If You Only Knew Me (15 ◇ Fajer)

Sunday, October 2nd, 2016...

"بشرييي"
Danah said through the phone as I walked to Fauchon in Salhiya plaza.

"اللي سويتيه حيل عجبهم وقالو بيدقون عليّ اليوم او باجر حدي خايفة CVامبيه دانوه ال"
I said.

"امبيه ليش خايفة ترى حيل عادي"
Danah said.

"مادري فرضا هم متوقعين اني شي وانا شي ثاني؟"
I said. I looked at myself as I passed the reflective windows of the cafe. I looked good in my navy blue blazer, white blouse, black leggings with heeled sandals. My hair was freshly curled from my early wake-up call today and my makeup was still in tact.

"وذكيّة عن هالحركات بس hardworker لا والله انتي حدّج"
She said and I chuckled.

"اتمنى والله،انزين دندون لازم اروح خالد ناطرني"
I said.

"Have fun," she replied before she hung up.

I couldn't tell her Abdullah recommended the workplace to me and the only reason they would probably hire me was because of him.

I entered Fauchon but Khalid wasn't here yet so I sat outside, keeping my sunglasses on.

How was I supposed to reply to Abdullah's text to me?

Abdullah: صباح الخير فجر، شلونج؟ بشري شلون المقابلة؟

If I got a job, finally, it was all due to him. I'd thought getting a master's would make the hiring process easier but I was wrong.

Me: صباح النور، الحمدلله والله كل شي كان زين بس ناطرتهم يدقون ويردونلي خبر. مشكور وايد عبدالله

Was I supposed to call him Bo Haya? I didn't want to overthink this.
I remembered how he was at the party. How protective and caring he was of his daughter. How he was fun and friendly all at once. He was a genuinely nice person.

Why was I thinking of him this much?

"هاا شصار؟"
Khalid said as he finally joined me at the table.

"Good morning," I said. It was almost 11:15 now.

"صباحو، انزين شصار؟"
He said, looking handsome in his qitra and dishdasha. His light brown eyes and hair looked been brighter in daylight, making him more dreamy than he usually looked.

I repeated what I'd said to Danah to him.

"فيعني بيقبلونج؟"
He asked me.

"امبيه مادري"
I said, running a hand through my hair.
I looked around the cafe. All the other customers were older women, probably retired. They didn't seem to pay attention to us at all. I was still not over this paranoia.

"خلاص يمكن هذا اخر ريوق برّة"
He said.

"واااي خالد لا تقول جذي قاعد تضيّق خلقي"
I said, almost hitting him lightly on the shoulder.

"شنو بعد هذا الصج"
He said before the waitress came to take our orders.

"I'll have the french to-" I paused as my phone buzzed. It was another message from Abdullah.

I felt so so cheap.

"French toast, ma'am?" the waitress asked me.

"Yes," I said with a smile.

Khalid placed his order now while I peeked at my phone.

Abdullah: الحمدلله. مايكل كلمني قال انه وايد ارتاح لج فان شاء الله خير

Did that mean I was in now that my future boss said he was feeling confident about me?
I couldn't help but smile.

Me: الله يسمع منك!! مشكووور والله ريحتني
I sent.

"شاقّة الضحكة اشوف"
Khalid teased, but only I didn't feel like it was teasing. I was talking to some other man that I knew he wouldn't understand the nature of it all.
I felt immense guilt at my smile and heat was burning all through me.

"Sorry," I said as I put my phone down.

"شلون الدوام؟"
I asked him.

"والله زفت بس ما عليه"
He said as he placed his arms on the table.

"اخيرا طلعنا"
I said.

"بدعتي فيني"
He said.

"sorry والله ادري، حدي"
I said, running a hand through my hair.

"ما عليه"
He said before he picked up his phone. I still felt guilty.

I flipped my phone to see a new message from Abdullah.

Abdullah: ما سويت شي

I put my phone aside and looked up at Khalid, who was still on his phone.

"بعد شخبارك؟"
I asked him.

"الحمدلله، والله ماكو"
He said, finally catching my eyes.

"؟Lily تعال شلون"
I asked him about Yasmine's dog.

"صاير امشي معاها هالجم يوم"
He said.

"احح بديت اغار"
I said with a smile.

"عشان تعرفين شلون تطلعين معاي"
He said, leaning back on his chair.

"اها فالريوق كله بتناشبني يعني؟"
I said.

"يمكن"
He said as he wiggled his brows.

My phone started to buzz on the table, it was an unfamiliar number.

"امبيه"
I exclaimed before I looked up at Khalid who motioned for me to answer it.
I gulped as I picked it up.

"الو؟"
I said.

"Hello, is this miss Fajer Al-F....?"
A familiar voice said.

"Yes, this is she," I replied, to which Khalid raised his brows, impressed. I smiled at his gesture.

"This is Mr. Michael Armando from **G Holdings, I interviewed you this morning," he said.

"Yes, of course. Hello, Mr. Michael," I said. My heart was racing.

The waitress placed the french toast in front of me but I was too nervous to be excited to eat it.

"So my colleagues and I have gone through your CV and thesis that you also handed us...we're very impressed. We'd love to have you on our team. When can you start?" he said and I felt my jaw drop.

Khalid leaned in and mouthed "شصار؟"

"Oh, wow. Thank you I'm really thankful for the opportunity. I can start whenever you want me to," I said.

فجر لا يالغبية 

I thought...whatever, for Abdullah's sake I really needed to look like the model employee.

"Perfect, how's this Thursday? We need to just get your paperwork done once you're here," he said.

"Sounds great," I said, feeling my stomach twist.

Yes I wanted the job but now that I had it I wasn't ready to give up my freedom of sleeping and waking up whenever I wanted.

We hung up and I turned to Khalid.

"امبيه بداوم الخميس"
I said.

"مبروك اخيرا"
He said, touching my hand briefly.

"الله يبارك فيك"
I said.

At least I got that out of the way, thanks to Abdullah.

I decided to text him before anyone else, since none of this would be possible without him. I was sure my CV and thesis didn't make much of an impact as his word.

Me: هلا عبدالله اسفة ازعجتك، دق علي مايكل توه، اقبلوني وان شاء الله دوامي يبدي الخميس

I sent him.

"دقيقة بسّلم على واحد اعرفه"
Khalid said as he stood up.

I was about to call my mother to tell her the news but Abdullah had replied to my text to him.

Abdullah: اهلين فجر لا والله ماكو ازعاج حيّاج والف مبروك الوظيفة! بالتوفيق ان شاء الله

For my sake, I just hoped this conversation was the last I'd be having with him...

***
Sorry for the short post, promise the next ones will be longer!!