Don't Forget Me (35)

The following day,

It was nearly 6:30, and the dinner started at 7. Meanwhile I was at home (on my living room couch to be precise) and nowhere next to ready. I didn't want to arrive early or on time just so I'd avoid awkward reunions and introductions.

"Wallah innich rahya," my mom said as she walked into the living room.

"Il7ayat 7elwa," I told her as I moved through channels.

"Omniyah bakalmich b maw'6ou3," she said, and I muted the TV. Her tone was serious and my mouth was dry. I didn't know what to expect her to confront me about; Zaid, Lulu, Essa, Ghazi, what was up?

"Shnu?" I asked her as I sat up from the couch.

"Mala7a'6tay khaltich Salwa ams ma3ana blma63am?" she said, almost trying not to smile.

"Mnu khalty Salwa? Refeejtich wala t9eerlina?" I asked her.

"Refeejti," she said.

"La wallah ma3arifha," I said with a shrug.

"Waladha kan mawjood ma3aha...kanaw yaboun yshoufounich," she said.

I couldn't move, was she serious?

"Umm yaboun yshoufouni?" I asked.

"Waladhum tawa mtwa'6ef oo khosh rayyal, o etgoul khaltich inna uhwa mt3ajb feech," she said. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Was she serious?

"6ab3an adri derastich aham oo hathi 8sma oo n9eeb bas ili yray7ich, bas widi ykalmich oo ham intay shoufee ymkin t'3ayreen rayich," she said.

No wonder she'd been wanting to go out with me so so bad.

"Umm yuma madri," I told her as I bit my lip.

"Shbtakhsireen, shoufay," she said, as she smiled.

I knew it would kill her if I said no, I had no reason to say no. Zaid and I were never officially together and whatever happened was in the past. I moved on, so did he, and I guessed I needed to make a major step to prove to myself that I have moved on.

/

I eyed the maroon dress in my closet.

I'd walk in the dinner party with a bang if I wore it, to Lulu and Zaid if they were there at least, but I did associate it with bad memories so I wore a gray dress instead that reached below the knees and really complimented my new hard-earned figure.

My  hair was down, the way I liked it with the ends perfectly curled. I wore my silver earrings and necklace, along with Zaid's Cartier bracelet dangling from my wrist. I didn't know how to take it off and I was too busy to go to Cartier to have it taken off.

I checked on my makeup, which was a subtle smokey-eye and purplish-pink lipstick with a matching shade blush. It looked pretty good with the dress. I lastly applied perfume on my neck then on my wrists and rubbed them together just so I'd smell good for myself.

"Yallah Omniyah bykhali9 il3asha!" my mom said from behind the door.

"Kany yaya!" I said as I took out my purplish-pink purse from the closet, and remembered to take my invitation card with me. This was so fancy, chinna 3rs, I felt underdressed already.

I walked out of the door, my mom was already downstairs. She was taking me to the dinner party just to check on the place before letting me go. Typical mom move. I'd normally be admiring the maids compliments to me but this time I thanked them quickly as I was in such a hurry.

We walked into the car, more like ran, and my mom told the driver the address.

"3ashan t3arfeen shlon eta2akhirain," she told me while she took out her phone.

I bit my lip as I couldn't believe what my mother had told me earlier.

"Yuma?" I told her.

"Na3am?" she said as she texted on her phone.

"3an ilyom, mita beyoun itha gelt ee?" I asked her.

She smiled.

"Wallah madri bas adig 3ala Salwa ashouf mita ynasibhum," she said.

I nodded.

"Shesma?" I asked her.

"Faisal Al-O."

I could only nod. This felt so weird.

"3ayal digay 3ala khalti Salwa, shbakhser, 9a7?" I told my mom with a smile.

My mom hugged me in excitement and before we knew it we were outside the restaurant.

***

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