mine 8 ;**

kentara: dooya

kadi: mm

kentara: g3da

kadi: ya twny

I woke up earlier than I wanted, and decided to be lazy for a few hours and stay in bed to watch some television. Half an hour later toota made her way into my room and under my covers, we didnt say much we just laid there watching tv.

mama: 9ba7 il 5air

us: 9ba7 il nour

mama: shfeekum mnsd7en bl frash

kadi: 3yzaneen

kentara: mama wain baba?

She was daddy's little girl.

My mother sat on the couch.

mama: safar

We both sat up looking at her, we found the news alarming because my father hardly travels without my mother and when they did he would always pass by to see us before any flight.

kadi: laish ma salam 3laina

mama: it happened suddenly, 3mich called him and asked him to come and see him

I havent talked much about my family. My uncles disowned my father claiming he stole their father's wealth and kept it from them. He was the eldest, when in truth my grandfather asked him to invest the money so that when the rest were old enough their profit would double if not triple.

I hadnt seen any of my uncles. I see my grandmother and aunts on formal occasions when we tag along with my father, they seem nice but never did they allow us to interact with their children.

My mothers side of the family were, in my eyes, perfect. Loving uncles, caring aunties and kick ass cousins who can chill, laugh and be the shoulder you need when times get tough.

kadi: shyabe fee 3mi?

mama: apparently he isnt doing well o imwadena London yut3alaj o 6lb mn oboch eyey eshoufa

kadi: o baba ra7 brou7a?

mama: ee mama

kadi: you find this okay

mama: I didnt, bs its your father's choice and we cant stand in his way

I laid back down trying to fathom what my mother was saying. My heart ached for my father worried they might take advantage of his kindness, or worse take advantage that he is alone and might see it as an opportune moment to harm him.

mama: shrykum n6l3 for brunch

kentara: wy mama 3yzana ma feny

kadi: let Lileen make breakfast for us

My mother dialed the kitchens extension and asked Lileen to tell the cook to make us eggs; poached for mama, scrambled for me and omelette for toota. She asked them to set cheese platter with the variety of jams we had, za3tar and zeit with labna and fresh fruit.

kentara: im going to shower 3la ma they finish

mama: ana brou7 akalm yaditch

kadi: shfeeha

mama: ams 5alo kalamny o gal inha imsa5na shway

kadi: o salmay 3laiha

mama: inshalah

I was left alone lost in my own thoughts about my father, and as much as I hate to admit it about him. I was wondering what he was up to, was he close with his family, did he have siblings, what did he do, where did he study, what did he want from life.

Simple questions any person had the right to know about a potential significant other, right?

Ill ask him today.

I felt my phone vibrating and I instantly knew it was him, since my other phone made actual noise.

I couldnt help but smile before placing the phone to my ear.

kadi: aloo

thnyan: mm

Oh that voice, he had just woken up so it was deep, raspy, barely audible.

His voice made your heart skip a bit.

His voice made your insides burn.

His voice gave you goosebumps all over.

His voice made you tingle in the best possible way.

A5aaaaih 3la his voice.

thnyan: 9ba7 il 5air

I could hear him moving, then I heard him light a cigarette.

kadi: isnt it too early to be smoking

thnyan: fee a7ad ysm3 9outich o myda5n

I dont know if I should be happy or insulted.

For now I was happy.

thnyan: mita g3dtay?

kadi: twny ma 9arly wayed

thnyan: o laish ma g3dteny

kadi: its early

thnyan: adree bs I asked you to wake me up

kadi:....

thnyan: 3l 3moum 79al 5air, haa shino your plans for ilyoum

kadi: I am going to have breakfast m3a ahaly al7en

thnyan: ibt6l3oun aw bl bait

kadi: la bl bait

thnyan: 7ilo o b3dain?

kadi: I have nothing else planned

thnyan: afaa wna?

kadi: shfeek

thnyan: nesaiteny?

kadi: la bs ma adre mita itkoun fa'9y

thnyan: ana 6oul il youm fa'9elich 7beebty intay bs 2mray

kadi: tslem

thnyan: ana bnzil ag3ad m3a il ahal shway o b3dha a5ith shower o ni6l3 for coffee shrayich?

kadi: 5ala9 okay

thnyan: ana akalmich awal ma a5al9

kadi: okay

thnyan: bl 3fia ya 3umry

kadi: alah e3afeek

thnyan: bye

kadi: bye

I made fun of girls who looked at their phones after they were done with a conversation, and now I did the worst I placed the phone on my heart and a wide grin formed on my face.

I wore my robe, washed up and headed down.

kadi: good morning Lileen

Lileen: good morning, what would you like to drink?

kadi: cranberry juice please

kentara: LILEEEN!!

Lileen: yes toota

kentara: *in her whinny voice* shofay

Lileen: what?

Toota pointed out a light gray stain on her crisp white cotton house dress.

Lileen: from what?

kentara: I dont know I put it in the dirty basket and now its in my closet

mama: shfeekum

kentara: shofay

mama: Lileen which drier did you use

kentara: ma'am we are using the new one

mama: ee I think there is something wrong even sir's white shirts all have a gray stain on them, 5aleha I will call the company and have them come over to take a look until then just use the other one

Lileen: okay ma'am toota what you want to drink?

kentara: grape juice please

We sat around the informal dining table, the one that was placed in the everyday living room. Each with her plate of eggs done the way she loved it. We chatted, ate and laughed 3la Toota and her endless drama and issues.

mama: ha shbtsween ilyoum

kadi: bmur il bakery o yimken coffee with the girls

kentara: can I come

mama: laa warach exams lazem tadrseen ana ams 5laitich ti6l3n because you promised you will stay home today and study

kentara: okay

kadi: intay mama?

mama: mako 5altich Ru2a imswya ym3a ib bait-ha

kadi: oh salmay 3laiha I miss her

mama: dymen ts2al 3nkum

kadi: 5nshouflina youm n6l3

mama: inshalah

I made my way up to my room and just as I was about to step into the bathroom to take a bath I heard my phone vibrating.

It was him.

kadi: aloo

thnyan: ha 7beebty sh9ar 3laich

kadi: mako im going to take a bath al7en o bmur il bakery shway o im free

thnyan: 5oush dgay 3ly lmn t6l3en mn il bait

kadi: inshalah

I was nervous I wanted to stall in every way. I took a longer shower than usual, lathering twice, scrubbing my body twice, standing under the hot water just thinking.

Half an hour later I decided I was shriveled up enough, it was now time for the wardrobe. I brushed my hair and let it dry while I chose my outfit.

What to wear, what to wear.

I paced back and forth in front of toota wanting to ask her for help, but I only did that before going out on a date and I didnt want anyone to know I was seeing him.

Finally, I decided on a plain white dress, hugging my curves falling right above my knee, I wanted to show some skin but not in a slutty way. I let my hair down the way it was, every compliments me for my hair so I decided to show it off I loved the fact that it was long, I find it sexier on a girl.

Next the make up, all I applied was my press powder, blusher and mascara.

Done.

Gladiators, clutch and im out of the door.

kadi: toota im leaving

kentara: let me see you

kadi: laish

kentara: just entertain me

I opened her door and showed her my outfit.

kentara: who are we trying to impress

kadi: no one

kentara: are you sure?

kadi: yes 7uby its saturday which means more people showing up at the bakery and as the owner I need to look decent.

kentara: bring me back some goodies

kadi: inshalah

I got into the car and called him my heart was beating a mile a minute.