Beneath Guarded Hearts - 54

 Previously…

3bdulla

Me: “I love you, Asma.”

She surprised me when she admitted the same.

Asma: “I love you too, 3bady.”

I froze as the wheel took us on our last spin. Hearing those words, coming from her, to me… I felt like I had just found a hidden treasure and that I was the luckiest man in the world. She was mine. No one else could have her. I wouldn’t allow it. I loved her. I always would. I could see that now, that there was no way escaping it… I smiled in relieved joy.

Me: “Our story isn’t over yet.”

_____________

Asma

            The next week passed by really fast. Mama sat me like a child and told me that I had a marriage proposal. She said she believed that 3bdulla was a good man, but felt that I should wait, at least until I graduated. I, on the other hand, was still confused about how I felt, and to be honest I was a little scared. I just realized that I didn’t really know him that well, and that we both still had a long way to go. I had so many questions on my mind and no one to answer them for me.

            But as I thought of him being mine, finally mine and only mine, the questions seemed to disappear. I knew what I wanted. I was just afraid that it wasn’t what I needed. But what was life without taking risks? How will a person ever live it to fullest if they refuse to put themselves out there?

Me: “Mama?”

Mama: “Na3am 7bibty?”

Me: “An mwaf8a… bas ba3d ma at5araj, maba too much pressure or anything…”

            She beamed at my news, and she loved throwing parties, so you can tell how excited she was about throwing an entire wedding. My wedding. I smiled as she cheered and went to announce it to the entire world. I wondered what 3bdulla’s reaction would be…

Sul6an: “Asma?”

            I expected him to show sooner or later. I smiled at him sheepishly.

Me: “Halla sul6an.”

            He took one look at me and got his answer.

Sul6an: “So you accepted…”

            He stated more than asked.

Me: “Yaaa… What do you think?”

Sul6an: “Ohh, what do I think? You already know that I think he’s a total asshole.”

            I laughed as he smirked at me.

Sul6an: “Soo, little sis is growing up! How does it feel to be the first to marry from your siblings?”

Me: “It feels weird… Do you think you and 3wash will ever settle down?”

Sul6an: “Aaaaih latda5leeni fel mow6’oo3 ana ba3adny shab maba atzawaj! El 7ayah 7elwa siso and I want to enjoy it.”

            I chuckled at his blunt statement. I sort of knew how he tended to ‘enjoy’ himself but of course I knew that he never told me the whole story to it, but I had a brief idea. I wondered when the day would come when he finds someone he cares about. God help him, I hope she has a lot of patience. Sul6an is a very hard person to understand, and you have to get to know him well, and earn his trust before you truly can.

Pfft, and he always said girls were complicated…

Sul6an: “Are you sure about this?”

            I nodded confidently. I was sure.

Sul6an: “Hhhhh okaay yalla I’ll leave you to your day-dreaming, lazm arawi7.”

Me: “Wain sayir?”

Sul6an: “Work crisis. There’s this ‘anonymous’ person who is threatening to reveal some confidential information about the company’s past dealings, w ‘lucky for me’ they told me to make it ‘go away’.”

            He sighed heavily as I ginned at his sarcasm.

Sul6an: “Walla bas hatha ely nag9iny.”

Me: “Heheheh, don’t worry, I’m sure that as soon as this anonymous person takes one look at you, they will run towards the other direction.”

Sul6an: “6ab3an, ana a9lan ma7ad yt7adany, that’s why they chose me.”

            He grinned arrogantly. So typical of him, walla.

Me: “Pffft seer la inteh akbar 5agag fel 3alam!”

Sul6an: “Maybe, but you know I’m right ;)”

Me: “Hahaha there is absolutely no arguing with you! Yalla seer seer w tell me what happens later.”

Sul6an: “Kaaay, ma3asalama asamy.”

            I landed on the bed and hugged one of my pillows, thinking about when I would see 3bdulla again, but something about Sul6an’s situation was bothering me. I ignored it and decided that I was over thinking everything again and that I should stay out of it. My BBM alert cut my train of thought. I checked and saw Noufyy’s name in bold. I smiled.

            --Asoooomty!!! Did you say yes yet?

>Ummm

            --Asma!! You can’t keep him waiting for long guys hate that!

>Haha calm down 7bibty

            --No, I won’t calm down!

            --This is your future we’re talking about!

            --And I still don’t get why you’re stalling

>Loooool hady!

>…

>I said yes :$

            I waited for the explosion.

            --OHH

            --EMM

            --GEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

            --Gooly walla!!!!

>Walla :D

            --Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!

            --Omg mabrook 3alaich!!!

            --I’m so happy for you asoomtyyyyyyyyy :’)

            --This calls for a celebration!

>Looool everything for you needs a celebration!

            --But celebrations are nice ..

>Hahaah okaay okaay what do you have in mind?

            --Hmmm

            --I won’t tell you :p

>Aaaaaih yalla 3ad!

            --La la 5ala9 it’s a surprise!!!

            --Hehehehe >:)

>Shireeera walla -.-

            --Oh you know I love ya babe :*

>3bdulla hasn’t called me yet… do you think he got the news?

--Hehe don’t worry about it his mother will tell him soon, a7eena get your ass to Dubai mall we’re going shopping!

>Umm why?

            --Seriously?

            --You need to look hot for your fiancé ;)

            --And that means buying killer outfits!

>But what’s wrong with my clothes? :|

            --They’re awesome hunn, but jeans and a t-shirt won’t do the cut this time

            --You need something…

>Dressy? ._.

            --Ya3ni dressy but in a casual way, not for parties ya3ni ummmm

>I’m lost here

            --Like something you would wear for 3id

            --It’s not for parties but it’s not too casual either

>I think I get it…

            --Inzain yalla! Meet you in 15 minutes :*

>Hahahah okaay I’ll see you

            I didn’t really get what she was saying, but I knew she had the best intentions. But really, what was wrong with jeans and a t-shirt? Don’t get me wrong, I loved to dress up for occasions, but not on normal days, especially since I’m wearing a 3aba. But she had a point; 3bdulla won’t just see me in my 3aba anymore. I don’t know why but the thought made me nervous. I was a very conservative person, and it felt weird imagining 3bdulla seeing me without my 3abaya and shaila. What would he think? I always thought my body was normal, but now as I looked into the mirror, I was suddenly seeing certain flaws. I frowned and decided that maybe shopping was a good idea after all. And maybe some other changes were in need as well… It wasn’t like me to obsess about how I looked, but I was engaged now. I had someone to impress, someone to please. I had to look perfect; I couldn’t bear the thought of him being embarrassed by me, or even bored of me. First impressions were the most important ones. I fished for my keys in my huge bag, and I headed to the car as thoughts raced through my head, mentally creating a whole new to-do list.

Sul6an

            Asma getting married. Wow. I never thought this day would come. And of all people, 3bdulla! 7mar I can’t believe she let him win,, el mafroo6’ matgafi6ny chee! Uffff a7eena bayeelis baybtisim chanh fayiz ja2eza or something. Whatever, as long as Asamy’s happy, I guess I’ll have to bear it.

            I rechecked the house number again as I parked in front of a peach-colored 2-story home. Villa number 18… Guess I’m here. Let’s just get this over with. Nobody was as good as me when it came to fishing out info about others. And plus I had friends who worked fe etisalat and others who worked in the police department, so finding this not-so-anonymous person was a piece of cake, although it was obvious that they had made a huge effort to stay concealed, because I couldn’t get the person’s profile, only their location. Maybe they had connections too. I sighed and rang the bell. The maid answered, as expected, and I asked for the person in charge of the house. The maid looked suspicious of me but apparently did her job well, because she merely nodded and gestured me to their 9alah.

The person in question was already sitting on one of the big sofas waiting for me, as if already expecting me. And to my utter astonishment, she was a woman. What took me even more by surprise was how beautiful she was.

            I caught my breath. I never caught my breath, especially not for a girl. But damn, this one was a true beauty. And I could tell, a player at heart. Her posture, the way she was sitting, the way her eyes gleamed mischievously… Yes, this one liked to play games. This one was dangerous. I sighed heavily as I took a seat opposite of her, and I new that my simple little task had turned into complicated mission with a lot of headaches.

            She tapped her fingers together and positioned her elbows on her knees, giving me a piercing look, analyzing me, and I realized that she too had been surprised, even though she was doing a hell of a job masking it. Who was she? She smiled deceivingly as she broke the tense silence.

Alia: “Ahlan, my name is 3alya… Let’s talk.”

To be continued…