Chapter 14: I started it, unconsciously.

This was a normal day. Like any other happy day. Me, Jara7, in love. Little did I know that it would turn into hell on earth.
7ala: aalooo?
Jara7: aloo.. ha 7ala..?!
7ala: hala 7abeeby shlonk?
Jara7: oooffff offff shifta shsaawaaaa!! Walla ra7at feeha sayarta!
7ala: alllooooo.. jara7?!
Jara7: 7ala… ana bl bar ma3a rab3i..we're going to race now.. akalmch ba3dain
7ala: o ok.. well have fun 7abeeby! W deer balk please!
Jara7: haaa? Masma3? Sshooofa shooofa!! T9adg yabela Ferrari!!
7ala: jara7.. aloo
Jara7: ok 7ala.. byee!!
Ammmmm… ok? He just hung up on me. Should I be upset? I mean, he's with his friends akeed he doesn’t want to be talking to his girlfriend around shabab bes still why did he just hang up?! He wasn’t even paying attention to what I was saying! Hhhh.. ok that’s not a very good start to a lovely Saturday morning. I decided to call '3azl and make plans. He’ll call me when he's done. Kaifa!
7ala: hi '3azl.. shinw binsawee ilyom?!
'3azl: hii.. good morning.. madri kaifch?
7ala: lunch… movie?
'3azl: add a bit of shopping before that.
7ala: heheh sounds great. Meet you in the avenues in an hour?
'3azl: ok see you.. byee!
I got out of bed, washed up then looked in my closet for something to wear. I need something comfy. Something I can shop in.. not too many layers so I can change in and out of my clothes easily. God! I don’t have anything to wear! Seriously! I'm glad '3azl suggested shopping. I'm running out of clothes. A5eeran, I decided on a loose navy kenzo blouse, white skinnies, grey shaila and my Louis vuitton Stephan Sprouse green speedy, silver crystal filled sandals. The sandals were really open, my foot felt so bare, so I decided to paint my nails with Chanel 's Blue Satin nailpolish..Makeup: mascara, and cherry labello. I wasn’t in the mood to put anything else. I looked in the mirror. Good enough. Then I got my phone and messaged '3azl: I'm leaving the house now.
Half an hour later we were both shopping in Massimo Dutti. We always shopped together because we were honest with each other. We were too close to be shy to say things like: nooo! It makes your butt look huge.. or ymatnich! Or laaa waiii3 ugly.. we had the same taste so we always trusted each others' opinion! By 2pm we were tired of shopping for clothes. We had bought enough. Not that you can ever buy ENOUGH clothes, but it was enough for now. So, we decided to eat lunch in Johny Rockets. I ordered my usual and so did '3azl. We always ordered certain dishes in specific restaurants. We weren’t really open to trying new things. While we ate, I told her about the phone call I had this morning with jara7. She told me not to make a big deal out of it.
'3azl: most guys act differently around their friends. Plus you know that he's crazy in love with you, so 6af
7ala: ee I know. bes madri, ye3ni he could have at least listened to what I was saying. Kilsh ma3abarni. I didn’t even message him to tell him I was going out with you. Bes kaifa. I'll just tell him inna he was too busy fa I just went ahead.
Jara7 and I had this thing where we told each other where we were going whenever we were going out. He especially always needs to know where I am and with who. It's not that he would ever tell me NOT to go to a certain place, he just liked knowing where I was most of the time. Actually, ALL the time. One time, I was going to the salon, to you know, do what we girls do, w magitla. Ye3ni I felt awkward telling him barw7 ilsalon! Bes tethayag mini! So now, jara7 daymn y3arf ana wain, even if bilsalon! But I didn’t mind at all. I knew it was him being protective. He was worse than ya3goub at that!
A while later, we were done with lunch. We decided to check the movies. We couldn’t find anything at the avenues. It was either inappropriate timing, or no seats. So we just booked the movie in marina. That’s how much we wanted to watch it. We've been waiting for it for so long. We left avenues and headed to marina.
The movie was great! '3azl and I really enjoyed it. Awal ma 6ala3na min iltheatre, I got a message from WHO. It said I had 7 missed calls. All from jara7!
7ala: alla yastr..
I called him back immediately. The phone rang only once and he instantly answered.
Jara7: intay wain?!!!
7ala: hehehe.. shfeek ana b marina, kint b avenues bes we couldn’t find a movie there.
Jara7: ba3aaaad! Avenues w marina! Matadreen innna ilyom za7ma! Lazm marina?! w sh7aga jehazch mu'3la8?! (his voice had gone 10 levels louder now!)
7ala: jara7? Shfeeek? Lesh t9ar5?!
Jara7: guleely sh7aga jihazch msakar!
7ala: mu min 9ijk! Ye3ni lesh msakar mathalan?! I was at the movies! Makw service! (now I was almost, almost, screaming back)
Jara7: w ana lesh ma adri inch bitrw7een avenues ba3dain ilcinema b marina?!
7ala: la walla?! Ana mu dagait 3alaik ilyom il9ib7?! W u were too busy to talk to me!
Jara7: lat'3ayreen ilmawthoo3! Ana ga3d as2lch sh7agda trw7een w matgwleenly?!
7ala: shinw la a'3ayer il mawthw3! This is the mawthw3! I couldn’t tell you cuz u just hung up on me!
Jara7: fe shay isma message! ( as soon as he said that, I realized what I had done. I did consider sending him a message but I decided not to. I didn’t WANT to. I unconsciously wanted to let him know inna ana tithayagt that he hung up on me, so I decided to ignore him back! I started this fight. Not intentionally. But I did.)
7ala: …
Jara7: shfeech sikatay?! Ye3ni tadreen inna you could have messaged me! chan garait ilmessage umuta ma fathait w darait intay wain! But no, you decided not to message and let me know where you were going? Lesh? Shinw kan 8a9dch b hal 7araka?
7ala: nothing! Shfeek?! Ye3ni I'm sorry I didn’t message 5ala9! stop making a big deal out of it!
Jara7: I'm not the one who's MAKING a big deal out of it! you're the one who MADE a big deal out of the phone call this morning!
7ala: jara7!
Jara7: la 7ala 5aleene akamel! Intay tadreen inni ma7eb illi ykabrwn ay salfa 9'3eera. Bes ana t3awadt 3alaich innich wayed you overreact. Bes 3ad mu chithi! Kint ma3a rab3i w magedart akalmch! Shfeeha? Ma kan la da3i inch tsaween chithi bes 3alshan t'thaygeeny mithl ma thayagtch! Intay t3amadtay, w ana ma kint mit3amd. Tara ana ma7eb drama w intay t3arfeen hal shay! I can't always give you all my attention! Ye3ni kafi inna all our dates HAVE to be thought out days earlier just so that you like them! Don’t be too needy all the time. Tara ana ta3abt!
7ala: I can't believe you just said that. bye jara7..
Jara7: 7ala! latsakrena b wayhi sam3a! 5alene akamel kalami w atfaham ma3ach.
7ala: I cant talk to you when you're in this mood. Madri shfeek . and you're scaring me! laman tihda rid dig 3alay! bye!
I closed the phone. I couldn’t believe we were fighting about a stupid phone call! Ok, I do get where he's coming from. I did try to get back at him, for talking to me that way in the morning, by not telling him about my plans. Bes still! I didn’t mean for it to turn into this huge fight! Why was he screaming at me like that!
He called again, I ignored.
And what did he mean by me being too needy?! W ina ohwa ta3ab! Shinw ye3ni ta3ab?! I never ASKED him for romantic dates. I did love them, but I never said they all had to be like that. I loved hanging out with him where ever we were. Ma3nata he didn’t enjoy planning them. He didn’t WANT to plan them. He thought he HAD to.
He didn’t mean them from his heart. He was just trying to impress me cuz he thought that's what I wanted. Cuz he thought I was demanding and needy.
He called again. And I ignored, again.
'3azl: what just happened?!
7ala: I don’t feel like talking about it '3azl. I'm going home. Adg 3alaich ba3dain.
On my way home I couldn’t stop crying and he wouldn’t stop calling. I kept ignoring. Laman wi9alt ilbait, I ran up to my room, and threw myself into my bed. I kept rewinding the fight. I kept hearing him scream at me over and over again. For once, I hated the way his voice sounded. So aggressive. So scary.
He kept calling. He had reached almost 21 missed calls by now, until he gave up. I decided to call ya3goub. Laman I called him 6ila3li inna he had another call. I was about to close the phone when he answered.
Ya3goub: hala 7ala.. shfech matredeen 3ala jara7! He's on the other line now. And hes going crazy! (I should have known he would call ya3goub!)
7ala: ok please don’t tell him inna you're talking to me now.. call me when you're done with him.
Ya3goub: I already mentioned ina you're calling on the other line.
7ala: great. 5ala9 ok. I'll just talk to you later.
I closed the phone before he could say anything. I knew he would try to convince me to call jara7. But I wasn’t going to. At least not for a while. I was really hurt. I couldn’t believe he would just scream at me like that. And the things he said! omG the things he said. It makes me think of him so differently. My phone rang. It was a message from jara7:
7ala. willi salmch riday 3alay. Ana asef inna 9ara5t 3alaich chithi. Bes 5alena nitfaham. Please dont make this worse than it already is!
Great now he's making it sound like it 's my fault. I replied:
Jara7 plz. Give me some time. The things you said really hurt me. I'll call you when I'm ready
I decided to call ya3goub again. He didn’t have another call this time. Ashwa
Ya3goub: 7ala riday 3alaih
7ala: mara7 ard! Int matadree ohwa shgali! Inna I'm needy w madri shinw. La w galli inna ta3ab from planning dates and that I'm demanding!
Ya3goub: ta3ab? (he chuckled quietly, but loud enough for me to hear)
7ala: lesh tith7ak?!
Ya3goub: la mafeeny shay. 5ala9 3ayal dam ina ta3ab latredeen 3alaih for a while, 5alee yirta7. Ta3ab ha? (he chuckled again, this time the kind of laugh when you mean you're angry)
7ala: ya3goub shfeeek! This is not funny
Ya3goub: no no, its not. That's not why I'm laughing. bes tithakart shay. Ilmohmim, mithl magitlch, ray7ee for a while
7ala: hatha illi basawee! Walla I can't believe it. He really hurt me! And my birthday is coming up this week! Alllaaa! What a nice way to celebrate it! Fighting with jara7.
Ya3goub: ok 7ala haday shwey! This won't ruin your birthday. You two will be fine by then. Don’t worry!
7ala: inshalla we will. But ya3goub, it's going to be awkward from now on. It won't be the same. Ye3ni mathalan if he plans something nice for my birthday, I will think whether or not he meant it? You know?! Waaaaay! Iff bes 5ala9 5ala9 whetever. I just want to be done with today! For once I'm looking forward to dawam bacher!
Like I said, hell on earth. I just wanted to fall asleep fast! I wanted it to be tomorrow. Maybe by then it will all be alright.
I had a horrible nightmare that night. Jara7 had planned a romantic dinner for me at his house. He had filled the floor with rose petals. Every inch. But then the rose petals were growing in number. I was drowning in them. I couldn’t breathe!
Faj2a I woke up. I was up before my alarm in half an hour. Even though I was awake, the nightmare continued today!

Chapter 13: on top of the world

He looked at me and smiled a cheeky smile. That was a new one to me. I hadn't seen this look before. It was cute. Like he was up to something. He put his hands in his pocket and took out his pack of Davidoff lights. He took out one cigarette and put it in his mouth.
Jara7: ok.. lets see if this gift works.
I was disappointed. By giving him this gift, I had let down my guards and let myself be vulnerable. I was indirectly telling him that I loved him, and asking him if he loved me back. Was he trying to tell me "no?" I put my head down and just stared at my clown yellow feet. I heard him light the cigarette.
Jara7: It does work. Mashkwra 7ala 3al hadeya.
I heard him inhale, then exhale. I could smell the smoke. My chest felt tight. Not because of the smoke, but because I was hurt. What was he trying to say? Is it "no I won't quit cuz I don’t love you"?! I could feel my eyes fill with tears. But I wasn’t going to let myself cry in front of him! I tried to hold the tears back. Really tried!
Jara7: you know. They say that smoking takes years off of your life…I don’t like the sound of that, because I was planning on spending the rest of my life with you!
I saw the cigarette fall to the sand next to my feet. Then I saw his feet squishing the cigarette to put it out.
Jara7: I don’t want YEARS taken from our life together.
I couldn’t hold my tears any longer. This time happy tears. I just couldn’t! I let out a loud sob and just threw my arms around him! I was crying so much, I couldn’t keep still, and I had gotten his shirt wet with all the tears and my runny nose. He rubbed my back trying to calm me down.
Jara7: 7ala shfeeech?!
It took me a while to gather my breath and talk.
7ala: why did you do that earlier! You scared me to death! I thought that was your way of saying you DON’T love me! I thought…
Jara7: 7ala, 7ala. I love you. I always will. Please just stop crying! I was trying to be funny.. you know me, a7ib ilaction! I just needed one last cigarette!
7ala: ana dayman agwlk you're not funny! Lesh matyooz! (my voice was so weird now, cuz my nose was blocked!)
Jara7: inzain 5ala9 ana asef. No more jokes. Bes intay please stop crying! That’s not what I imagined our time of saying "I love you" would be like.
7ala: I'm sorry. I know I look hideous! And I ruined your shirt…(even though I was serious, he let out a loud laugh)
Jara7: you don’t look hideous! You look perfect. And I don’t care about the shirt. 7ala.. I care about you. I love you.
7ala: I do too..
That was the night we exchanged our "I love you"s. And like jara7 said, it wasn’t what we had imagined it would be like, but at least it's a night we would never forget. So memorable.
( a few months later)
My relationship with Jara7 was going great. We have been together for almost 6 months now. He's the first boyfriend I ever had. The first serious relationship I ever had. My first love.
We continued going on romantic dates. I love the fact that they were all romantic and thoughtful. We went to shweikh beach a few more times. It was really nice to go back to the place of our first date and see how our relationship has grown each time. Sometimes he would just come over to my college and we would hang out. Sometimes we would study together in our library. We had gotten quite close and inseparable. Not a day passed without us talking, and we tried to see each other as much as we could. We never let more than 2 days pass without seeing each other. Even if it just meant him passing by the koleya to say hi. But with Jara7, it was never that simple. Even just coming to say hi was never JUST that. He would come with a rose, or heart shaped chocolates, anything. Ilmohim, inna it was never boring. Always romantic and thought out.
A few days ago we celebrated our 6 months anniversary. Half a year! I couldn’t believe how fast time had passed. It was amazing. Something I would never forget even if I wanted to. It was soo obvious that it took days and days of planning to get it perfect. And as usual, he always "had his ways" to make it work.
This time he gave me a hint of what I should wear. He asked me to dress up and look "elegant" was his word. I decide on wide high waste black trousers, a ruffled white shirt, black shaila, Red Marni pumps with gold hardware, and a gold Prada clutch. He asked me to meet him in the lobby of Marina Hotel. A porter came up to me and asked: "Madame, you are with Mr, Jara7?" I said yes and followed him into the elevator. The elevator finally opened and there was a staircase infront of me. Now we were taking the stairs, I'm guessing to the ceiling. Jara7 had arranged with the hotel to set us a table on the rooftop. The floor around our table was filled with rose petals and candles ofcorse. And there was a violin player standing by the table, playing slow lovely music. It all looked so perfect, except for one thing. Jara7. Where was he? I looked around but I couldn’t find him. Faj2a he came up from behind me. Madri min wain 6ala3! I didn't even hear him. He looked amazing. I had never seen him in a dishdasha and ghitra before. He looked great in it. So manly.
Jara7: you look amazing
7ala: you do too (I smiled)
He lead me to the table, and held the chair out for me. I sat and waited for him to sit infront of me. I loved the idea. This way we were out in public for the first time, but not really in public. Nobody saw us, it was just me and him on top of the world. And ofcorse, the waiter that occasionally passed by to check on us. The food was great, our talks were amazing, it was just so romantic. I actually teared. Jara7 got worried thinking that he had done something wrong.
Jara7: shfeech? thayagtch b shay?
7ala: laa.. its all perfect. You know, happy tears
Jara7: 7ala! lat5ar3ini chithi.. you're sad you cry.. you’re happy you cry..lesh chithi? just smile and tell me you love me..
7ala: I love you.
The truth was that he had not done anything wrong. Nothing at all. That was what was scaring me. It was all too good to be true. The night ended, and he followed me to our house with his car to make sure I arrived safely. Dashait ilbait, changed into my pyjamas and tucked myself in bed. I got my phone and messaged Jara7: thanks 7abeeby.. I don’t know what I ever did with my life to deserve you.
A minute later he called me..
7ala: hii
Jara7: what did you say..?!
7ala: I said I don’t know what I did to deserve you. Shfeek.. ( I knew exactly what he was talking about.. he meant the word before that. I hadn’t used it before)
Jara7: laaa.. ilkilma illi gabilha.. shinw giltaaay..
7ala: gilt thanx! (I can't say it.. shfeeni?!)
Jara7: laa tistahbilaaain 7ala…. abi asma3ha minch.. ma yinfa3 message..
7ala: 7abeby…
Jara7: ee.. this word..aallllllaaa… ya 7ilw hal kilma minch!! 5ala9, from now on.. ana mu Jara7.. and 7abeby… 7abeebch ye3niii (he teased)
7ala: hehehe ee inshalla
Jara7: inshalla 7abeeby!
7ala: inshalla 7abeeby.. (it felt so right saying it to him, li2anna ohwa 9ij 7abeeby!)
Jara7: okkk.. 7abibti.. yalla ti9be7een 3ala 5air..nom il3awafi inshalla
7ala: w inta min ahla.. byee
That night he called me 7abibti as well.. It sounded so sweet coming from him.. I never got why people said it’s a big deal to use these words. But now I do. It changes everything. It meant he's mine.. and I'm his..we belong to each other.
Like I said, it was all going greatly. Can it possibly get any better? I really can’t imagine myself happier than I am now. I can't. If there was such a thing as perfection, then my relationship with jara7 is perfect. We understand each other. We enjoy each other's company, even if we’re just sitting quietly and studying together. He is so thoughtful and really understands me. He makes me feel so happy, and warm and special. He knows how to show me that he loves me.
I love him.
But, as they say, all good things must come to end, because today, we had our first fight.

Chapter 12: The perfect gift

That night I couldn’t sleep. Remember the feeling when you were a kid and tomorrow was going to be the first day of school and you just can't sleep? I felt that way. I was over excited that I just couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t wait for tomorrow. Jara7 and I were now at a new level in our relationship. It was going great so far. And I was really looking forward to our future. I just caaant sleep! So, I decide to call Ya3goub.
Ya3goub: minww?!
7ala: ya3goub? shinw minw? I7na b2ay 8arn? fe shay isma caller ID!
Ya3goub: did your car just happen to stop in the middle of the road again? Or what is it this time?!
7ala: ya3goub!! No I'm fine. I just can't sleep. I want to chat
Ya3goub: isa3a cham 7ala…?
7ala: a5af agwlk..
Ya3goub: hhhhhh… Walla btalasht feech ana.. ok yalla chat..
7ala: 5ala9.. I don’t want to chat with u when you're in this mood.. hawant bye
Ya3goub: 7ala.. chat.. I want to chat with you.. please chat..
7ala: ti6anaz?
Ya3goub: la 7asha!
7ala: ok ba6aweflk this time li2anna seriously I want to chat
Ya3goub: 7ala if you say the word "chat" again walla basd il telefon!
7ala: hehehe ok ok… sorry.. anyways.. so ask me how was my date today. Well actually, at this time, its yesterday by now hehehe
Ya3goub: so how was your date yesterday?
7ala: remember that dream I told you about?! Laman tha7akt 3alay?! Well.. it was just like that.. except inna I wasn’t wearing crocs.. he brought crocs with him just in case! How sweet! It was the best night ever.. picnic by the beach on sunset.. then a walk by the beach in the dark.. I loved it!
Ya3goub: I'm glad you did.. I really am..
7ala: thanks.. by the way!!
Ya3goub: shinw ba3ad?
7ala: why didn’t you tell me it was his birthday ilyom? I mean ams.. or whatever!
Ya3goub: weeee nisait t9adgeen! Zain inch thakartnini yam3awda!
7ala: ya3goub shlon mat3arf your friend's birthday!!
Ya3goub: intay do you know ALL your friends' birthdays? I've only known him for 2 years laman kina bilthanwiya, then we lost touch, unitl he met you. Ye3ni we're friends bes not THAT close. I just forgot.. its not s big deal.
7ala: o I thought you guys were tight?
Ya3goub: 7ala,, we're friends now.. does it make a difference?
7ala: no.. bes chithi su2al.. ilmohim…I need help..
Ya3goub: amray
7ala: what should I get him for his birthday? Ye3ni what do guys like?
Ya3goub: intay ba3ad?!
7ala: shinw?
Ya3goub: he asks me about you. W intay you ask me about him.. hahaha.. ok ok.. I'll help you 7ala.. hahaha
7ala: stop laughing
Ya3goub: ok ok.. 5ala9.. intay what do you have in mind?
7ala: madri.. I was thinking a watch or cufflings.. ooorr mmmmm.. shrayk madri?
Ya3goub: ee these are nice things. Kaifch
7ala: adri kaifi.. that’s not helpful ya3goub..ye3ni these are things I bought for my dad.. madri a7is abi shay special..especilly inna it’s the first gift I get him
Ya3goub: ee fahamt 8a9dch..ok 3indi fikra.. he's always looking for a lighter and always needs to buy a new one.. get him a classy one..you ge….
7ala: la walla?! Ayebla wala3a?! that's like telling him go ahead smoke! Kill yourself slowly!
Ya3goub: ma5alaitni akaml kalami.. bes ok fine.. kaifch
7ala: gwl.. lets see what good comes out of this!
Ya3goub: get him a classy lighter that he can use all the time, and you can carve something on it.. ye3ni make it special 3ala goltch..
7ala: omG I love the idea..thaaaaanks ya3goub.. walla shasawi bidwnk?!
7a3goub: madrii.. (he yawned)
7ala: ok ok.. yalla go sleep.. thanks again! Ti9ba7 3ala 5air!
Ya3goub: no problem.. wintay mn ahla.. byee
I put the phone under my pillow. I lay down and just thought about what to carve on the lighter. What would be personal and meaning full? What would be thoughtful and about US? I got a lot of random thoughts.. our initials… the date of his birthday which is the same as our first date..or just simply happy birthday..? no.. I abi shay really special..abi something that would make him smile everytime he uses it.. but I seriously hate the fact that I'm in a way encouraging smoking.. hhhmmmm…faj2a I got the best idea ever!
I closed my eyes and waited to fall asleep.. I could feel myself smiling even though I wasn’t doing it intentionally. Finally, sometime later I fell asleep.
My morning alarm went on.. I woke up in a very good mood. Before starting my morning routine, I took my phone and messaged jara7: "9aba7 il5air! I had a great night ams! Don’t forget inna I'm giving you your gift tonight! cant wait to see you again!
An hour later I was in the lecture room. I told '3azl about the idea jara7 gave me and the personal touch I was going to add to it. As soon as our lecture was done, we went shopping for a lighter. There were so many to choose from. I just didn’t know what to get. A5eeran I decided on a St. Dupant gold lighter. It was perfect. Just the right shape and size. After that, we immediately went to that place Ya3goub told me about to get it engraved. They told me it would be done in two hours, so '3azl and I decided to go out for lunch while it was done. Ri7na chillis ilba7ar. We ordered and ate and talked. The whole time I just couldn’t wait for the gift to be done. Not only because I wanted to give it to Jara7 as soon as possible, but also because I wanted a reason to see him again. Finally we were done, and the lighter was ready. I messaged jara7: same place as last night. Meet you there at 6pm.
Jara7: cant wait ;)
I went home to get ready. This time I wanted to be dressed appropriately so that we can walk by the beach for a longer time than yesterday. So that I spend more time with him! I decided on my black juicy velour tracksuit with a white shirt from under, and I thought it would be cute if I wore his crocs. I wore my across-the-chest-over-the-shoulder silver miu miu coffer.
By 5: 30 I was there. I was so impatient I just had to leave the house. At 5:37 he was there too.
While I was tuning the car off, Jara7 opened the door for me. He held my hand as I got out of the car and he was singing another majeed song to me: "ma gidart a9br w jeetk gabl maw3dna b sa3a.. w il'3areeb inni ligaitk tnt'thr gabli b sa3a.."
7ala: so I guess we're both early hehehe
Jara7: ee! I guess laihal daraja mu gadreen infarg ba3ath (I smiled). So wear's my gift?!
7ala: here (I put up the bag so he can see it) lets go for a walk first..
We walked for almost an hour, and just talked. I love talking to him. Even more than that, I loved listening to him talk. I love his sweet masculine voice..
Jara7: ok yalla 3ad! Mita bta36eeny haditi?!
7ala: hehehe.. here you go..
I watched him unwrap it with a smile..i was smiling too.. this was just so perfect.
7ala: inshalla 3jbtk ilhadeya?
Jara7: ee wayed..3ad 9ij walla kint mi7taj wala3a.. dayman adwrli wa7da.. now problem solved!
7ala: flip it over..
He flipped it over and was trying to look for whatever I meant. It was too dark, so I took out my phone and pointed the screen light on the wala3a. He let out a slight laugh, then read out the engraving:
"if you love me, then quit "

Chapter 11: Just like my dream..

I put down the window and so did he.
Jara7: hala 7ala! '3azl, shlonch?
'3azl: tamam, il7emdilla. Int shlonk?
Jara7: never been better. (even while talking to '3azl he didn’t keep his eyes off of me. My face started to feel warm. In other words I was blushing. Jara7 let out a chuckle. I guess that means he saw the change in color in my face)
7ala: ok, sooo, we'll follow you.
Jara7: ee ok.. yalla. Mara7 adoos 3alashan lat'thay3wn
So '3azl started driving after him. I was getting even more nervous.
7ala: where are we going?
'3azl: I think bewadeech the beach in shweikh
7ala: the beach….?
A while later we had arrived. '3azl was exactly right. He parked his car, walked towards us, and opened the car door for me.
Jara7: mashkoora '3azl. Inshalla when we're done, she'll call you.
'3azl: have fun.
I slowly got out of the car. He closed the door after me and waved to '3azl as she drove away.
Jara7: a5eeran
7ala: hhmmm.. yaa (omG ma3arf atkalllam!)
Jara7: 6al3eeni.. 5aleene achoofch.
I put my head up and looked at him. He was smiling. Sincerely smiling. I could even see it in his eyes. Then he suddenly started to scan me, min fog lai ta7at. As though he was checking me out. Bkil thi8a, just checking me out! I felt awkward.
Jara7: I knew it. (what did he mean?!) ta3alay.
I followed him to his car. He unlocked it, opened the backseat door, and got something out. Faj2a, he came to me and bent down to my feet. I quickly took a step back! What was he doing!?
Jara7: shfeech 5tara3tay (he was laughing hysterically)
7ala: la walla?! Ye3ni if someone faj2a bent down to your feet mati5tir3?
I couldn’t resist laughing along when I understood what he was actually doing. He was trying to take off my shoes, and replace those high heels with his huge yellow crocs!
Jara7: you can't walk with those on the beach. Chithi arya7lch.
7ala: thanks (it took me ages to look this good. now I'm just an overdressed girl whose wearing XXXXXL bright yellow crocs)
We walked together down to the beach. I could see some candle light at a distance. As we got closer I figured out what it was. He had prepared a picnic on the beach. It was a red sheet, filled with candles and food. Japanese, to be more specific, and he had placed chopsticks at opppsite ends of the cloth. I guess that meant he wasn’t going to sit too close to me. Ashwa, no awkwardness.
7ala: this is beautiful Jara7.
Jara7: I'm glad you like it. I know you love Japanese, but I also know you won't let me take you out to a restaurant in public just yet.
7ala: you're absolutely right, about both points.
We sat down, he turned on a small stereo that was placed in the corner, it was the sweet voice of majeed singing in the background. And then we started eating. I was trying to eat in a polite way. You know, the way you eat when you know someone is watching? That way! He wouldn’t keep his eyes off me! We ate in silence for a while. It started to get weird. So I decided to break the ice and show him that I'm relaxed. I really was. And I was enjoying his company.
7ala: say something
Jara7: something
7ala: very funny Jara7
Jara7: it's not my fault I have such a great sense of humor. Ilmohim golely. What are you thinking right this moment?
7ala: madri.. nothing.
Jara7: shlon ye3ni nothing. You must be thinking of something
7ala: I'm thinking… innaa…the food is great..? (that’s is soooo not what I'm thinking about!)
He smiled to me and I smiled back. Our eyes locked with each other for a while. A long while. He had such dreamy eyes. So mysterious. He started singing along with majeed , with his eyes still locked with mine "7obn jded we7kayat 3shg majnwna.. allah y7ayeek ya 7obn lefaa tawa.. 7ob lah kelah o 7ob bes le3yona,, 7ob b a89a 5afogy bes lah howaa"
Now I wanted to know what HE was thinking.
7ala: what about you. What are you thinking?
Jara7: I'm thinking.. aaammm…the food is great too (I'm sure that's not what he's thinking about either)
7ala: hehhee ahaa .. well.. the food really is great
After a while we were done eating. I wasn’t full yet, but I didn’t want him to think I was a cow. I'll just have a proper diner bilbait.
Jara7: let's go for a walk
7ala: I'd love to.
He helped me up and we started walking. There was quite a distance between us. Maybe a meter. I know he was just trying to keep me comfortable. And it was working.
Jara7: soo..
7ala: soooo..
Jara7: you're very talkative over the phone. Shfeech?!
7ala: heheh mafini shay..
Jara7: 7ala, latisti7een mini.. its me .. the same guy you shout out over the phone..
7ala: I don’t shout at you! (then I realized my voice went up a notch). Sorry.. hehhehe
Jara7: don’t be..abeech chithi.. abeech tirta7ainli..
7ala: jara7, I'm very comfortable with you. Really, I am.. you have no idea how happy I'm feeling right now. It's all so romantic.. just like my dream, except that we were barefoot, and I wasn’t wearing crocs!
Jara7: ahaa.. ye3ni you dream about me..
7ala: (oops that slid out) not of YOU specifically.. I dream of dates in general..
Jara7: ahaaaa.. hahah.. you dreams of dates..in general?
7ala: hehehe ee..
I hadn’t noticed earlier. But he was closer now. Ye3ni if he wasn’t so much taller than me, our shoulders would be touching. That close. And I wasn’t feeling uncomfortable at all. It felt so right. This was one of the greatest nights of my life.
Jara7: you know what today is? Other than our first date ye3ni
7ala: and other than the best night ever?
Jara7: ee other than that too
7ala: la2, shinw?
Jara7: it’s my birthday
7ala: hehehe no its not… your birthday is on the…aaa… (omG it was then that I noticed that I had never actually asked him when his birthday was! I'm going to kill ya3goub! Why didn’t he tell me?!)
Jara7: today 7ala
7ala: omG I'm so sorry! I didn’t know! God I feel so bad now! I didn’t even wish you a happy birthday!
Jara7: ok.. go ahead now then (we stopped walking. We just stood there, in the middle of the beach with our eyes locked)
7ala: I wish you the best birthday ever. W il3omr killa inshalla
Jara7: this is the best birthday ever.. I couldn’t ask for a more perfect gift. Our first date, on my birthday? Nothing beats that..
Faj2a the tide got so much stronger. My trousers got soaked.
7ala: nooo.. uuggggh! (jara7 was laughing) what are you laughing about?! You're wearing shorts! Why didn’t you tell me so I would have chosen a more appropriate outfit (he was still laughing)
Jara7: yalla let's head back. It's getting late. Digay 3ala '3azl, unless you want me to drop you off (he teased)
7ala: as tempting as that sounds, but I'll call '3azl (I teased back)
I was feeling so much more confident. So confident that I just couldn’t wait for our next date. We continued walking back to his car. Laman wi9alna, he gave me my shoes back.
Jara7: keep the crocs (he winked at me)
7ala: thanks again, for this great night.. and for the crocs!
Jara7: you're more than welcome
We were quite for a few minutes, while we waited for '3azl to arrive.
Jara7: 7ala?
7ala: yes?
Jara7: can I ask you out on our second date?
7ala: finally..I thought you'd never ask! Ofcorse…I would more than love to go on a second date with you
Jara7: and 3rd and 4th and 5thand 6th and..
7ala: ok ok.. I get the point! and the 7th and 8th!
Jara7: 7ala.. I'm so lucky I met you..fee shay widdi agwlch iya bes I don’t want you to freak out on me.. and you don’t have to say it back.. (say IT back.. omG.. omG.. he's going to say IT! do I say IT BACK? Is it too soon? Do I really L him?!)..7ala..
7ala: yeeess?
Jara7: 7ala.. I think I'm in lo..
Faj2a I heard a loud honk. '3azl arrived. Noooo…!! So, I just said goodbye quickly as an attempt to avoid anymore awkwardness, and wished him a happy birthday again.
7ala: expect a great birthday gift bacher! an actual gift!
Jara7: inshalla.. yalla drive safely '3azl. Bye 7ala.. this was a great night.
On our way back, he messaged me..: "103.7"
I switched the radio station to 103.7. It was the sound of majeed singing 8arart amot fi 7obk.
I think I have made the same decision. He's the one I want to fall in love with. He's the one I will allow myself to fall in love with.

Chapter 10: He popped the question

I grab my phone and start dialing '3azl's number. I can't wait to tell her about Jara7's gift.
7ala: alloo
'3azl: alo, hi. Shfeech bismilla?!
7ala: omG '3azl! You won't believe what Jara7 got me!
'3azl: Shinw?
7ala: '3azl he got me a first edition of "Love in The Time of Cholera"! Laman Ya3goub 5atha sayarti, it was to help Jara7 out with the surprise.
'3azl: wait, wait. Slow down. Cholera minw ba3ad?
7ala: '3azl! Remember last year, I ordered a limited edition book min amazon. W I took it with me to the shalaih to read it ? w I lost it at the beach somewhere? This one!
'3azl: ee.. hehehe 7ala.. intay w suwalfch. Ye3ni it's just a book. W ba3dain intay mu chinch after you lost the book you bought another one? You have 2 copies of the same book now. Whats the point?! You're gona read the story twice?!
7ala: la it's not just a book. The one I bought 3ugub was just a normal paperback mn virgin. I only bought it so I can finish reading the story before the movie was out! It's the best romance ever written '3azl. A classic. And Jara7 got me the first edition. You know what that means? The first print, from the 80's 3azl! Waaaaaaaaaaaay I love the gift '3azl! I seriously don’t get how he got it though. 3ala golta he has his ways.
'3azl: inzain su2al? does this qualify as something "woow" li2anna b9ara7a you're weird.
7ala: ee 7adda it qualifies! '3azl, I think, madri, I think inna I'm falling for him.
'3azl: latgwlynly the "L" word?!
7ala: I thought about it, bes ba3dain I snapped out of it. It's too soon for LOVE. No way. It's infatuation.
'3azl: 7ala, is this a word you picked out from your book?!
7ala: hehehe 7ala I mean inna its just some foolish passion, maybe an exaggerated crush. Bes, I'm really starting to get a good feeling about this. About him.
'3azl: I'm really happy for you 7ala. bes deray balch. Don’t get too attached too soon.
7ala: ee inshalla.. love you.. yalla byee
'3azl: bye hun!
I lay in bed and flipped through the book. I loved the texture of the pages, and the roughness of the cover. I really do love it. Most of all, I really appreciate the thought he put into it. That’s exactly the kind of guy a want. Someone thoughtful. Romantic. And gets me so well.
I woke up the next morning with the book by my side. I had fallen asleep trying to translate some of the Spanish phrases into English last night. I got ready for jam3a and left the house. Bl koleya I ran upto Ya3goub.
7ala: ya3gooouuuuub! Thaaaanks!
Ya3goub: good morning! 3ala shinw?!
7ala: you know, for helping out Jara7 with my book. I know you told him about the one I lost. And you took my car ams to put it inside! Thanks!
Ya3goub: o that, that was nothing. It was all Jara7. You don’t have to thank me.
7ala: I know that. I WANT to!
Jara7 and I were messaging during my morning lectures. We couldn’t talk because he was in class too.
Jara7: I'm really glad you like the gift
7ala: I loved it. By the way, are you ever going to tell me how you got it?
Jara7: no never. That would kill the romance in it, cuz ilsalfa feha wayed paperwork and formalities
7ala: hehehe ahhaa.. well thanks either way
Jara7: you're more than welcome. W inshalla 3ala 6wl I make you happy.
A few weeks passed with a pattern. A routine. In the morning I would message Jara7 during classes. Il3a9r, I would chat with him on msn. Bilail, we would talk on the phone for hours. We talked about everything. I loved listening to his voice. Even when he talked about sports and his car racing. Things that I'm not that interested in. I just loved hearing him. One day, during a morning lecture, we were messaging as usual, then he sent me this message, which got my head turning:
Jara7: 7ala..mita agdr achoofch?
When can he see me? when, when? God I'm so stupid. I completely forgot that couples go on DATES while DATING. Wait, are we a couple now? Ee we are. Ye3ni we didn’t announce it to each other, bes we both know it. We are a WE now. Obviously he wants to go out with me. I want to see him too. I really do. I took a deep breath and replied.
7ala: how about tonight?
It took me a while to send him the above message. I think he noticed. So I think that he's thinking about it now: "laish 6awelat 3ala ma radat 3alay? Does she really want to meet me tonight? Willa bes matabi t'thayigni?" I bet all these thoughts were going through his mind li2anna ohwa ba3ad 6awal 3ala ma he replied.
Jara7: perfect ;) ok adg 3aliach il 3a9r to decide when and where.
As soon as our last lecture was over, I grabbed '3azl.
7ala: we are going home now
'3azl: shfeech?
7ala: you need to help me decide what to wear! I'm meeting him tonight!
'3azl: awww.. your first date. Yalla yalla bser3a imshay jidami
Om my way home, I couldn’t stop smiling. I was singing along with majeed singing "esh jabk mn bladk la blady..esh illi 5alak taskn fee fu2adi.. a7s il shay fe mohjty lik '3air 3ady..kl ma ashofk yzeed ya tha il7ob iljedeed"
'3azl was in the car behind me and I can see her smiling too through my rear view mirror. We both parked our cars, dashaina ilbait, salamna 3ala ommi and headed to my room
'3azl: ok so.. wain bitrw7wn?
7ala: madri
'3azl: shinw yen3i matadreen?! Ask!
7ala: ok ok I'm calling him now.. sssshhhhh!!

Jara7: hala walla
7ala: hi Jara7, shlonk?
Jara7: shloni? Well intay shraych, bachofch ilyom!!
7ala: I guess that means you're fine ( I teased)
Jara7: ee I'm fine (he teased back)
7ala: so wain bnrw7?
Jara7: I know inna the polite way is to ask inaty wain tabeen bitrw7wn. Bes ana il9ara7a I already have a dinner planned. So mara7 agwlch, it's a surprise.
7ala: jara7! You have to tell me! ye3ni shlon a8arir shinw albis to our first date?!
Jara7: just wear that lime green shirt you wore 3 days ago.. I liked that color on you.
7ala: nooo! I cant wear that to our firs… wait.. what?
Jara7: imbela wear it. You looked great!
7ala: shdarak what I was wearing 3 days ago?!
Jara7: whenever I can, ayi il koleya w I watch you getting out of the car and walking to the building. Aw il 3ex.
7ala: o
Jara7: shfeech? u didn’t honestly think inna I would WAIT for you to get comfortable to SEE MEE so that I can finally SEE YOU. Did you? (he teased) I see you whenever I want. Bes now, we will meet. Ye3ni achofch upclose.
7ala: stalker! (I was surprised at myself inna that didn’t make me mad. He changed me in ways I didn’t expect)
Jara7: call me illi tabeena. And by the way. The day that you dropped all your books and started running after your papers that were being blown by the wind.. I really did want to get out of the car and help you out. Bes 5ift t3a9been 3alay, cuz it was still early in our relationship.
7ala: omG you saw that!
Jara7: ee. It was very entertaining!
7ala: well…. Whatever, its ok.. Ya3goub happened to be leaving ilkoleya, and he helped me out.
Jara7: ee I know. I called him 3alshan yi6la3lch. I started to feel sorry for you (he teased)
7ala: that’s sweet bes in a really mean way! Anyways, min 9iji, I need to know what to wear jara7!
Jara7: 7ala kaifch. Libsay illi tabeena. I'm not telling you where we're going
7ala: fine! Ok so where should we meet?
Jara7: I'll pick you up min ilkoleya
7ala: na3am, na3am? Very funny! You're not picking me up from anywhere. Mara7 arkab ma3ak ilsayara jara7!
'3azl: what’s he saying?
7ala: jara7. Adg 3alaik in a while.
Jara7: hahaha..ok.. bye
'3azl: 7ala tara dating needs planning? Did you even think about what you're going to tell your parents?
7ala: amm nnoo
'3azl: ok,, don’t say anything. Bes if they happended to ask, you were studying bilkoleya like everynight.
7ala: I feel guilty already
'3azl: ee, that comes with dating in our society 7ala, bes none of us want to end up with someone in an arranged way. Bes as long as you don’t forget yourself, and you know your limits, you'll be fine.
7ala: ee inshalla
'3azl: 5ala9, 5alee iyeelch ilkoleya, and follow him from there. Aw itha tabeen, we'll go in my car, I'll follow him and then pick you up from wherever I drop you
7ala: ee chithi a7san
So, I messaged Jara7 to tell him what I had decided on, and waited for a reply. A couple of minutes later he replied.
Jara7: 6ala9 ok, by 5 kunaw blkoleya and follow me from there.
I was starting to get really nervous! Awal shay I wouldn’t even talk to him, now I'm going OUT with him. But I want to. How else will I really really get to know him?!
A while later, '3azl and I decided on an outfit: a beige Chloe silk shirt with pearl buttons and a ribbon that goes around the waste. '3azl tied it into a perfect bow. I wore skinny black trousers , and my moms dark golden Gucci heels. A cream shaila. Makeup: liquid eyeliner, mascara, some bronzer and my Mac Scant lipstick. Last but not least, a Burberry alligator skin oversized clutch.
I looked in the mirror.
'3azl: you look stunning!
7ala: thanks for the help!
'3azl: omG it's 4:30! Yalla we have to leave the house now!
In the car, I started to fidget.. I was getting soo restless and nervous!
7ala: abaaaih '3azl 7addi nervous!
'3azl: don’t be! Relax! Just have fun..
7ala: I can't breathe! This bow is too tight '3azl!
'3azl: its not tight!! Just relax 7ala.. its your first date ever.. enjoy it!
Dashaina ilparking lot mal ilkoleya and '3azl parked in an empty row. We sat and waited quietly. '3azl held my hand and squeezed it slightly. Faj2a my phone rang. It was a message from him: "ready for out big date?"
I was about to reply when a car parked right next to us. It was his Golden Cayenne…