Don't Forget Me (37)

I stayed in bed and played music while I went on twitter, snapchat, and instagram since I was not feeling sleepy at all.

My mom told me that Faisal and his mother were coming over in two days, which was way too soon for me, but whatever, I had nothing to lose. Plus I really did need to move on.

Best reunion ever with @anfalkaln @niyahals @jenaaanalw @deemanalr :*

Nada had mentioned me in a tweet, which was so sweet of her. I favorited and quote tweeted with a bunch of heart emojis, I wondered why we never were close friends in high school. She was a really sweet person, but then again I'd thought I had a group of friends that were everything.

I went on Snapchat, which was filled of pictures of the reunion dinner. Nada had spammed 9ij, so did Sarah, but Sarah's last picture really...got a reaction from me.

It was of Abdullah and Zaid laughing with chocolate all over their faces, while Nouf, Lulu, and Fatma were laughing hard behind them. Sarah had captioned it with "racists?" 

I couldn't handle anything more; it was such an eventful two days that I really needed to sleep it off. I guess it will also be eventful in two days as well when I finally get to meet Faisal. 

/

Nothing said Tuesday mornings more than a bowl of sugary cereal in front of the television. I finished my 8 AM morning class and had my 5 PM class cancelled, which was perfect since Faisal and his mother were coming over at around 5:30 PM (I was planning on skipping the class anyway).

"Yallah ana mashya," my mom said as she walked past me b the living room.

"Wain ray7a?" I asked her.

"Barou7 ashtery 97oun yedad malotna enharaw," my mom said before taking off with a wave.

"Ee yumma sh9ar 3ala Essa?" I asked her, I was seriously worried.

"Wallah gelt badig 3ala khalta ashouf shlona," she said with a reassuring smile. I nodded. I really hoped he would recover soon.

"Oh yumma barou7 il9al7iya bas basheel mu'63idi," I told her.

"Ay mu'63ad?" she asked.

I showed her my wrist.

"Mu gltay taqleed?" she asked me.

I froze; that was so dumb of me not to remember.

"Umm ee bas matafrig ma3ahun, 3ndihum iltools," I said, 7awalt aragi3 but I could tell she wasn't buying it but didn't have the time to interrogate.

"Ebsir3a lata2ikhirain 3ala il'3ada," she said before she left. I nodded and quickly changed into a beige dress and white sandals while applying minimal makeup as I got in my car.

It was about time I removed the bracelet; although I got used to it after such a long time.

I parked through valet as I left my car to go to the Cartier boutique.

"Yeah hi, I lost the kit and I want to take the bracelet off, please," I told the salesman who greeted me.

He nodded and told me to wait before getting the tools and unscrewed the bracelet until my wrist was free; of the bracelet and of Zaid

I got out of the shop with my bracelet in my bag and with relief, and partially guilt. It was from Paris; when we'd first met each other. When he spoiled me and he'd just known me.
I was so naive back then, and that Zaid was long gone.

We were both new people, and I had yet to meet a new person.

/

"7a6aitay klonya?" my mom asked me as I fixed my lipstick in the mirror.

"Ee yuma," I replied. Khalti Salwa had texted that they were ten minutes away, which sent my mom into panic mode even if there was nothing to panic about. The house smelled like bukhoor and was well cleaned and organized, plus we both had our looks and outfits ready so there was nothing to worry about really. She was more nervous than I was, or maybe I was too nervous that I barely even felt it.

My mom's phone buzzed and my heart got stuck in my throat; it was time.

I sat on the couch and exhaled as my mom opened the door for khalti Salwa and Faisal. I saw khalti Salwa walk towards me with a large smile on her face and she nearly squeezed me in a hug that I couldn't breathe. I then heard a "ilsalam 3alaykum" from a guy, Faisal.

He wore a dishdasha and looked a bit different that what I'd expected. He was kind of pale-ish with super dark hair but he had friendly eyes and an equally friendly smile.

"W 3alaykum ilsalam," I replied with a soft smile.

"Omniyah hatha Faisal, Faisal hathi Omniyah," khalti Salwa said. Oh god this was awkward already.

"Hala wallah shlonich?" he asked me. I replied, miraculously, and sat again, only he sat in the couch in front of me while my mom and khalti Salwa sat on the couches a bit farther than me.

"Fa tadriseen b jam3at ilkwait?" he asked me.

I nodded. "Ee na3am, handasat petrol," I replied.

He smiled. "Mashallah 3alaich, ana mtkharij mn jam3at ilkwait bas 9aydala," he said.

"Mashallah, wain tishti'3il?" I asked him. He replied somewhere in jabriya then asked me where I was going to work in the future.

It was basic talking, like we didn't spend too long on one subject. He was a really good listener even though I felt weird talking to him, for some reason, and he was a great conversationalist. I tried to push comparisons between him and Zaid far back in my mind. Besides, there was no need for comparisons, Zaid was already gone.

"Yallah fur9a sa3eeda, Omniyah," he said with a smile as he stood up.

"Ana as3ad," I replied as I stood up to kiss khalti Salwa goodbye. We both said our goodbyes and I stood awkwardly in the reception waiting for them to leave.

"Ha shlona?" my mom asked just when she closed the door. I bet they heard her ask me, but I bet khalti Salwa asked him too.

"Umm wallah madri ya3ni mbayyin khosh wa7id," I told her.

"Inzain mafahamt," my mom replied sarcastically yet bluntly. "Ya3ni tabeen tshoufeena mara thanya wala laa?"

"Umm ee okay," I said.

"Omniyah rayal mu filim, ya3ni agoul 7ag umma okay wala tabeen wagt etfakreen? Kaifich," she said.

I bit my lip decisively. "Ya3ni gouleelha okay."

I took a deep breath and realized what I'd done, but maybe it was meant to be.





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