Don't Forget Me (27)

Where are you?

I texted. I was meeting Zaid bl Fanar for a movie and ran a bit late thanks to the stupid wrong turn I took.

I'm in the movie theater, they're still playing commercials. 

I quickly ran up the elevators and got my ticket from the usher at the front door before going into the movie theater.

The man guided me to my seat, which was not needed since Zaid was easy to find. I was really worried about being busted with him here since we were in Fanar at like 12 PM. I didn't even tell my mom I was leaving so she wouldn't think I was going out a lot. I felt so bad but Zaid was leaving in six days.

Zaid smiled at me as he gave me my box of popcorn. He looked good even in the dark as the screen light outlined the contours of his face; his jawline, his straight nose, the curve of his brows, I still needed to get used to him.

I could tell two girls the row behind us kind of "chakona", but as long as we didn't know them we were fine. Even if they did, they didn't really know us.

The movie started and it got quiet. I kind of regret our decision to go to the cinema since we would only be watching the movie together and not getting anything out of it, but if that's what Zaid wanted then it was fine.

"Bas digeega," Zaid whispered to me as he got up from his seat to leave the theater. I could hear the girls behind me say "Inshallah mu ashkara."

I hated that we had to keep our relationship, whatever the hell it was, a secret. I actually preferred him to any other person I knew, other than my mother of course. I knew it was wrong and I hated that it was wrong, but I still couldn't not be with him; he was broken and needed to be fixed; as was I, and being together helped us fix each other, in a way.

I saw Zaid walk in to the movie theater after like ten minutes, I began to worry when he took so long but I figured he might be walking a bit slower than usual or something.

"Sh9ar?" he asked me about the movie and I filled him in.

He put something on my armchair, a small bag, and I turned to look at him but he bit his lips to hide his smile as he stared at the movie screen.

I took the bag and noticed the color.
Tiffany blue.

I gasped and turned to look at Zaid who raised his brow and pointed with his chin for me to open the bag.

I tried to open the small box as quietly as I could, even though I knew the girls behind me watched us more than the movie itself.

I put my hands to my lips as I gasped again, it was a beautiful platinum and rose gold key necklace with diamonds. It was unreal. I heard some whispers from the girls behind me, and part of me wanted to laugh but I was too pre-occupied with feeling surprised to pay attention to them.

I stare at Zaid incredulously and he smiled at me and I put my hands to lips again as I stared at the present.

"Zaid it's too much!" I whispered.

"Just a thank you," he whispered back.

"3ala shinu hal mara?!" I said, still incredulous.

"T3arfeen laish," he said with a quick wink. I nearly died right there.

I smiled and thanked him as he bowed his head with a smile. I felt bad for accepting his presents, which he gave me just as his way of expressing his gratitude that I was there for him when people took him for granted. I knew he would feel bad if I told him I couldn't accept his gifts as he actually loved giving them to me and seeing my reaction. I secretly loved how he was happy whenever he saw me happy.

The movie finally ended, which I hadn't paid attention to, by the way. I didn't think Zaid did either.  We quickly left the screen before the lights were turned on so the girls behind us wouldn't stare.

"That was short," I told him with a laugh as we walked out the cinema 9ob ilescalators.

He chucked. "Bacher en3aw'6ha, lat7ateen. Asif l2ana 6ala3 shay 3ndi," he said.

"La it's fine a9lan barid ilbait al7een gabl la at2akhar 3al qada," I told him. He nodded.

"Yallah ashoofich bacher 3ayal?" he asked.

"Inshallah," I said with as smile, and he smiled back.

"Oh, Zaid?" I said, I almost forgot. He turned back to see me.

"Thank you," I said. It wasn't just about the necklace. He nodded in appreciation before going down the escalator.