Bittersweet 30

Chinese food is GROSS. I didn’t eat anything, bss shrabt 3a9eer ow hal 5bz ely they put in the middle
of the table. Otherwise I just stared at the rest of the guys pigging out. Especially 7amdan who half the
time didn’t know what he was eating.

After lunch 7amdan and I decided to go down to

Rodeo Drive

.

"Agoolk, fii banat 6ar!" 7amdan said, peering out the window of his car. Coming to

Rodeo Drive

with 7amdan was

a tradition since it’s a major shopping district and what do girls like to do more than shop?

7amdan and I got out of his car and started to walk down the block.

"Rashood! Hot babe at 12:00!" He nudged me.

I didn’t bother looking up, because I was too busy texting on my phone.

"Agoolk hot babe!" He elbowed my waist.

"What?!" I finally looked up.

Allah y'3rblk 7amdan. Am7ag hot!

"Haa haa shu rayk? I call dibs!" 7amdan said.

"Seer zig mabaha." I coldly said and looked back at my phone.

"Afaa! Ya5ii there's no point in doing this if you don’t cooperate with me!" 7amdan complained.

"Kaify! Ma3ybatni!"

"Enzain ana t3aybni!"

"Okay shu asaweelk?!"

"Ohooo mashay mashay!" 7amdan huffed.

We crossed the street down to the next block when 7amdan elbowed me again.

"Okay this one's gotta impress you." He said.

When I looked up I saw a 5aleejy looking girl, trying hard to look American so people wouldn’t talk.
Obviously it's not working because I immediately knew she was Arab.

"Laa laa 7amdan please." I rolled my eyes.

"Choof 3adl wallah she looks easy!" He whispered because she was getting closer.

"Shu l3ba hee?" I snapped at him.

7amdan looked at me with a confused look on his face.

"6aaaa3ooo mnu yrms." He said putting his hands on his hips.

"Shu?"

"Ma7ad '3airk enta yal la3ab!"

I rolled my eyes at his remark.

"Balak tet5anath 3aleya?" He chuckled.

"Aaaih don’t push it." I snapped at him.

"Shu mshkltk these days, you've changed. You’re no fun anymore!" He complained like a little kid.

"Bss che I've changed. 3galt." I answered him.

"Awanaa!" He laughed, "7asastni ena you're 30!"

"May59a. I just have respect for banat el nass."

"Says akbar la3ab in Dubai." He sarcastically said.

"Those days are over. I'm not that person anymore." I confidently said.

"Oooooh I get it!" 7amdan face suddenly lit up.

I raised an eyebrow at him.

"You're whipped!" He said smiling extremely wide.

"NO!" I replied, widening my eyes.

"Yes you ARE! Wallah Rashood out of all the people I know you're the LAST person I expected to get
whipped!"

He dropped on to the ground laughing until he was out of breath.

"It's not that funny 7amdan." I said, only smiling because he looked like an idiot on his knees on

Rodeo Drive dying of laughter.

"Admit it!" He managed to say between breaths.

"Admit shu?!"

"Enk t7b!" He laughed.

"Ufff 7amdan goom goom, you're making us look stupid."

"Hahahaha Rashooody y7b! Allah ya5thk!" He said, finally getting up.

I pulled el ahbal onto his feet, and we continued walking down the block.

"So who's the lucky girl?" 7amdan devilishly said, poking me on my shoulder.

"Ma7ad!"

"Chathab! Rashood stop acting stupid and spill it."

I just ignored him and continued walking, trying to avoid his awkward subject.

"Laykoon that weird girl… what's her name? Salama?" He guessed.

"NO!" I exclaimed.

"Then it's got to be that one from Disneyland, 9a7?" He guessed again.

"Ufff laaa2!"

There was an awkward silence before 7amdan suddenly …

"LAYKOOOON…" 7amdan gasped loudly, "Man9oor's sis?!"

I came to a complete halt and widened my eyes. Mb hayn 7amdan kaif 3raf?

"Duuude!" 7amdan exclaimed. "Out of all people? Man9oor's sister?!"

I lowered my head and rubbed my eyes. I hadn’t talked about this to anyone in my life, and now it
 just happens to be 7amdan who knows. 7amdan! Out of all people!

"Ya5ii let's just go." I pleaded.

"Okay first of all, I'm HURT enk you never told me yal 7mar! Secondly, WHY?!"

"7amdan, can we not talk about this right now?"

"Laa laa we talk now!" 7amdan demanded.

"Seer zig, I'm hungry, baser akl."

"But we just had Chinese crap!" 7amdan pointed out.

"Ya5ii I didn’t eat anything! La3 chabdi!"

We finally started walking again.

"Does Man9oor know?" 7amdan suddenly asked.

"Know what?" I pretended I didn’t know.

"That you have a thing for his sis?"

"I'm still alive, aren’t I?" I smirked.

7amdan finally shut up and we continued our walk down the block to the nearest restaurant to eat
something normal!

Bittersweet 29

RASHID'S POINT OF VIEW :

Shuuuuu hal 7aalaaaa!!! Asmeeeny mtwaaahg!

She left…

Just like that!

Shu nawya tsawee feeny hal bnt? First she's my best friend's sister, then she gets engaged to
some DUDE, then she comes all the way to California, and then LEAVES without a word!

Ufffff

I didn’t bother going out with the guys after classes today. I wanted to be alone for a while.

I headed back to my apartment, and sat in front of my laptop aimlessly. I finally opened my
Facebook page, and found a million Inbox messages from Salama.

Ohoo nsait 3anha hay ba3ad. I marked all of them as read, instead of bothering to read them.
I wasn’t in the mood at all for her complaining about my "lack of commitment."

Comparing Salama with Noora is like comparing a rock to a diamond! Not only is she Majorly
gorgeous, but there's just something about her, a vibe, or an aura, that she gives off. I don't know
how to explain it but she just leaves me breathless.

I know its kind of … WRONG to feel that way towards an engaged woman, but … Ya5ii I can’t help
it! May59nii! I'm going to go after her, even if it’s the last thing I ever do. I'll do whatever it takes to
get her away from hal sbal!

That day at my apartment I just sat around doing pretty much Nothing! Shu tbooni asawii ya3ni
here in California?
Adrs mathalan?

When I first came here, ma9adagt ena I left Dubai. Now I'm looking for any excuse to go back.
And ABADAN mafeeny 9abr! If I could leave today I would.

KNOCK KNOCK

The loud knocking startled me. When I opened the door to find that it was 7amdan, I let out a huge :

"Uffff."

"Gee thanks, how welcoming." 7amdan sarcastically said.

I wasn't in the mood for 7amdan's sa5afa. Okay sometimes his humor makes great entertainment,
but right now it would be annoying.

"Yal daloo3, laish you're not coming with us for lunch?" He helped himself to a can of coke,
slamming the fridge door close with his foot.

"Bess! Mazaj." I gave him a look. If it were anyone else, they'd understand that I wasn't in the
mood, but not good old 7amdan.

"Laa laa laa ibooya lazm you come. We're going to try weird Chinese stuff." He added, spilling
some of the coke on my white leather couch. Ohoooo

"I don't like Chinese."

"Me neither, bess shu nsawi."

I stayed quiet, facing the window, trying to avoid starting another conversation.

"Sooo…" He began again.. Yeeeeeh.. "Seriously dude, shu mshkltk?"

"Mafeeeeny shay ufff!"

"Chathab! Laykoon its about that girl?" He put down his can, and smirked.

"What girl?" I pretended I didn’t know what he's talking about.

"Hayeech…You know…What's her name…" Snapping his fingers trying to remember; "Man9oor's
sis!"

Waaaaaiih… Hatha shu 3arafaaa..

"Don't act stupid Rashid, it's so obvious. Chanek a 4^th grader who has a crush on the girl in his
class." 7amdan laughed, spilling more coke.

"Agoolk…" I said getting up, "Get out."

"Hahaha Rashid chill, asoolf wyak."

"Mb mtfayg 7ag swalfk el sa5eefa."

"Afaaa.. Rashood. Lets just put this behind us." He said fluttering his eyelashes, looking
completely ridiculous.

"GOOM!" I pulled him from the collar of his shirt, as he spilled what's left of his coke on the carpet.

"Hehe.. asif." He smiled like an idiot.

I continued to push him out of my apartment, and slammed the door shut once he had left.

Wallah enk maynoon ya 7amdan.

Ylas ow 5ayas el dnya ow sar! '3abi!

Bss what did he mean by 4^th grader crush. Shuuu I'm not that lame! Sh3arafa hoo ahbal.

A9lan ana laish yals alone in this apartment. Ma3ndi classes, or anything… Yallah I have nothing
to loose. 7amdan '3ayar moody ib his sa5afa.

I threw on a leather jacket, and caught up with 7amdan in the lobby.

"7amdan! Wait! Baser wyakm!" I called down the hall.

"Laa laa! Ana 5ala9 z3aaalt!" 7amdan raised his eyebrows, put his hands on his hips, and
continued walking.

I caught up with him and slapped him on the back of his head. '3abi!

So we walked to the Chinese restaurant together, and had a nice lunch with our friends.

Bittersweet 28

That weekend, Maitha finally had the permission to go out with us. Well, go to one of our houses anyway. 79a
picked us up from our school and we headed for her house.

"Mashallah your house is nice." Maitha smiled. Her voice echoed in the big empty house.

We headed upstairs to 79a's room, and as usual, 79a and I like to race up the staircase, skipping a couple of
steps to reach the top, like little kids.

79a and I looked completely ridiculous, tripping over the spiral staircase, and grabbing on to each other's
3abayas preventing one another from reaching the top. Maitha giggled at our childish behavior from the bottom
of the staircase, and refused to take part in the commotion.

I WON! *victory dance*

As soon as 79a and I little staircase race was over, we heard the huge front door slam shut. Mayed had just
come home.

79a and I gasped, and raced into her room. Maitha followed us, as fast as she could, running up the staircase.

"AAH!" We heard a loud screech.

79a and I stuck our heads out of her room and witnessed Maitha tripping on one of the steps, but was caught in
the arms of Mayed!

My jaw dropped in complete shock, as Maitha breathed heavily in Mayed's arms, more frightened than ever.

"I…I'm.." Mayed started.

"Sorry!" They both said at the same time.

Mayed straightened her up, and she scurried up the stairs, her cheeks burning different shades of pink. Mayed
kept his head down, looking away until she made her way into 79a's room and we slammed the door shut.

"OH MY GOSH!!" 79a shrieked.

Maitha's eyes filled with tears, completely worried and scared.

79a broke the awkwardness with a huge laugh.

"His face was like *GASP* and she was like *SIGH*, HAHAHA!" She continued.

I laughed along with her, I mean, that was pretty funny.

"F'6eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee7a!" Maitha covered her face with her hands, peeking her eyes through her
fingers.

"She's TOO cuute!" 79a managed to say between her giggles.

"Your brother 9a7?"

"Yepp!" 79a answered.

Just then 79a's phone vibrated.

"He just texted me!" She announced, opening the message.

Mayo0od: PING!!!

                Who was that? :S

We all burst out laughing.

Hessa: My friend!

Mayo0od: Akeed your friend! What's her name?

Hessa: None of your business!

Mayo0od: X_X

                Mnu wyach?

Hessa: Noora, and "my friend" ;;)

Mayo0od: K Noora's here?!

Hessa: Yepp

Mayo0od: Did she see what happened?

Hessa: Yepp

Mayo0od: X_X

We couldn't stop giggling. You see, Maitha knew I was engaged, but she didn’t know to whom.

"Mashallah he's really handsome." Maitha suddenly blurted out.

79a and I looked at her with blank expressions.

For some reason, we didn’t tell her about my engagement to Mayed. A part of me didn’t want to. 

Bittersweet 27

It was like summer all over again. The feeling of not wanting to go back to school and face all the 7meer ely
hnaki. Oh well, I've gotten used to it.

As usual, 79a dropped me off at school, and took off for her school. For years I've wanted her to come to my
school but her parents wouldn’t allow her to move since all her brothers graduated from her school. It was kind
of a tradition.

I arrived early and decided to sit by myself on a bench on the courtyard and enjoy Dubai's so-called morning
breeze.

"Excuse me?" A soft voice from behind me said. I turned around to find a petit girl sitting on the other side of
a bench. She was holding a paper, probably her schedule.

"Yeah?" I answered.

"Tgdreen tgooleely where the Economics class is? I'm new here, 3ndy eya 1^st period ow I don’t know where to
go."

She explained. She had long brown bangs that fell over her big brown eyes.

"Ana ba3ad 3ndy Economics. I'll go with you." I kindly offered.

"Thanks! Shu esmch by the way?" She asked.

"Noora, and you?"

"Maitha." She answered. She had the rosiest cheeks and the most flawless skin. For some reason, I had the
urge touch her face. It looked so smooth!

I smiled at her. She was prettier and more natural than any of the other girls at our school. Most of them pile
on the makeup min 9baa7 allah 5air just for school. Maitha had absolutely nothing on her face, although ashk
ena her eyelashes are natural because they seemed so long. Either she has gorgeous eyelashes, or she
uses really good mascara.

Maitha and I walked to Economics class early. In fact, we sat together in every class that we shared. I learned
that she was the middle child of a family of 3. She had an older sister who was married and a younger brother
in the 5^th grade. She's so 6ayba and funny and down to Earth. I couldn’t wait to introduce her to 79a.

"T3aly wyana afterschool for lunch!" I offered. Lunch would be a great way to get to know each other, but she
kindly declined the offer, saying that her parents wouldn’t allow her. I get her point, I mean, she just met
me today!

I went to my art class for 3^rd period, and Maitha went to Physics. After class I found her sitting in the cafeteria
with Salama and her friends. Salama?!

Salama was sitting next to Maitha on their usual table, surrounded by a bunch of weird stuck up girls. Maitha
giggled along with their conversation as I watched from the counter.

"OMG Maitha you are TOO cute!" Salama exclaimed, eyeing me from the corner of her eyes. 7arakat yahaal
I mean seriously? What are we? 12?

Maitha suddenly got up from her seat, trying to make her way out of the crowd.

"Barja3 barja3!" She smiled, as she walked away. Next thing I know, she appeared beside me on the counter.

"Hey!" She smiled.

"So I see you've met Salama." I smiled back.

"Yeah…" She rolled her eyes. "She's very sweet, but I don’t think she can be more than just a classmate to me.
Ma7b her type of people."

Wow. Somebody notices!

"Haih ana ba3ad, I don’t like her very much." I replied.

"I noticed they talk about people wayed behind their backs." She said.

"Did she say something to you about someone?" I asked curiously.

"Well yeah…You." She answered. I widened my eyes, and then rolled them. I should've known. Of course she was
going to tell Maitha rumors about me that she made up herself.

"Apparently you stole her boyfriend, and the next day a guy in a white Lamborghini picked you up from school, or
something like that."  Maitha giggled at the ridiculous remark.

OMG  how LOW of her. How dare she tnshr ramsa about me! Has she seen herself?

"Hay el ensana t'6a7k." I laughed. "Awalan, I never stole any of her boyfriends. Thaneyan, the guy that picked me
up happens to be my fiancé."

Maitha gasped.

"Enty ma56ooba?!" She put her hand over her mouth. "But you're so young!"

"It's not like I'm going to get married bacher!" I giggled. "3adi, we're taking our time."

Maitha was so fascinated by my engagement, but she seemed too embarrassed to ask questions. I was glad
she didn’t because I didn’t want to talk about it a9lan. The more thought I put into it; the more I wanted to get
out of it.