other scholars say that these scholars have simply been playing too much Tales of Symphonia in their free time.

Frank has admitted to having played Tales of Symphonia a lot over the past few weeks. "I've already beaten the game once, but now I'm going through it again to pick up on all the stuff I missed out on the first time through. But aren't we getting a bit off-topic?"

Back on topic, Frank described the journey through the factory as "like walking through a fantasy world, where you know that anything and everything can happen. Except that it's not fantasy; it's pseudo-reality."

Scholars doubt that Frank's words can be trusted, because Frank has supposedly traveled through other fantasy worlds like Narnia, Middle-Earth (I need to go back there sometime, Frank said), Hogwarts, a galaxy far far away, the worlds of Kanto, Orre, and Hoenn where creatures known as Pokémon supposedly exist, Sylvarant and Tethe'alla, an entire universe, and, most suspicious of all, a place called Ditto Town.

"Those places simply do not exist!" exclaimed Mr. Teevee.

"He's been playing too much Tales of Symphonia in his free time," said many scholars.

NarniaWebber shastastwin says, "[Mr. Teevee and those scholars] have NO imagination whatsoever."

NarniaWebber Violet Vale says, "Ditto."

Nevertheless, that's why Frank enjoyed his trip through the factory. "Willy Wonka's chocolate factory definitely belongs here in the State of Mass Confusion," he said.

Our reporters were close to needing to sign into an asylum, so they asked only one more question: What did Willy Wonka look like?

Frank responded, "He looked like Johnny Depp. A LOT like Johnny Depp."