Happy reading,
Cashmere
***
Thursday, September 22nd, 2016...
"امبي ماني قادرة انطر...باقي ٧ ساعات ونص عشان اشوفه"
Jana said with a huge grin on her face.
"حبيبتي بنطوف ارابيكا عشانج بس اذكرج"
I told her.
"اممم...تشوفينه خمس ايام بالاسبوع وتناشبيني على يوم واحد؟ انزين شصار؟"
She asked me and I smiled, handing her the phone.
I watched her jaw dropped as she read the conversations between me and Fahad.
"امبيه جذااابة"
She said.
"ماني مصدقة"
I replied, grabbing my phone from her.
"يالعيّارة شلون صدتيه؟"
She said, nudging me in the ribs.
"I learned from the best," I told her while wiggling my brows.
I went to the start of the conversation, which started due to me asking him about the location of a photo he took that looked familiar.
I decided to DM him instead.
Me: hawalli park?
Fahad: eeh
Me: loool shakhbaryy. shakla hathaa by9er your senior trip 3ala she6anatkuum
Fahad: Loooool ay shay ilmohim y9er feeh trip
Fahad: so2al intay elly kentay ma3a jana eb arabica 9a7?
Me: eeh loool fashla
Fahad: laa 3ady. mariam?
Me: masra3 ma nisaaait, muneera!!
Fahad: loool sorry latakleeni
Me: ok fawaz
Fahad: laa wallah?? khala9 basameech mariam maly shghl feech
Me: ok fawaz
Fahad: :))))
Fahad: mariam alo
Me: shesmy?
Fahad: mariam yallah 3ad
Me: shinuuu
Fahad: muneera yallah khal9eena
Me: okay hala eb fahad shasa3dek feehh
Fahad: loool
Fahad: solaft weya your cousin rawan today yamna belshalaih. galat inich bel madrisa ma3ay. ma kent adry she's your cousin. mo layig.
I'd gulped, wondered what he meant by this. That I was ugly compared to her?
Me: laish?
Fahad: madry bas mo layeg
Me: eeh e7na kl wa7da laha 6abe3 hehe
Fahad: a7eb 6ab3ch akthar, moree7a
I'd frozen.
Fahad: ista7aitay? loool yallah see you in school bacher
"الحين حدي مستحية اشوفه"
I told Jana.
"يعرف وين نقعد فإذا صج انعجب فيج بمر"
She said and I nodded. It made sense.
I ate my granola bar while going through Danah's business instagram. Reading all the comments and praise directed towards her.
Should I tell Jana about her?
No, maybe it wasn't the time yet.
"قاعدين ينادونج"
Jana said, looking at Kady, Rawan's cousins by the bench. She and three other girls turned to me while Kadi motioned with her hand for me to join them.
"One minute," I promised Jana.
I stood up and dusted off the crumbs on my pants before going to the girls.
"Hi," I said as I approached them.
"Hell-o," Kadi said as she scooted, making space for me to sit next to her. She looked pretty in her school uniform that she didn't even make it look like a uniform.
"شخبارج؟ شلون المدرسة معاج؟"
She asked me. Why the sudden interest?
"Umm it's good wallah," I replied with a smile.
"You're close weya Jana, 9a7?" she said, glancing at my friend who was waiting for me.
"Eeh," I said.
Did she mean anything by the question?
"Oh, you guys ma3arraftkum!" Kadi said, turning to her friends.
"هذه منيرة الن...اختها دانة الن....الدزاينر"
Kady said.
"Jad?"
One of them said, sitting up straight.
"Wow," the other said in admiration.
"عاد كلّش ما تتشابهون"
Kady commented with a chuckle.
Did that mean I was uglier than Danah?
"اي ادري"
I said with a smile.
"!عاد ضبطيها مرة خل نطلع انا وياج ودانة وروان على يوم"
She said and I almost burst out laughing.
My sister barely had time for herself..and she wouldn't spend her time with high-schoolers.
"ان شاء الله"
I just said.
The bell rang, just in time.
"See you," I said before I walked away from her.
My phone vibrated in my pocket.
Fahad: t3arfeen kadi?
Me: shdaraak??
I texted as I looked around only to see him sitting on the bench in front of Kadi with his eyes on his phone. He looked up at me for a second, and smiled a side lopped smile before returning to his phone, to which I received a notification.
Fahad: ga3ed jbalkum?
Me: haha eeh tawny astaw3b loool. t9eer cousin Rawan min 9ob ubouha
Fahad: ahaa...wentay t9eereenlaha men 9ob umha?
Me: eeh bent khaltyy
Fahad: okk al7een fahamt. btyeen arabica today?
Me: la wallaah change of plans. btafgednyy??:)
Fahad: wayed m9adga nafsech ashouf
Me: 9akait 3ala rawaaan?
Fahad: loooool oooofff
I smiled at put my phone in my pocket, only to see Jana smiling at me and wiggling her brows.
"منوووو؟"
She teased and I nudged her.
"جب بس جب خنشوف شلون بتكونين مع خالد الليلة"
I said and she sighed.
"باقي ٧ ساعات"
She said.
*
"شكلي زين اكييد؟"
Jana asked me for the tenth time tonight. She was wearing a pair of skinny jeans with a fitted black shirt. She wore a pair of golden goose sneakers and had her hair down in perfect waves. I hoped it wasn't humid outside, also for the sake of the well applied makeup on her face.
"اي والله تشوقييين"
I told her and she smiled. She sprayed on some more perfume until I couldn't really smell myself anymore.
I'm out
Khalid DM'ed me and I looked at Jana.
"هو برة"
I said with a smile and she bit her lip hesitantly.
"جنوي ترى هو ياي عشان يشوفج فيالله"
I said as I grabbed her hand and dragged her out of my room.
We walked to the room next to the garage where Rosegold was and I fixed the leash on her. Before I knew it Khalid was waiting for us by the entrance.
Jana squeezed my hand and I turned to her, only to see her smiling at him and he was smiling back. He looked good in a pair of track pants and a white shirt.
"اهلين"
He said as he walked with his dog, Lily.
"هلا فيك"
I said but Jana was still shy to reply.
"جنوي تذكرين خالد صح؟"
I said.
"اممم...ايي امبلا"
She finally snapped out of her trance.
"شلونج جنى؟"
Khalid said as he extended a hand to Jana.
I could see her cheeks blush even under all that makeup.
"الحمدلله زينة"
She said as she shook his hand.
I'd never seen her shy before.
"ها تبون نمشي؟"
He said.
"ايي يالله"
I said, acting like the link between them now.
We walked to the sidewalk where Lily and Rosegold started to bond. I walked between Khalid and Jana, but I hoped the pattern would change soon.
"فانتو بالجامعة ولا المدرسة؟"
He asked us.
"المدرسة"
I replied but Jana squeezed my hand. I realized the question was directed towards her.
"**S اهاا، كنت انا ب"
He said.
"No way, hathy madrisatna ba3ad!"
Jana finally said.
"La wallah? Ay grade?" he replied.
"Eleven," she said.
"احلى الأيام high school اها...والله"
He said.
"مو الجامعة؟"
Jana said.
"مو كثر المدرسة"
He said with a smile.
"الحين تشتغل، صح؟"
Jana said. I smiled, she was starting to become herself again.
"accountant اي"
He said.
"Oh nice," she said.
"Lilyبتدش ب rosegold جنوي تبين نبدل؟ احس"
I said, hoping she'd take the hint. She did in an instant.
"هقيتج تخافين من الجلاب"
He said and she gasped.
"لا امبيه كلّش، اموووت على الجلاب"
Jana said and she chuckled.
"لا؟ زين زين"
He said and I had to laugh.
"والله ترى ادري شكلي حدّي خوافة بس لا كلّش"
She said.
My phone rang in my pocket and I felt my heart skip a beat. Was Danah home and caught me walking my dog with her friend's brother? No, she was supposed to be at the gym. I was too scared to pick it up.
"هذا موبايلج صح؟"
Jana asked me.
"اي"
I said until I had to see who was calling.
Rawan.
What?
"Hi Rawan," I said and Jana turned to me, confused.
"Manouuuur hi!" she shrieked through the phone. I quickly handed Jana the leash since Rosegold was sniffing everywhere and I had to use both hands to control her.
"شلونج؟"
I said.
"I'm good wallah, you?" she asked me.
I felt my stomach twist in knots. Did Fahad tell her about me?
"الحمدلله"
I replied.
"Inzain sem3ay I'm inviting my friends over, o Kadi ba3ad, on Tuesday 3ugub ilmaghreb, can you make it?" she asked me.
"Umm eeh I think so," I replied. What was I supposed to say?
"خوش عيل، سلمي على خالتي لولوة وعمي بدر ودندون"
She said. I almost rolled my eyes.
Cut the act, Rawan.
"ان شاء الله يوصل"
I said before I hung up.
I was now behind Khalid and Jana, who seemed really into a conversation they were having that I didn't want to interrupt them.
"لا لا لا يالله عاااد"
I heard him say with a laugh.
"امبيه والله شفيييك"
Jana said with a laugh, her voice was raspier than usual.
"Rosegold يا جماعة شكلي برد البيت، تعبتني"
I said, but I knew they both knew that I wanted to leave them alone. I was third-wheeling min umaaa.
"اكييد؟"
Jana asked me and I nodded as I grabbed Rosegold from her.
They continued walking while I walked back home, which was a quick walk down the block.
Jana: umbaaaaay manooour he's SO hot o perfect o funny o mo7taram babchyyy.
Me: so happy for you wallaaah
Jana: thank youuu!! ilfal lech o fahouuud
Me: haha chub chub
Jana: ebnamshy lay pick nakheth froyo. nakhethlich??
Me: wowww janoouy??
Jana: hehehe 7abeebty mayenfa3 ela chithy
I laughed but I couldn't help but wonder: were Fahad and I too slow or were Jana and Khalid too fast?
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