My name is Nouf (11)

A couple of days later I picked up sheikha at Bahrain international airport with opened arms and a huge smile. " Shayooooooookh over here!!" she turned around when she heard my voice, almost ran and jumped up to hug me.

"Missed you" I said while hugging her back.



" chub!" she said and I giggled.

" I have so much to tell! Eshrayich engi6 your luggage el hotel b3dain we go somewhere for coffee?" I suggested.

" allah wil luggage!" she looked down at her small Samsonite bag." but yeah, sure!" she said excitedly.


After making sure her small baggage was safely delivered in my hotel room, we headed straight to café Lilou.



I ordered two skimmed cappuccino s and a MILO MILO to share.



" so tell me, how are you, really?" she said while sipping her cappuccino.

I sighed. " okay, I guess"


She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. " eshsawaitii broo7ich for the last few days?"


" I met this person…" I said.


" what? What person?!" she said a little too loud.



I stuck my fork into the sinful MILO MILO , scooped up a bite and shoved it in my mouth. I told her about Sagir, from the very first day until the day we exchanged our numbers and he left to Kuwait. She kept nodding and listening carefully to every word.



" his name is Sagir al Fulani" I said while having another bite.

she gasped and almost choked on her bite. " 7ilfaaay? Sagir el Fulani maghairaa??"



I nodded. " he gave me his business card, bes madri wain 7a6ait'ha"

" mashallah, tadreen hatha mino??" she asked, still in complete astonishment.

" Nope, never met him before" I said with all honesty.
" chathaba mat3arfeena! hatha wild flan el Fulani, mashallah he's 28 bes 3inda khair, he's like the youngest billionare! he made his own wealth, o egoloon he's hot! sij?? ana sam3a feh wayid bes wela marra shifta! o hathi sharikat oboh bes he runs it, lat6awfeen el fursa! Khosh mokan tara!" she said quickly, going breathless mid sentence.
" I told him I'll think about it" I scatched my head, still trying to swallow everything she just had told me.

" you'll text him now, saying you'll take the job." She said firmly. "now!"


" enshalla, enshallah! I will text him but not now, I need more time to think" I bit my lower lip.


" to think of what? you desperately need a job Nouf"
" oh lord, I do" I already had my fair share of  vacations and time off and I thought it was time I started doing something other than being on a vacation.


" great, yalla jiddami text him" she ordered.


" I'll do it tonight, I promise" I promised her while marvelling at the beauty of the chocolate cake that was staring back at me and waiting to be finished.


We talked some more and then it was time to leave the café , I was already feeling tired but I refused to go back to the hotel until bed time,we needed to enjoy our day before leaving tomorrow to face reality.
We then went to quick shopping at Al-A'ali mall, bought a couple of pretty shoes for work, some skirts and lots of formal shirts.


By the time we went back to the hotel, it was already past eight pm and I thought it was time I sent the message that will change things, a lot of things.



I put on my night gown, brushed my teeth and sprayed bodycology cocoa body mist. Sheikha on the other hand changed into a fresh blouse, reapplied her mascara and lip gloss and put her hair up into a high bun. " Er, shayookh… since when you dress up for bed?"



" min gallich we will sleep? It's too early and boring for that" she said while throwing her small bag over her shoulder.



I giggled. " wain binroo7?"

" dinner, I'm starving" she ran her fingers over her flat tummy.
" mali khilg abaadil!" I whined.
" 3adi ta3ali eb your pajama I don’t mind" She shrugged.
I put on last night's wrinkled sweater and a pair of jeans, didn’t bother put any make up on, put my hair into a neat ponytail and was ready to go out.


Sheikha wanted sushi for dinner and I didn’t mind so we had our sushi at Nu Asia. It was a very slow and delicious dinner and I enjoyed every bit of it. Ever since Sheikha came here and I had been feeling alive. I ate, laughed and  stopped wishing to be somewhere else. I liked here, I liked this moment very much.
"Nouf…" said Sheikha with an unusually serious tone in her voice.


I looked up at her.


"What really happened with Faris?" she asked.


My mind flashed unwanted, very painful pictures in front of my eyes and I shook my head to clear the ugly thoughts away. I sighed heavily; I kind of expected that question. "It's over"


"Are you okay?" she asked me for the second time today.


I was quiet for a moment but then I felt a stabbing pain at my chest and I felt hot, fresh tears sliding from my lids.



"oh god! I'm such a bitch!" She said in dismay.
"No, its okay…I can't keep it forever" my voice quivered.



"I'm so sorry" She extended her hand to wipe my tears away.

It was very hard for me to pretend when it came to Sheikha, she was the sister I'd never had and being open and honest to her all came naturally.



"Time will heal all wounds, time will heal you whether you liked it or not." she said soothingly while squeezing my hand. I wanted to believe her but my broken heart didn't allow me to.


When it was finally time to go to bed, I sent the message saying that I'd start working as soon as possible and that I was very excited to work for such a prestigious company and I thanked him again for the offer. My phone beeped twenty minutes later announcing a message. I picked it up, opened the message and read the three words slowly "good luck Sunday"



My heart did a back flip and I couldn’t stop the feeling of combined excitement and fear that had crept into me.

I collapsed into a deep coma of exhaustion, warm and hopeful with my phone in my hand.

kuwait

I woke up to the sound of the nagging alarm clock ringing in my ear. I rubbed my eyes and glanced at the clock, it was 5:55 AM. I rose quickly and headed straight to the bathroom. After washing up and straightening my hair I slipped my SEE BY CHLOE black leather and suede dress over my head, I knew I could never go wrong with black and my lethal armani hollywood red lipstick which I was about to apply.

I put on a pair of green suede pumps, stuffed my essentials in my tan leather bag and rushed down the stairs and out the door to my car. I started the engine and  checked my reflection in the rear view mirror while waiting for my car to warm up. After five minutes I put the gear on D and drove to work while listening to U2's it's a beautiful day. I was more than ready to start my very first day at work.


to be continued...

My name is Nouf (10)

With my now furiously shaking hands, I dialed his number while holding my breath; my heart was shaking hard as he picked up on the first ring. I was surprised, he never picked up his phone, and he always, always called back!


"halaa bil 7uuub killaaah" he said a little too loud.


"Faris?" I whispered my voice quivering.



"fajoooorty" he said " ma3aach"



My heart sank as I realized what he just called me and then I started to panic. I clamped my hand over my mouth in order not to make any sound. I ended the phone call without saying a word.



I sat on the bed, motionless and unable to breathe. I shut my eyes and breathed slowly, trying to regain my control. My sweaty hand reaching for my phone again, which was lying beside me on the bed. I pressed the letter F and his name immediately appeared along with many other names in my phone book. I punched the delete key, deleting him from my phone and my life, for good.

"Not this time Faris" I muttered under my breath, feeling the bile rise in my throat, but I refused to cry over that man again. At least it made sense now that I knew he was seeing someone else and was obviously so into that someone.


I vowed not to cry over that lying, cheating scumbag ever again and I so far I was keeping my promise. That night I miraculously collapsed into a dreamless, deep sleep.



I woke up the next morning just as suddenly as I'd fallen asleep. I smiled as I felt the sun rays streaming through my window and shining directly to my face. I stretched out on the warm bed before rolling out of it.



I showered slowly, enjoying the force of the water drops running down my body. I washed off the bad memories out of my hair, my face and body until my skin turned to a deep shade of red; I decided it's time I left the shower box.



I rummaged through my messy suitcase and looked for something nice. I decided to put on an effort to look hot for a change. Ever since I came here I didn’t bother even look at the mirror and that didn’t feel like me at all, I was missing my old self already and I wanted her back. I picked out a gray body-con jersey dress, silver tights and the same black, boring ballet flats which were the only shoes I'd brought with me. I inserted the flats to my feet in disappointment, secretly wishing they were a six inches killer Christian Louboutins. I applied some mascara, a bronzing blusher to define my cheek bones and a colorless lip gloss. I glanced at my hair and gasped with horror, I didn't think it had looked this bad before. I looked around the room for something ; my eyes laid on a bright brochure of the hotel's spa and I suddenly came up with the brightest idea.


I called the hotel's spa and salon and asked if it was okay to have my hair done without an appointment, for my delight the woman on the phone said that the best hair stylist was available and that I was welcomed now. I draped my bag over my shoulder and excitedly left the room.


I entered the spacious, airy place, welcomed by the strong smell of incense and aromatic oils. An Asian lady greeted me and led me to another room where she sat me at a shampoo chair and called the hair stylist.

"Hi!" the small, black haired woman greeted me with a huge smile and asked me what I wanted to do with my hair.

"I need a haircut, two inches shorter and perhaps a few highlights!"


She washed my hair with shampoo and rinsed it slowly while massaging my scalp. I sighed and shut my eyes; I haven’t felt this good in a long time!

After in what seemed like two hours my waist length hair was slightly shorter,  two shades lighter and much more alive. I loved it so much; I couldn’t stop touching it and beaming at my reflection in the mirror.




I stepped in the food court in the hotel lobby which was invaded by the glittery sunlight, it was past ten in the morning and my stomach was already making noises.



I spotted him immediately, from his dark tan which was so alien for this cold weather. He was wearing the traditional Kuwaiti dishdasha, ghutra and e'gaal and was sitting at the largest table in the centre with his phone pressed to his ear. He was talking to someone loudly and I could hear him clearly from where I sat. I sat on a two seats table, ordered a cup of coffee, cheese omelet and today's paper. I looked out of the window that overlooked the same huge pool I spent my previous day, in and around it. I smiled, today was different. Today was shiny, new, and beautiful.




He ended his phone call and looked up to meet my eyes. He didn’t recognize me immediately as he sipped his coffee and fumbled through the papers which were scattered across the enormous table. I found myself waving at him "Sagir" I called his name. He looked up again, this time smiling as he recognized my voice.

"Nouf?" he asked.


I nodded.

"asif mantibaht" he laughed. I blushed a little, fully aware that I looked completely different from the night before.

" 7ayyach, 7ayyach!" he muttered while standing up.

" la la 3adii I can see you're busy"


" la wallah tawni emkhalis ejtimaa3 min suba7 allah khair, raasy sadda3" he grinned. " wallah bint deeratna mankahleeha etarayg broo7ha, 7ayach"


I knew refusing to sit with him wasn't an option so I headed to his table, cheeks blushing and my large tote in my hand. He stood up and held the chair for me. " etfathilay" he said politely.


" mashkoor" I muttered and sat down on the chair opposite him.


So I did join him on breakfast, feeling slightly awkward yet delighted that there was someone I could talk to. I was beginning to hate this whole time alone.


"So, ejtimaa3 shno if you don’t mind me asking?" I said while smiling at him.


He sighed. " wallah this is a business trip o lazim kint asawi meeting with a couple of foreign business men wayid mohimeen 7g sharikatna"

" oh, mashallah" I said. "So everything is going well, I hope?"


" ee el7emdella, aham shai eftakait o agdar arja3 el deera bachir el sib7 enshallah" he said while beaming at me.


" anyway shino tishribeen?" He asked , not giving me a chance to talk.

"Thank you, I already ordered coffee" I said.

" brilliant. So what about you Miss Nouf, mita ra7 tirji3een enshallah?" He asked. I caught him frequently looking at my hair.
I hesitated. " mo mista3yila 3l raddah, mita ma radait. Besides I don’t have a job or anything important to get back to"

"oh, mo nawya teshtaghlen? Qadamti 3la watheefa?" he asked, he seemed so interested.


" wallah weddi! Qadamt 3la wayid amakin bes na6ra mokan zain, mabi ashtighil ay mokan" I said honestly.

" shino your major?"

"Marketing" I said confidently.

"Excellent. Are you interested to work for our company?"

"You're serious?" he took me by surprise.

"I am" he grinned.

"I… erm, can I ask what's your company?"

"It's Al fulany's investment company but we really do need some good marketing students" he winked.

I laughed. "That would be awesome! Thank you so much"
" So I consider that a yes?"

" yes!" I giggled.
He nodded. " bes 3la shar6!"

" shino el shar6?!"


" ana aseer your boss" he said ever so seriously.


I laughed again. " 6ab3an Mr Sagir!"


" o ba3ad fee shar6 thani"


"And that is?" I raised an eyebrow.


" el a7ad el yay tabdeen dawamich, which means ra7 etrideen el Kuwait this weekend"

My heart sank and my stomach churned. Nausea overtook me as he brought up the subject of me getting back, was I ready to get back to the place I escaped from?

" ha eshgiltay?" he asked gently.


"Can I think about it and get back to you?"


"Yes. Sure! "He muttered.


Relief washed over me as the waiter showed up with my cheese omelet and the cup of coffee. He placed the tray on the table before me and asked me if I needed something else, I thanked him and sent him away.



We talked a lot while I ate slowly, I loved that he did most of the talking and since his stories were  interesting and funny, I enjoyed listening to him very much.



" I enjoyed this very much Nouf, thank you for keeping me company" he smiled while standing up. " ana sar lazim amshi 3ndi cham shaghla lazim asaweeha, bes gabil la amshi mumkin takhtheen raqmi 3ashan mawthoo3 el shighil?"

" ee ee sure" I reached for my phone on the table and asked him to type the number himself. " ektiba enta a7san akhaf aghli6 eb a digit"

He did as I said and gave me back my phone. " sayavta bes digeely ranna 3ashan asayiv your number too"

"enshallah" I said.

" yallah, tabeen shai yuba?"

" salamtik, o etrid bil salama enshallah" I said.

" esalmich, o na6ir minich rad" he smiled.

" enshallah" I giggled.

" faman ellah"

"bye"
------------------------------------------------------------------------


That night I couldn't sleep. I lied awake thinking of everything that happened earlier today. I thought about the job offer, about Sagir and everything he had told me. I was begining to feel very lonely, that was when I decided to call my favorite people in the world; my two best friends, Noura and Sheikha. Knowing that Noura's mother would never allow her to travel alone I called Sheikha; I desperately needed a friend.


" Noufaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa" she screamed my name, she didn't even wait for my hello.

I giggled. " 7abeeeeebti walhana 3leeeeeeeeeech o 3la Nwaaaair!"

" Noufooooooooooo wai wai masaaadig" She yelled excitedly.

" sadgay sadgay, sheikho ta3aly el ba7rain!" I said.

" faj2a! I would bes lazim agool 7g oboy!" she said.

" eeeh please goleela Noufa ga3da hnii with her cousin o min hl 7achi" I was desperate.


" enshallaah bes 6amneeni 3alech, shloonich? shakhbarich, are you okay??" she said, concern filling her voice.

" magdar agool shai al7een , please come over, I really do need to talk"

" khalas I'll go talk to my father now o I'll call you back okay?"

" I might be asleep etha maradait text okay??"


" okaaaay, emwaah bye"

I phone kissed her back. " bye"




My phone beeped an hour later indicating a message. " I'm coming baby!" it was from Sheikha.


You could imagine how happy I was, I didn't bother text her back, as I was drained with exhaustion, I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep. I dreamed of Sagir, the job offer and Faris's phone call.



to be continued....

my name is Nouf (9)



" 3afwan, etha widich tig3ideen hnee o mista7ya, tara ana mashy…" he said politely. 

" laaa, la 3adii , ekhith ra7tik, ana elli mashya" I bit my lower lip; I was feeling guilty for some reason.

" khalas 3ayal etha bag3ad entai ba3ad ra7 tig3ideen" he said, looking determindely at my face. I stood there quiet for a moment, I thought about it quickly and decided that it won't hurt anybody if I stayed down here with him , it wasn't like I have something better to do. " sure" I said, forcing a weak smile.

 We walked side by side awkwardly,  he waited for me to sit on one of the wooden chairs facing the swimming pool before he joined me. I noticed he was so polite. I sat on the chair next to his, shuffled in my chair and moved it slightly away from his, he pretended not to notice and sat on the chair beside mine.

The atmosphere was blanketed with an awkward silence. I quickly searched in my head for a topic to bring up , only to be struck by the most beautiful picture I've ever seen. I didn't know if my mind was exagerating but I was so mesmerized by the man in the background picture of Sagir's laptop, by his eyes to be precise. His entire face was masked with a red shmagh, showing only his beautiful, dark black eyes. The man's eyes were so captivating that I couldn't keep my eyes away from the picture, his thick lashes colliding with his thick eyebrows, creating a beautiful mess, I finally noticed that he was holding a huge black hawk, a real hawk! and was standing in the dessert. He reminded me so much of the hot men they described in the arabic poetry I sometimes read about.

" wow" I said involuntarily, blushing a little.

"beautiful isn't he?" He asked, a sincere smile danced across his face.

 " who is he?" I asked, still looking at the picture.

" he's my favorite hawk!" He said excitedly. WHAT? oh...oh right, he was talking about the hawk, right. Does that mean...? I looked up at him, seeing his face for the first time. His eyes, similar to the ones in the picture, but darker and ...scarier. I shuddered, not sure why I felt so scared, I took a deep breath and looked away.

" are you okay?" he asked me, examining my face. 

 " yes! I'm fine" I coughed and rubbed my eyes, trying to understand what just happend. I must be very tired. 

"so sagir e7ib el sagir?" I asked him teasingly. He laughed, blushing a little. " shagoolich, 3ishgy el barr(dessert) , amoot 3la shai esma barr o chethi barr activities, tadreen enni gabil la ayey hnii kint emjabil el ghanam wil horses?" He grinned. that explained why he smelled bad at the airplane! He obviously was engaged in so many "barr activites" .

" ghareeba, hl sowalif mo chinha 3ateeja? barr, ghanam, 7aywanat?" I joked. " yes well, my grandfather is my best friend" He winked and I wasn't sure if he was joking.

" anyway Sagir, I think it's getting late, I better go get my dose of beauty sleep" I lied, I didn't want to sleep but I wasn't feeling very comfortable sitting with this stranger with the captivating eyes.  

" will I see you tommorow?" he asked, looking directly at my eyes. 

I was a little taken aback by his question but I recovered quickly. " why not? goodnight" I said. 

" good night Nouf"  

--------------------------------------------------

once I was finally back at my hotel room I thought it was time I switch on my phone and start making some phone calls, I missed my parents and my two best friends so much, and I couldn't help but miss him the most. 

I reached for my phone, switched it on and opened my inbox to find five messages,with shaking hands I opened the only message that stole my attention, and read the two words that literally stopped my fragile heart. " feeni entay"

My name is Nouf (8)

I miss you readers!! why don't you comment like before anymore? :( is anyone even reading the story ? :O hellooo? hellooo? *waves*... *cries* I miss everyone! why did you all dissapear? bloggers and readers!! what happend to last year's bloggers? :'( they all have dissapeard! no one writes anymore! no one comments! everyone has deserted blogs and moved to the so called twitter! wai3, I hate it, its lame :( ... if anyone is still reading this blog please leave a comment saying I'm still into blogs! what happened to all the story writers? I remember how many were there! mashallaa I couldn't catch up! wain ri7taw? habba much? :/ moi za3lana....



part eight...

I wrapped my arms around myself and kept them there for a while. A sudden wave of embarrassment mixed with insecurity hit me right there and then. This stranger had witnessed the worst of me and I wished that this was the last time that I'll ever see him yet I had to express my gratitude for what he had done to me. Okay that wasn’t entirely the truth; I actually wanted to talk to him because for one I wanted to save what was left of my image as a sane person. I bet he thought I was a pathetic suicidal woman who lacked faith and talking to him might cure my…boredom.



I picked up the first cardigan my eyes laid on and draped it over my arm, not bothering actually wearing it. I was aware of how horrible I looked so I skipped looking at the mirror.


I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, picked up my hotel room's pass in key and left my junior suite.

------------------------------------------------------------------

 The cold breeze stroked my bare face gently, sending shivers down my spine and making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. My exposed chest bones ached slightly and I buttoned up my cardigan hoping that I would warm up.

 

I walked slowly past the large swimming pool and paused for a moment. I could see him from where I stood. He was typing something on his laptop and looking completely distracted. that was when it suddenly hit me;coming here was the stupidest idea and I must turn back slowly before he noticed I was here.

 

I turned around and tiptoed my way back to the hotel, I didn’t want to make any noise fearing from him noticing me. I didn’t realize how wet the smooth ground was until my feet skidded; I fell over and landed hard on my butt.

No no no nooo this didn't just happened , oh dear lord why me?

Talk about embarrassment.

"Are you okay?" the stranger called out for me. My face started giving out a hundred shades of red and I wished that the ground would open up and swallow me whole! This couldn’t get any worse! Damn you Nouf for "thinking" of coming down here in the first place!

Oh god this was horribly embarrassing but I couldn’t show him how embarrassed and hurt I was, so I got up slowly, smoothed my pants with my fingers and my now all over the place hair.

"I'm fine" I smiled widely with fake confidence.

Ouch my butt hurt!

"Caution, wet floor" he said with full seriousness but I could see a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth.

"Oh that, I was just-"

 

"Testing the gravity?" he raised an eyebrow. He stood so tall, towering over me and I loathed it. I loathed him despite the fact that I didn't know him.

 

"Fine! 6i7t, so what?" I was getting furious; he cannot think what just happened was funny! It wasn’t! Okay, maybe a little if my butt didn't hurt so much!

"salamat" he said.

 

" allaah ysalmik" I muttered awkwardly, my face burned with embarrassment and I wasn’t so cold anymore. I wished my phone was with me so I could do what I usually did in awkward situations; pretending to text people.

 

"Sagir" he said.

 

"na3am?" I asked stupidly.

"My name is sagir, and yours?"

"Oh. its...Nouf"

"Nice to meet you Nouf" he smiled. The feeling is not mutual I thought.

"Look I'm sorry I interrupted whatever you were doing... I better head back to my room and…thank you for …um…what happened earlier today." I stuttered breathlessly. I turned around quickly to head my way back inside the hotel but was very surprised when I felt his hand on my shoulder.

"wait..."

oh crap! what did he want from me now?!

to be continued...

My name is Nouf (7)

I know it's been too long!! in my defense: I wanted to update earlier but my dear laptop died on me. here's part 7, I wrote it quickly and didnt have time to edit! so forgive any mistakes ;p, enjoy xx

Oww my head hurt, so badly. My chest ached so much! I felt nauseous and a horrible pain shot through my entire body. Brrr it's so cold! Get me a blanket my feet are freezing. Oh god I can't move them. I might get up and get me a warm blanket or…wait a second it's too dark in here.




I opened my eyes slowly and snapped them quickly shut. Oh god what happened to me? What the hell happened! Why was everything hurting! I was panicking; I didn’t know what really happened. Oh did I die? Wait a second I had a couple of painkillers and then…






Oh dear lord was I dead? I opened my eyes quickly again and looked around my surroundings. I was lying in a bed apparently in a hotel room! Was I dreaming? I smiled briefly for the thought. And then a silhouette of a man appeared in the dark interrupting my only hopeful thought.


I rubbed my eyes hard and rose up from the bed with great effort. Ouch, my head. He approached the bed and his face began showing. He was the weird guy from the plane. Oh crap, what the hell happened?!






"oh that explains why you're a creep! Are you the angel of death? Oh god esta'3ferallah" the words rushed from my mouth involuntarily.






His eyes bulged right out with astonishment and he opened his mouth to say something but changed his mind almost immediately. I trembled.


"No, I actually found you in…in the pool…I…I thought …" he looked down awkwardly ,unable to finish his sentence.


My eyes began tearing up and I couldn’t hold it any longer, it all came back to me, I drowned in that pool and if it wasn’t for this good man I would be dead. I gulped.


"I wasn’t trying t-to k-kill….myself" I sobbed. Tears were no longer welling at the corner of eyes.


"Is there something I could do?" he asked awkwardly. Sympathy filling his voice.






I covered my face with both my hands and started crying, it was so embarrassing, the whole situation was so sad and embarrassing and I wasn’t a big fan of myself at this very moment.






"Death in the family?" he asked.


That took me by surprise. I had no clue why he came up with that idea! I vigorously wiped my tears with my fingertips and sighed giving myself a chance to breathe. "Something like that" I mumbled.






"I'm sorry" he said awkwardly. He obviously wasn’t comfortable with the idea of a weeping girl in his hotel room. Suddenly his phone started ringing and vibrating. Saved by the bell, I thought.






"I'll have to…um…take the…" he waved the phone before my face awkwardly.






"Yes! Yes, sure" I blurted out. He smiled briefly and literally ran out of the room.








I sighed heavily and collapsed on his bed. " bada3tay Nouf bada3tay" I started crying again, this time in humiliation and shame, and because I could not help but feel so sorry for myself.






After that dreadful incident I rushed to my room, took a long, hot shower and wrapped myself in the hotel's fresh towels. I decided to stay in bed and never leave until I find a situation for what I'm going through, until I find a reason to leave bed.






I got a couple of text messages and missed calls from my beloved best friends shaikha and Noura who were obviously very worried about me. I couldn’t use my phone yet so I switched it off and threw it in my purse.






I rested my head against the soft, white pillow and sighed heavily. Who would've thought that the fun, bubbly Nouf would end up like this? Dumped and alone in a hotel room. That thought brought tears to my eyes. It seemed that all I did today was cry and…die.I was slowly losing myself.






I woke up shortly after that accidental nap, feeling disoriented. My head hurt and I was starving! I got out from bed and headed straight to the mini bar, I took a bag of salted peanuts, a redbull and a snickers bar.
 
 
I sat on the floor, in front of the enormous floor to ceiling window. I drew back the curtains and gazed out of the window while throwing a handful of peanuts in my mouth.
 
 
 There he was sitting in a chair beside the huge pool, rummaging through a small, black suitcase, with his laptop placed on the small table before him.
 
 
 
 
to be continued...

My name is Nouf(6)

I stepped into the wataniya airways plane the next morning. The hostess immediately greeted me and led me to my big, wide seat. I couldn’t smile; I couldn’t even take my shades off. My eyes were puffy from last night's hysterical crying and I didn’t bother wear any makeup.



I literally threw my body on the seat. I sighed and stared out of the window. The sun shone brightly, directly into my eyes.


"Thank you" a close masculine voice spoke to the air hostess.



"No problem sir" the air hostess smiled and walked away.



I flinched as he adjusted his weight on the seat next to mine. He wasn’t so close yet I could smell him and feel him moving. He smelled awful. As if he was out in the dessert or something.


I looked him up from head to toe; I didn’t care if he noticed me looking. I didn’t care about anything at all. He was wearing gray sweatpants. A white polo shirt and a navy coat. And was wrapping a"chmagh" around his neck. Yes a "chmagh"!


"yummah ana bil 6ayara" he said while holding the phone in his hand . He was obviously recording something to his mother.


I was looking at him all the time. He shut his phone and turned to look at me. He smiled and looked away.






It was about fifteen minutes in the flight, the seat belt signs had switched off, and we were taking off. I breathed with relief. I felt relaxed as soon as the air craft was no longer touching the Kuwaiti soil.


I started counting very slowly with my eyes closed, and that worked because by the time I reached thirty nine I was already moved to dream land only that I wasn’t dreaming.

----------------------------------------------

I stepped into the large hotel lobby, suddenly finding myself in such perfect surroundings. This would be my perfect weekend getaway in my normal days but I just couldn’t feel it, this wasn’t a normal day.






My hair was frizzy and my skin was dehydrated and itched so badly. I was fully aware that I looked like complete, utter crap. I was also aware of the familiar face that was standing next to me at the counter. The guy from the plane was there, standing right next to me.


"I was wondering if you had a room available." I said to the foreign woman behind the counter.


"Yes actually there is a plenty of excellent choices for you Madame" she smiled widely while tapping on the keyboard before her. "Would you like a single or perhaps a junior suite?"



"I-I'm not sure about the suite since I-"

"Suite a7sanlich" the guy from the plane said interrupting me. I turned to look at him ,surprised.



"You need it" he said while looking down at his phone's screen and before I could say something, he left with the room's key in his hand.



"mako faida Kuwaiti" I muttered under my breath.



" So, have you decided miss?" she said, the smile never leaving her friendly face.



"The suite. I'll take the suite"


I dropped my travel bag on the floor as soon as I was inside the "junior suite". It was huge, modern, beautiful but most importantly it was unfamiliar.


I skipped everything and headed straight to the huge white bed centered the tastefully cream bedroom.


I ran my hand on the soft white sheet and turned to look out at the floor to ceiling window which showed a beautiful view of a large blue pool. The surface of the water glittered from the ray of sunlight reflecting against it. It looked beautiful, safe, and calm.
I could drown in it. I would drown in it. So calm, beautiful, safe…


My heart throbbed. Ouch, that hurt. I needed a painkiller. I opened my purse and took out a packet of Panadol Actifast, a bottle of multi vitamins and a another bottle of Brufen.


I washed down a couple of panadol. Ouch, the pain didn’t go away! It actually intensified.


I took two more. Oh god I couldn’t take it anymore! I should try Brufen. It's stronger. Yes yes it should take the pain away.

 

Oh god my heart is burning, it's so hot in there, I needed a swim. I don’t care if it's cold outside, I should take a quick swim and I shall feel better afterwards.





dying in a swimming pool in a five stars hotel in Bahrain was never the plan...

my name is Nouf (5)

"We just had a small fight, it was nothing" I blew my nose.



"What do you mean by nothing? You look like a widow" Noura said.


"It was my fault I upset him but it's all going to be fine in the morning, I'll call him and apologize" I mumbled while rubbing my wet eyes hard.

Noura came to sit next to me and touched my arm gently. " 7abeebtii you look horrible, please tell me what really happened?"


" mojarrad argument 3adii! But I got emotional, I'm getting my period that’s why" I lied.


"I'm sorry" she rested her head on my shoulder and then my heart shredded into million tiny pieces but I had a slight ray of hope that made me able to breathe.






I didn’t sleep all night. I tossed and turned in bed and was grabbing my phone so hard that I could feel my hand  leaving a trail of sweat on the phone's screen.


I was going crazy lying there doing nothing, I couldn’t sleep and I couldn’t even cry. So the unthinkable happened. I threw on a large jumper, took my car keys and rushed downstairs. I turned the engine and drove straight to his house.
I parked in front of his house and called him. I waited for him to pick up but he didn’t, I called again and still he didn’t pick up so I decided to get in. his parents were travelling so it was only him and the maids. I pressed the buzzer and waited for a response.






Nothing.






I pressed the buzzer again. No response.


I gave up and decided to wait. I sat on the wet porch. It was cold, actually freezing. I stared at the sky; it was star less tonight. I rested my head against the grand gate and closed my eyes. "besmillah el rahman al raheem" I murmured and that was the last thing I said before I lost connection with this world.




"Nouf!" a loud voice interrupted my joyful, dreamless sleep. What the fuck are you doing here??"


"hmm" I grunted.


"eshyaybich hnee?? Tabeeny adig 3l shir6a!!" the voice was getting higher.


My eyes cracked open. "Huh? Oh, Faris I…um.."




"Are you stalking me??" I could see his eyes widening with disbelief.


"No, no! Faris I came to apologize…" I said with my sleep filled voice. I could feel my throat tighten.


"Apologize for what?? What part of "I don’t want you" you are failing to understand?"


Painful, warm tears collected in the corners of my eyes. And my heart throbbed with pain. "I love you" I whispered between tears.



" etha mari7tay al7een tara wallah…" was he threatening me?




"Why are you doing this to me?? hal kethir hint 3leeek??" I cried. "I hate you so much!! You heartless piece of…" and before I even realized what was happening I felt his big hand gripping my arm hard and walking me to my car. He overpowered me. I couldn’t do anything but cry and beg for help.
He opened my car's door furiously and threw me on the driver's seat. "sem3eeny 3adil, mu entail elli etyeen 3ind bab baiti wetsabebeeli fethee7a o qalaq, emshai bil 6eeb la tara wallah betshofeen shai 3umrich mashifteeh, o la ashoof rig3at wayhich again, fahma?" and with that he slammed the door violently on me that I screamed and jumped with fear.


My hands shook furiously and I tried to move but couldn’t. I started to turn over the engine but failed miserably. I was in total shock and that shock paralyzed me! I reached for my phone with difficulty, tried with the little power that was left in me to dial shaikha's number. I succeeded. Luckily for me Shaikha picked up straight away.



"ta3alai bait f-faris bsir3a" I said in a low, drained voice.


"Oh god! Nouf?? Noufa? Whats wrong? Ok ok kani yaya" she yelled, panic was filling her soft voice.

---------------------------------------------------
A soft plumped object brushed against my face as I opened my eyes slowly. All I could see was white; I was sleeping against a soft, white pillow which wasn't mine. I was sure there wasn’t a single white pillow on my bed. I turned to my other side slowly, feeling my long brown hair slapping against my shoulders.


"She awoke!" a familiar voice spoke.


"shhh, roo7ai yibeelaha mai!" another familiar voice muttered. It was Noura  but I couldn’t hear her properly.



My entire body ached, I moaned. There had obviously been a breakup disaster. And I obviously had lost consciousness. How was I supposed to face my friends after all that they said about Faris? after all the warnings!
"where am I? I mumbled.



"You're in my bedroom noufie, shame on you to not recognize it!" Shaikha snapped.


"why am I here?"

"because-"

" I want to go" I said, interrupting her.


"go where??" Shaikha said. "your'e too weak to move"


"Here's your water babe!" Noura rushed to my bedside with a glass of water in her hand.


"To Bahrain" I myself couldn’t believe the sudden decision.





---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I packed lightly for the first time in my life. I didn’t even see what I was packing. I stuffed whatever reached my sight. My parents weren’t an issue because my cousin was studying there and I visited her on a monthly basis.

Why Bahrain? I always thought of it as my sanctuary. The only place in the world that made me feel at home after Kuwait; my real home town. And at this moment home didn't feel like one, so I had to run, I had to protect myself or else I'd die.

Little did I know that even running to china couldn't save me from the heartache. A heartbreak is a heartbreak, you could never run from it...