Calm Before the Storm: Chapter 9.

Previously:

I locked my phone and put it aside.

Jana: "esm3o esm3o" she looked at us "elyoum birthday Musaab w 7na jaybeenla cake 93'eera w ketha"

Me: "bs elyoum mu 25 May" I interrupted,

Jana: "eeh I know, bl hejri" she smiled, "elzbda, ho al7een bl 7mam bs wgt ma ajeeb elcake please 3'no ma3ay ok?"

We nodded and I unlocked my phone again to check Esraa's chat again,

Esraa:
Esm3i 3adi wallah
Bs ma abeek tt3lgeen feh w b3den t3rfeen wsh y9eer 3gb
Y3ni enti ma tdreen etha ho y7bk wla yshoufk nfs e5ta
W akeed nfs e5ta a9ln
7ta lw y7bk don't ever get into a relationship again

Judy:

Tsthableen ma a7ba a9ln

Relationship elzmn

T5yli a7b wld 5ali

Sheli elfkra mn rask ma a7ba ana

Jalsa awhm nfsi

Esraa:

6yb la t9e7een bs

Entbhi ahm shay

Judy:

Ok

I raised my head to see if Jana went to bring the cake but I saw Musaab getting out of the bathroom staring at me so I immediately looked back at my phone,

Esraa:

Wsh feek z3lti?

Judy:

Ma z3alt bs m7tara y5ti

He keeps giving me mixed signals

Gbl shway ytbosm w ho y5mni w al7een y7gr

T3bt wallah

Esraa:

Munf9m ho b3d

I locked my phone, as soon as I did my phone buzzed again. It was a WhatsApp notification from Alia.

Alia:

6be3ya eln6'rat 7gt Musaab?

Judy:

Ma adri 3na

I switched to Musaab's chat,

Judy:

Would you please stop giving me death stares?

I looked at him while he took his phone out of his pocket and typed back,

Musaab:

Sorry

He thankfully didn't take his eyes off his phone after the message I sent,

Uncle Fahad: "ha Musaab yuba lgait 7jz 3la nfs 6yartna?"

Musaab: "eeh SV4907 97?"

Uncle Fahad: "ma adri wallah, l76'a ashyk"

He took his phone out of his pocket and checked something,

Uncle Fahad smiled: "eeh he nfs'ha"

I WhatsApped Alia,

Judy:

Musaab jay m3na LA? 😐

Alia:

He lives there you idiot

Judy:

Ohh 97 nsait

Incase I didn't mention yet, my family and I travel to LA every summer (usually after Eid but sometimes in Ramadan, depends on how long our summer vacation is)

The third week of Ramadan was finally here. I was counting the days down. I couldn't wait to go to LA. You guys have no idea how much I love that city. The memories I have there are unreal. I don't blame Musaab for insisting to travel and study there. I guess it's all of our family members' favorite city.

We travelled in Ramadan 28th and arrived in Ramadan 29th. Things were more than amazing there. The weather. The vibes. The people I'm with. I just have a thing for family trips.

Faisal: "yallah bnt25r" he shouted while opening the hotel's room,

Me: "5l9t 5l9t wallah"

Faisal: "Alia ween?"

Me: "waray"

Alia and I took the elevator and left, we saw Faisal leaning on his car laughing.

Me: "hatha eli m39b w ygoul t25rna?"

Faisal tried to hide his laugh: "shoufi hinak" and he pointed somewhere,

I looked at where he was pointing and saw Musaab taking a selfie with a girl,

I knotted my eyebrows: "meen 4i?"

Faisal still laughing: "wsh drani ana?"

Alia laughed: "shklha 3rbya 97?"

They were laughing but I wasn't. I was feeling something burn inside me,

Musaab and the Arabian girl chit-chatted for a minute and then he came back laughing. Faisal and Alia were laughing as well while my face was literally a poker. I was pissed. Musaab's facial expressions changed as soon as he saw me not laughing, but then Faisal spoke,

Faisal: "meen ha4i?"

Musaab: "ma a3rfha" he chuckled, "galtli mshabha 3laik 3adi a9wr m3ak?"

Alia: "3rbya 97?"

Musaab: "eeh she's Saudi"

Faisal laughed: "w ent ma 9dgt 6b3n"

Musaab: "wsho tbeeni akrsh'ha? 3eeb"

I was staring at them giving Musaab death stares, just like the ones he gives me.

Faisal: "ma a54t rgmha?"

Me: "w3 w3, wsh eli a54t rgmha matu eli yrgmoun tara"

Faisal laughed: "astahbl wsh feek 39bti?"

Me: "ma 39bt" I took a deep breath and realized I was extra angry, "ray7a ajeebli Starbucks, a7d ybi?"

Musaab: "ana abi... umm moya"

I stared at him underestimating his existence,

Me: "3ndna moya bl sayara"

I turned around and walked to Starbucks silently not waiting for his response or reaction.

I got in Starbucks and stood in the queue. I finally realized that all this time I was falling for Musaab. I've been thinking about him so much lately, and whenever I see him I get those butterflies. Cheesy, I know. But I grew too attached once, and when we suddenly grew apart I realized I love him. I used to think that I only consider him as a brother, but not anymore. I fell for him. I wouldn't get this jealous if I don't love him. My blood was boiling like a hot damn water and my heartbeats were racing like they were in a marathon over a silly thing. But the worst thing about it, is that he considers me as a sister. But it doesn't matter anymore, it won't change anything. I already fell and I have no idea how to get up again.

My phone buzzed, a WhatsApp from Alia,

Alia:

Ajl hatha elm5boul tbeena y56b?

Judy:

Eskti w3 karhta

Alia:

Leesh?

Judy:

Bs

Alia:

Are you hiding something?

Judy:

No

Well, I am, and I am not telling you, not now.

Judy:

Tbeen shay mn Starbucks?

Alia:

No thanks

I switched to Esraa's chat,

Judy:

It's official

Esraa:

What?

Judy:

I just got jealous and kind of showed it

I hate him

Esraa:

Chill and tell me what happened

I told her everything,

Esraa:

W3 w ho mstans 3leeha?

Judy:

Madri 3na

Bs wa6'7 y6g6g

Esraa:

I don't want you to fall in love again

Judy:

Too late

Esraa:

How's LA?

Judy:

So good!

I wish you were here

Esraa:

Ya leet my family goes to LA

London sucks

Judy:

London is beautiful

Bs inshallah one day we'll go to LA together ;)

Esraa:

I hope

I took my order and left, I saw the car parked in front of Starbucks and all of them were in. I hopped in the backseats next to Alia and we went to Urth Cafe to have brunch.

A week later, I woke up lazier than ever. It was around 2 PM but I didn't want to get up,

Alia: "ma b3'eeti tgomeen!"

Me: "t3bana shway"

Alia: "jat el3ma?"

Me: "lssa bs I'm PMSing"

Alia: "tbeen anzl aswe lk shay?"

Me: "wsh 3ndi 9ayra cute?" I laughed, "eeh abi n3na3"

Alia: "abeek t9797een 3shan elyoum elsa3a 8 elm3'rb bgabl 9deegati b Third Street w mama ma r7 tr9'a arou7 bl7ali" she smiled wildly,

Me: "mu l Allah y3ni"

Alia: "ll2sf"

Me: "6yb enzli sweeli n3na3 yallah"

Alia: "okay shway"

I stared at her clothes,

Me: "btro7een mkan el7een?"

Alia: "brou7 The Grove bbdl shay ams shreeta m3 Abdullah w bje"

Abdullah is her brother,

Me: "yallah eln3na3"

Alia: "zeen zeen"

She went downstairs and came back 10 minutes later with a teapot on a tray,

Nothing so important happened later. I started getting ready at 7 PM to go to Third Street Promenade with Alia. I applied simple makeup and we left,

Me: "ween btshofenhom?"

Alia: "glna gdam Starbucks, b3deen bnd5l elcinema"

Me: "ok, meen jay?"

Alia: "t3rfeenhom klhom, Ghalia w Mashail w Atheer"

Me: "okay mn hna Starbucks"

I led her to Starbucks as she followed me,

Alia: "shofeehum hnak" she pointed,

We walked to the girls and they greeted us, they were all there and we were the last ones to arrive.

Atheer: "yallah?"

Alia: "eeh"

Me: "esm3u entu esbgouni ana abi ashtri Starbucks ma asht'hi popcorn elcinema"

They nodded and left as I stood in the queue waiting for my turn,

Once I took my order, I left Starbucks and changed my directions to the cinema. I glanced Nasser with a bunch of guys walking opposite my way. They were facing me and Nasser and I's eyes met. I immediately looked away and walked a little faster so I can skip them. I saw Nasser changing his direction to follow me,

Me: "eb3d lw sm7t" I said without turning around,

Nasser: "Judy"

Me: "Nasser w elli y5leek eb3d 3ni lw sm7t"

Nasser: "mar7 a5leek leen tsm3eeni"

I turned around,

Me: "ha?"

Nasser: "ejlsi shway lw sm7ti" he pointed at one of the benches,

I laughed: "la mara m9dg nfsk ent"

He held my hands tight,

Me: "eflt ydk wla wallah ya Nasser b9r5 w ajm3 elnas 3laina"

Nasser: "bflt, bs t3ali ma3ay lw sm7ti"

Me: "Nasser ana jaya m3 ahli w mani nag9a mshaklk etrkni!"

Nasser: "aw3dk mar7 a6wl w m7d byshoufna"

I took a very deep breath,

Me: "fine"

He smiled as I followed him. Only God knows how much I've missed this smile. I wanted to hug him and tell him how much I missed him. I wanted to tell him how hard my life has become once he left. I wanted to tell him about my life updates. I wanted to stay with him for hours. But we don't always get what we want,

Me: "hatha mu elparking?"

Nasser: "sayarti"

//

Your thoughts matter!

Calm Before the Storm: Chapter 8.

Previously:

I took the first step to go upstairs,

Mama: "l76'a t3ali"

I turned around,

Mama: "kl shway t6l3li 9ourti bl jwal a5af a76 story bl 3'l6"

Me: "la yuma, mar7 yn76 ella etha enti 6'3'6ti hl zr" I showed her, and then went back upstairs.

That was close. My answer was too lame and it was obvious that I was lying. I just hope she doesn't ask too much again.

Our graduation's party day was finally here 3 weeks after I finished my finals. My senior friends and I were getting ready in the upper room while the guests were downstairs. When we were all finally done we went downstairs at the same time. We danced, took pictures and I had so much fun. When it was around 12 AM, we all went upstairs again and wore our graduation robes and then had our simi-zaffa, then went to our after-party.

I woke up the next morning wanting a full body massage more than anything. I went downstairs to check if my family woke up already, but the house was too quiet so I knew that they were still sleeping,

Kelly: "Judy, there's a gift that just arrived"

Me: "gift?"

Kelly: "yes, wait I'll bring it"

Me: "wait, who brought it?"

Kelly: "driver"

Me: "who? Raju?"

Kelly: "no no I know Raju, not him"

Me: "maybe they've mistaken the address, are you sure it's ours?"

Kelly: "yes, the driver told me that this for Judy"

Me: "oh really? Bring it please"

She went to bring it,

Kelly: "here"

She put it on the table in front of me and left. I pulled the box closer to me and read the card,

"Hello Judy,

It seems like just yesterday you were just a kid starting high school, congratulations on your graduation. I wish you all the best, and may you live happily forever. You don't need to freak out but I'm not telling you my name.

Yours sincerely,

Anonymous."

You must be kidding me now. I flipped the card to see if there is a name written or a hint at least, but there was nothing. I felt like I was in a movie. Such things never happen in real life, well maybe sometimes, but never to me. I admit, I freaked out.

I unlocked my phone, opened WhatsApp and typed a message to the seniors' group,

Judy:

Bnat

Feeh a7d mnkum msweeli prank?

Esraa:

Leeh wsh 9ar?

Judy:

Shklha enti 97?

Lama:

La

Esraa:

La wsho ana

Ma swait shay wallah

Twni 9a7ya fa6'ya aswe lk prank ana?

Anoud:

Tell us wsh 9ar

Ma atwg3 a7d mnna mswi prank la

Reem:

Shsalfa

Judy:

Nevermind 6l3 a5ouy

I lied. But I didn't want to tell them. I might tell Esraa only because she is the closest to me. The rest would probably tease me for it.

I privately WhatsApped Esraa,

Judy:

Don't tell them that I told you

There is a gift that was sent anonymously

I took a picture of the card and sent it to her,

Esraa:

Hatha mn Faisal wla Khalid?

6yb wsh da5l el box?

Judy:

Ya 3'bya

Mu mn wla a7d

I just lied

Mafeeni agoul lhm

Esraa:

Mn meen 6yb?

Judy:

No idea :)

Esraa:

E7lfi

Y7ms 😂😂

Ma glteeli wsh da5l elbox?

Judy:

Lssa ma ft7ta

5ayfa madri leesh

Esraa:

Bsr3a eft7eeh w gouleli

I put my phone aside and opened the box, there was a small Cartier box. I gasped.

Judy:

Yuma yuma yuma

Ana mt2kda ena prank

Esraa:

Is it a zombie?

Judy:

IT'S A CARTIER BOX

Esraa:

What?

Open it la y6l3 da5lha chicken nuggets

I opened the box and there actually was a simple bracelet.

Judy:

I think they've mistaken the address wallah

Non believable

Esraa:

DON'T TELL ME THAT THERE IS A REAL BRACELET 

Judy:

THERE IS A REAL BRACELET!

Esraa:

Ya 76'kk

Lazm n3rf meen

Judy:

Bmout w a3rf wallah

Esraa:

T7seen Nasser?

Judy:

No

Ymkn

Should I ask him?

Esraa:

6b3n la

Judy:

Yarabeh mn meen 6yb

Esraa:

Ana a7s Nasser bs ya weelk tklmeena

Judy:

Mani mklmta

Esraa:

Promise me

Judy:

Wallah

Esraa:

Good girl

9wreli elbracelet

I took a picture of the bracelet to her and she liked it. It was so beautiful to be honest.

Esraa:

Elbseeha

Judy:

Eeh inshallah I will

Bs kl ma ashoufha b9eer curious akthr eni a3rf mn meen

Esraa:

E3tbreha mni ;;)

Bs l2ni m6fra ma jbt lk shay

Judy:

Inshallah 😂😂

I switched to Twitter and found a direct message from Alia my cousin, she shared a tweet that was written by Musaab with me and captioned it.

The tweet was:

"أخاف أخون صحبتنا وأحبك.."

@AliaAlX:

Mu hyn elwld shkla shayfla shoufa b LA 😂

@JudyAlX:

Hahaha t7seen?

I don't know why but I felt something weird ache inside me. The same feeling I got when Faisal said that he wants to get married. I couldn't identify it. It was jealousy mixed with missing. I remembered our last hug and smiled a light smile as I blushed,

Me: "Allah y7wm kbdi, wsh thal 3'ba2" I said to myself as I went to take a hot bath to free my mind from everything.

A week later, we went to my grandmother's house on Friday as usual. We had lunch and everything was normal, until the door got opened and Musaab came in with a bunch of bags,

Uncle Fahad: "hala b3zwti hala!"

Musaab smiled: "hala wallah"

My heart skipped beats once I saw him and I have no idea why my body's temperature suddenly went very high. My tummy ached and I got butterflies.

Aunt Yasmine laughed: "7mdellah 3ala slamtk! Eshtgna lk wallah!"

Uncle Esam: "eeh wallah, eljm3a nag9ha 76'ourk"

Musaab smiled: "Allah yslmkum yarab"

Alia came from the backyard and shouted: "omg! Mufaj2a y3ni? Leesh m7d gali?"

My mom got up and hugged him tight. She loves Musaab way too much. He's her favorite nephew. My ex-favorite cousin too. Lol. Everyone in the living room got up, hugged Musaab and greeted him, except for me. I was sitting on the couch showing no emotions, while I was burning inside.

Once he was done hugging everyone, he came closer to me,

Musaab: "mar7 tslmeen y3ni?"

I awkwardly smiled and got up, he opened his arms wide for a hug and I hugged him. I felt his lips curl into a smile,

Me: "el7mdellah 3la slamtk"

I let go our hug and backed off.

Musaab: "Allah yslmk"

I raised my head and saw my mom staring at me smiling,

Me: "haw wsho?"

Mama laughed: "wala shay"

I sat down and unlocked my phone, I WhatsApped Esraa,

Judy:

Bmout

She immediately replied,

Esraa:

Wsh feek?

Judy:

Yarabeh akrh ketha etha 9ar elw6'3 awkward yfshl

Esraa:

E7ki

Judy:

He's back! 🎉

Esraa:

Who?

Judy:

Musaab

Esraa:

Forever?

Judy:

No ejaza ya 3'bya!

Esraa:

Oh sorry ra7 3n bali

Wsh elshay eli awkward w bymwtk

Judy:

:(

Esraa:

What?

Judy:

Wala shay bs tw ja w m7d ydri ena byje ella ahla atwg3, elzbda slm 3lehum klhum w ana jalsa b3den ja gali mar7 tslmeen?

Esraa:

7rkat wallah

T6wrna

Judy:

I know right!

9ar ybtsm wallah mu3jza

L76'a e9bri

B3deen lmn w5rt 3na mama kant tna6'rni w tbtsm yfshl

He awl sa2ltni etha fe shay 9ar benna gltlha la

Esraa:

Jalsa at5yl wjhk w ho m7mr al7een

Hahaha

Judy:

Kli tbn please

Esm3i bagoulk shay

Esraa:

Gouli

I typed something but then deleted it,

Judy:

Wla shay 5la9

Esraa:

Ya s5eefa

Btgouleen

Judy:

Ma abi a9eer drama

Akrh eldrama

Esraa:

Wsho??

Wallah tgoleen

Judy:

I think

Esraa:

Eeh?

Judy:

I'm

Esraa:

You think you?

Judy:

Assdffghjklll

Nevermind

Esraa:

Spit it out

Judy:

I think I'm falling for Musaab

Don't judge me bs wallah

Idk

My emotions are so mixed

Lmn ashoufa tjeni butterflies w glbi ynb9' bsr3a w marra ast7i 3ks awl

Madri hatha 3shan shwya b3dna 3n b39' wla 9dg

Listen don't answer swi nfsk ma shfti shay please

Wallah ashoufa nfs a5ouy

Bs madri leesh a7yann a7sni a7ba

Esraa:

Wallah el36'eem eni 7asa

She was typing but I managed to type faster than her,

Judy:

Please kli tbn please please

Swi nfsk ma graiti shay

Bye

I locked my phone and put it aside,

Jana: "esm3o esm3o" she looked at us "elyoum birthday Musaab w 7na jaybeenla cake 93'eera w ketha"

Me: "bs elyoum mu 25 May" I interrupted,

Jana: "eeh I know, bl hejri" she smiled, "elzbda, ho al7een bl 7mam bs wgt ma ajeeb elcake please 3'no ma3ay ok?"

We nodded and I unlocked my phone again to check Esraa's chat again,

//

Did you guys see this coming? ;)

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