Don't Forget Me (58 Finale)

Three months later,

I was nervous.

I didn't want to do it yet I really wanted to because it was as if I'd waited forever for this moment to happen.

I was lucky I wasn't doing it alone.

I took a deep breath as I stood outside the door of the ballroom, and I looked at Zaid next to me, who was already looking at me, admiring me, and I couldn't help but blush and smile at him. He smiled back and I was head over heels over his contagious smile, his radiant face that showed a true fighter, his overall spirit that made me confide in him from our first chance together.

"Khayfa?" he asked me, as I looked at him.

"La 7adi relaxed," I said sarcastically and he laughed.

"Bnrou7 ma3a ba3a'6." he reminded me.

"Ubai la7'6a 9ij ili ga3d y9eer 9a7?" I said.

"Wallah 7ta ana mu m9adig," he said while laughing.

"Mn 6ayara ib Paris lay our own milcha," I said, looking over the years.

"7asafa ma3azamna ilmhawishchiya hatheech," he said and I laughed.

"Khal in'3ayer il8i9a itha a7ad sa2alna," I suggested while I laughed. Partially out of humor and partially out of nerves.

"Ha irti7tay shway?" he asked me.

I shook my head and laughed again, but this time out of nerves.

"Latkhafeen, 3rfay intay a7la wa7da feehum," he whispered to me and I blushed again. I ran my hands over my silver-colored dress that was custom made for me by some top-notch designer in Lebanon. I was still amazed at how pretty it was and how pretty it made me look.

The photographer told us it was time to enter the ballroom, and I was stunned. I grabbed Zaid's hand and squeezed it, which relieved my tension a bit.

"La7a'6tay my cane?" he asked me as he inched his face closer to my ear.

"Zaid wagtik!" I said while laughing nervously.

"Okay mashta'3lat," he said while laughing. I took a deep breath as I looked at him again before they opened the ballroom doors.

"Yallah?" he muttered.

"Yallah," I replied as we entered.

I couldn't see the people mn kithirhum and the amount of lights surrounding us, but the ballroom was so grand, so majestic it felt like a dream. It was so high, and adorned with pink and blue flowers that gave it the kind of beauty only royalty could offer. The pink diamonds on my neck sparkled underneath the lights and I could finally see my mother and Zaina at the couch as they smiled at us; everyone was smiling and I knew we had made it.

We had finally made it in spite of everything crazy that had happened.

We finally sat down and Zaid looked at me and smiled before he looked at his sister and my mother. My hand was shaking because I was so nervous and Zaid put his hand on mine to reassure me I wasn't in this alone. Ta3theeb mu milcha.

I was actually glad I wasn't having a wedding.

"Widich we ditch?" he whispered to me.

"Fee malyon shakh9 ga3deen yshoufouna al7een. Fa ma3tiqid," I said and he chuckled.

"Ga3da ityanineeni," he whispered to me and I bit my lip to scold him from saying anything inappropriate while we were in front of hundreds of people.

"Baskum suwalif la7geen 3ala ba3a'6, yallah 9awraw," Zaina said as she fixed my dress. I smiled at the camera while Zaid put his hand on my waist in one picture, until Zaina scolded him.

"Murti ba3ad shinu," he said, and I could hear some laughter from the crowd nearby, to which I laughed. Zaid ignored Zaina and even pulled me closer for the picture, and the crowd wooed at Zaid when he kissed my forehead. It was his crazy teenage cousins 6ab3an and I felt a heatwave of embarrassment rush through my body but then I remembered that Zaid really appreciated me, and that was all that mattered.

I was calmer and calmer with every passing second as I looked around.

Layal wouldn't stop smiling at me, and I smiled at her excitedly.

I also invited Lulu and Sarah, for the sake of our childhood friendship, and I was grateful for Lulu's inadvertent attempt to make him confess, or else this wouldn't have happened.

I did not see them and I doubted that they came. Whatever, I did my part. It just sucked that five years ago we were the best of friends who would support me no matter what, or so I'd thought.

My father just called to congratulate me, while Essa was back to not caring. I honestly thought his rehab was a sign for us to build a relationship, when all he did was try to ruin it.

It was finally time for the rings, and I was nervous as hell.

Maryam, Zaid's niece, walked nervously through the ballroom with the wooden box in her hands. 7aram she looked so nervous walking alone, well, with her  mother by her side to support the box in case it fell.

She smiled at us before she set the box in front of us on the table and Zaid called her over to kiss her before opening the box.

We both took a deep breath as we saw the rings, our rings.
This was real, and I was still shocked it was happening.
I knew it was my turn first so I took a shaky hand and pulled out Zaid's ring.

Zaid looked at me and smiled before I slipped on his ring. He looked at me again, with tears in his eyes, unexpectedly, as he put the ring on my finger. He tried to toughen up but he had to wipe his eyes for the camera to which his cousins wooed again and he laughed. Everyone did. I couldn't help but pat his hand to comfort him and reassure him we did it.

He smiled at me kissed my forehead as I held his hand and we took so many pictures I could barely even see from the flashes in front of me.

What made things even worse in pictures was that he literally couldn't keep his hands off me, which resulted in me beaming awkwardly at every camera while squinting.

"So btg3ideen b my wing akheeran, ha?" he asked me as soon as the photographers backed away a bit. "Maninkhash min a7ad," he teased.

"Zaid tara bagi shahrain 3ala il3irs," I teased.

"Khan6awif il3rs," he said and I laughed.

"Fa, cinema kl yom b baitna, wala shrayich?" he asked.

"Yallah laish la2," I said. He was too excited and I loved it.

Zaina came again to tell us to talk less and smile more, and we obliged for a second before Zaid talked again.

"Tadreen wain the honeymoon?" he asked. Zaina will kill him.

I shook my head before taking a "wild" guess.

"Paris?" I guessed.

"Ee, oo ba3ad?" he said.

"Fee ba3ad?" I said, stunned.

"Ee akeed," he said.

"Ubai madri," I said as I chuckled. Was he serious?

"Private island, oo ilbaji 3ad intay nagay," he said while laughing. Private island? What?

"Zaid latgi9 3alay," I said, still stunned. I wasn't sure if I had heard him correctly over the loud music, but he did seem like he said "private island".

"Private island?" I asked him just to make sure.

"Wallah ajart'ha 7ag isbou3," he said while laughing. I couldn't believe him. This was insane.

"Maynoun tadri?" I said as I shook my head in disbelief and he laughed.

"A7ibich ba3ad shasawe," he finally said with a wink before he turned to the camera.

He finally said it.

This was unreal.

He was unreal.

***
So this is it. 

I really enjoyed writing this story and even more I enjoyed reading your reviews and getting questions about the story! I loved the enthusiasm!

So this final post (I'm still sad about this!) is dedicated to my most amazing readers, anyone anon who commented, H, FH, M, Maha, Kibuki, Shahad, Rawan, Bahraini/Omani, Gee, Jay, Aseel, Alanoud, Reema, Muneera, Gadah, Dalal, Sarah, Eef, and most importantly my most supportive and sweetest reader ever, @AlyaBlogger! (If I forgot anyone I'm sorry bas please don't take it personally!;p) Thank you guys so so much for reading (I feel like I just won an award and I'm giving a speech lol), bas jed you guys really make me happy and I'm so happy you followed through with the story!

Love you all!

Cash

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Don't Forget Me (57)

I couldn't believe what my mother had said. How could she just take back her decision after she knew how happy it made me? I couldn't believe that asshole Faisal and my two-faced brother.

Zaid called me multiple times but I ignored each of them, I bet my mother called Zaina to tell her it was off. I didn't have the heart to hear his voice; he changed and sacrificed so much because of me, and after that he'd be rejected because of something he'd done in his past that he wanted to move on from? It wasn't fair to either of us.

I didn't want to see my mother and just sat in my room as I cried endlessly mn il7arra and mn ilfrustration.

There was a knock on my door wala my mom walked in.

"Glteelhum?" I said.

"La2," she said.

"Shnu tan6ireen?" I asked her.

"Mara7 agoulihum," she said.

What?

I got up from my bed.

"Laish?" I said.

"Niyah intay mara, oo intay t3arfeena akthar mini. Ana gltlich ili 3ndi oo mara7 akhsirich 3ashan hal shay, fa ilshor b 2eedich. Dam t7iseena ta'3ayar 3ayal kaifich," she said.

I hugged her before she could say anything else.

"Yumma wallah ta'3ayar, thalath isneen mu shwaya oo adri intay khayfa 3alay bas 9adgeeni itha gltlch uhwa 6abee3ta mu chithi."

"Kaifich," she said. "Intay t3arfeena fa 7kmay b nafsich bas ga3da a7ateech ka ummich," she said.

"Mashkoura yuma bas lat7ateen wallah," I assured her.

She smiled before leaving my room and once she did I called Zaid back immediately.

"Ubai sorry wallah," I said.

He chuckled. "La 3adi, kint abi ashouf itha ga3da aw la2 3ashan agoulich ina Zaina tabi tkalmich brou7kum, 3adi?" he said.

"Zaina? Ee sure bas mita?" I said.

"Bacher 3ala ilkhams?" he asked.

"Ee okay ma3indi shay. Bas bashoufik 9a7?" I said.

"Akeed," he said with a chuckle before hanging up.

/

The next day

I was so nervous. I made sure I was super well dressed to impress. The maid directed me to the main garden where the table was set, and where Zaina was. My heart was pounding so loud I bet she heard it before hearing my footsteps.

"Ilsalam," I said as I smiled and kissed her on both cheeks.

"W 3alaykum ilsalam, shlonich Omniyah?" she asked me, formally. At least she didn't hate me.

"Il7mdilah bkhair, intay shlonich?"

"Tamam il7mdillah," she said. She offered me tea and a cupcake, which I took out of respect.

"Fa kint abeech ityeen 3ashan a3arfich akthar," she said and I nodded. I felt like it was a job interview.

"Bas gabil la abdi abi at2asaf minich. Knt wayid khayfa 3ala Zaid, oo 7asbali intay nafs ilbanat ilthanyeen yaboun Zaid 7ag shay thani, bas shiftich ma3ah bl carnival oo kilish matwaqa3t ili by9eer. Zaid gali kl shay, oo fashlana mn nafsi wallah fa sam7eeni," she said, chuckling a bit in awkwardness but I smiled and told her I didn't blame her, and that Zaid considered her a second mother to him, which made her a bit emotional.

"Mashkoura," she said, and I smiled in return.

"Fa shkintay tabeen t3arfeen 3ani?" I asked while flashing her a smile to put her at ease.

She asked me a lot of things, about where I studied, where I worked, who my family was. I told her the truth about my dad's side of the family, that I didn't see them often but she said Zaid explained to her that I tried my best to make amends and the lack of relationship wasn't on my part. I had Zaid to thank.

"Oo yallah, intay dorich tis2ileeni," she asked, smiling at me.

I asked her about her in-laws, and what their usual "traditions" in their families were, even though I knew most of them. I didn't know that they had breakfast at their grandmother's house at Eid though. She told me who their relatives were, and they were all from well-known, wealthy families and I felt like the odd one out, but I guessed Zaid really put up a fight to get them to approve of me.

We then began to talk casually about other things, fashion, Paris, movies, and a bunch of other stuff until we lost track of time and it was dark outside.

"Lail7een?" Zaid interrupted us while smiling. He looked so fresh in a pair of jeans and a sweater. I could see him light up at the sight of me. I wanted to hug him and I knew it was just a matter of time until I was able to do so, and I was so sick of waiting.

"Ha t'3ar?" Zaina asked.

"Kilish," Zaid teased as he took a seat at the table and I chuckled.

"Ana lazim amshi, bas Omniyah wallah mashkoura 3ala ilyaya oo fur9a sa3eeda shftich," she said as she kissed me again. I could see Zaid smiling at the sight, and I knew he was content.

"Fa, akheeran?" he said.

"Akheeran," I replied. I'd never, ever tell him that my mother nearly disapproved of him because of his past which he'd moved on from. I didn't want him to think he did everything for nothing, because he did more than I could ask for.

***
Dedicated to FH!:*

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Don't Forget Me (56)

I was texting Zaid in the living room. We texted for so long and so much that I had to charge my phone five times.

My mother walked in, wayihha china a7ad ma36eeha 6rag.

"Yuma shfeech?" I sai as I stood up from the couch while my mother sat down so I sat down with her.

"Khaltich Salwa daga 3alay," she said.

Shit, this was not good.

"Inzain?" I said. She huffed.

"Faisal kan yabe yshoufich mara thanya bas gltlihum inich makh6ouba 7ag a7ad thani," she said. Why did she even say that?

"Inzain?" I said.

"Dara ina Zaid uhwa ili kha6bich oo khaltich Salwa 6arishatli video. Omniyah shinu hatha?" she said, almost yelling.

I gulped.

"Yuma hal video qadeem, kan 9'3eer ihni oo hatha gabl la yt'3ayar," I told her.

"Omniyah hal video chayid, shinu hatha?" she said, unbelieving.

"Yuma gltlich ta'3ayar," I begged her.

"Hatha mata'6mineen mayrid nafs awal," she said.

"Yuma tara bas kan cham shahar chithi!" I explained.

"Bas ha?" she said.

"Yuma 7aram tara wallah 7ail mt7asif 3ala illi sawa oo bas khala9 yabi y9ik ilmaw'6ou3," I said. This couldn't be real. I wanted to kill Faisal.

"Oo kalamt ubouch tawa. Essa galla ina kan yt3amal ma3ah?" she said. So now Essa ili lail7een mayadri 3ani faj2a raz wayha?

I'd visited him a couple of times every month for the past three years and he'd always pretend I wasn't there. At first I thought it was maybe the addiction taking its toll on him, but it turns out he didn't really believe I was his sister, like chinna wa7da mu 9ijiya 3nda. I wasn't really mad as I knew it was just his wrong way of thinking from everything that had impacted him, it just made me sad a bit.

In every visit I'd force myself to make conversation, to which he'd mutter a couple of words and that was it. There was no use of trying. So I slowly reduced my visits, just in case my visits were making him miserable and therefore less likely to recover from his addiction.

I thought it was unfortunate; I'd honestly believed that this was an opportunity for us to reconcile our already nonexistent relationship, to finally have that sibling bond that I'd never had. However, it was anything but...

I was so pissed at both Faisal and Essa for trying to "look out" for me when all they did that for was out of spite.

"Gltlich yuma bas cham shahar kan chithi!" I said, and before I realized it tears were streaming down my face.
"3ayal laish ma ista3yal oo kha6abni? Laish n6ar thalath isneen 3ashan yakh6bni?! Yuma tkfain, mara7 ar'6a b a7ad '3aira!" I said. I finally said it.

My mother only stared at me.

"Omniyah shbigouloun 3ankum itha khathaitee? Ygouloun 3anna li3eeb oo 3annich maga9a," she said. I couldn't believe what I was listening.

"Ubai yuma ana sh3alay mn shigoulouna ilnas? Ana ili batzawaja wala uhma?" I said as I cried.

"Yuma 7aram 3alaich, tadreen shkithir uhwa yabeeni oo ana abee," I said as I shook my head. She only looked at the ground and turned around.

***
Thank you so much for your sweet comments on the last post! :*

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Don't Forget Me (55)

"Matabeen shay?" my mom said as we left Cartier in Salhiya. We had reserved a table for lunch at Lorenzo Salhiya, and my mom wanted to get me something for my birthday.

"La mashkoura, 7ail yi3t," I confessed. It wasn't the reason I didn't want anything from Cartier. I'd avoided the bracelet area like the plague and just went around the earring and necklace sections. Honestly I didn't expect to act this way in the store.

"Mt2akda? Wala inridla 3ugub ma nt'3ada?" she asked me.

"La wallah yuma mashkoura," I told her.

"Inzain may9eer makhathaitlich shay 7ag 3eed meladich," she told me.

"A7san l2ana ga3da a7is ini wayid kubart," I teased.

"La wallah? 3ayal ana shagoul?" she told me as we laughed. I was right; it only took a matter of time and patience to mend my mother's trust in me. We were back as strong as ever, and honestly that mattered to me more than anything else.

"Yallah imshay 3ayal khal inrou7 nakil," she said as we left the store to walk to the restaurant b the plaza in front of us.

"Madam," the security called us.

"Yuma akhaf libastay shay bl '3ala6?" I teased.

"La wallah," she said as she checked her wrists.

"You forgot your bag," he said.

"Wee 9aj," my mom said as I rolled my eyes at her forgetfulness and followed her inside the store but I froze at the entrance.

Zaid was standing right in front of me, flashing me a bright smile as he held a Cartier love bracelet box in his hand.

This wasn't real, was it?

After three years?

"Zaid?" I said, putting my hand on my lips. I couldn't believe it.

"Gltlich bakhithlich wa7id thani, 9a7?" he said as he cocked his brow.
God, he looked so good, so radiant that it nearly drove me insane. He looked so proper in a dishdasha, and I remembered that he'd always been nice to look at in it. This time it was even better.

"Tadreen shinu?" he asked me. "China yabeelich shay zyada," he added before I got a chance to ask him what.  I was so stunned at everything.

He pulled out a smaller box from his pocket.

I couldn't believe it.

He opened the box to reveal a beautiful, large diamond engagement ring.

What? Really?

"Zaid 9ij?" I said, not believing.

I looked at my mom who was smiling at me and nodding. I'd thought she said no, that we weren't a fit.

"Wait shlon?" I said as I shook my head in confusion. This had to be a dream, hadn't it?

He only winked and I laughed.

"Fa?" he asked me.

"Akeed ee," I said as I laughed and my mother came to hug me. I was so shocked that I couldn't feel anything, it all happened so fast.

I could see him turn around to wipe his eyes, and I began to tear up at that sight as my mother laughed at me, worrying about my makeup.

"Yuma 9ij?" I said.

"Ee wallah 9ij!" she said.

Her phone rang wala Lorenzo was calling, telling her our table was ready.

"Yallah lazim namshi," she said.

"Umm okay," I said, I wasn't done with Zaid at all. I wanted to talk to him, to ask him how he was, what he was doing, how he managed to pull off this engagement after what my mother had told me. I was still so surprised at what had just happened.

"Inshoufik inshallah Zaid," my mom said as Zaid collected himself.

"Inshallah 3amiti," he said, and my heart jumped when he smiled at me.

I smiled at him before I left and bombarded my mom with questions.

"Yuma la7'6a shlon? Oo kntaw mitafqeen 3ala hal surprise? Ubai la7'6a a9lan shlon kha6a6taw kil hatha?" I asked her as we walked to Lorenzo.

"Bismillah ni6ray khal neg3ad!" she said as she laughed.

I was above the clouds, and smiled when I got my first message from Zaid in three years.

Did I say how much I've missed you? 
I'm so sorry it took a very long time, but I wanted to make sure I was the best version of myself. I just hope I don't disappoint you. 

PS. You reminded me of Catwoman.

I laughed at the end of the text, I really looked forward to it. I was too excited to talk to my mom to reply to him now.

We sat at the table and I quickly ordered so we'd talk over bread.

"Inzain sh9ar?" I said and she took a deep breath, I knew ilsalfa 6uweela.

"Dag 3alay w intay blshi'3l gali yabi ykalimni. Gltla la2 awal shay bas '3ayart rayi l2ana 7asaitich na6rita, fa glt ashouf shlona oo ya 3indina ilbait oo kalamni uhwa ma3a ikhta," she said. Zaina came?

"Inzain?" I said as I stuffed a piece of bread in my mouth. I should probably stop.

"Wallah awal shay knt mu mtqablita min darait 3ankum, bas shway shway la7a'6t ina lama tikalam 9ij ytkalam 3an wa7da y7ibha bshakil mu 6abee3i. 7asait y3arfich akthar mini 7ta," she said with a chuckle.

"Oo gali innich kntay ilshay ilwa7eed ili msa3ada lama tuwafat uma, oo galli ina kan 3nda mashakil bas ta'3ayar minich oo 3ashanich oo khatha thalath isneen 3ashan yt3adal. Mbayin ilwalad jad, ana kan 7asbali uhwa shay thani bas '6alamta. Kanat m2athyatni salfat ina uhwa '3air 3anna, bas ga3adt agoul lo shinu balga a7ad nafsa. Oo adri kintay tan6ireena, fa laish a7ir nafsi dam intaw kbar oo t3arfoun 3an hal shay," she said.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing to I put my hands to my lips and got up from my seat to hug my mom even though I looked really weird in the restaurant.

"Yabakhta feech," she said with a smile, and I could feel my skin blush.

"Bas ikhta kanat mawjouda? '3areeba!" I said.

"Ee wallah kanat mtqabla ilwa'63, 7ta ana ista'3rabt. La oo itsolif sh7ilouha," she said.

I was definitely going to ask Zaid about that.

Our food arrived so my mom talked some more about how Zaid convinced her.

"Adri uhwa mara7 yakhith '3airich wala intay btakhtheen '3aira," she said. I smiled. It was true.

We finished our food and headed to the parking, I was admiring my new Cartier bracelet, which glistened against my wrist. I knew this was just the beginning of him spoiling me. I wasn't materialistic but he had great taste. My god.

 I'm still so shocked. I'm so so proud of you.
I can't express how happy I am. Finally. 

PS. I didn't remember Bruce Wayne looking so good. 

I replied.

Thank you, you have no idea how much your words mean to me. How much you mean to me. 

PS. I chose my favorite cane for today, did you notice?

I giggled and my mother stared at me and smiled, knowing I was talking to him. I loved how I didn't feel guilty anymore about talking to him.

My mother told me Zaina came over with you to talk to her? That's unexpected to be honest!

PS.  I demand a replay, I was too blinded by everything else. 

I replied, smiling.


She saw you with me during my breakdown, she knew it wasn't a joke. She knew you were the reason I wanted to get better, not anyone else. I told her everything as well, and I fixed our family issues. She's definitely more accepting.

PS. Just tell me when and where;)

This all felt unreal.

***
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Don't Forget Me (54)

Three Years Later 


I was getting ready for my twenty-fifth birthday party with Layal, and a couple of my friends from work, which included Jana Al-R, a girl from our school. It was funny how we all ended up at the same workplace even with our different college majors.

I put on my earrings and opened up my necklace stand and wore my silver and diamond necklace. The Tiffany necklace Zaid had got me was taunting me as it swung on its holder. I hadn't heard from Zaid since I left the carnival. I expected to hear back from him within a year or two, and thoughts of him forgetting me worried me. I'd already declined almost five proposals for absolutely no reason because I was foolish enough to wait for Zaid. Time meant nothing to me, it was as if I'd seen him yesterday.

I turned the stand away from me and sprayed on perfume before I looked myself in the mirror. I wore a gray dress that was loose, while my hair was pulled away from my face and showed off my long earrings, which really gave me a mature look.

I took my clutch and waited for Layal to pick me up.

Out

I left the house, saying bye to my mom before going into her car.

"Hey!" I said as I got in.

"Yal birthday girl itshawgeen!" she said and I laughed as I kissed her.

"Intay itshawgeen kalba!" I said as I eyed her gorgeous black dress.

"Abdullah khathaliyaha, 7ada cute," she said, gushing about her husband. He kept his word and actually proposed like a day after graduation. I was really happy for the both of them.

"So wain binrou7?" I asked her.

"Okay kina bnwadeech ma63am yshawig bas mani gayla isma 3ashan ma ita7asifain bas 6ala3 full so binrou7 Lenotre ilba7ar, ilbanat na6reenna hnak," she said.

"Yallah perfect, a7ib Lenotre ilba7ar," I said as I wore my seatbelt.

We arrived at the restaurant wala the girls were already at the table, kl wa7da zahba ma3a her present as I hugged them and thanked them for coming.

"Happy birthday!" each one of them told me and I blushed as I thanked them.

"Ubai ildinya tarki'6, shinu 9irna bl mid twenties!" Jana said.

"9a7? Wallah ykhari3 khala9 we're officially adults," 7aneen agreed.

It scared me, the thought of time passing by so quickly. Maybe I was being foolish for waiting.

We ordered our food wala Layal motioned with her brows to look at my phone.

Someone's staring at you b the table ili warana. It's like he knows you. 

I froze, as I read her message. It couldn't be Zaid, could it?
I couldn't turn l2ana ashkara ybayin inni I was looking.

For real?

I texted back.

Ee, wait let me take a pic

I shook my head at her but the idiot did it anyway, sneakily though. She was good.

I opened the image and zoomed in, the face wasn't clear but it did look like...Faisal?

What the hell was he doing here? I nearly turned to see him but I realized what I was doing, plus mali khilga since we really got pissed off at each other the last time we'd spoken.

Then I remembered, Jana Al-R was his cousin, and she might've told her about me, but why would he see me again? I thought he was the one who didn't want me, anyway I didn't want him.

That's Faisal

She gave me a look before staring at him over and over and I had to text her not to look at him.

I was seriously worried right now.

I couldn't really focus on what everyone was saying; and I tried to convince myself that maybe it was a coincidence. Yet if it was then why didn't Jana greet her cousin? Something definitely was up.

Dinner was over and I barely remembered what I ate as I thanked the girls for coming and throwing me the birthday dinner. I didn't turn behind me as I left the restaurant with Layan.

"Okay mt2akda ina Faisal?" she asked me as soon as we got in her car. The girl would never skip gossip.

"Ee mt2akda," I told her.

"Okay oo laish yay ya3ni?" she asked me.

"Shdarani?" I told her.

"Niyoh 3an il3ayara," she said, teasing me.

"Tkfain arid 3nd hatha? Wallah akhir 3umri arou7la," I told her and she laughed as she believed me.

"Tara bada3 oo uhwa ykhizich," she said.

"Khal ykhiz, that's as far as he could go," I told her and she chuckled.

***
2/2 for the day xx

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Don't Forget Me (53)

I was kind of "un-grounded" now that I told my mother everything and was upfront and honest with her. It hurt to hear what she'd said, but for some reason I just couldn't believe it at all.

Layal was on my bed with a bag of chips in her hand as we discussed our project, for like five minutes, until she asked me about Zaid again, to which I'd told her everything.

"Wait galich y7ibich?" she said, almost choking on her chips.

"Ma galha, bas sa2alta oo gal ee," I said. Even though I had never specified what the question, but we had both known what I'd meant.

"Chathaba," she said with a wide mouth.

"Tadreen hatha shinu jackpot? Ubai ya7mara!" she said and I laughed, only everyone thought he had everything when really he had nothing, even though he considered me my everything.

"Bas umi a9lan ma wafaqat, oo ma3tiqid ahala bywaf8oun. Ikhta nisra," I told her, trying not to sound as broken as I truly felt.

"It3eesh ma3a bl bait?" she asked me.

I shook my head.

"3ayal intay shaku? Latkharbeen 7ayatich 3ashan that bitch," she said. I rolled my eyes.

"La jed ya3ni," she said as she took a handful of chips from the bag. Why couldn't she understand that it just wasn't about Zaina?

"Oo Faisal Control Freak sh9ar 3alaih?" she asked me.

I laughed at her nickname for him.

"Madri wallah," I said.

"Tara a7is 3nda side hoe madri laish, a7is y7ib ysawe ashya2 ****" she said something so inappropriate I threw a scrunched up paper at her.

"Shinu ba3ad he is controlling!" she said.

"Bas it9adgeen ma3tiqid kil hatha, ma3a Zaid, kan by9eer lo mu Lulu yatni oo galatli ina uhwa y7ibni," I said.

"Plot twist, ha?" she said.

"7ail!" I replied. "Bas madri itha she was looking out for me wala kanat tabu she breaks us up," I said.

"Either way allah y3afeeha," Layal said.

"True," I said, even though she was the reason we were busted in the first place, and probably the reason Zaid went downhill.

"Oo ya3ni al7een you're fine ma3a khalti?" she asked me.

"I hope so, ya3ni adri bas n7taj wagt, 3araftay?" I told her. I loved talking to her about anything, because unlike my old friends, I could tell her anything and I could still trust her to not leave or say anything.

"Good good. Ubai tara 7adi ishta6ait, matadreen mita birid ikalmich?" she asked me.

I shook my head.

"Okay I have news for you ba3ad," she said with a smile that I knew was her "I have something you don't know about" smile.

"Chathaba!" I exclaimed.

"Wallah," she said with a laugh.

"Minu?!" I said. I automatically knew she meant she was with someone.

"Isma Abdullah Al-K," she said.

My jaw nearly dropped. "Ubai wait hatha kan b madristi!"

"Ee adri," she said with a giggle.

"Wait wait shlon?" I asked her.

"Umm thak ilmara ya 3nd my sister's party planning business 7ag your reunion dinner party oo galatli I take over l2ana widi asht'3l part time 3ndaha, anyway ga3adt I text him oo chithi bas 3an the party bas shway shway it became more personal than professional oo ee ya3ni, I like him al7een," she said, like it was the most casual thing ever.

I nearly threw another paper ball at her.

"Ubai laish ma glteeli mn awal?!" I said.

"Madri khift I jinx it," she reasoned.

"'3abiya?" I said. "Bas tara Abdullah khosh wa7id," I said with a smile.

"Na6irni atkharaj takhayilay," she said, blushing.

"Ubai wanasa!" I said. I really was happy for her, at least she knew when her deadline was, unlike me, and unlike Zaid and me, they were a perfect fit.

***
Second post of the day coming up soon!;)

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Don't Forget Me (52)

Essa my brother? A dealer? No wonder my dad kicked him out.

"Essa?" I said. "Bas shlon 3arafta?"

"A7ad 3a6ani raqma oo madarait uhwa ukhouch ila 3ugub ymkin thalath tashhir lama gali 3aylita," he said.

I didn't know if I was disappointed in him or in my brother, but I knew they both were having a hard time dealing with personal matters.

"I don't care inik ta3amalt ma3a. Ga3d yt7asan al7een. Bas please 3ashani don't do it," I said.

"Ba7awil," he said.

"Bas 3arif ina you're not alone," I told him and he smiled gratefully.

I looked at my phone, it was nearly 8 and I had only an hour to go back and get dressed into my pajamas until my mom came back.

"Lazim itrou7een?" he asked me.

"I did sneak out to see you," I said with a chuckle.

"3ashani don't do it again," he said.

"Ba7awil."

He tried to smile through his tears as he looked at my bare wrist.

"Wain ilCartier?" he asked me.

I scoffed. "Zaid 9arla arba3 isneen."

"Yabeelich wa7id thani," he said, with a smile.

I shook my head as I laughed. "Chub 3ad."

I quickly realized what I'd said and put my hands to my lips, and for some reason that made him crack up, and I laughed when he did. We lightened up after that deep conversation we'd just had, and I was glad it was over.

"Mashkoura, Niyah 3ala kil shay. Oo ana asif 3ala kil ili sawaita. Mu kafi ili ga3d agoula, adri," he said.

I didn't say anything.

"Fa 3ashan chithi abi atghayar 7ag ila7san, abi a9eer a7ad 9ij yistahlich, ma3a ina matwaqa3 ana abadan bastahlich mahma ta'3ayart. Fa 3a6eeni wagt asani3 mn nafsi. Mabeech trou7een wara umich 3ashan itshoufeeni wala tza3leenha inich tkalmeeni wara '6aharha. Already khasart umi, mabeech takhsireen umich 3ashani," he said, and I gulped, and the last part was really hard to hear.

"Zaid shkithir an6ir? Sina? Sintain?" I asked him. I was tired of waiting, but I would wait for him to get better.

He shrugged.

"Ma adri," he said.

"Don't forget me," I said, with a soft smile.

"Shlon ansach itha you're the only thing I have?" he said, and I smiled as I walked away after seeing the time on my phone.

"Okay 9ij lazim arou7," I said with a chuckle. "See you inshallah?" I said.

He nodded and smiled. "Inshallah."

"Oo good luck," I said as I left, and part of me left with him.


/

I got dressed into my pajamas and made it just in the nick of time. My mom entered the living room where I was and put some groceries on the table before leaving but I stopped her.

"Yuma bakalmich b maw'6ou3," I told her.

"Shnu?" she said.

I sighed as she sat next to me and I began to tell her everything (except the drugs and the video, because if he moved on, was willing to change, and wanted to put it behind him then why should I bring it up?)

I told her about how caring he was, how he had his heart broken because of his mother's death and that I was the only one there for him, I told her how happy he truly made me feel and how he bought me all these gifts as tokens of appreciation.

She was stunned, like genuinely stunned. I couldn't tell if she was mad, surprised, or a mix of everything.

"Oo kil hatha w ana madri?" she said. I bit my lip in anticipation of what was to come.

"Yuma adri kint '3abiya oo lail7een ana '3abiya bas wallah mahagait by9eer kil ili 9ar. Ana asfa, wallah, madri shagoul," I told her.

"Bas mabi akhsirich 3ashan hal salfa," I added.

She sat silently.

"Tadreen ini wayid mt'6ayga oo ma9douma minich 9a7?" she asked.

"Akeed, ma aloumich," I replied.

"Al7een malich 3ila8a ma3a?" she asked me. I shook my head.

"Mani mkalmita wala shay," I said, which was true, until he felt like he has changed. Whenever that was, and that in itself worried me.

"L2ana tadreen haman ina uhwa mu mina wala intay minhum, 9a7? Ya3ni shftay ikhta oo 6areeqat'hum '3air 3anna, uhma wayid free," she said.

I stayed silent, and it came to a shock to me. I should've expected it but I was shocked for some reason.

She didn't approve of him, and I knew his family would never in hell approve of me. I was so anxious for the future and I could only hear his voice ring in my head that he would never forget me.

***

So I'm going to officially be posting two chapters a day:)

Can't wait to post my next story, already working on it!xx