"Na3am?" I answered Sarah.
"Imshaw khal enrou7 el7amam tara bamoot I need to pee," Sarah said.
"TMI much?" Lulu joked as she licked her spoon.
"Chub chub," Sarah replied. We followed a fast Sarah to the bathroom, and got lost a couple of times before finding it.
"3ainkum 3ala my carry-on!" Sarah said as she entered the stall.
"Maku a7ad '3airna ehni yal '3abiya," Lulu said as she took out her makeup bag. I laughed.
Lulu and Sarah's parents often wondered what we had in common since we were complete opposites. They were total jokesters and fun people and I was more of the serious one. I guessed we balanced each other out.
Lulu began to apply makeup to herself, winging the eyeliner perfectly and applying a subtle shade of lipstick and blush.
Sarah walked out of the stall and began to wash her hands, almost five times in a row.
"Ta3alay a76lich," Lulu told me as she placed her makeup kit on the sink counter. I shook my head.
"Ubaay Niyah please!" Sarah begged.
"La2 mani 7a6a!" I said as I covered my face with my hands. "Already 7a6a!"
"Chub tgi9een 3alay? Use your beauty ya 7a'6y, wallah lo ana minich chan gazart'ha makeup," Lulu says as she ran her blush over her blush palette.
"Dam 3ndi beauty 3ayal makeup laish?" I told her, not believing her.
"To accentuate it ya 7a'6i, '3am'6ay," she ordered me and I obliged.
I turned to see it but she nearly teared my arm out as she pulled me back to her.
"Latshoofeen ela lama akhale9!" Lulu said. Sarah finished her makeup and joined Lulu to do mine.
"Tara bnerkab 6ayara," I reminded them.
"Nadri, wallah lat7ateen, bas kila wdi a76lich makeup!" Lulu said, sticking her tongue out. That's when I knew her makeup was going to be good.
A couple of minutes later Lulu and Sarah took a step back to look at me and smiles.
"Yallah shoofay!" Sarah said, and I turned.
I gasped, I actually looked pretty. My almond-shaped eyes looked a bit bigger and my lips were accentuated by the magic of lip-liners and lipsticks, while my face had a natural "glow" to it; and the best part was it all looked natural!
"Oh my god wanasa 7ada iyanin! Wallah thank you!" I said as I quickly hugged them. I couldn't tear my eyes away from my reflection.
"Shgaileenlich 3ayal?" Lulu said with a wink.
"Inzain yallah 3ala ma namshi lay ilgate bykhal9 ilwagt!" Sarah said and we hurry with our heavy carry-ons out of the bathroom and to the gate.
/
I hated airplanes. I wasn't really scared of them but they were so uncomfortable.
Lulu, Sarah, and I walked behind each other as we got onto the plane, and were greeted by the pilot and stewardess, awkwardly. The airplane smelled so bad and unsanitary that it made me nauseous.
We walked past the passengers in the first class area, which none of my classmates were in. We entered economy, which was full of our grade, and some other people that seemed annoyed at the noise my schoolmates made already.
I passed by Yousif and a guy I didn't know his name, and tried not to make eye contact. I felt some girls and boys stare at me but I remembered that it was the makeup, which I'd never applied this richly ever. I suddenly regretted not wiping it off; I hated attention and right now I seemed to be the center of it as people wouldn't stop staring. I wanted to be invisible so bad I'd trade my soul for it.
"Esh3alaich," Sarah whispered from behind me, noticing the attention I was getting. I nudged her.
We found our seats, all next to the window, and all which were unfortunately split up. A Kuwaiti woman who was rather large and had a face full of makeup, sat in one seat (next to Sarah's designated seat), while Ahmed, a funny Syrian guy in our Bio class sat in one seat in the row front of her (next to my designated seat), and a foreign woman sat in another seat a couple of rows in front (next to Lulu's designated seat).
"A7 al7een shlon bnig3ad?" I told them.
"3adi ns2al el mara itha tegdar itgoum mn mukanha oo tg3ad yam ilmara hatheech?" Lulu asked about the Kuwaiti woman.
"I guess," Sarah said.
"Niyoh intay si2leeha, ilkbar y7ibounich," Lulu whispered and I shut her up.
I cleared my throat as I spoke to the Kuwaiti woman.
"Um law sama7tay?" I asked her. She stared at me as she smacked her lips while chewing gum. She didn't even blink; she wore a skin tight shirt that made Nouf's shirt look like a tunic and it showed off all the wrong curves.
"Widi ag3ad yam rifeejati fa y9eer nbadil amakin oo tg3deen jidam shway yam ilmara ili ga3da brou7ha?" I asked her.
"Wain jidam?" she said bluntly, not understanding my directions. I pointed to the seat three rows ahead. She actually huffed in annoyance and got up from her seat. Lulu mouthed "shda3wa" but I nudged her and we thanked the woman.
I told Lulu and Sarah to sit in the two empty seats while I sat in the row in front of them next to Ahmed, who already had his eyes on his PSP.
The Kuwaiti woman walked to me again, looked at Ahmed, looked at me again and actually pulled a face of disgust, before asking where the seat was. Again.
"32 D," I told her as I took out the ticket. She finally found the seat and sat down.
Lulu kicked my seat to annoy me and I told her off. A phone was in my face and I knew Lulu and Sarah were messing around.
Allah y9aberni 3ala the rest of the trip.
I texted my mom to tell her that I was on the plane now and that I missed her already. I also added that I couldn't wait for Paris just so I'd let her think I was having a good time, and I was. I just wished she was here with me.
I couldn't imagine how she afforded to pay for the trip but she told me not to worry and that I should be having a great time. Plus that this was her gift to me for being a high honor student all throughout high school. I guess I just needed to relax and not stress so much.
We waited almost thirty minutes for the plane to fly, and thirty minutes enduring Lulu and Sarah's silliness behind me. The students clapped as the airplane began to move and clapped once again when it flew. Embarrassing.
The seatbelt sign finally switched off and you can hear the clicks all throughout the airplane. I stood up walked to the bathroom a couple of rows behind me. Lulu was busy reading a magazine (with her earphones on, sub7an allah) while Sarah was playing on her phone.
I stood by the bathroom to wait for my turn. I hated airplane bathrooms; the flush scared me so much that I usually covered my ears and pushed the button with my foot. I froze as I saw Zaid, one of the guys from Starbucks, walking towards me and so I pressed my back against the wall to make space for him as he walked with his cane.
He was wearing a pair of black pants and a light gray shirt. His dark hair complimented his kind of tanned skin and his dark eyes were shaded by thick lashes. Too bad he never smiled much.
He walked past me towards the kitchenette next to the bathroom and asked the hostess if there were some snacks since he needed to take a pill.
I pretended not to listen and tapped my foot; the person in the bathroom was taking a long time. I knocked on the door.
I saw the hostess give Zaid a glass of water and look for some snacks in the compartments.
I grind my teeth, I really needed to use the bathroom, and I knocked on the door again.
I spent almost three minutes waiting for the bathroom, which was already occupied when I'd been sitting. I really hoped it wasn't something bad.
"Excuse me?" I said as I knocked on the door again but this time it finally opened and I stepped away from the door to inside the kitchenette area, accidentally bumping into Zaid. Ma midani I apologize until:
"Excuse me who knock on the door?" the same Kuwaiti woman who was annoyed with us said to the stewardess. She was pissed. The stewardess shook her head while Zaid, behind me, stopped drinking his glass of water.
"Ana," I said. Ghabeya.
"Allah yhadach fee a7ad y6ig ilbab chethi? Khara3teeni! Kl sa3a 6aga 3alay elbab ya3nii ilwa7ed mayigdar ysawe 7ajta ela a7ad mnashba?"
Ysawe 7ajta? It took all the self control in me not to laugh but I heard a choke of water from Zaid behind me, and that nearly made me burst out laughing. However I still contained it.
"Lama akalmich etrideen wala entay bas English ya mama?" the woman asked again, did she forget I asked her to switch seats in Arabic? Her foundation looked it was caked onto her face under the awful lighting of the corridor; and I hoped I didn't look the same. I actually forgot about my screaming bladder with her.
"La atkalam 3arabi," I told her coolly. Almost too coolly that it pissed her off.
"Ee lai ghala6tay 3ala a7ad tinsain itikalimain bas mashallah 7ag ilma9khara zahba,"
I couldn't believe what I was hearing and I didn't know what to say. Did she really think I asked her to switch seats just to sit next to Ahmed?
"Law sama7tay e7tarmay nafsech. Mala da3e ta7rijeenha jidam khalg allah. Ihya 6aga 3alaich ilbab it7ati chan 9ar feech shay," Zaid told the woman.
The woman stuttered for a bit until she said. "Zaheb itdafe3 3anha mashallah," she said.
"7greeha khala9," he whispered to me from behind. I had to cross her to go to my seat, and she was in the middle of the way.
"Law sima7tay barid mukani," I told her.
"La wallah 3ugub shinu? 3ugub ma az3ajteeni? Wala tabeen it'6a7keena?" she said, pointing with her chin to Zaid. I could feel my hands ball into fists; this was so humiliating.
"Inzain ana asfa, bas nafs ma ana ga3da aklmich b i7tiram itkalmeeni bi7tiram," I actually managed to tell her. Mabi a6awl ilsalfa and I should've ignored her bas ba6at chabdi!
She scoffed. "Intay i7tarmay nafsich awal! Ga3da yam 9bay oo yaya hne 3nd 9bay thani! Wainich oo wain ili7tiram?"
I was at a loss for words. Lulu was standing next to her now with her mouth formed in an "O".
"Bas khala9!" Zaid nearly roared at her. "Ilbent tabi tamshi, i3tathrat, latkabreen ilmawthoo3 oo ysawoonlina salfa," Zaid said in annoyance. The woman huffed again, lawa3at chabdi.
"Ahaneech 7abeebti, hatha illi 7abita? Wa7id a3raj? Kafwich," the woman said before heading to her seat. I felt the tears prick my eyes at what she had just said.
I could not believe what had just happened. I looked at Zaid apologetically but he looked away and drank his water like it was scotch.
***
twitter: @cashmerepoison
"Imshaw khal enrou7 el7amam tara bamoot I need to pee," Sarah said.
"TMI much?" Lulu joked as she licked her spoon.
"Chub chub," Sarah replied. We followed a fast Sarah to the bathroom, and got lost a couple of times before finding it.
"3ainkum 3ala my carry-on!" Sarah said as she entered the stall.
"Maku a7ad '3airna ehni yal '3abiya," Lulu said as she took out her makeup bag. I laughed.
Lulu and Sarah's parents often wondered what we had in common since we were complete opposites. They were total jokesters and fun people and I was more of the serious one. I guessed we balanced each other out.
Lulu began to apply makeup to herself, winging the eyeliner perfectly and applying a subtle shade of lipstick and blush.
Sarah walked out of the stall and began to wash her hands, almost five times in a row.
"Ta3alay a76lich," Lulu told me as she placed her makeup kit on the sink counter. I shook my head.
"Ubaay Niyah please!" Sarah begged.
"La2 mani 7a6a!" I said as I covered my face with my hands. "Already 7a6a!"
"Chub tgi9een 3alay? Use your beauty ya 7a'6y, wallah lo ana minich chan gazart'ha makeup," Lulu says as she ran her blush over her blush palette.
"Dam 3ndi beauty 3ayal makeup laish?" I told her, not believing her.
"To accentuate it ya 7a'6i, '3am'6ay," she ordered me and I obliged.
I turned to see it but she nearly teared my arm out as she pulled me back to her.
"Latshoofeen ela lama akhale9!" Lulu said. Sarah finished her makeup and joined Lulu to do mine.
"Tara bnerkab 6ayara," I reminded them.
"Nadri, wallah lat7ateen, bas kila wdi a76lich makeup!" Lulu said, sticking her tongue out. That's when I knew her makeup was going to be good.
A couple of minutes later Lulu and Sarah took a step back to look at me and smiles.
"Yallah shoofay!" Sarah said, and I turned.
I gasped, I actually looked pretty. My almond-shaped eyes looked a bit bigger and my lips were accentuated by the magic of lip-liners and lipsticks, while my face had a natural "glow" to it; and the best part was it all looked natural!
"Oh my god wanasa 7ada iyanin! Wallah thank you!" I said as I quickly hugged them. I couldn't tear my eyes away from my reflection.
"Shgaileenlich 3ayal?" Lulu said with a wink.
"Inzain yallah 3ala ma namshi lay ilgate bykhal9 ilwagt!" Sarah said and we hurry with our heavy carry-ons out of the bathroom and to the gate.
/
I hated airplanes. I wasn't really scared of them but they were so uncomfortable.
Lulu, Sarah, and I walked behind each other as we got onto the plane, and were greeted by the pilot and stewardess, awkwardly. The airplane smelled so bad and unsanitary that it made me nauseous.
We walked past the passengers in the first class area, which none of my classmates were in. We entered economy, which was full of our grade, and some other people that seemed annoyed at the noise my schoolmates made already.
I passed by Yousif and a guy I didn't know his name, and tried not to make eye contact. I felt some girls and boys stare at me but I remembered that it was the makeup, which I'd never applied this richly ever. I suddenly regretted not wiping it off; I hated attention and right now I seemed to be the center of it as people wouldn't stop staring. I wanted to be invisible so bad I'd trade my soul for it.
"Esh3alaich," Sarah whispered from behind me, noticing the attention I was getting. I nudged her.
We found our seats, all next to the window, and all which were unfortunately split up. A Kuwaiti woman who was rather large and had a face full of makeup, sat in one seat (next to Sarah's designated seat), while Ahmed, a funny Syrian guy in our Bio class sat in one seat in the row front of her (next to my designated seat), and a foreign woman sat in another seat a couple of rows in front (next to Lulu's designated seat).
"A7 al7een shlon bnig3ad?" I told them.
"3adi ns2al el mara itha tegdar itgoum mn mukanha oo tg3ad yam ilmara hatheech?" Lulu asked about the Kuwaiti woman.
"I guess," Sarah said.
"Niyoh intay si2leeha, ilkbar y7ibounich," Lulu whispered and I shut her up.
I cleared my throat as I spoke to the Kuwaiti woman.
"Um law sama7tay?" I asked her. She stared at me as she smacked her lips while chewing gum. She didn't even blink; she wore a skin tight shirt that made Nouf's shirt look like a tunic and it showed off all the wrong curves.
"Widi ag3ad yam rifeejati fa y9eer nbadil amakin oo tg3deen jidam shway yam ilmara ili ga3da brou7ha?" I asked her.
"Wain jidam?" she said bluntly, not understanding my directions. I pointed to the seat three rows ahead. She actually huffed in annoyance and got up from her seat. Lulu mouthed "shda3wa" but I nudged her and we thanked the woman.
I told Lulu and Sarah to sit in the two empty seats while I sat in the row in front of them next to Ahmed, who already had his eyes on his PSP.
The Kuwaiti woman walked to me again, looked at Ahmed, looked at me again and actually pulled a face of disgust, before asking where the seat was. Again.
"32 D," I told her as I took out the ticket. She finally found the seat and sat down.
Lulu kicked my seat to annoy me and I told her off. A phone was in my face and I knew Lulu and Sarah were messing around.
Allah y9aberni 3ala the rest of the trip.
I texted my mom to tell her that I was on the plane now and that I missed her already. I also added that I couldn't wait for Paris just so I'd let her think I was having a good time, and I was. I just wished she was here with me.
I couldn't imagine how she afforded to pay for the trip but she told me not to worry and that I should be having a great time. Plus that this was her gift to me for being a high honor student all throughout high school. I guess I just needed to relax and not stress so much.
We waited almost thirty minutes for the plane to fly, and thirty minutes enduring Lulu and Sarah's silliness behind me. The students clapped as the airplane began to move and clapped once again when it flew. Embarrassing.
The seatbelt sign finally switched off and you can hear the clicks all throughout the airplane. I stood up walked to the bathroom a couple of rows behind me. Lulu was busy reading a magazine (with her earphones on, sub7an allah) while Sarah was playing on her phone.
I stood by the bathroom to wait for my turn. I hated airplane bathrooms; the flush scared me so much that I usually covered my ears and pushed the button with my foot. I froze as I saw Zaid, one of the guys from Starbucks, walking towards me and so I pressed my back against the wall to make space for him as he walked with his cane.
He was wearing a pair of black pants and a light gray shirt. His dark hair complimented his kind of tanned skin and his dark eyes were shaded by thick lashes. Too bad he never smiled much.
He walked past me towards the kitchenette next to the bathroom and asked the hostess if there were some snacks since he needed to take a pill.
I pretended not to listen and tapped my foot; the person in the bathroom was taking a long time. I knocked on the door.
I saw the hostess give Zaid a glass of water and look for some snacks in the compartments.
I grind my teeth, I really needed to use the bathroom, and I knocked on the door again.
I spent almost three minutes waiting for the bathroom, which was already occupied when I'd been sitting. I really hoped it wasn't something bad.
"Excuse me?" I said as I knocked on the door again but this time it finally opened and I stepped away from the door to inside the kitchenette area, accidentally bumping into Zaid. Ma midani I apologize until:
"Excuse me who knock on the door?" the same Kuwaiti woman who was annoyed with us said to the stewardess. She was pissed. The stewardess shook her head while Zaid, behind me, stopped drinking his glass of water.
"Ana," I said. Ghabeya.
"Allah yhadach fee a7ad y6ig ilbab chethi? Khara3teeni! Kl sa3a 6aga 3alay elbab ya3nii ilwa7ed mayigdar ysawe 7ajta ela a7ad mnashba?"
Ysawe 7ajta? It took all the self control in me not to laugh but I heard a choke of water from Zaid behind me, and that nearly made me burst out laughing. However I still contained it.
"Lama akalmich etrideen wala entay bas English ya mama?" the woman asked again, did she forget I asked her to switch seats in Arabic? Her foundation looked it was caked onto her face under the awful lighting of the corridor; and I hoped I didn't look the same. I actually forgot about my screaming bladder with her.
"La atkalam 3arabi," I told her coolly. Almost too coolly that it pissed her off.
"Ee lai ghala6tay 3ala a7ad tinsain itikalimain bas mashallah 7ag ilma9khara zahba,"
I couldn't believe what I was hearing and I didn't know what to say. Did she really think I asked her to switch seats just to sit next to Ahmed?
"Law sama7tay e7tarmay nafsech. Mala da3e ta7rijeenha jidam khalg allah. Ihya 6aga 3alaich ilbab it7ati chan 9ar feech shay," Zaid told the woman.
The woman stuttered for a bit until she said. "Zaheb itdafe3 3anha mashallah," she said.
"7greeha khala9," he whispered to me from behind. I had to cross her to go to my seat, and she was in the middle of the way.
"Law sima7tay barid mukani," I told her.
"La wallah 3ugub shinu? 3ugub ma az3ajteeni? Wala tabeen it'6a7keena?" she said, pointing with her chin to Zaid. I could feel my hands ball into fists; this was so humiliating.
"Inzain ana asfa, bas nafs ma ana ga3da aklmich b i7tiram itkalmeeni bi7tiram," I actually managed to tell her. Mabi a6awl ilsalfa and I should've ignored her bas ba6at chabdi!
She scoffed. "Intay i7tarmay nafsich awal! Ga3da yam 9bay oo yaya hne 3nd 9bay thani! Wainich oo wain ili7tiram?"
I was at a loss for words. Lulu was standing next to her now with her mouth formed in an "O".
"Bas khala9!" Zaid nearly roared at her. "Ilbent tabi tamshi, i3tathrat, latkabreen ilmawthoo3 oo ysawoonlina salfa," Zaid said in annoyance. The woman huffed again, lawa3at chabdi.
"Ahaneech 7abeebti, hatha illi 7abita? Wa7id a3raj? Kafwich," the woman said before heading to her seat. I felt the tears prick my eyes at what she had just said.
I could not believe what had just happened. I looked at Zaid apologetically but he looked away and drank his water like it was scotch.
***
twitter: @cashmerepoison
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