Chapter 9: El amor en los tiempos del cólera

The next day bilkoleya, I was telling '3azl about what had happened last night with Jara7. The conversation we had, and the second message that he sent me.
'3azl: 7ala bawglch shay
7ala: gwlay
'3azl: tara there is something new in our tone of voice.
7ala: shlon ye3ni?
'3azl: ye3ni when you talk about him, 9otech yit'3ayer. You smile while you talk, and you have this GLOW.
7ala: hehehe .. glow?!
'3azl: ee, madri shlon afahmch. You just seem really happy.
A while later, Ya3goub approached us.
Ya3goub: ha, 7ala is in a good mood this morning? Shisalfa?
7ala: hehehe.. shfeekm? I'm in a normal mood.
Ya3goub: haaaaa? Rithaitay 3alaih? Tsama7taaaw?
7ala: ee kinda. Inshallaaa..
Ya3goub: why are you blushing 7ala?!
7ala: I'm not blushing!
'3azl: imbela you are.. hehehe. omG that's soo cute.
They continued teasing me until dawam was over. I drove back home in a really good mood. I sang along with majeed's "tint'thr kilmat a7bk": 5alena nefham ba3athna gabl ma nehwa nethee3 maba3ad bard ilsheta ela nasmat ilrabee3.
At home, I ate lunch with my family with a very open appetite.
Dad: ha 7alati.. mu makla shay bilkoleya?! Shklch wayed yu3ana
7ala: hehheeh ee baba makalait shaaay, and you know how much I love's mama's cooking.
A while later we were done. I had a shower, changed, prayed then I switched on my laptop and went on FB. Jara7 wasn’t online. 7asafaaa. Ambaaaay shfeeeni?! Just message him for God's sake! 5ala9 mu killa FB! Madri, asti7i I message him. He'll think I'm mental. One moment I'm fighting with him for messaging me and the next moment I message him… imbela I should message him! Should i…?
"plop"
Jara7: hi 7ala (thank God he went online! That saved a lot of awkwardness!!)
7ala: hii Jara7
Jara7: lail7eench mit'thayga minni?
7ala: la I'm not. W I completely understand your point. And I agree now.
Jara7: il7emdilla :D
7ala: and I want to apologise as well. For being a nightmare.
Jara7: latgwleen chithi. You're not a nightmare. You're a dream come true
7ala: that’s so sweet 
Jara7: 5ala9 rithaytay 3alay?!
7ala: ee akeeeed!
Jara7: ye3ni mulazm a36eech ilhadeya illi ta3abt 3alaiha! 6wl ill lail mu nayem so that I get it for you!
7ala: allaaa hadeya! I love gifts.. 5ala9 3ayal, we're still in a fight!
Jara7: ee okkk.. ye3ni I shouldn’t be talking to you?
7ala: ofcorse you shouldn’t be talking to me. Ana still za3lana 3alaik!
Jara7: 5ala9 3ayal. I'm going to log out now. And like I said, I'm sorry, plz sam7ini!!
7ala: never!
Jara7: never say never ;p
Faj2a he was offline.. hmmm okkk? Is he still playing along? Will he go online again now? Should I text him? La I’ll wait for a while. My phone rang. It was a message from Jara7.
"I'm going to the gifts store to get your present rapped now ;)"
Awww.. he really did get me a gift. How sweet. I called '3azl and told her. We continued chatting for a while, then she reminded me to get dressed to return to the koleya to study. '3azl galatli amerha, so I did. An hour later we were both at the koleya studying. Ya3goub was at the library studying too. I smiled to him, indicating that everything was fine with me, and he winked back at me. By 8pm, we decided to take a break. We needed food.
'3azl: mishtahya Lorenzo..chocolate cheesecake.
7ala: eee perfect.. me too. Yala lets go.
Ya3goub saw us leaving the library, so he did too.
Ya3goub: wain ray7een?
Yala: binrw7 shamiya mall, to get a cake mn lorenzo.
Ya3goub: inzain b sayarat minw bitrw7wn?
7ala: We're going b my car. '3azl mu yaya b sayarat'ha. Ana marait'ha. Should we get you anything?
Ya3goub: ha? La2 mabi shay. Inzain, mu chinna tawinnas 3al 3asha?
'3azl: its not 3asha,, bes chthi.. chocolate break heheh... Ya3goub shfeek? Why are you acting weird
Ya3goub: la I'm not acting weird. Nooo werdnesss at aaaaallll!
7ala: ammm okkkk? Hehehe whatever you say.. yalla byeee!
Ya3goub: lat6awloon!
7ala: inshalla babaaaa!
Wi9alna ilshameya, w lorenzo to order. The Lebanese guy asked: "for here or take away 9abaya?"
'3azl: take away. (we were planning to eat bl koleya)
We were heading back to the koleya along the 2nd ring road. Before stopping at the traffic light, I noticed that '3azl started fidgeting. She wouldn’t stop biting her nails and playing with her hair. I stared at her until she noticed.
'3azl: shraych you stop looking at me and keep your eyes on the road.
7ala: shfeech?
Faj2a ga9erat 3ala the loud sound of rashed's song “Bala 7ob”. Instantly staw3abt what she was thinking. She wanted to take a look at his house the way she usually did. By his, I mean her ex, Majed. It's been about a year since they broke up but unfortunately she never got over it. How could she get over it? It was soo serious. Their relationship lasted almost 3 years, and his whole family knew about her. I don’t blame her. I slowed down the car, and signalled to the right, w dashait il8adsiya. She looked at me, and gave me the "thanks-for-reading-my-mind" face. She lead me through the streets, as I didn't actually know the exact way. Finally we reached his house. She stared out of the window. She was staring at his new m'3ayima car. She tried to hide it, but I noticed that she was wiping away tears! She was still in touch with his best friend. Not only because he was such a funny and respectful guy, but also because she wanted to be updated with what was going on in Majed's life. That’s how she knew he got his new car recently.
‘3azl: That's his new car. I wish I had the chance to abareklaa…(she wiped another tear)
7ala: '3azl! Please just stop doing this to yourself. You have to let go. Im not acting like I know what you're going through. I have no idea what it’s like to end a very serious relationship. It must be very hard to get over it. BUT you're not making it any easier to yourself! Take this as an example. You have got to stop passing by his house. And stop talking to his best friend. Or, just stop asking him for updates about Majed's life. '3azl please. I hate seeing you like this. Ye3ni he hurt you so much when you were together. And now, even while you’re broken up, he's still hurting you!
Suddenly the door of his house opens! ‘3azl freaks out, her heart beats so fast, I think I could slightly hear it. The fact that she might see him again scares her to death. ‘3azl, still freaked out, slides down her seat and puts her face down.
7ala: don’t worry it's not him. It's an old lady.
She lifted her head and looked up to see who it was.
‘3azl: omah !! Dosay 7ala, dosay !!
7ala: inshalla inshalla! (I quickly turn the car, and drive away)
‘3azl was always in touch with his mother. Even after they broke . She was so sweet to '3azl, and was always on '3azl's side when they fought. But ‘3azl would always say that his mum deserves a BETTER son. ‘3azl grabs the ipod and changes the song to Majeed's “ma thanetee”. She fast forwarded it to the 2nd verse “ma thanetee hal 3omr ben3esha sewa ma neltgee o la 3ad yejma3na el hawa knt athenk enta lejroo7ee duwaa ” ..
The rest of the drive back was silent. Neither of us talked. We were both in a bad mood now. We didn’t want to eat anymore, we had lost our appetite. Laman we reached ilkoleya, I noticed ya3goub walking towards where I had parked.
Ya3goub: mita a5er marra 3abaitay sayartch banzeen?
7ala: mmmm madri. Mita a5er marra thakartni ( I teased)
Ya3goub: aha ye3ni almost a week. Akeed it needs to be refilled. Give me your car keys.
7ala: it’s ok, I'll go on my way home.
Ya3goub: la I'll go now, so matdgeen 3alay at night w tgwleenlee sayarti wagfa!
7ala: that happened only once!
Ya3goub: and let’s keep it that way. Once !
7ala: fine! Here (I threw my keys to him, and continued walking back to the campus building)
Inside, '3azl and I sat down on some sofas and tried to eat. But we couldn't. I had to continue talking to '3azl. That lady infront of Majed's house interrupted me earlier.
7ala: '3azl za3altay minni?
'3azl: lesh az3al minch?
7ala: because of what I told you in the car
'3azl: no you're right. I need to stop doing this to myself. I want to stop, but I can't. I loved him 7ala. I still do. I..
7ala: '3azl stop saying that! you don’t love him. You MISS him. 5ala9, you deserve so much better. He should have treated you better when you were together. I hate him walla! '3azl, look at me. He's not worthy to have you as his girlfriend. A9lan he's not worthy to have you in his life at all!! 5ala9, bacher, we go man hunting. We will find you someone! Someone that dreams of being with you! (I saw a slight smile)
'3azl: someone like Jara7?
7ala: heheheh ee someone like Jara7. You know, you're so good at changing the subject when we're talking about you and Majed (I teased)
'3azl: chiftay shlon. 5ala9, let's never mention him. Never. Today, I start off fresh.
7ala: ya intay yal fresh!
Radaina il library and continued studying. A few minutes later ya3goub came in. He gave me my car keys back, and went back to his seat. In a while, we were tired of all the studying, so we decided to head back home. Dashait ilsayara, garait du3a2 ilrukwb, ga6ait kutubi w my bag at the back seat, sha'3alt il sayara, put on my seat belt, (asked '3azl to put on her seat belt) and went off to drop '3azl home. We reached her house.
7ala: love you
'3azl: love you more. And thanks. Good night.
7ala: good night! Sweet dreams.
I headed back home. Finally wi9alt parking baitna, 6ila3t min ilsayara, then I opened the back door and got my books min il back seat. They were soo heavy that awal ma dashait dari, I threw them on my bed. I noticed an extra book. All my jam3a books had colorful covers (because of all the diagrams and photos), but this particular book was so dull. The only bright thing about it was that it was rapped with a red ribbon. omG, it was an early edition of "Love in the Time of Cholera"! It was the 1st edition! Even more valuable than the limited edition one that I had lost. This one was old, rusty, historic and in Spanish. The one I lost was a modern, clean, US edition. I loved this one so much more. I opened it and a card fell out. It said:
"This is to make up for 2 main tragedies in your life:
1- The previous lost book. This one is not the same, but I hope you like it more.
2- My message ;p
7ala, itha sama7tini, just message me w ray7yny. Please."
I couldn’t believe it. How did he know?! Shlon?! Ok, la ashta6 wayed, akeed he found out min ya3goub. But still, shloon dara ina this would be the perfect gift. And HOW did he get it?! Soo thoughtful. I ran to my phone and typed a message to Jara7:
"Shlon ma artha 3alaik?! Thanks A LOT!"
He replied instantly:
"tistahlain akthr"
I suddenly felt so optimistic. I feel like so many more better things are yet to come. I feel like, true happiness is on it's way. omG…omG… I have to say it.. I have to.. I think. I'm. In. LOVE!
I think..
I guess that's the "glow" that '3azl was talking about!

Chapter 8: Stop resisting…give in…

Awal magarait ilmessage, I immediately knew who it was. Jara7 ye3ni minw. I gave '3azl a look and showed her my mobile. She made a weird face. I'm guessing it indicated shock and disapproval. I whispered to her: "let's get out of the library. I need to talk to Ya3goub."
As I was leaving the library, I looked for Ya3goub. I couldn’t find him. So I messaged him: "ya3goub, shinw ra8am Jara7?" I needed to make sure, before I over reacted, the way I always do, whether ilsalfa tiswa or not.
Ya3goub: 7ala, mu china tawich mit3arfa 3alaih. Shinw ye3ni tabeen ra8ma?
7ala: just give me his number!
Ya3goub: I'm on my way to the koleya. Intay hnak?
7ala: ee I am.. what's his number Ya3goub?
Ya3goub: atfaham ma3ach laman o9al.
That made me even more upset. Ye3ni killish mu wagta inna he "brothers" me! Anyways, I was sure it was Jara7's number. I didn’t need Ya3goub.
7ala: iiffff.. shasawee al7een. Why doesn’t he get that he's approaching me the wrong way?!
'3azl: ee walla, madri shfeeh. Where did he get your phone number from asasan. Obviously mu Ya3goub illi 3a6ah iya.
7ala: hhhh..what now?
'3azl: lazm you talk to him about this. Bes not my sms, latredeen 3alaih. Awal ma to9leen ilbait check if he's online on FB, w tfahimay ma3ah.
A few minutes later, I noticed Ya3goub walking towards us.
Ya3goub: sh9ayer feech 7ala?
I showed him the message. He didn’t say anything for a while.
7ala: ye3ni I'm not wrong for reacting this way?
Ya3goub: actually, as ususal, you're OVER reacting. Bes ee, you're right. I don't like the fact inna he just messaged you marra wa7da. Radaitay 3alaih?
7ala: la maradait. Laman arid ilbait I will talk to him on FB.
Ya3goub: tabeen ana akalma?
7ala: la its ok. This is between me and him. I don't want to be the cause of any tension between you and your friend.
Ya3goub: ok 3ala ra7ttch. Ilmohim intay relax shwey! Mu lazm kil ma y9eer shey tyeneen 3alay!
7ala: I'm just going to go home. Magdr adris after this.
Ya3goub: asta'3fr alllaaah. Kaifch. Ilmohim, kalmini itha 9ar shay.
7ala: inshalla. Bye
'3azl: bye. Take care!
Ya3goub: bye. Tha'36ich ya bnaya!
My ride home was weird. At first I was mad. Bes ba3dain I started to think the other way around. I hadn’t connected my iPod this time, I was to occupied with being mad. I just had 88.8 on.. it was rashed singing "sa2alt b illithi 7a6ek 3ala ras ilma7aba taaj.. t7ebeny willa titsala b a7asysy o wijdany o ti7taj il'3ala galby mithil ma lik ana a7taj wala inni ba3ad mafarg 7dood ilshof tinsany"
What if he went through a lot in order to get my number? Is that supposed to be considered sweet? Inna he went through all of this 3alashan ykalmini more often? Or was I right for thinking inna t3ada 7dwda? I was so confused! I really am starting to like him bes madri lesh a7is inna the way he's trying to yitgarab minni is all wrong. Ye3ni didn’t he already understand the fact that I wouldn't give him my number at this stage of the relationship? Even IF he did ASK for it! Or maybe, he knew I wouldn’t give it to him, and he didn’t want to get rejected again. So he just went for it and hoped for the best. Well, if I really am the kind of girl he wants, 3ala golta, he should have known inna that wouldn't have worked. Everything was going so well, and then he pulls this stunt! Ilmohim, I will talk to him now, and make it clear inna he's got the wrong girl. Li2anna if the kind of girl that he wants, answers messages from guys after 2 days since t3arifaw 3ala ba3ath, then i'm not that girl…. 7asafa. Why did he have to do that?
Awal my wi9alt ilbait, I ran upstairs to my room. I swtiched on my laptop and logged into FB. He wasn't online. Waaaaay! Why isn’t he online?! I was so frustrated and impatient. I called Ya3goub.
7ala: ya3goub.
Ya3goub: hala. Ha shlonch? You seem calmER
7ala: ya3goub, you do agree with me 9a7?
Ya3goub: ee I do, it was kind of inappropriate
7ala: ye3ni, even when I asked you for his number and you thought inna I wanted it to akalma, you wouldn’t give it to me! Ye3ni you agree inna it's too early
Ya3goub: ee 7ala, I agree
7ala: ye3ni you DO agree!?
Ya3goub: 7ala! Ee I DO agree!
7ala: sorry, I'm just really really disappointed. Madri
Ya3goub: it's ok 7ala, latithayigain chithi. Ye3ni intay you didn’t want him asasan.
7ala: yaa. . .
Ya3goub: but, you do now. Don’t you. . .
7ala: ya3goub madri. Il9ara7a I think I have fallen for him. And I realized something.
Ya3goub: shinw?
7ala: I'm not THAT upset inna he messaged. Ye3ni if our "friendship" was going to turn into something, we were gona talk on the phone eventually. Bes illi mthayigni inna he still doesn't UNDERSTAND me. I want him to understand me. I want this to work out. U know?!
Ya3goub: e fahamt 8a9dch.
7ala: I'm jut soo upset. . .
Ya3goub: more upset than the time you lost your limited edition book "Love in the Time of Cholera"? (he teased)
7ala: ee,, hehehe.. more than that! I cant believe I just lost it! Who looses a book? (he knows exactly how to make me laugh)
Ya3goub: you're right, you’re the only person that can lose a book. W mu any book! A million page book! You know inna I can’t move my big toe anymore!
7ala: whaaat?!
Ya3goub: latsawen nafsch you don’t remember the time you dropped it on my foot, "bil'3ala6"
7ala: oo yaa.. hehehe I'm sorry about that by the way. Walla it was bil'3ala6.
Ya3goub: ee 5alich chithi! Ya7lailich wintay tith7ekeen!
7ala: ya3gouuuub! I'm supposed to be upset! Lat5arb 3alay!
Ya3goub: yalla besch dala3. He will be online in a while inshalla. W golela exactly what you told me. Be honest, tell him how you feel. Don’t expect him to just KNOW why you're upset. Tara i7na ilshabab manistaw3b, seriously. We have to be told, you can't just assume we know . ok? Badg 3alaih al7een w akalma. Don't worry, I wont get too involved. Bes I need to warn him inna he was awoken the the other side of you (he teased).
7ala: ya3gouuub!
Ya3goub: at'3shmar ma3ach feech. You're soo cute when you’re angry. You guys should fight all the time so he falls in love with you even more.
7ala: hahaha, very funny.
Ya3goub: ilmohim, mithl ma wa9aitch, just talk to him honestly w fahmi shilli mthaygch.
7ala: ee inshalla.. thanks ya3goub!
Ya3goub: shda3wa. Yalla gd luck tell me sh9eer
Half an hour later, Jara7 went online. I heard the "plop"
Jarah: so, I guess inna intay matrideen 3ala ar8am '3areeba ;p
Hala: are you trying to be funny?
Jarah: are you laughing?
Hala: no. I'm not
Jarah: then no, I'm not trying to be funny
Hala: ok, so what then?
Jarah: nothing, I just want you to know inna it was me that sent the message ;p. (waaay ynarfiz! Why did I smiiile!!??)
Hala: la walla? You're kidding. I had no idea who it was.
Jarah: 7ala shfeech shda3wa. It was just a message.
Hala: it wasn’t just a message Jara7. Awal shay, where did you get my number from? Thani shay. We’ve only been talking on FB for 2 days now. Ye3ni seriously, even if you DID ASK for my number I would have told you it's too soon.
Jarah: it doesn’t really matter how I got it, i have my ways 7ala. And about it being too soon, I agree. W ana asef. Bes il9ara7a, I don’t want to get to know you over the internet! Ana gitlich min ilawal inna I'm serious about you. And I still am. So, if I want to get to know you well, abi asma3 9otch, w achofch. Mu akalm ilshasha!
(like I said, he is so good with words. Ye3ni even b maw8ef chithi, when we all agree inna ihwa il'3al6an, he comes up with a justification)
Hala: I didn’t think about it this way. You're right. Bes I would have appreciated it if you asked me. I was shocked Jara7. You're approaching me the wrong way.
Jara7: la 7ala. intay illi mthaygch mu ina I'm approaching you the WRONG way. Ili mthaygch inna I'm approaching you. Just approaching. There is no wrong or right way. Why won't you open up to me. Why make this hard on both of us?
(why was he making it sound like I have commitment problems?! I don’t. Do i…?)
Hala: madri, Jara7. Madri.
Jarah: 7ala, fikray billi ga3d agwlch iya. I'm going to go now. Ana asef inni thayagtch. Bes mu asef inna i want to take our relationship to the next level. I don’t understand why you keep resisting.
He went offline before I could reply. A9lan I didn’t know what to reply. Shagwl ye3ni? Was he right? Everything he said actually made sense. Now I find it really hard to figure out why I was mad in the first place. Seriously, why was I mad? Madrii… Ye3ni all his intentions were good. He just wants US to work and I'm making it really difficult. Maybe I AM afraid of commitment. Maybe, I am scared that it won't work out. After all, if I do end up dating him, he would be my first boyfriend. First boyfriends are always the hardest to get over.
Faj2a I realized something, I keep talking about our relationship as though I know it WON'T LAST. As though I KNOW that we will break up. OmG, he has only known me for a couple of days, but he can read me like an open book. I suddenly feel guilty. I need to loosen up a little. I need to open up my heart and let in any love that he is attempting to give me. Jara7 and I might potentially be the best thing that ever happened to me. Jara7 and I. That has a nice ring to it. Me and Jara7….I need to give it a try. I want to give it a try.
I was day dreaming for a while, when suddenly the sound of my phone woke me up. It was a message. Mn Jara7. This time I was glad. The message was so meaningful. He is soo thoughtful. I read the message again.
"I won't hurt you. I promise."
I smiled, knowing that he really DOES understand me.

Chapter 7: 1 new message received

I woke up the next morning with a smile on my face. My smile grew even bigger as I remembered my dream. Was I falling for him? Yes. Yes I was. My smile was now the "ear-to-ear" kind.
I got out of bed, washed up and got dressed. I put on my skinny black H&M jeans, a Banana Republic fuschia loose shirt, my Balenciaga and golden Greek style sandals. Accessories, the rolex, a golden chain necklace from Massimo Dutti, and my Juicy charm bracelet. 6ab3an, after that I logged into FB. I had a message in my inbox. It was Jara7! I was smiling before I even read it. It said:
"I had a great talk with you ams. Inshalla tin3ad il'laila. W 3ala fikra, check the timing of when this message was sent to you (so I did, it was sent at 6:17am).Hatha ma3nata inna kintay awal shay ya 3ala balli awal ma ga3at min ilnom. Have a nice day ;). Take care."
I let out a slight laugh. OmG he makes me feel so happy. It feels great to be liked and wanted. And now, I am ALMOST certain that I like him and want him too.
Faj2a, a thought occurred to me. Jara7 is soo good with words! This obviously means inna he is very experienced at this. I mean talking to girls. I really don’t care if he has ex's or not. But, what I am worried about is, what if he uses this same technique for every other girl. I have got to focus and think clearly. I shouldn't be falling for him so easily! Mithl ma galat '3azl, lazm ashoof mina shay "woow", 3ala golat'ha. It has to be something that will make me feel inna it applies to me only. Something really special. NOT, some flirtatious conversations and messages!
Anyways, I logged out of FB, left my room, and drank my coffee while I looked through the newspapers. Today, I found 2 articles about my dad. So, I ripped them out, put them to the side and left the house.
During the first lecture, I told '3azl about the message. She was actually proud of me for the fact that I snapped out of my "I-think-I'm-in-love" moment. The rest of the lectures went by fairly slowly. By 12pm, it was time for our lunch break. Ya3goub and his friends were off to Mcdonalds to get food and so he texted me asking if we wanted anything.
Ya3goub: off to Mcdonalds.. tabwn shay?!
7ala: eee please =D. 2 Mcchicken meals with Diet coke. 2 mayonnaise, and 2 sweet chilli sause. Ya3goub, DIET coke! ;)
Ya3goub: enshaaaaaaala ;)
When they arrived with the food, we decided to sit and eat together in our campus garden. Half an hour later, we were done, and so we walked to class together.
Ya3goub: by the way 7ala.
7ala: hala?
Ya3goub: your cokes weren’t diet!
7ala: whaaaaat?!
'3azl: ya3goooooub?!
Ya3goub: I guess that means, what, 10 million calories instead of just 1?
7ala: I hate you. That's sooo mean! You can never, never do that to a girl!
Ya3goub: Min 9ijkum intaw, shinw ye3ni itha mu diet? 3al3umwm, I was just kidding, Hahaha that was fuun.

A couple of hours later, we were done with lectures for the day. I headed back home. Bilbait, I noticed my mom and Shams were eating lunch without my dad.
7ala: ha wain baba?
Mom: not coming for lunch today. Sit. Eat.
7ala: no thanks, I ate.
I went and kissed Shams, then went into my room. I changed and prayed. Then, I switched on my laptop, put on a song from iTunes and logged in into FB. I was singing along while I checked if anyone was online. Well actually, I checked if JARA7 was online.
"3umri mafakart feek w ma 5i6ar flbal 7bk..lain galbi gal abeek w 3aini galat a7bk..gmt afz lshoftk w at7ara jeitk.. antithr 7ubi iljedeed ba3d ma fakart feek"
Fortunately he was online! Instantly, I heard the "plop!"
Jara7: hi 7ala. Shlonch?
7ala: hey. Tamam. U?
Jara7: b5air il7emdilla. So, did you read my message this morning?
7ala: ee I did. Thanks that was so sweet of you.
Jara7: and I really meant it.
7ala: I hope so ;p
Jara7: afaaa :S
7ala: ;p
Jara7: you don’t trust me?
7ala: well, I don’t know you well enough to trust you. But, I don’t NOT trust you.
Jara7: ahaaa.. fahamt. That was honest. I like it. So how was your day?
7ala: the usual. 3adi, lecture after lecture. How about you?
Jara7: ee same. W ba3ad, shinw bitsaween ilyom ;)?
7ala: well, nothing fun. Inshala ba3ad shwey barid ilkoleya to study in the library.
Jara7: ahaa.. ee good luck. W what time bitredyn ilbait?
7ala: ye3ni around 9. Y?
Jara7: oollla
7ala: shinw?!
Jara7: ye3ni I have to wait till 9 to talk to you again ;p?!
7ala: ee. That’s if you're lucky and I DO go on FB tonight ;p (I teased, I was getting more confident at this)
Jara7: la ana mit2aked inna you will.
7ala: y are you so sure ;p?
Jara7: because I know that you're a FB junkie.
7ala: ahaaa ye3ni you think you know me very well do you? Ok so what else do you about me?
Jara7: I now know you love reading. And you love collecting vintage books, ya7lailich. You love shopping. You love Blair's style, madri minw ti6la3 hathi il9ara7a. You cant live without your iTrip. 7obch ilawal w ila5eer ubuch. Mmmm shinw ba3aaaad?
7ala: have you been investigating me? ;p
Jara7: ma ra7 a5ish 3alaich. I've been talking to ya3goub about you. I want to know more about you so I raise my chances with you. And he's been very helpful ;p tara he approves of me, for your information.
7ala: ee he does, la7ath't. ilmohim, its not fair!
Jara7: shinw uhwa illi not fair?
7ala: I know nothing about you ;p
Jarra7: mmmm ok. Well, I'm into politics 7addi. Ye3ni I don’t read books ;p I read newspapers. I'm studying business, in case you didn’t know ;p when I want something and I stick my mind to it, I always get it ;p
7ala: always ;p?
Jara7: ee always ;p. o and I love racing ;)
7ala: shllon ye3ni?
Jara7: ye3ni every now and then, me, my friends and some guys, nitifi8 to race bil bar. B5ti9ar ye3ni. I cant tell you all the details, it’s too dangerous ;p
We talked for almost an hour, when suddenly my phone rang. It was '3azl reminding me to change to go to ilkoleya.
7ala: anyways, I have to go study now. Talk to you soon inshalla
Jara7: good luck. Take care.
A while later, '3azl and I were both bl koleya. I told her about my conversation with jara7 and then we both went to the library. We have been studying for almost 2 hours by now. My mobile vibrated, it was a msg.
"basna Facebook. I want to talk to you whenever I feel like it"

Chapter 6: Barefoot By the Beach

Sometime later, '3azl had already fallen asleep. She had a tendency of falling asleep earlier than she wants to. I spent the rest of the night chatting with Ya3goub on msn. This guy is so respectful. I feel so comfortable talking to him for hours and hours. We have gotten really close in the past year or so. You know how people say that a girl and a guy can't JUST be best friends? And that it almost always turns into something much deeper than friendship? Well, I completely disagree. I consider Ya3goub my second best friend. I love him to death that I just feel like hugging him sometimes. And I don’t feel ashamed of saying this because I sincerely consider him my brother, which actually IS much deeper than friendship.
His father has actually known my dad for almost a decade, because of their field of work. We have gone out together several times with our families. My mom and dad adore him, w dayman ywa9wna 3alay. He is doing a great job taking care of me. He helps me out a lot! I'm the kind of person that just attracts bad situations. I always seem to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Take today's parking incident as an example. At the time laman ilkil kan hab b Twilight, he used to say : "I'm Edward and you're my Bella". He is so protective of me. One time my car just stopped in the middle of the road. I had no idea why?! I didn’t want to call my parents because I was supposed to be biljam3a 7azat'ha. But I had a shirt on hold at Chloe so I just had to go get it! Anyways, so I ended up calling him and he immediately came to the rescue. It turned out that my car was out of gas! I have a habit of forgetting that a car needs fuel, and so ever since, Ya3goub reminds me every week or so. Another thing is that I tend to get lost, a lot. So I call him to ydaleenee. Mashalla 3alaih he knows all the street names, every turn, every traffic light, every ma6aba! He always stays on the phone with me until I reach the destination that I had originally intended to get to. Il9ara7a madri shlon kint 3aysha min'3aira!
I started to feel a bit drowsy. I looked at the time, it was almost 2am.
7ala: I'm starting to get sleepy
Ya3goub: laa tawinaas
7ala: banaaaaam
Ya3goub: fine, yal 5ayna! Good night!
7ala: hehehe, talk to you bacher. Goodnight!
So I signed out of msn, logged out FB, changed into my PJs and tucked myself into bed next to '3azl.


It was Saturday morning. Last day of the weekend, we start dawamat again bacher. '3azl and I woke up to the sound of Beth screaming at us to get up. '3azl dragged me out of bed. We washed up and put on our tracksuits and went downstairs. Breakfast was on the table out in the garden, and it all looked so delicious.
'3azl: iljaw 3ajeeb. Yabeela nrw7 namshi 3al ba7ar (she said with her mouth full)
7ala: ee 7adda. After breakfast, lets go.
And so we did. Ri7na tmashaina min Marina Crescent to the Scientific Center. We had planned to walk back to Marina Crescent but we got too tired. So '3azl called her driver to come and get us. He dropped us back to Marina Crescent so '3azl would get her car.
At '3azl's house, we took a shower, changed w raya7na shwey. Then it was time for lunch. We sat around the dining table, with her mom, dad and siblings. I love their home made Machbous! During lunch, we had the same conversation that we have every time I sleep over at her house. Her mom would ask: shlon ildirasa. And form there we would talk about jam3a, the professors we liked and the ones we didn’t, the hard subject and the easy ones, everything. After a while, we would get up, say thanks and go upstairs to '3azl's room to study. It was the same thing everytime! It felt like déjà vu.
We studied till around 7pm, then my phone rang. It was my mom.
Mom: hi 7ala, wainch?
7ala: 3ind '3azl mama, we're studying shwey.
Mom: ee zain tsawonon. Mita bitredeen il bait?
7ala: madri mama. Lesh?
Mom: intaw matishbe3wn min ba3ath (she teased) la bes as2al. ok mama lati2a5erain.
7ala: inshalla mama. Byee
We continued studying for about an hour then just got bored.
7ala: '3azl, wa9lini baitna. I don’t want to be too late.
'3azl: ee ok no problem.
We reached baitna, and as I was opening the car door to leave, '3azl said: "see you tomorrow. Kalmini itha 9ar shay" (she winked at me w I knew exactly what she meant)
Salamt 3ala ommi, w I played Barbies with Shams for a while. Then I decided to go to sleep, I was kind of tired from the walk this morning. I lay in bed with the laptop on my tummy. I logged into FB. I checked the notifications and everything. Suddenly I heard the "plop" sound of FB chat. It was Jara7. I hadn’t noticed he was online!
Jara7: hala 7ala. Nawar my FB! Shlonch?
7ala: hi. Tamam, u?
Jara7: dom inshalla. Ana il7emidella, zain.
What was I supposed to say now? God I'm so bad at this. I just waited for him to say something else.
Jara7: mash'3oola?
7ala: la I'm not doing anything. Bes il9ara7a I don’t know what to talk to you about.
Jara7: ahaaa..ok, well what do friends normally talk about?
7ala: madri, everything..
Jara7: ok, so, how was your weekend? How about that ;p
7ala: it was great. How was yours.
Jara7: the usual , dirasa, nadi, movies, diwaniya..etc
7ala: I see
Jara7: don’t you want to know ay nadi, w shinw al3ab?
7ala: hehehe sorry, ay nadi? W shinw til3ab? ;p (I was getting better at this)
Jara7: nadi ilKwait. I play handball.
7ala: sounds nice.
Jara7: you're not that into sports are you? ;p
7ala: il9ara7a la2 hehehe.
Jara7: so what are you into?
7ala: madri, I like reading, shopping, hanging out with my friends. chithi ashya2.
Jara7: ye3ni b5ti9ar, you like to read fashion magazines, so you know what to shop for the next time you go out to the mall with your friends? ;p
7ala: ammmm nooo.. I like reading books. Actual books. I don’t read magazines, I just flip through them and see the photos. And yes that does help me to shop with my friends! (I was kind of offended. I didn’t like the fact that he thought of me as THAT kind of girl)
Jara7: thayagtch?
7ala: la, bes atwa8a3 inna you have the wrong idea about me. Tara I'm not some kind of shallow, materialistic bimbo!
Jara7: ana makan 8a9di chithi. W asef itha thayagtch.
7ala: I know, its fine. I just want to make that clear to you.
Jara7: ee fahamt. Bes please stop doing this to me!
7ala: huh..doing what to you?! (what the hell was wrong with him?!)
Jara7: the first time I saw you, I wanted u. I asked my friend to talk to you, you said mu no3ch chithi. I help you out with the parking incident, you act like you don’t know me, I give a stereotype description of you, sakatini w fahamtini intay shinw.
7ala: your point is? (did he change his mind about me? Does he think I'm not worth all the rejections)
Jara7: the point is, every incident with you, tikbereen b3aini akthar w akthar. 7ala, inshalla mara7 a5ayeb thnch feeni, and you will find inna I'm worthy to be with you.
I didn’t know what to saaaay? I started typing: mashk,, then erased, then I started typing that’s so sw.. then I erased. Ambaay shagwl?
Jara7: 7ala?
7ala: yes?
Jara7: its ok you don’t have to say anything. I have enjoyed this talk with you. Ra7 a5elch al7een, w akalmch bacher inshalla.
7ala: ee inshala.
Jara7: ma3a ilsalama. Take care.
7ala: you too. Bye.
Jara7: ihda2---> http://www.6arab.net/ViewSong/207775.html (as soon as I clicked on the link, he was offline)
I waited for the song to load. A couple of minutes later it was done. It was the sweet sound of Majeed singing:
" kil ma3adait asbab 7uby lek.. a'3l6 fee il3adad..w a3d mn thani..i5tark ilzain mn bain kl jeelk..wi7tar wsh yo9f mn wa9fk lsani."
Sooooo sweeeeet!!
I immediately called '3azl and I told her about every single detail of the conversation. I read it out as it is, every word, every letter, and every dot.
'3azl: 7ala, bas2ilch su2al, and you have to promise inna ra7 itjawbeeny b9ara7a.
7ala: '3azl.. YES. I do think I'm starting to like him (I knew what she was going to ask, so I just answered)
'3azl: I'm glad about that li2anna il9ara7a me too. Ye3ni mu2adab. W laman tkalmini 3anna arta7la.
7ala: omG '3azl, you're right. Ye3ni there is nothing wrong with him. Kilsh, I cant think of anyting that I don’t like about him. Obviously I still need to get to know him better. Bes u know what I was thinking?
'3azl: shinw?
7ala: you know how ya3goub is protective of me?
'3azl: Yaaaa! OVERprotective!
7ala: e that's my point exactly. Ye3ni if Jara7 was a bad guy, there's no way inna Ya3goub would have told me about him.
'3azl: ee good point
7ala: hmmm..
'3azl: hehehe,, ok,, am gona go now and leave you to dream about Jara7.
7ala: heyy!!
'3azl: heheh byeee
'3azl was right. That I night I did dream of Jara7. I dreamt of us walking barefoot together by the beach at sunset. We walked and talked for hours and hours. The beach side seemed to go on on like there was no end. It felt like we were the only two people that existed. I didn’t want this dream to end. But then suddenly, my 6:45 am alarm went off!! Uuggghhhh.. nooo.
And so the week begins again.

Chapter 5: mmmmmmm.. Midnight!

Chapter 5:
I woke up this morning feeling soooo tired. I didn’t sleep well last night. I'm embarrassed to admit this but it's because I couldn’t stop thinking of Jara7! His wide brown eyes, fair skin, messy hair, tall broad figure and lovely dimples.
I started singing to myself "9udfa w mn bain kl ilnas 3alagni, min yom shifta w 3aini jat fe 3aaina, 7asait shay b 3yoona 7ail yajthibni, lama ebtsam banat eb wajhe tlaweena"
The way he nonchalantly just helped me out, and bkil thi8a gali: "this made my day". I couldn’t get that phrase out of my mind. I made his day. Kill hatha li2ana I couldn’t get my car out of the parking. I should've just taken a ride with '3azl. Which reminds me. I didn’t tell '3azl about this incident yet. I didn’t want to tell her until I understood what I was feeling. But no luck with that. I'm not sure how I feel. So I grab my phone and dial her number.
7ala: hey good morning!
'3azl: morning? 7ala we're not supposed to be using this word in the weekend!
7ala: hehehe it’s a quarter to 12, yalla besich nom.
'3azl: plzzz five more minutes!
7ala: we're not supposed to use THAT phrase in the weekend! Yalla get up.
'3azl: ok ok..so shinw binsawee ilyom?
7ala: mithl ma we planned ams. Ammm bagwlch shay 9ar feene ams.
'3azl: 5air shinw?
7ala: you know how the avenues parking are so tight, and how it always takes me ages to get the car in and out?
'3azl: ee, tara tfashleen (she teased)
7ala: 7addi! Ams I finally gave up w 5alait wa7ed i6ali3li ilsayara
'3azl: hehehe ee zain itsaween, cuz that is SO much LESS embarrassing (she teased again)
7ala: that's not the worst part…
'3azl: shimsawya ba3ad? Latgwleenle inna you tipped the guy that helped you out.
7ala: intay wain w ana wain. The guy illi 6ala3li ilsayara was Jara7. Jaraaa7!
'3azl: no waaaaay.. you're kidding! omG what a coincidence
7ala: yaa that’s exactly what he said 3ugub ma 6ala3lee ilsayara. And after I thanked him, galli inna I made his day!
'3azl: that's so cute of him. Tara he's very confident of himself.
7ala: ee he really is. And omG his smile! '3azl his smiiile
'3azl: haaa? Achoofch you're starting to get into him?
7ala: maybe. Madri. Bes I'm still going to wait and see. Ammm
'3azl: shfeeech, gulay?
7ala: should I msg him on FB and thank him?
'3azl: intay ya kilish mata36eena wayh, ya ga6a nafsch 3alaaih?!
7ala: '3azaaaaal!!
'3azl: min 9iji. La don't, you already thanked him last night, 9a7?
7ala: ee I did.
'3azl: bes 5ala9 kafi. Just wait, mithl ma gitlich.
7ala: hehehe ee inshalla
'3azl: anyways, yalla shinw bnalbis?
7ala: madri yet, bes by the way mara7 albis heels. My feet are killing me min ams!
'3azl: fine, 3ayal I'm not going to discuss shinw balbis with you.
7ala: fine!
'3azl: bes bagwlch, inna something casual (we just had to give each other some guidelines on what to wear ;p)
7ala: hehehe, e ok, me too then
'3azl: 3ala fikra, ana bamerch. You know, just incase .. (she teased) I don’t want to miss anything!
I decided to wear an off-white shirt, with a long beige cardigan on top, a camel brown Armani waist belt, beige shaila, jeans and Golden Zara flats. I decided to wear my Marc Jacobs cream Stam, which I hadn’t worn in a while. As for my accessories: the gold rolex, and a gold large chunky chain bracelet that I had bought at P2BK recently. Makeup: mascara, liquid eyeleiner and Maybelline Windsor Rose lipstick.
The girls were already there when '3azl and I arrived. We were immediately seated at our outdoors table.
7ala: omG il jaw y3a8d!
We all ordered, then enjoyed the food with our usual talks. Ana 6ab3an I had my usual, 2 sliders of Midnight. My favorite. When we were done with lunch, my favorite part came up. Chocolate Pudding! As much as I love chocolate, there is no way I can eat a whole one on my own, even though I wish I could! So we ordered a couple and shared. An hour later we were done. We said our goodbyes, and left.
In the car, '3azl and I were discussing our plans.
'3azl: so, tabeen shopping?
7ala: no not really. Lets just go baitkum and hang out.
'3azl: ok bs lets pass by your house first so you get your stuff. This week, ilsahra 3inidii.
A while later, we were in '3azl's room. I changed into my Victoria's Secret navy track suit, so I would feel more comfortable. I sat on the carpet next to '3azl, and switched on my laptop.
'3azl: no! not now. Let's ,make facial masks, watch a movie, have dinner w ba3daaaaaain at night I'll let you use it! Min 9ji.
7ala: hehehe ok.. yalla ay mask binsawee ilyom?
'3azl: I read about this papaya thing on the internet ams, so I asked the maids to get all the ingredients we needed.
We went downstairs to the kitchen, and started mixing all the ingredients. We were soo tempted to start a food fight nafs last week, but '3azl's maid, Beth, was keeping a close eye on us. Last week, she made us help her clean the mess that we had caused in the kitchen, and gave us this whole lecture about how we have to grow up! She is so cute! She's has been working at '3azl house sinse '3azl was 3, so we really do respect her and always listen to watch she asks us to do. Well, most of the time. Half an hour later, the 5al6a was ready. So we went back upstairs to '3azl's room.
'3azl: yalla lie down on the bed. I'll put the mask for you first.
7ala: so.. what is this one supposed to do? (I asked while she applied the cold creamy mixture on my forehead)
'3azl: ilmafrwth inna it tightens and minimizes the size of the pores. W eliminates blackheads w madri shinw.
7ala: ahaa. Imohim, it smells and feels really good.
Next it was my turn to apply the mask on her face, and a put a slice of cucumber on each one of her eyes. I put one on each eye. We just lay down and chatted for half an hour. I love the fact the '3azl and I can make a conversation out of the most random topics. Mathalan, time traveling, horoscopes, chocolate, pets, aliens, pillows. Yes, pillows! Anything! And like every week, in the middle of our conversations, I would hear '3azl chewing the cucumber slices.
We rinsed off the cream from our faces, then looked through the DVD stack that '3azl had on her desk. We chose to watch "7 Pounds". We had missed watching it when it was out in the cinema, so '3azl had bought it as a DVD. Amaaaazing but depresssssing! We cried soo much.
By now, it was almost 9. We decided to send her driver out to get us McDonald's for dinner.
'3azl: hach laptopch! Now you can use it.
7ala: heheh thaaanx. A7bch !
We both logged in onto our facebook accounts, and signed in on msn. A while later the food had arrived, so we put our laptops down and ate dinner, infront of the tv. We watched Gossip Girl, season 2, episode 17. We both adored Blair,and adored her sense of fashion!
When it was over, we both went back to our laptops. It was so funny how we were both sitting right next to each other but still chatted with each other on msn! I checked my FB again. It tends to get really busy at night.
1 new friend request.
I clicked on it.
Jara7 ilX.
7ala: '3azl! '3azl! Ta3alay he added me as a friend on facebook!
'3azl: minw?
7ala: ye3ni minw? Come!
'3azl: he has a personal message for you.
She read it out loud: "7ala, I hope you accept my friend request. It is just a FRIEND request. Bes mara7 achathb 3alaich w agwlch ina thats all I want to be to you, just a friend. Bes lets try that for the beginning and see where it goes. Let's just get to know each other for a while, as friends. Aw3dch ini ra7 a7awel a5alech tirta7ainli. Just friends, wa3d".
7ala: is this what you were talking about? Something woow? I really do love FB, bs I'm sorry, this is not my idea of "woow"
'3azl: no this is not what I'm talking about. Bes intay ba3ad alla yhadach sha'3lay mu5ch shwey. How is he going to impress you without being in touch with you? Tara i7na mu 3aysheen in a fairytale! I7na in earth, Kuwaiit.
7ala: ana ma gilt abi fairytale
'3azl: ok then accept. Lazim chithi, baby steps. You can remove him whenever you want, 3aadi. Just see were it goes. Mithl magitlch, give him the chance to show you inna he's worthy.
7ala: you're right. Plus il9ara7a I do want to get to know him better. I really do, bes you know me. Madri, asti7i.
'3azl: just give me you're laptop. I'll accept for you.
I handed it to her and put my hands over my face.
'3azl: you guys have one friend in common. See thats a good start. At least you have SOMETHING in common (she teased)
7ala: minw?
'3azl: Ya3goub
7ala: ow right. 5ala9 just accept
'3azl: I already did sweetie..

Chapter 4: Remember where you parked.

Classes were finally over. The weekend has just begun!
'3azl: ok, so movie then dinner at Maki. Bs ay filim? 7ala, do u have this week's movie schedule?
7ala: 6ab3aan I do. Okk mmmm.. what time tabwn?
'3azl: ye3ni around 6, 9a7 banat?
They all agreed.
7ala: ok avenues around 6… mm here's the perfect movie, plus am in the mood for a comedy. 5ala9, Shopaholic at 5:30 avenues, then 3asha Maki. Perfect! Can't wait! Yalla banat see you in a few hours nshalla, barw7 ilbait abadel.
'3azl: ee me too, yalla byee.
'3azl wa9ilatni to my car. On my way home, my phone rang. It was '3azl.
7ala: waaaaay shtabeeen (I teased)
'3azl: hi.. abi a3arf shinw btalbesyn for tonight?
7ala: mm madri, al7een I go home, at'3ada, shower, w laman I check my closet adg 3alaich. Intay what do you have in mind?
'3azl: heels! W il baji I'll decide at home.
7ala: heheh 5ala9 ok .. yalla talk to you soon. Byee
While I was parking my car, my dad was unlocking the house main door to enter, he noticed me fa ni6arni 3ind il bab. I hurried out of the car.
7ala: hii baba. Shlonk?
Dad: hala 7alati. Il7emdilla b5air, intay shlonch?
7ala: tamam
He put his arms around my shoulder as we went up the stairs together. The food was already on the table.
7ala: oo lasagna! My favorite, 3ad I'm starving!
Half an hour later we were done. I told my parents about my plans for the day then I went to take a shower. Awal ma 6al3t, with the towels still on my body and hair, I switched on my laptop. 3ala ma it was switching on, dagait 3ala '3azl.
7ala: hey.. so 8arartay shinw btalbeseen, ana ba3di
'3azl: ana ba3ad not yet. Yalla open your closet
7ala: la7tha dgeega, let me check my FB
'3azl: waaay besich tara mu zain!
7ala: hehehe I'll just check it 3alsaree3.
While '3azl was chatting, la7ath't inna I had a new message in my inbox. Laman fita7t ilmessage w garaita, the only word that was capable of coming out of my mouth was: AYSHAY!
'3azl: shfeeech?!
7ala: no waaaay..
'3azl: whaaat?!
7ala: ams I got a message from wa7ed ma3arfa, saying: "tara min 9iji I'm not just fooling around". Bes ma3arfta fa I jut erased the messsge. Now, I get another message from the same guy, isma Jara7 ilX. Sim3ay, I'l read you the message:
Ya3goub galli 3an your reaction laman he told you 3anni. And I completely understand. That will not make me stop trying, bil 3ex a9lan now I know inna you're the kind of girl I want so I will be trying much harder. I hope you're not offended by this, that is not my intention at all.
'3azl: ahaaa…hehehe
7ala: '3azl! Did u here what I just read?
'3azl: ee I did, sheeech why are you so freaked out?
7ala: lesh, am I supposed to be calm in a situation like this?!
'3azl: I mean inna you're over reacting 7ala! Ilrayal magal shay '3ala6, tara 3adi.
7ala: shinw 3adi? Intay min 9ijich
'3azl: I'm not telling you to date the guy, I'm just saying inna hear what he has to say. Don't just freak out and get mad 3ala 6wl! Ma9ar shay!
7ala: ….( I take a deep breathe a few times) ok I'm calm. Since you're so wise, yalla tell me what to do now?
'3azl: nothing. Don’t do anything
7ala: shlon ye3ni?
'3azl: ye3ni, mu uhwa ygwl inna yabeech? W 3ala golta he's going to try even harder. Bes, wait and see what he comes up with. I'm sure inna la7ath inna you're not the kind of girl illi you're going to say yes to any random guy. And akeed every serious guy yabi wa7da chithi. Fa itha ohwa 9ij 9ij yabech, then lazm isawee shay "woow", inna you change your mind about him and 3al a8al ta36eena chance inna tit3arifain 3alaih and then with time see where it goes. Fahamtay 8a9di.
7ala: ee I think so. Madrii. Anyways, you're going to be with me all the way through this. Inshalla i'll do whatever you advice me.
'3azl: ee akeeed! Yalla back to mawthw3na, shinw bnalbis.
I felt more comfortable and confident knowing that '3azl will know what I'm supposed to do. She was good at these stuff. After all, she was more experienced in the field of dating than I was. I never had a so called boyfriend. She had one serious boyfriend. Very serious. But it ended, and I don't think she ever got over it. She doesn’t like talking about it, so we just don't mention him.
After a while, we had decided on what to wear. First I put on my make up: thin line of liquid eyeliner with a tiny flick, mascara, and a Chanel No.5 red lipstick. My outfit of choice was: a long dark grey silk shirt with some lace at the bottom, a black waist belt , my Seven jeans, and a black shaila. I had promised '3azl I would wear high heels, so I settled on my mom's Dolce and Gabanna leopard print heels. I love the fact that my mom and I had the same shoe size! Now the bag: my red Louis Vuitton Vernis Bag. I took I final glance at the mirror then left the house.
15 minutes later, I was at the avenues parking lot. It was sooo za7ma I couldn’t find wala maw8ef. Finally ligait maw8ef, I parked w 6ala3t min ilsayara and I made a mental not of where I had parked, Blue P 6. Akrah mawa8ifhum, 7ad'hum tight! Anyways, by 5:15 we were all gathered at cinescape. We decided not to get snacks and leave space for Maki <3. About an hour and a half later, the movie was over. Eyaneeeen! We all loved it.
'3azl: Now I want the green scarf!
7ala: eee, me too!
So, we walked to Maki . Ga3adna da5el, flipped through the menu then 6alabna. We were in Maki for quite a while, eating and chatting. Mostly chatting. A5er shay, we just confirmed our plans for tomorrow, lunch at slider's at 2pm, and then we all left to our cars.
I was trying to get out of the parking bes ma3araft shlon. Waaaay, avenues parking spaces are soo tight! What made the salfa even worse is that there was a guy that was waiting for me to a6la3 so that ya5eth my parking place, w the cars illi warah started honking. I just couldn’t get the car out, so I did what my dad told me to do awal ma he handed me my license: itha twahagtay let someone else handle the car. So, I simply got out of my car, and waved to the guy to come help me. Awal ma 6ala3 min ilsayara, I regretted doing that! How could I be so stupid?! How could I not notice the car! It was a Golden Cayenne. THE Golden Cayenne. Oh God. Jara7 (I knew his name now) confidently walked towards me.
Jara7: shlonch?
7ala: I don’t mean to be rude, bes could you just get the car out. There's no need for small talk.
He smiled to me. OmG, the dimples… sooo cuuute. Then he got into my car, and smoothly got it out. That made me feel so stupid. He got out of my car, and came up to me and said: "what a coincidence".
7ala: ya what a coincidence..ammmm.. mashkwr maga9art.
Jara7: 3adi shda3wa, it was my pleasure. O 3ala fikra, that made my day!

Chapter 3: Aammmm… thanks but no thanks!

I wake up this morning feeling energetic. It's one of these mornings when I can probably survive with no coffee, bes I don't risk it. Why? It's a Thursday. Which means weekend! I get out of bed, wash up, and get dressed. Libast yesterday's jeans, a loose pink H&M shirt, with some ruffles at the front, grey Marc Jacobs ballerinas, the usual bag, and a grey shaila with silver strass lining. I chose my D&G crystal filled watch only as an accessory. I think it's sparkly and shiny enough, fa mala da3i more accessories. Well, maybe just a simple Swarovski bracelet on the other hand will be ok. Ready. I go through my usual morning routine, check the newspapers, login on FB, change my status to : Hala is WEEKEND <3, logout of FB and then leave.
A while later, I arrive at the koleya, and I see '3azl standing with a group of our close girlfriends. I approach them with a smile. There's nothing better than a group of friends that you trust , rely on, and just simply enjoy spending time with.
7ala: hi banat, shlonkum?
They all reply with the usual answer.. tamaam intay shlonch etc etc..
7ala: sooo.. shinw our plans this weekend?
A girl suggested lunch at sliders, another suggested a movie w wa7da tabi dinner at Maki. ( '3azl and I looove Japanese restaurants <3 )
'3azl: 5ala9 after dawam, nrid ilbait w nrayi7 and change our clothes. 3ugub we meet up for a movie then 3asha at Maki. W bacher we can meet up for lunch at sliders, ilyom adg w a7jz. Everyone happy?!
I just love weekends. They mean freedom, 7attan law temporary, bes still freedom. No dirasa, no 6 am alarms, no boring lectures. Just outings, tv, reading, and my favorite part, sleepover's with '3azl!
The girls continued chatting, and laughing while they headed off to the lecture. I was walking with them to class when a group of guys, which me and '3azl had gotten close with, started walking towards us. I instantly thought they were coming to say hi, ye3ni their usual morning greeting. And they did. While they continued talking, wa7ed minhum, Ya3goub, asked if he could talk to me.
7ala: ya sure, amer
Ya3goub: ma yamer 3alaich 3adw, bes I need to talk to you about something.
7ala: sure go ahead.
Ya3goub: alone? Plz..
I looked at '3azl who was chatting along with the guys about a professor that we all hate. And she was complaining about him having a weird accent, and that nobody ever understood his lectures. She made a perfect impersonation of him!
7ala: ammm ya sure, is everything ok?
Ya3goub: ee bes ta3alay ma3ay shwey.
I followed him out of the noisy lobby and into a quiet corridor where we could talk more freely.
Ya3goub: 7ala bagwlch shay bes plz latifhemeene '3ala6. I have nothing to do with this, I'm just getting the message to you. Ye3ni ma3ala ilrasool illa albala'3.
7ala: tara ur scaring me, so please just say what you want or "have" to say 3ala goltk
Ya3goub: ams wa7ed min ilrabe3 yani. Wa7ed a3arfa min ayam ilthanawiya. W sa2alni 3anch. Well not 3anch, 3an sayaratch!
7ala: huh?..mafahamt..
Ya3goub: madri itha tadreen, bes hatha rfeeji chayfch b sayartch with '3azl, w apparently la7agkum until il koleya. W li2anna y3arf nas min ilkoleya, ye3ni ana mathalan, fa yani w sa2alni minw 3indikum tsoog LR3 soda? W 6ab3an makw bnaya bilkoleya tsoog hal sayara '3airch. Tara I seriously don’t get why you drive it asasan?! Yom min il ayam, ana bawadeech b nafsi to choose a proper car that matches your size, it's too big for you! (he teased)
7ala: heeey, bala 6naza! I like it kaify. And by the way, int min 9ijik willa tistahbil, tara I'm not in the mood for one of your pranks.
We were close enough with this group of guys, that we just loved pranking each other. One time, '3azl and I were passing notes to Ya3goub during a lecture, and he would reply back to us. When I unfolded one of the notes he sent us, I saw a cockroach da5l! w thank God inni ma9ara5t. BUT, min il5ar3a, 7ithaft ilmobile min edee and it hit a guys head infront of me! OmG, I was so embarrassed! 7aram, the guy simply got my phone min il arth and gave it back to me. I was soo embarrassed that I was speechless. I couldn't even say sorry to him. O and btw, it was a RUBBER cockroach! Anyways, we never think of any of the guys b Ya3boub's group as anything more than friends, ye3ni they're like our brothers, so there is no awkwardness between us.
Ya3goub: 7ala min 9iji shfeech! Ilmohim, ana 6ab3an majawabta 3ala6ool illa laman fahamt minna isalfa. Tara he's serious, yabeech.
7ala: Ya3goub, are you serious? You know me! I cant believe you're even asking me!
Ya3goub: 7ala! Tara mithil ma intay wayed '3alya 3alay w I consider you as my sister, tara ohwa ba3ad my friend, w he wanted me to tell you, which I did. W bes!
7ala: ye3ni shlon al7een. You give him my number, w nkalm ba3ath b an9a9 il layali, then we fall in love, w get married and have babies. Ya3goub, plz, can you take care of this for me. Just tell him inna ana mu no3i chithi.
Ya3goub: ok fine,, wala yhimich ana akalma 5ala9.
'3azl: 7alaa?! Intay wain faj2a you disappeared?
7ala: I was just talking to Ya3goub. Yalla lets go to class.
So I smiled to him, w turned away. Then I remembered.
7ala: agool, Ya3goub. Does this friend of yours by any chance drive a Golden Cayenne?
Ya3goub: actually e! ye3ni you noticed him following? Latgwlynly athakum?!
7ala: ee we noticed inna he followed! Ye3ni it's not like he was trying to hide it, kan ilwath3 7adda ashkara! W ee athana, ye3ni shinw hal 7arakat, it's not like we were 3al 7ob and wanting to be followed ! He followed us back to the koleya for God's sake.. seriously? Ilmohim, int kalma w don’t mention ilsalfa again ok? plz
Ya3goub: Inshala I will. W lat7ateen, tara il salfa mu 8a9ib.
I turned away again, w immediately '3azl asked me what was going on? W I explained everything that Ya3goub had told me about Mr.Golden Cayenne and what I had told Ya3goub. I was feeling a bit worried, w I hoped that it will just end at that and that he will just find another girl to hit on, inshala. '3azl calmed me down, and told me it wasn't a big deal, ye3ni it’s just the way kwaiti guys are. Some, not all she insisted.
'3azl: 7asafa 3ad he's cute, chan you used him for a while, it would have been so nice to refer to a hot guy as your "boyfriend" (she joked)
We laughed. She always knew how to bring my mood back to normal. I thank God everyday that I have her. We entered the class, sat down at the back. '3azl was looking for her iPod in her bag bes she couldn’t find it.
'3azl: I must have forgotten it at home. 6al3ay iPodch.
So we listened to my iPod together, we shared the headphones. I used one ear plug, she used the other. We listened to Rashed's melodic voice singing "illi liga a7babaaa nsa a97abaa..ya dinya ya '3araba, ya dinya ya '3rabaaa, yadri fee 3ainni dara w migdara lakn 6reega 5tara, lakn 6reega 5tara…."
'3azl: yawailch if I ever had to apply this song to us, fahma!! (she joked)
I couldn’t wait for dawam to end; this was going to be a great weekend, I could just feel it.

Chapter 2: This Is The Life I, 7ala, Live (Part II)

Time passes so slow during lectures. My focus span is an average of 20minutes per lecture. On a good day I can focus for up to half an hour. But, if I get no morning coffee, I'm lucky if I can even keep my eyes open.
Finally, lectures for today are over! '3azl and I walk to our cars together. Actually we walk to her car together. We have a habit of dropping each other off to our cars. Ye3ni mathalan, ilyom '3azl's car is closer to the university building, so she drives me to my car which is further away. Its not because we're lazy, its because we are fathyeeeen. She stops right next to my car.
7ala: garbay akthar, mali5ilg amshi (I joke).
We giggle, ofcorse. I get out of her car and get into mine. I start the engine, read the du3a2, choose a song, connect my iPod, reverse the car and suddenly I slam on the breaks!! I forgot to put on my seat belt . So I do that, then I continue to drive out of the parking lot. Seat belts are a big deal to me. Ma7ad yirkab sayarti if they don’t put on their seat belt, it's my golden rule. Ilmohim, I notice a golden cayenne in the lot. Could it be the same car as this afternoon? La mu ma38ula, w a9lan fee wayed cayennes in kwaiti streets. Plus, it could be a completely different one, bes ana il9ara7a ma afham b hal suwalef.. cayenne S,.. w GTS and LMNOP, DNG and madri shinw ;p. Ilmohim, I let it go and I continue driving back home. Awal ma dashait ilbait, my little sister, Shams, runs up to me and hugs me! I love her soo much 7abibti. She's such a hyper kid. She makes me smile even when I'm in the worst mood ever! A7bch Sis . I say hi to my mom, then I go into my room to change and pray. By the time I'm done, I come out to the 9ala again, and I find my dad, mom and Shams sitting around our dining table having lunch. I went to greet my dad.
7ala: hi baba.. shlonk ( I kiss him on the cheek)
Dad: il7emdilla 7alati ( I love it when he calls me that ) intay shlonch? Shlon il dawam ilyom?
I sit down at the table with them.
7ala: it was good, the usual. Nothing that interesting.
Dad: makw shay interesting ? no mashra7a ilyom? ( In medicine, we get a class on the human body anatomy and the teachers use actual human bodies to show us all the body parts and organs, obviously. After my first mashra7a class last year, I was soo excited to get back home and tell my parents about it. I love chithi suwalf! Bes I hate the smell of the bodies! When I was telling my dad about it, he was so surprised that I didn’t just run out. Apparently he thought inna ana no3i dalw3a w a5aaf ;p and he was so amused that the only thing that bothered me was only the smell and not the site of the bodies ! So ever since that day, he constantly teases me about mashra7a)
7ala: la baba! No mashra7a today, bes we did have a long break so we went out for lunch.
Dad: ahaa achoofch mu ga3da takleen! (if I wasn’t so full I would be eating lunch again, I love my mom's food)
Lunch time was the only quality time I get to spend with my dad. So, I make sure that I'm always home for that meal.
Dad: il7emdilla rab il3alameen. Tislam eedch om 7ala
Mom: alla ysalmk. Bl 3afya.
My dad got up and went for his afternoon nap and I went into my room, switched on my laptop, and ofcorse, typed inà www.facebook.com , I was so addicted. I checked out all the interesting notifications, ignored a couple of random friend requests, and then decided to change my status: Hala is soo full, nice lunch outing girls, had fun ;*. Next, I signed in on msn, '3azl was online.
'3azl: heyy
7ala: hii
'3azl: so mita bitredeen ilkoleya? ( we usually return to the university in the evenings to "study" in the library, because if we stay home then it's all phone calls, msn, FB, tv, and no studying. At least blkoleya we read a couple of chapters)
7ala: madri in 2hrs?
'3azl: ee ok, shinw " bnadres"?
7ala: lets try to study some biology.
'3azl: ok, btw, hear this song :ma m3akum-rashed, I ll send it 2 u al7een am listening to it now.. 8adeema bes 7ady m3alga 3alaihaaa..
(Ma m3akum 5abar zain ya raswl el salama.. la t5ayeb thnwny… bas2alak 3an el b7rain, kaif ahl el Manama.. 3adhum yathkrownee)
And our conversation continued with the usual suwalf, until an hour and half later '3azl reminded me to get ready. I prayed, then put on my maroon velour juicy tracksuit, white shirt from under, golden zara flats, dad's rolex , white shaila with golden strass lining, same bag. I applied mascara, and put on my cherry lip balm. Half an hour later we were both in the library, highlighting every single word in our notes using different colored highlighters for each line. I seriously don’t get why everybody in 6eb does that?
'3azl: it9adgeen, I think inna we medical students think that by highlighting everything, the information passes through the highlighter, to our hand, across our arm, past our shoulder and neck and into our brain ( she read my mind! She unconsciously answered the question I had in mind a moment ago. This is what I meant by our minds being freakishly connected! )
We giggled quietly, trying not to disturb the others in the library. It's funny how our campus is always filled with people, whether it's 9 am, or 9 pm! Everybody is always here. But nobody really complains because it's like our second home, so cosy (not really). We all know each other, if not by name then by shakl. Nobody is a stranger. After a while, we decided to take a break. Our definition of break is: anywhere barra ilkoleya. So, we went to the nearby Fudz in jabriya to get a dozen of their delicious cookies. We headed back to college to enjoy our cookies and talks! Half an hour later, we decide to go back to studying. After a while, I started to asra7. I began watching others faces, some concentrating, some learning, some cluelessly staring at the book infront of them, and others that are also sar7aneen and staring at me while I stare at others. I need do focus! Soon, '3azl and I both got tired, enough studying for today. We leave the library, and this time I dropped her off to her car li2anna mine was closer. We said our goodnights and headed back home.
This time of the day, baitna ikwn hadi. Shams is sleeping, ommi bil mamsha, ubuy bldiwaniya, w il5adam madri 3anhum. I go shower, change into my PJs and put on my socks. Before going to bed, I called my mom.
7ala: mama, I'm home
Mom: ha darastaw?
7ala: ee mama. Ok ana banam now, goodnight.
Mom: good night.
Then I msg my dad, cuz I know he's too busy to talk.
7ala: t9ba7 3ala 5air baba ;*
I don’t wait for him to reply,cuz he never does anyway, bes I know he reads my msgs. So, I just head to Sham's room, I slowly kiss her chubby cheeks and whisper goodnight in her ear. I go back to my room, and I check my FB for the last time ilyom. When I finished with the notifications, I noticed I had a message in my inbox. I didn't know the sender, the name wasn’t familiar. The message said "Tara ana min 9iji… I'm not just fooling around." Shinw ye3ni?.. I had no idea what that meant. Ilmohim, the person must be mistaken, so I just deleted the message, logged off and lay in bed.
No matter how tired I ever am, I can never fall asleep immediately. So, as usual, I fidget in bed for God knows how long as I rewind the day's events in my mind. Great morning weather- sunny with cool breeze, fun outing with the girls- delicious food, guy in Porsche- really cute bes so what ye3ni, nice conversation with dad, studied well, relaxing shower- my hair smells like coconuts, I'm so tired..Banaaam..At some point, I lose consciousness and fall asleep.
This is a typical day in my life.

Chapter 1: This Is The Life I, 7ala, Live (Part I)

My alarm went off. It's 6:45 am. I always set my alarm an hour before I need to leave the house. As usual, I snooze it for like half an hour. It doesn’t take me long to get dressed since I have a certain "look" that I stick to for university: a great pair of jeans, today true religion, any wide, loose shirt, today I'm going for a white Ralph Lauren boyfriend shirt with a big black pony, red Aldo flats, and ofcorse my favourite Giant hardware black Balenciaga bag which I wear almost everyday. Now, which shaila…? A black one, with black strass lining will do. Accessories: dad's gold rolex (which I stole from him bes still mu mla7th), with a gold juicy starter bracelet on one hand, and a big D&G alligator skin bangle on the other. Make-up: mascara and my cherry labello, which gives a slight hint of color to my lips. Ready. I leave my room. I check the clock in our 9ala, 7:30. I have 15 minutes to drink my morning coffee and skim through the stack of newspapers. I never really read them, maybe just the headlines. I usually look for my dads photo or name (a7ibaaaa <3). When I do find something associated with him, I rip out the paper and put it to the side, this way its ready for my dad to read before he leaves for work. Like I said, I'm not the one who reads them. I check the time, its 7:45! I should've left the house by now, bes today is one of those busy days for my dad, fa wayed articles for me to rip off. This means inna no time to check my facebook before I leave. O I forgot to mention, I am a FB addict. So I run down the stairs, ( I usually take the elevators cuz the walls are covered with mirrors, so, I can see myself from each angle), put on my ray-bans, swing the door open, and leave. Awal ma arkab ilsayara the first thing I do (after reading du3a2 ilrukwb 6ab3an) is look for a song on my ipod…no….no…. hmmm …too slowm abi shay y5aleenee a9a79i7.. ahhaa, perfect for my mood this morning, just dance, by lady gaga. I start the engine, connect my ipod to the itrip, and start singing along. Foot on break, Reverse, slowly remove my foot from break, and il7emdilla safely leave the parking spot. I just turned 18 recently, so I haven’t been driving much. As a younger teenager, I remember being so excited to drive, I just couldn’t wait! But now, I just wonder why did I used to think that driving was so much fun?! Its so scary. W ana no3i wayed asra7 and its hard for me to be alert and focused on the street ALL the time. As a result of that, most of my breaks are sudden, I rarely slow down gradually. 3al a8al I drive an LR3, so 3ala golat ommi, ilsayara 3alya fa laman ad3am ( laman mu itha ;p) I will be fine. I am a very clumsy person fa its kinda expected. Finally, I arrive at the koleya, so I slowly park my car, careful not to run over the tiny turbo parked next to me. I walk at a fast pace to the lecture room. I'm not that late but the professor has already started the lecture so I sit down at the back quietly. I'm not one who sits at the front and makes notes anyways, I like it at the back, you can see everyone. I look for '3azl . She's been my best friend since first grade in school. And now we're together in university, same major, medicine. They say that medical students have no life, bes together, he have the best life! She's great, always been there for me no matter what, and we are just so much alike. I can tell what she is thinking just by looking at her, and she says things the moment I think them, its freaky and amazing! Icant see her anywhere, so I look for my phone in my bag. Where is it?! I have so much junk in bag, for example, I have 5 cinescape schedules, (wa7ed mal 2 weeks ago, 3 which are exactly the same, w the 5th madri mal mita.. olla 3 months ago ;p), a million lip balms, chocolate rappers, ambaaay and so much more useless stuff. Where is my phone? It's always lost anyways, dayman ansa in the most random places, fitting rooms, in my PJ drawer, between files..! Kahu! Ligaita..create new msg
7ala: hey.. good morning! Wainch?
'3azl: 15 mins ;)
A while later, '3azl walks in. She sits next to me in the last row ( we sit here ta8reban every lecture ), she looked great as usual. I love the fact that she confidently wears heels whenever she feels like it.
7ala: heyy.. shlonch?
'3azl: tamam.. intay?
7ala: gd.. y r u late?
'3azl: za7maaa.. W ilsayarat kilha dashat b a5la8i.. bes I showed them!
She was a better driver than me, again more confident. Ana I don’t even dare to use the honk !
Suddenly a girl infront of us turns around: hhuuuussssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! (she shuts us up ;s)
'3azl: min 9ijha hathi? hehehe
We both started to giggle. We had a reputation of being "giggly" during classes and every other time. We just love to have fun!
What seemed like a life time later, class was finally over. Thank God for my iPod, ( other than listening to music, I used the university wireless to check my FB account, since I didn’t have time for that at home) which made time pass a bit faster. And now we had a long break, in other words.. a nice lunch away from campus with the girls. So, we decided lunch at Fridays avenues. 6ab3an while eating, 7ashaina. Hathi in5a6bat, w hathi mlichat etc.. we talked about fashion, all the new must haves. We had class again in half an hour, so we decided to head back. '3azl and I were in the car singing together like we always did. The music would be on soo loud that we would start screaming instead of singing "yallah ya rabahum ahdaytahum fahdeeh ya alahh rabaah rab al bashar rab al 8adar kan el 8adar fargaahhhhhh !!!".. We notice a car of guys driving close to us, a golden Cayenne We were in one of those moods where everything is funny and so this made us laugh even more. We never understood those guys that flirted in the streets. Did they seriously think that girls liked that? Ok ,, fine,, I admit, we do like it. Its nice to get attention, bes seriously its not likea girl wants to end up with a guy this way, ye3ni minw tabi wa7ed t3arifat 3alaih bl share3 ;p! it started to get a bit freaky cuz he followed us all the way to the university parking, but thank goodness he couldn't find a parking next to us. By the time he parked his car, we had already entered the campus building.
7ala: was that guy serious?
'3azl: hehehe
And again, we both started giggling and walked to class.

Hii =D

I started writing this blog out of boredom. I just had nothing to do, and i wanted to test my imgination skills. It's a very down to earth story that contains a lot of daily things young adults go through: fashion, jam3a, outings, 7ash ;p, love, etc.. To make it more interesting i made up alot of the events, and i will be adding some twists. I've also used some things from my life to make it sound realistic, bes the story is all made it. The characters are not real, they are all invented. And like i said, the story and events are not real. If any of the events or characters happen to resemble real experiences that you know or heard of, then i assure you it is merely a coincidence.
I really hope u enjoy it!