Don't Forget Me (20)

Three years later,

I took a look at myself in the mirror.

I was finally able to wear the black Chanel dress Zaid bought me in Paris; I didn't care that it was way "last" season and three years old.

My hair was pulled up in a bun and I wore my mother's finest diamond earring, necklace, and bracelet, along with the Cartier bracelet that I'd never taken off. My makeup was well paid for and extremely worth it as I looked much grown up and more like my age of twenty. I really felt like a princess all due to Zaid.

My mother had questioned my dress and I told her it was an old one that I hadn't worn, she cursed her funky memory and didn't ask me any more questions, thank God.

"Kalba Niyah, ityanineen!" Sarah said as she fixed her hair in the hotel ballroom's bathroom.

"Mashkoura, intay ba3ad!" I told her, she looked gorgeous in her dark red dress that was off shoulder and trailed after her.

We walked out of the bathroom back to the ballroom and I could already sense some eyes on me and Sarah. I hated dressing up for that reason, and since it was Lulu's brother's wedding I couldn't not dress up.

We sat in our seats (the walk back was extremely awkward; it felt like all eyes were on us again), and admired Lulu who stood at the door greeting the guests. She wore a short gold dress that looked absolutely stunning and her hair was pulled up in a pony tail, and her makeup was flawless, as usual.

"Ugh maly khelg arg9 min al7een," Sarah complained. I groaned.

Lulu made us practice dancing because she said she depended on us to "liven up the meed". Her exact words.

More and more people poured in and the rows of seats began to fill up. I hated crowds, and knowing I would be dancing soon made me nauseous. I suddenly remembered the graduation ceremony. I remembered Zaid's speech and smiled.

I hadn't heard from him since his text message three years ago. It was tough, but I guess he did what he had to do to move on with his life.

"Ubai la2 Lulu ga3da itnadeena," Sarah said, interrupting my train of thoughts. Lulu pointed at us to come and join her to dance, and we got up. Butterflies were dancing in my stomach as I followed Sarah down the stairs and tried to ignore the eyes that were on me. I knew I stood out, but standing out was not that great.

I joined them on the "meed" and began to dance, careful not to make any eye contact with anyone, and just tried to have fun with my friends. I thankfully danced much better than during the rehearsal, which I had completely failed.

"Yallah barid," Sarah whispered to me and I gladly joined her back to our seats. We took a break and danced at almost every two or three songs for Lulu's sake.

The ballroom lights dimmed and it was the moment the guests had been waiting for.

The bride finally began to walk into the ballroom. She looked really beautiful in her wedding dress that hung low and had lots of crystals and lace details on the train and the gown.
I could see Lulu smiling at her mn ilkosha. Lulu wouldn't shut up about how sweet her sister-in-law was, and it was true; she did look like a sweetheart.

The bride's family and friends danced while Sarah and I got up from our seats since there were a lot of people that had no seats, and stood next to Lulu by the entrance.

"Mashallah etshawig," Sarah told Lulu and I agreed.

"7ail 9a7?" she said as she admired her sister in law. Lulu put her phone in front of her as we took some pictures together.

"7adna hotties ilyom," Lulu joked as she posted our pictures on Snapchat.

This weekend was going to be amazing. I was finally allowed to sleep at Lulu's chalet tomorrow, which we were going to tomorrow. My mom said she wanted to spend some time at my grandparents' house so I was able to go to the chalet without feeling particularly guilty.

I felt beautiful tonight and I was so very happy; it was unreal.

/

"Wakhray 3anni," Sarah joked as Lulu tried to wipe her face with melted chocolate. I laughed as I took a bite of my smore.

We sat outside Lulu's chalet in front of the duwwa to roast some marshmallows for our smores.

"Hey deeraw balkum fee nar!" I warned them as I took a bite of my smores.

They finally behaved their age and sat silently in front of the fire as they roasted their marshmallows.

"Ubai barou7 il7amam in7a9art," Sarah said as she got up from her seat. As usual.

"Too much info, 7ubi," Lulu told her and I chuckled as Sarah rolled her eyes and slid the glass doors of the chalet open.

"Waih sh3nda hatha al7een?" Lulu said as she bit on her smore.

We saw 7amani, Lulu's second eldest brother walking towards us with one of their cousins. I was so formal with 7amani even after all my years of knowing Lulu, no idea why.

"Ilsalam," he told us as he took a biscuit from the tray in front of us.

"Shakhbarkum banat?" he asked as he took a bite.

 I muttered "Il7mdillah,"

"Lwailu wain ilwire mal OSN?" he asked her.

"Madry machayakt wara ilTV?" Lulu asked. He shook his head.

"Typical 7amani," she said while rolling her eyes. He smacked her forehead playfully as he took another biscuit.

"Yal bala3 latkhal9a 3alaina!" Lulu joked as she beat his hand. I could sense someone looking at me so I casually turned wala Lulu's cousin looked away. That was weird. I looked at my phone to just find something "to do".

The guys finally left us alone and I took another marshmallow and popped it in my mouth.

"Hathol your cousin ili ma3a tawa 9a7?" I asked Lulu. She nodded.

"Ee Ghazi," she said.

"Laish?" she asked with a wink, jokingly of course.

"Bas as2al," I said with a laugh. Lulu bit her lip and raised a brow. She knew I wasn't like that (I hoped she did), and besides I didn't find Ghazi attractive or anything.

"Shfeech?!" I said as I nudged her.

"Ghazi sa2alni 3annich," she blurted out in a low voice and looked around to make sure no one heard her.

I nearly choked on the marshmallow.

"Na3am?" I said.

"Shafich b my story b snapchat oo sa2alni 3annich, he's like two years older. Mtkharij," she said with a wink. Again. Mn 9ejha?

My mouth was open as I tried to wrap my head around all of this.

"Wait wait, shaf our pictures b your story? Ma gltleeli 3ndich 9bayan oo thaniyan tadreen ma albis chithi jidam 9bayan!" I said, nearly yelling. I was so pissed at Lulu right now.

She put her hands up in defense. "Inzain sorry wallah ma kint adri," she said. Bullshit.

"Lulu intay t3arfeeni mn zman oo t3arfeen shinu 7doodi," I told her. I felt so exposed right now.

"Sorry bas ana shdarani, kl sa3a m'3ayra 7doodich," she said. She was not going there.

"Intay lail7een 3ala hal salfa? Tara 9arlina thalth esneen, move on!" I told her.

"Tara nadri innich r7tay 3nda yom tuwafat uma," Lulu replied back.

"Ee ri7t 3nda, inzain? Uma tuwafat tabeeni a7gira?" I said. I was almost yelling. I was so pissed at her.

"Bas hatha 3ugub ma gltay btgouleenlina kl shay," she said. Sarah was confused when she saw us yelling.

"Ubai Lulu! Tara ilsalfa 9arlaha thalath isneen!"  I stood up from my seat and walked away from the table.

I heard Lulu call after me but I ignored her and just walked around the chalet. I didn't know where I was going but I just wanted to walk. The wind was cold and slapped my face as I walked alone in the dark.

I walked far enough to reach their neighboring chalet, which was basically a lush-looking modern chalet with glass everywhere on the ground floor.
It looked amazing in contrast to the lighting that was perfectly lit; not too dark and not too bright. I could see some figures walk in the background so I decide to turn back and head to the chalet, but I gasped when I turned around.

"Hala wallah,"

***

Triple Post Tuesday ;p

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