48 }~

I hesitated for seconds before saying: “Who’s this? “
….. : “ shfech kheftay? “
Shoug: “ Shako akhaf! For the last time .. Who’s this? “
…… : “ it’s me .. “
Shoug: “ and you are? “
…….. : “ shoug.. “
Shoug: “ tara law I’m now sure 100% ena you know me , chan ana saddeta mn ziman! .. and it’s rude to talk to someone with introducing ur self to him! “
Faisal: “ yuba ana Faisal .. “
I bite my lips nervously : “ ahlen! .. khair? “
Faisal: “ khair eb wayhich .. I told you .. “
Shoug: “ told me about what?! “
I waved for Nouf .. and went to the small garden out side ..
Bait mama taiba wayid looya oo ez3aj .. I couldn’t focus with him!

Faisal : “ eeh chethy a7san! Wain re7tay? Sar silent shway! Ilwa7id yegdar eratib afkara! “
My heart starts beating so fast ..
Shoug: “ What’s wrong with you? What do you want from me? “
Faisal: “ shoug shfeech allah ehadach etkalmene eb hal 6areqa? .. I told you .. I felt ena this is the right time to tell you about my feelings .. Shoug I told my mom enha etdawerli , oo kilmara agool ena I want to put you on my list .. I really like you .. bas gilt bel awwal enna I wanna talk to you .. ashof maytich .. ma aby a7rej omy oo a7rej nafse .. “
His words were heavy on me ..
It felt awkward because for seconds the idea of marrying Faisal “right now” .. was better than waiting for Faris to marry me after “ 9 years”!

Shoug: “ etshof mayte? “
Faisal: “ ee! Hatha elly kent bagoolah lich .. ana asef etha etesaly az3ejich aw thayegich .. bas I just wanted to make things clear for you .. aby akheth rayich gabel la akh6y ay kha6wa .. “
Shoug: “ Faisal enta tadry shkobry oo shkobrik? Ana shahar 6 hatha atkharaj mn ethanaweya .. enta 29! “
Faisal: “ bas I never felt ena there’s a Gap between us .. bel3aks shoug .. “
Shoug: “ e3therny Faisal .. bas you have been my brother since forever , wela 3omry eb 7ayate sheftik ghair hal perspective .. oo matwaga3 enny now ra7 aghayra .. “
Faisal: “ I understand that , oo already kent 7asib e7sab hal rad .. bas laish ma ta36eenna foursa? Laish ma nakhethlina laima tetkharejain .. about 6-7 months to know each other .. oo etha 7assaitay ena ma yesla7 .. ensik il mawthou3 oo kil wa7ed erou7 eb 6ereja .. “
Shoug: “ la shako! You are my cousin Faisal .. asfa .. mashof hal suwalif laha da3y .. e3therny ma wedy agoolik kelma baikha aw ajre7ik .. bas it’s not gonna work! “
Faisal : “ bas shoug .. ana fursa .. la etthay3enha mn edich .. hatha mu ghuror .. its logic Shoug .. think about it .. “
Shoug: “ I don’t wanna think about it .. “
I was going to tell him about Faris .. or at least ena I’m in love with someone!
Shoug: “ oo ba3dain bagoolik shaghla .. “
Faisal : “ amray? “




A Man put his hand on my shoulder and whispered into my ear : “ who’s this guy? “
I turned slowly while feeling dizzy, and losing my breaths from fear ..
I saw Jassim’s face staring furiously at me ..
I replied : “ it’s .. it’s .. a long story .. “
Faisal closed the line ..
Jassim: “ huh! Bema enna wild omah sad il kha6! Now tegderen etgolili el long story kelaha! “
Shoug: “ abaih jassim! don't get it wrong!! ya3ne mathalan I would cheat on Faris? “
Jassim: “ I would break ur face! “
I gasped!
Jassim: “ ee ee 7abebty! Mo etgolili cousins ma cousins .. uhwa abda 3alay menich eb million marra .. oo en kesartay galba walla la akser wayhich .. “
I smiled: “ 7adik amazing friend! Lucky Faris.. “
Jassim: “ Shoug yuba tara ana mo ga3id atghashmar weyach! I’m asking you 3alashan etjawbene mo 3alshan etthay3en il salfa! “
Shoug: “ shagolik? Getlik! It’s a long story .. aw eb ma3na thany .. it’s not worth telling! “
Jassim pulled a cigarette from his Red Marlboro cigarettes box and mumbled while lighting it : “ ta7achay! “

We sat on the bench , both a bit scared ..
Shoug: “ hatha Faisal Alx .. tathkera Faisal? He’s a Dr. Now .. Kober Nada my sis? Ekhta Hessa elly awal kent enta oo a7medo et6eqoonha? “
His face softened shway ..
Jassim: “ eeh? Shfeh? “
Shoug: “ kent mareetha before fatra 6oowela .. maybe 2 years .. uhwa kan el 6abeb oo he added me eb msn .. then I knew faris so I deleted him cause uhwa already 7annah! .. oo madry 3anah sarli looong time around a year now! .. dag egooli enah my mom eb takh6ebly oo aby ashoof etha entay etwafqen aw la .. 3alshan maby a7rej ahalna m3a ba3ath .. bas! “
Jassim: “ oo shako yetjarra’ oo yerfa3 ilsama3a 3alaich? Ella etha entay ma36eetah wayh! “
Shoug: “ agoolik ma adry 3anah min sena! “
Jassim: “ 7eta law! Shako yerfa3 il sama3a 3alaich ella uhwa em’ammen enich eb ta36enah wayh or at least mantay gayla 7ag a7ad oo eb tasketen enna ta7arsh feech! Sou’al entay mestansa 3al wath3 oo gazra 3alaih? “
I smiled: “ yanait jassom? 6ab3an La’! “
Jassim: “ 3a6eney his number! “
Shoug: “ shaaaaaaaku! Min sejik? E7qeera zain! “
Jassim: “ Shoug 3a6ene raqma la a6al3a ebrou7y! bas ana maby afthu7a oo asa’el 3annah bain ahalna! “
Shoug: “ jassom uhwa ma ta7arsh feeny! Uhwa bas sa’alny etha artha atzaweja aw la! Bas! 7aram il rayyal ma sawali shay 3alshan tetesel feeh! “
Jassim : “ Shoug! I was there mn laima geltay What’s wrong with you? What do you want from me! Oo sema3tch yoom geltay betshof mayte! “ ..

jassim’s voice start getting louder and louder ..

Jassim : “ SHESHOOOF MAYTECH? LAISH E7NA MO REYAYEEL 7OULICH? SHAYFECH SAHLA 3ALASHAN TAGZIR 3ALAICH? MO TARSEN 3AINA E7NA! “

Shoug: “ uuush jassim la etsarekh! Tokfa la teftha7na! “

Jassim: “ TARA ANA MIN YOOM NA6 3ALAINA EB FUDS WANA WEDDY ALETTA KAF! BAS SEKAT GILT YUMKIN ANA THALMAN! .. BAS E6LA3AT TAWAQOU3ATY SAAAAAAA7! BEGAZZERHA 3ALA AFA BANAT IL 3AILAAAAA IL AKH! “

Shoug: “ tekfa jassom la etsarekh! .. enta shako feeh? Khaal ewalli .. la et7er nafsek .. khalas al7een uhwa eb yetzawaj oo yensanee! “




Faris: “ menu elly eb yetzawaj oo yensach? “
… his voice came weak and shocked from behind ..
Jassim looked at him and called him to join us : “ come here yal 3a’9eed! “

Faris’s shocked and sad expressions slipped into our silence ..
Faris : “ reday 3alayyyy shoug! Meno hatha ely eb yetzawaj oo yensach? “
As soon as he sat next to me on the bench ..

I whispered : “ Faisal .. “
Faris: “ a6rebeeny .. “ he demanded.
Jassim said: “ ent mn sejik et3arf elsalfa mn elbedaya oo sakit lah? “
Faris : “ ee le’ana il 7abeeba 3a6eta wayh men il awal! Ma3any gilt laha tara eb yefhemch ghala6! Oo she lied to me oo thallat his friend madry 3alashan shenu! Madry shlagya feeh! Oo al7en yoom enha tewaheqat tabeny ma askit lah? .. ehya il ghal6ana! “
I asked in shocked way : “ ANA GHAL6ANA? “
Faris: “ aked enty il ghala6ana shoug! I told you alf marra ena la etkalmeena wentay ghasib betseren e7laiwa! Tara sa3at ilwa7ed yefham ench naïve! Oo hatha ely sar 3end ebn illathena faisal! “

Jassim said while scratching his eye browses : “ wala enk metfahem! Luw ana mokanik ya had’ha ya thabe7ha! “

Faris: “ e7saby ma3aha taly .. “

his voice faded as he asked me for Faisal’s number ..
Faris: “ cham raqma shoug? “
I started at him feeling numb and icy cold ..
Shoug: “ mmm .. 9xxx “
Faris: “ good! .. dishay dakhel yallah .. “

My nose turned red and my eyes start etching me so hard ..
I whispered : “ la tez3al 3alay .. “

He moved his head closer to my mouth ..
Faris: “ masma3 shetgolin? “

I kept whispering while struggling to get the words out of my mouth : “ la tez3al 7abebe .. ana mo qasdi .. “

Faris: “ dishay dakhel babe .. bard 3alaich ehne .. “
Shoug: “ give me ur loving smile awwal .. “
Faris: “ Shoug!!! Deshay .. Dakhel!!!! Now!!! “

I swallowed my tears and nodded ..
Shoug: “ inshallah .. “