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. .