More Than You Know (Finale)

Six months later,

Muneera 

"امبيه صار شي؟"

Danah said from under her blanket. We were watching a horror movie in the living room of our wing.

I suddenly screamed at a scene that really did scare me and she screamed at my scream which actually made me laugh.

"يالخايسة خرعتيني"

She said, tossing a pillow at me.

Our relationship had evolved so much over the few months.

 It took a bit of work especially for Danah to be open with her emotions, but now I was so happy that we finally had that sister bond I'd been wanting since forever.

Plus she asked me to work with her on some of her dresses whenever she needed help deciding! 

I even told her about Fahad, and she was definitely supportive, giving me tips and whatnot. 

Fahad promised me that once he graduated and found a stable job that he would propose to me. 

He was serious about it and I couldn't wait for it.

Rawan still did not have a clue but Danah told me she was already with someone. And guess what?

My relationship with Danah was infinitely closer than hers and Rawan's. I couldn't believe I was jealous of her before...

Two years ago I'd never expected things to turn this way, but they did and for that I was grateful. 

-

Fajer: 

Looking out from the pool of our bungalow I could see the clear sea merge into the sky at a distance. 

Abdullah hugged me from behind and kissed my cheek. 

“شتفكرين فيه؟" 

"شفت البحر شو كبير؟"

I said and he laughed, kissing me again. 

I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my head in it, inhaling his scent of expensive cologne. 

"مابي ارد"

I said.

"نرد هني السنة الياية"

He said and I smiled.

“بس هيا؟"

I said.

"خواتي ما يقصرون معاها"

He said with a chuckle and I smiled.

It honestly hurt me to know that Shoug was so enamored with her new husband that she barely ever saw or asked about Haya, but Haya actually didn't seem mind it. 

She was loving the sleepovers she was having with Layan, the extra attention she got when I brought her along with me to zwara, that I would convince her father to let her stay up a bit past her bedtime. 

I was her fun pass and she loved it, and I loved it too. .

More Than You Know (Fajer ◇ 11)

"فوز وصلتي؟ ترى كلش ما عندي وقت"

I sent a voice note to my sister who was so stubborn about meeting up for coffee.

 I could only meet up for ten minutes, max. Why she insisted I had no idea but I knew she had something planned behind it. Of course my malgoufa side had to know what it was. 

I walked into Arabica alraya only to see her facing me at a table with two men across her, giving me their backs. She smiled and waved for me to come over. 

Of course she would set me up with one of her coworkers in effort to make me forget about him, but why were there two? 

"السلام عليك-"

I said once I approached the table but I lost my voice once I saw who it was. 

Abdullah. 

Sitting next to my brother. 

They were both smiling, cheek to cheek. 

I suddenly felt light headed like I was in a dream.

"فوز؟"

I said, turning to my sister. 

"عزيز شرايك نتمشى برة شوي؟"

She said to my brother. 

"Don't leave me," I wanted to yell.

But I sat down, in front of the man I had been avoiding for what seemed like an eternity. 

"Hi," he said...god he looked so good. I thought I would forget what he looked like but I remembered every small detail of his beautiful face.

"Hi..." I replied, was this actually happening? 

My eyes locked onto his warm brown eyes, now a shade lighter with the sun. 

"اطلبلج شي؟"

He said and I shook my head, like we'd last seen each other a week ago or something.

"La thank you," I said. I spotted my brother and sister walking through the Plaza, sipping on their cups of coffee.

"امم...شصاير؟"

I said with a nervous chuckle, how was I supposed to act.

He took a deep breath and moved closer towards me. 

"امم...شوق"

He said and my stomach sunk...I hated hearing her name in his voice.

"شوق...تبي تتطلق"

He said. 

I was confused.

I thought that was the last thing she wanted. 

"تعرفت على واحد، والظاهر وايد عجبها و..وفلوس فراضية فيه"

He said. 

I could not believe the words coming out of his lips. 

"وهيا؟""

I said. 

"عندي، أو...عندنا؟"

He said and I felt my jaw drop.

"-بس...بس أهل"

I said, shaking my head in confusion and he interrupted me with a smile. 

"لا تحاتينهم، اخوانج بيقنعونهم"

He said. 

I was stunned. 

“ادري تأخرت عليج شهر كامل إذا مو شهرين...بس ليلحين راضية فيني؟"

He said with a smile that I missed so much. 

I nodded, not being able to speak since tears flooded my eyes and spilled down my cheek.

My brother and sister were back at our table and I stood up to hug them. 

“Thank you, thank you,” I said and Fouz chuckled, squeezing me hard. 

“مبروك مقدما"

She whispered and I laughed, not believing my ears. 

"عن اذنكم أنا لازم امشي بس.. أشوفكم ان شاء الله"

Abdullah said giving me a quick wink. 

To say that I missed him was an understatement. .

More Than You Know (Muneera ◇ 10)

Unpacking my suitcase wasn't so easy, but listening to my parents yell their lungs out at my sister made it even worse. 

They began unleashing their rage the moment she walked through the door, with her multiple suitcases following her. 

She was forced to return home so early into her business vacation. 

They did not kiss her hello...they began to let out their anger that they could not keep in any longer as soon as she set her foot on the marble floor.

"احنا ما خليناج تسافرين بروحج عشان تهتين جذي، الحين شفتي شقعد يقولون عنا؟ زين جذي فشلتينا؟"

I heard them yell. 

I honestly couldn't help but feel bad for my sister. Yes she acted inappropriately, but some comments directed to her were pretty harsh. 

I just hoped she was cold enough to let them slide.

I wanted to put on my earphones and just blast music to cover up the noise but I was worried that my mom might call for me and I wouldn't be able to hear her which would just add fire to the flame.

I got a text from Fahad, surprisingly. I smiled and grabbed my phone to see it. 

قوليلي قرت عينك

He said, along with a picture of a table with a couple of people's hands. I guessed his family finally arrived.

قرت عينك!

 I replied 

بويه نبييج، مشكورة انج لهتيني شوي قبل لا يوصلون 

I smiled. 

فأشوفج شهر ٦ عيل لما ارد حق عطلة الصيف؟

I frowned. I didn't realize it would be that long till I would see him again. 

Me: lil2asaf. Ila itha taby facetime?

Fahad: knt atmana teqtar7ain facetime 

Me: I know you too well 

Fahad 😂😂

Me: bas 3ndy so2al

Fahad:?

Me: inta o Rawan?...

Fahad: madry 3anha min sintain wallah

Me: 9ij??

Fahad: eeh. 3ugub 7arakt'ha ilkhaysa bas mali shghl feeha. Bas ili istifadta minha inha 3aryfatny 3alaich

I smiled to myself. I couldn't believe what I was reading. 

Fahad: special, remember? 

my heart skipped a beat. 

Me: I'll never forget..

I noticed that the yelling had stopped so I went to my sister's room.

She wasn't there.

I got into the elevator pressed on the basement floor to get to her studio. 

I heard some sniffing and grunting and walked in to see her tear down some of her drawings that were hung on the wall. 

"دانة شقعد تسويين؟"

I said. 

"منيرة تكفين والله مالي خلق"

She said, I had never seen her so hysterical before.

I had to interfere, I grabbed her arms and tried to stop her from tearing down some more of her work. 

"Danah please!" I begged. 

She threw a piece of paper on the floor and slumped right after it, placing her head in her hands. I plopped on the floor to sit next to her. 

"لا تقطين رسماتج والله حرام حيل حلوين"

I said, straightening the crumpled drawings. 

"خلاص منو أصلا يبي يتعامل معاي ويشتري مني؟"

She said, her voice was full of pain and regret. 

"من صجج؟ يعني بس أنتي اللي تغلطين؟ وبعدين شيبون يعني *فلان* بكبره ما يواطنونه بس يشترون منه كلش ما له شغل. أصلا تدرين جم وحدة تقوللي ان شكثر أنا محظوظة انج اختي؟ تدرين جم وحدة تقولي ان أنتي احلى دزاينر برايهم؟ لا تخلين شي بهزج والله خليج عادي أخذي بريك بعدين ردي ولا جنه صار شي ترى كلها أسبوع وينسون."

I said. 

She looked at me like she was truly listening and I could see a ghost of a smile on her lips. She nodded, her eyes landed on the floor then on mine. 

"Thank you," she said. 

I smiled. She scoffed, wiping her tears as she leaned her back on the wall.

"ليش كله تعطيني ويه؟"

She said and I chuckled

"Cliche bas you’re my sister,”

I said. 

"اوكي بس أنا كلش ما كنت جذي معاج"

She said and I shrugged. 

"بس عادي اعرف ليش؟"

I said, using this opportunity to finally know the answer to the question I'd been thinking of almost my whole life. 

She sniffed then sighed. 

"مو سالفة غيرة كلش بس...مادري من انولدتي حسيت كل شي تغيير. وكنت بسرعة اتنرفز منج فلزقت هال عنج...وكان عندي تصور عن حياتي وكل شي فيه كونترول بس ما قدرت اتحكمج وكل ما تعفس شي لمتج"

She said. 

So she used me as her scapegoat for when things went wrong, that I was the one messing things up for her. 

"بس طبعا اللي صار كلش مو منج..."

She said. 

"Oo thank you, by the way. 9ij you tried to cover for me," she added and I smiled. 

"Do me a favor, latwagfeen, please." I threw out my hands to hug her, and to my surprise she hugged me back. I did not expect to cry but I didn't know how long I'd been waiting for this moment. 

I cried into her shoulders and she cried into mine too. I knew from that moment, my life was finally coming together. .

More Than You Know (Fajer ◇ 9)

Fouz and I went to grab coffee in the city before heading back home from the chalet. 

I took my time eating a croissant, as did my sister since she had to tutor Layan one she was home.

"اففف مالي خلق دوام"

Fouz grunted, taking a sip of her coffee. 

My phone lit up and vibrated.

It was a text from Danah. 

I know you found the post and spread it

I replied instantly: what?

Danah called me and I picked up, feeling nervous for some reason. 

"دانة ما فهمت"

I said upon picking it up. 

“فجر والله مالي خلق الف وأدور ادري انج شفتيني مصورة مع شوق وأدري انج سويتيلي بلوك بس شكو تنشرين الصورة؟؟"

She said.

None of it was making sense.

 Fouz raised a brow at me and I knew I had to take it outside. 

"دانة أي صورة والله ما ادري شالسالفة"

I replied. 

"Ahaa okay," she said angrily. 

"ترى كبرت على هالسوالف. سويتلج بلوك لآن مابي اشوف شوق ولا غير هذا مالي شغل فيج. من متى مو شايفتج أصلا وتدرين اني اعرف جم شي ماتبيني اعلم احد عنه ولو أنا صج مسوية شي جان فضحت كل شي عنج بس أنا مو هالنوع"

I said. 

It was silent for a few seconds then she hung up.

That was weird. 

I went back inside and Fouz asked what had happened, so I told her.

She didn't know what the picture was either. 

I only knew one person who might clear it up. 

I sent her a message on Instagram, whatsapp felt too formal. 

Hi Manoura shakhbarich? Just wanted to ask you if you know anything about Danah and a picture? She thinks I'm responsible bas kilish madry shilsalfa

"تبين نمشي؟"

I told Fouz and she shrugged.

We grabbed our cups of coffee and went to my car. 

Fouz was busy texting and i had wished she was the one driving. I was too nervous to drive but her house was fortunately ten minutes away.

"تبين نتريق باجر؟"

She asked me.

"والدوام؟"

I said. 

"شدعوه نص ساعة"

She said and I chuckled.

"اقوللج"

I said. 

I watched her push her suitcase to her driveway and I parked by her house. I needed to know what had happened. 

Muneera: please please don't share this, already it's being spread o tara I know you're not responsible 

She attached a picture of Danah with what seemed like a glass of alcohol in her hand. She was wearing a short dress that also showed a good amount of cleavage. I knew this was going to destroy her brand image. 

Me: So sorry wallah I just saw this...don't worry I'll delete it now anyway 

Muneera; thank you xx

So this was the downfall of Danah 

More Than You Know (Muneera ◇ 8)

The following day, 

"I'll have a cheeseburger please, no tomatoes," I told the waiter as he went around the table to collect our orders. 

I kept looking at my phone hoping that Fahad would magically text me now that I had unblocked him. 

I really felt the connection again between us yesterday and I hoped he did too...it was hard not to notice. 

"مبروك على خطبة جنى يحليلها"

Rawan said, smiling sourly.

I smiled back and replied.

"الله يبارك فيج"

I said.

My phone vibrated suddenly but it wasn't from Fahad. It was an Instagram notification. 

3ashat dandoooun mnawraaa! 

My cousin Badriya texted from across me. 

"أمم..بدرية جنه تمسحينه احسن؟"

Rahaf, Rawan's sister said with a shocked expression on her face. 

"ليش؟"

Badriya asked, confused. My other cousins looked confused too so we all went on Instagram to see the post. 

Badriya had posted it on her story along with the caption *proud cousin*. 

Rawan wasn't the only one kissing up and bragging about my sister.

It was a candid picture of Danah, laughing at something someone in front of her said. I didn't find anything off about the picture until I saw the flute shaped glass in her hand, half filled with bubbly gold liquid. 

Oh God... 

I felt sick, my face felt on fire. 

What if my mother saw this. 

"خل-خل امسحه"

Badriya said, looking horrified. 

"شلون لقيتيه؟"

Rawan asked her, her eyes still glued to her screen. 

"أمم..رفيجتي مطرشته..."

I felt their eyes glance each other awkwardly, then at me, as if I had something to do with it. I was speechless.

Did Danah know? 

I couldn't DM her since we weren't following each other.

I took a screenshot instead and sent it to her. 

The girls found this post..

I went back to the account, which didn’t have that much a following. How the person found this picture I did not know. I sent them a DM with a screenshot.

Please please delete this post 

I couldn't comment obviously. I reported the picture thinking it might help get it deleted. 

"Ladies, mozzarella sticks?"

The waiter said, bringing the awkward silence to an end.

Danah: who saw it?

Me: So far bas banat khalaty..madry itha a7ad shafa min Badriya's story. Ask the acc to delete it

Danah: they won't delete it it's getting them a lot of traffic

Me: mafahamt?

Danah: look at the comments 

For the first time I felt like she was desperate. I went back on the post and found a comment that said 

بنت كويتيه بديرة اجنبيه المفروض تمثل عادات وتقاليد شعبها، هذي ما تمثلنا 

Another said: 

Shame on you 👎 

unfollowed 

I felt my heart beating, I couldn't imagine what she was feeling. It was her fault but still, everyone sinned differently. 

"Cheeseburger no tomatoes," the waiter said, laying my plate in front of me. I had no appetite at all. 

I looked at my mother at the end of the table, looking clueless while she ate her lunch. I just hoped she wouldn't know.

“امبيه يا جماعة البطاط خيال"

Rahaf said, trying to change the subject but we all knew we were all thinking about it. 

It felt like my fault. I'd always wished that people to see the other side of Danah, but not like this. 

I knew she couldn't fix it; news traveled fast and it was only the mercy of time that it would reach my mother 

*

The hotel room phone pierced my ears and I picked it up with a racing heart. 

"الو؟"

I said. 

"خلصتي جنطتج؟"

My mother yelled.

"أي توني اصكها"

I replied. 

"دقي على الرسيبشن ياخذون جناطنا"

She said before hanging up. 

She knew. I did not know how she knew but right when she knew she managed to book us a flight back home the same day. 

I did not text Danah, God only knows what my mother had said to her over the phone. It seemed like my mother was so tired of being seen as a pushover by her own daughter. She'd had enough. 

We were leaving a week and a half early. I didn't even finish getting the things on my list but right now that was the last of my worries.

I walked with the porter to the lobby while my mother checked us out. 

I'd never seen her more furious. She hadn't mentioned why we were leaving so early but I knew the answer anyway.

I bit my lip, hesitating to talk to Fahad but I had nothing to lose anyway. 

Guess mino berid I kuwait in a few hours? 😂

"امشي يالله"

My mother said, hurriedly walking towards the doors to get into the cab awaiting us. My phone vibrated in my hand, sending a rush of heat over me but I was terrified to check it before getting into the car. 

"استغفر الله افففف"

My mother muttered. I gulped. 

I couldn't dare do anything, it was only when she started to use her phone that I finally used mine.

Fahad: 9ij?? Inshallah mako shay??

I waited a minute before replying. 

Me: La don't worry..matwa9e 3ala shay?

Fahad: anything mn chocolate bar

I blushed. 

We were getting somewhere...I knew it.