City love p. 16

The more time Reem spent with Fahad, the more she missed someone else. Hamad. Whenever she saw him around, he'd give her a polite smile maybe a hello and rush off. I guess it was for the best, Reem thought to herself. He was unavailable and seemed so complicated while Fahad was available and always around. She didn't want to lead Fahad on, because she only saw him as a friend and nothing more where as he clearly was anticipating something more. So Reem kept herself busy with university work or going out with friends discovering new cafes and side streets that had promising secrets waiting to be uncovered. 

The days got warmer and Reem happily took out her new spring wardrobe. She was meeting her friends for lunch. She choose an airy gauzy white dress with an embroidered neckline, a fitted light cardigan and her favourite pair of gladiators to adorned her small feet, her toes flashing in Essie's 'Short Shorts' nail polish. Lifting her Ray Ban Wayfarers off her face, she blinked profusely outside her street waiting for the girls to pass by. A smiling face appeared, it was Fahad. Her heart sunk a little, she did not feel like seeing him especially as she had avoided him for so long making up excuses about why she was busy.

Fahad: Halla walla, 3ash men shafech!

Reem: Halla Fahad (looking behind him, her heart did a flip) Halla Hamad.

Hamad(tucking his hands in his pockets quietly): Ahlain..

Fahad: Wainech? Walla we7ashteny! Yella ma dam you're here come with us, we're going to the park benitmasha.

Reem: I can't, an6er il banat.

Fahad(his temper rising): I've had enough of this. Whatever. Tara mo mayet 3alaich, you think you're the best girl around and everyone is dying for your attention. 

Before he could finish Hamad stepped in. 

Hamad: Fahad e7terim nafsik, 3aib tkalim il bint chithy. 

Fahad: Walla ya5y ma t3arf shmsawya feny! A9lan why the hell are you defending her huh? Laykoon you like her?? (Hitting Hamad's chest)

Hamad: Calm down Fahad.

Reem (in her mind, dumbfounded): This seriously can't be happening.. This is not happening..

Before she knew it, Fahad had attacked Hamad, as Hamad forcefully held him back until Fahad had been knocked to the pavement.

Reem stood there shocked, not knowing what to do. Luckily Hamad grabbed her hand and pull her away saying 'Ta3aly, let's get away before this get worse." 

She quickly shuffled through her bag to find her Blackberry to text a group message to her friends. " Sorry girls, something's come up. Go ahead without me." 

City love p.15

Hello readers, sorry I've been MIA for a long time. I was busy with the new school year and settling down in a new flat. Now that all that is sorted I hope I will be able to post more often. Here's the next part, it's not very long but I hope you enjoy it xoxoxox

Hamad paced back and forth the university’s hallways. He liked Fahad but he didn’t want Reem to be involved with him. To him Reem was the epitome of innocence, the way her tiny nose wrinkled when she let out a shy laugh or the way she looked when she was angry, sometimes  he enjoyed saying mean things just to provoke her so he could see that adorable scowl and pout she tried to hide.

He was going to wait for her until she leaves her lecture and try to talk to her. At that moment, past the long corridor Hamad saw them Reem’s  face glowing with a bright smile on her face while Fahad walked beside her devilishly laughing at her side. Hamad’s face froze in its place, he thought “Fahad’s already got to her”

 

The next few weeks, everywhere Reem went she bumped into Fahad, it was as if they were on the same schedule. He was nice and funny  and Reem desperately needed the distraction. They talked about his hobbies: cars, horseback riding and travelling and hers: food, reading and painting all over lattes or risotto.

 

Fahad(tugging on Reem’s sleeve): Come on, I want you to see something!

Reem: What Fahood? I’m tired I want to go home.

Fahad: Wait one sec, its coming.

Suddenly the dark wintery night lit up with fireworks, red, blue, yellow, orange, purple!

Reem(shrieking): Oh my god fireworks! I love them!

Fahad(a grin on his face): I know, that’s why I wanted you to see them

Reem smiled, enjoying the view from the park. Fahad inched closer, wrapping his arm across her shoulder. Any girl in Reem’s place would be happy but she felt her spine straighten and she stood in her place wishing it was someone else…

City love p.14

hello everyone, mbarak 3laikm el shahar, inshalla yn3ad 3laikum. sorry for the lack of posts, i was busy w/ ramadan, hope this makes up for it, more to come soon xoxox

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Reem(cutting him off): Hamad, mafy da3y tgoul shay, 3arfa 3an your situation.

Hamad(sighing): Really, t3arfeen? Walla I’m so relieved.

Reem: Yeah..

Hamad: So where does that leave us?

Reem(confused): Nowhere, we’ll stay university friends like we’ve always been.

Hamad: But you know there’s more between us than that, you can’t deny it.

Reem(her tempter cutting short): Hamad, enta shfeek? Esh’hal 7achy, you’re an engaged man!

Hamad(confused as ever): What? Me, engaged? To who???

Reem: Don’t play dumb, it was bad enough you had to lead me on before but you’re still lying about it. Your cousin Lamya ba3ad mn!

Hamad: Oh Reem, Reem, you’ve totally misunderstood the situation..

Just as he was going to continue, Reem’s mother walked back and Hamad excused himself after feeling unwelcomed by Reem.

That evening Reem kept thinking to herself  what could he possibly say, another lie akeed. Even Maha agreed, he hated seeing her friend getting so worked up over this guy.

The next few days was a series of wet rainy showers, that typical London weather that has you seeing four season in one day. Reem  was already on the way to her class, Starbucks tall chai latte in hand when the drizzles she was tolerating turned into pouring, wet drops falling at a fast speed.

She squealed wrapping her cashmere cardiwrap closer against her petite frame as she paced faster towards campus, she was a lady she never ran.

A moment later, a huge plain black umbrella engulfed her, she looked up to see a guy she’s never seen before a tan,plain faced guy clearly from their part of the world beside her.

He smiled revealing a mouthful of braces saying’You seemed like you really needed an umbrella so I thought I’d offer you mine,it’s big enough for the both of us. So you study here too?’

Reem(hesitant about the stranger beside her): Umm yeah, thank you.

The guy: My name’s Fahad, I’m Hamad’s friend, you know him right,Reem?

Reem(shocked at this Fahad guy’s information): Yes Fahad I do.

Fahad: What class do you have now? I have my international politics lecture, wayd ymamel el professor!

Reem(checking her schedule to make sure of her class): Ohh ana ba3ad, ee he’s such a bore, thank god for my latte and BBM welaa I’d be asleep.

Fahad(laughing): Hahahahah, ee walla, look lazm ayeeb ma3ay kam mn Red Bull and you don’t even want to see the doodles I’ve made of the professor.

Reem(warming up to Fahad): Heheheh actually I do, show me!

As they arrived at the building and Fahad so gallantly opened the door for Reem just as she was about to enter, she saw Hamad.

Hamad(sighing under his breath): Reem

Fahad(still smiling): Halla Hamood, sha5barik? Turns out me and Reem have a class together, yella we better go, kfaya met2a5reen.

Hamad(in utter shock):Uh,uh, you two know each other? Umm ok, see you later.

He walked off, his face clearly unsettled from the moment he saw them laughing together.

This guy is really funny, Reem  for a few moments forgot about Hamad and actually enjoyed herself.

Could this be the start of something new? ;)

 

City love p.13

Reem sat in front of her mother at the Harrods Terrace Bar for afternoon tea. She had come to visit her only daughter. It has been almost a month since her last encounter with Hamad. She had not even seen him around campus, there were rumours that he had gone home for the rest of semester.

Reem’s mum: Enzain o ana glt 7ag 5altich la magdar ayey.. bs yadetich ma re’9at ..

Reem had somewhat drowned out her mum’s voice, she had gone on with life, she was always quite strong, but she couldn’t help but feel there was a missing piece in her life, Hamad held a place no one had ever had in her life before, he was a guy who was kind yet wasn’t sickly sweet, he had a great sense of humour even if it was teasingly at her expense. Something about him always drew a smile on her face, even after the day he clearly made any feeling he may have had for her clear: he did not like her in that way, he was in love with his fiancé Lamya.

A guttural yet sexy ‘e7em’ woke Reem from her daydream. Right next to their table stood Hamad, tall and broader than ever.

Reem’s eyes widened with surprise, she tried to mask her relief and happiness to know that Hamad was still around and fine.

Hamad: Halla 5alty, shlonach? Ana Hama Al-Flani, ana zameel Reem bl jam3a..Reem’s mum looked at him questioningly yet smiled warmly

Reem’s mum: Ahlain wldy, shlonak? Shlon il walda wl ahal? 

Hamad(smiling revealing his gorgeous dimples): Walla klhum b5air

Reem began turning all shades of red,” Oh my god this could not be happening to her!” She thought to herself.

Hamad got along splendidly with her mum, it turned out that Hamad’s mum was old neighbours with Reem’s mother’s family.

Reem nodded on and answered in one or two word sentences, waiting for this awkwardly horrific event to end.

“Why is he even chatting with my mum? He has a fiancée, there’s no need to play Mr.Nice Guy, but then again I guess that’s just how he is..’ Reem thought some more..

Reem’s mum’s mobile rang loudly, she fished it out of her Hermes Kelly and got up to take the phone. ‘Oh el5adam yeta9loun, 5alny ashouf shfehum ba3ad..’ As she walked off to take the call leaving Hamad and Reem alone at the table.

Hamad(started off hesitantly): Reem, ana aby agolach shay…

city love p.12

Reem felt so guilty for what had happened earlier than night, she had to find a way to make it up to Hamad, ya3ny mskeen eshthanba if her cousin was slightly psycho? At least Jassem was travelling that morning o betiftak menah.

Slipping into leggings,a bordeaux loose cashmere sweater dress and accenting her small waist with a black Arrogant Cat box waist belt and some knee high grey leather Chloe boots,  she was ready to go to university after a slick of winged eyeliner and a dab of a berry lip stain.

She walked struggling with the two warm lattes in her hands and the bag of muffins in the other as she got closer to the campus.

‘Who’s the second latte for ha?’ Hamad appeared from behind her with a boyish grin on his face that made the gold flecks in his eyes sparkle, making her almost lose hold of the drinks tray.

‘For you as a matter of fact’ Reem smiled shly.

‘Me? Well, well, well it must be my day’ Hamad said sarcastically.

‘I just wanted to say sorry for the way my cousin acted yesterday, he was way out of line’Reem uttered.

‘Your cousin ha? He said inquisitely, while taking a drink from the tray and taking a sip.

Reem: Yeah, my mom asked him to check up on me,5ara3ny he came all the way to my flat with no notice.

Hamad: Ahaa, well thanks for the drink. Where’s my homework by the way? I need it (he mockingly teased)

He proceeded to walk off, coolly sipping his latte leaving Reem utterly shocked.

Reem: Bu,but..

It was too late, Hamad was already inside. She didn’t want to seem too desperate.

What had all that meant? Did he care? Was he oblivious?

 

After class Reem was still kind of down after the way things had went with Hamad. She decided retail therapy was the answer to her woes. As she walked around the buzzing yet somewhat comforting beauty department of Selfridges swatching vivid and bright lipsticks from MAC and Illamasqua, the type she loved and suited her pouty lips so perfectly she saw Hamad’s not so friendly cousin Lamya approaching! ‘Oh no, this can’t be good!’ Reem thought to herself, yet despite that she smiled and said..

Reem: Halla, shlonech?

Lamya: esme3eny 7abebty, tara don’t even think about getting close to Hamad. He would never go for a girl like you, tara hw y7ibny o 5a6ebny gabl ma eyiy London so a7san lach you back off.

Reem(shocked at what she was hearing): Umm, okay, but you’ve got me all wrong I, I don’t like your cousin.

With those words, Reem stormed off not wanting Hamad’s fiancée to see her in tears.She kept her eyes to the floor, hoping for once London would be big enough to avoid bumping into someone. At that moment her body collided with a heavy male body in a black fitted Prada jacket.

‘Reem??Shfeech?Why are you crying?’ Hamad cried out to Reem  as he held her by her tiny slumped shoulders.

He looked away and saw his cousin, Lamya smiling and spritzing perfume testers close by.

‘Lamyaaa!’ He screamed as he marched off in the direction of his fiancée leaving Reem alone yet again for the second time that day.

I guess dreams don’t come true for everyone..

City love p.11

At that moment, the phone rang jolting Reem from her thoughts.

Reem: Hello?

Sammy: Dear, there’s a gentleman downstairs for you,  shall I send him up?

Reem(shocked): Hi Sammy, umm no its okay I’ll come down.

Reem was frightened and excited at the same time, could it be Hamad? She threw on jumper over her sweats and slipped into her Mukluks and she hurriedly made her way downstairs.

Smiling at the prospect of seeing Hamad, she tried to fix her hair which was in a little way too messy bun.

Reem: Hi, Ha—

She looked at the person before her, it wasn’t Hamad  it was her cousin Jassem!

Reem(stuttering hoping he didn’t notice what she was just about to say): Jassem, what are you doing here?

Jassem: Bedal ma tgolonly el7mdallah 3ala ilsalamah, that’s how you greet me!

Reem: Laa mo ga9dy but I wasn’t expecting you. How are you?

Jassem: Walla tamam, you’re mom called me up o yom darat eny nazel London galatly ayey at6aman 3alaich.

Reem: Ohh typical Mama, hehehe..

Jassem: Enzain ma bt3zmeny fog?

Reem(hesitant, she just didn’t feel that comfortable with Jassem): How about we go out and get something to eat, you must be hungry?

Jassem: Sure, I am actually..

Jassem and Reem made their way out of the building,  Reem awkwardly stuffing her tiny,delicated hands in her pockets.

After having dinner, they walked around some more talking. Even though Reem felt uncomfortable around  Jassem, his stout figure and piercing,inquisitive eyes set off with heavy,thick knit angry looking eyebrows made her feel restless. She tried to make conversation and felt herself warming up to her slightly overprotective cousin.

As Jassem walked her back to her flat,  Reem saw a familiar profile and soft,black hair that curled at the nape of his neck pacing back and forth outside her building. She thought to herself in a silent frenzy,”Oh God no, it can’t be …!”

Reem:Hamad

Hamad(a shocked and distraught look on his face): Reem

Jassem(his already angry looking face getting angrier by the second): Who the hell is this guy?

City love p.10

From that day, Reem had only seen Hamad at university from afar, she avoided the places where she knew he’d hang out and it was obvious he was doing the same, although she had seen him glance towards her with a melancholy look on his face.

 

            Reem started missing not only when he was sweet, but also his annoying remarks. She knew he was trouble but she couldn’t help but want him in her life, even as just a friend. That day after she had finished her classes for the day, she decided she’d go over and say hi to him the next chance she got. Excited and scared at the same time, Reem skipped down the steps in her Tod’s ballet flats, her complexion getting rosier from the cold,winter air. She saw him from afar chatting with someone, she smiled ready to make things better.

 

            Walking confidently towards Hamad, she stood next to him, his model like height emphasizing her petite frame.

Reem(clutching her books): Halla Hamad

Hamad(surprised): Reem, ahlain, sha5barech?

Reem: b5air, how are you?

Hamad(still confused and surprised): tamam walla.. oh yeah(turning to his left), hathy my cousin Lamya, she’s visiting..

Lamya peered at Reem with her eyebrow cocked up and suspicious eyes , then slowly looked her up and down.

--

Reem(taken aback): Ohh hi, nice to meet you.

Lamya(unenthusiactically): You too.

Hamad(unsure of what to say): B’3aity shay Reem? Are you okay?

Reem(still in a daze): Laa salamtik, I’m fine. I just wanted to say hi, anyways I better get going, Maha is waiting for me.

Hamad: Okay, take care..

‘Shit, shit, shit! I’m so stupid, I shouldn’t have gone over there.’ Reem thought to herself. There’s obviously something going on. He couldn’t have possibly liked me, I guess I was imagining it, how silly of me.

           

Soon after I met up with Maha for a quick lunch at itsu. As we dipped our maki rolls into soy sauce and sipped our miso soup, I told her what happened with Hamad.

 

Maha: Ohh that does not sound good! What did you say her name was?

Reem: Lamya..

Maha: Oh my god, that Lamya! Reemo, hathy his cousin who’s totally in love with him, everyone knows.

Reem: Ugh just my luck,! And does he love her, is there anything going on?

Maha: Madry, why don’t you ask him?

Reem(shaking her leg nervously on the bar stool): Ask him??! Yanaity.. Then he’ll know I like him.

Maha(smiling mischeviously): Ahaaa, so you admit it, you do like him!

Reem(embarrassed and blushing): Mahooooy, stop! You know what I mean, as a friend, I’m just concerned because she seemed really rude, Hamad deserves better than that.

Maha(sarcastically): Suuuure, as a friend hahahaha..

I spent the entire night thinking about Hamad and what I should or shouldn’t do. ‘Should I just forget about him?’ Reem thought to herself.