Shining ètoile (3)

Sorry for the delay!! 

--

“Ms Ronaldo, I am going to do this,” Ali said. He was very serious. 

I gave him the “what the fuck,” look.

“Thank you thank you,” my mom said. 

I was beyond shocked I really couldn't say anything, and when I finally decided to speak, we arrived. The driver opened the door, Ali hopped out first then helped me hopping out of the car. Flashes were everywhere, fans were yelling in excitment. My body shivered when Ali wrapped his right arm around me, and kissed the crown of my head. I faked smiles. 

We walked inside the hall, and Ali was still wrapping his arm around me. I couldn't really look at him. I was shocked. My mom was happy yet nervous. We finally sat on the first row, mom, me then Ali next to me. 

Ten minuets before the show starts Ali's phone rang. He looked at the caller ID and placed it back in his pocket. It rang several of times later but he just never picked it up. Finally the show started, gowns were breath-taking. Overalls made me wanna die, I can't wait to get me one for the summer. And those heels, I seriously need to get me one of them, or maybe all of them, why not? I really loved the show this time. 

After the show, some magazines came to interview us, (me, mama and Ali this time) 

Magazine host asked Ali “so what's your name?”

“Alex Ryan” Ali said.

Lol nice one Ali. 

“and since when you guys are together?” Magazine asked. 

“almost 2 months.”

“Why you were out of lights, Mr. Ryan?” He asked Ali. 

“I was out of town lately,” Ali lied once again.

“And where are you from?” He asked 

“I'm Canadian,” Ali said. 

I pulled Ali and we walked away. 

”Ali la trd ktheer please,” I said between my teeth. 

“Leeh?” He asked. 

“Just don't please,” I said. 

On our way back home, I didn't want to speak. Suddenly my phone rang, he was my dad. I picked it up so fast. 

“Hala baba,” I said. 

“LILY WHAT YOU DID WITH ALI)?” He was so pissed. “HE'S ENGAGED AND I BET YOU KNOW THAT.” He added.

“Dad I really can explain, please give me a second!!” I said, frightened. 

“AND WHY HE IS NOT ANSWERING HIS PHONE?” He yelled once again.

I threw my phone on Ali “talk to baba bsr3aa,” I said. 

As soon as he placed it on his ear, my dad started to yell.  

“3ami esm3ni Allah y5leek,” he said 

“3ami Rana Ana a3rflha la t7ati,” he said. 

“3ami wallah mo beedna, kl Enas 3,balhom enna couples w 3shan sum3t bntk swait k4a,” Ali said 

“La ya 3amii ely swaita 97,” he said 

“Abshr bukra arj3 3la agrb 6yara,” he said 

“M3 eslamah,” and he hung up, and threw the phone on me. 

we went all silent again. 

I decided to break the silence, “I'm sorry for what happened,”I said. “Really Ali I'm sorry, mfru'9 ma 7nait 3laik tjee..” I added.

“79l 5air,” he said, without even looking at me. 

“Can you drop me at my hotel please?” He asked. 

“Sure,” my mother replied 

We dropped him by his hotel, and went home. I didn't talk to my mom. As soon as we arrived home I ran to my room and jumped on my bed, not bothering myself to even change my clothes nor taking off my heels. I just fell asleep as soon as I closed my eyes. 

“Lily wake up,” I heard my mother's voice before I open my eyes. I opened my eyes and it was morning already. 

“Mom, I don't want to talk to you.” I said.

“Ali is waiting for you downstairs,” she said. 

“Neither him,” I said and covered my face with the blanket. 

“Please Lily,” she begged. 

“Mom, don't you both realize what you did yesterday?” I said. 

I heard a knock on my door. My mom turned and he was Ali. 

“Good morning,” he said. “Lily, can I talk to you privately please?” He added. 

“Okay I'm leaving,” my mom said and left my room. Ali sat on the edge of my bed. 

“I understand that you don't want to talk to me, and you hate me so much at the moment. However, I just wanted to say, that I talked to your father, I explained, and he understood, and he's not blaming you. I also talked to Rana but she said she wants to talk to you, can you please?” He said.

I let a sigh out and nodded. He took his phone out of his pocket and dialed her number. 

“Hala Rana," 

“Ee 5theeha,” and he handed me the phone. 

“Hi,” I said as soon as I placed the phone on my ear. 

“How are you?” She said. She was very serious. 

“Im fine, how about you?” I said. 

“I'm good,” she said. “Lily, can I ask you something?” She asked. 

“Sure,” I said, and almost 100% sure about what she's going to ask me about. 

“9dg enti ma knti tbeen ely 9ar?” She asked. 

“yeah, wallah but it wasn't in my hand. I was shocked.” I said. 

“Mmm, okay thank you,” She said.

“Hey Rana listen,” I said. 

“Hala?” She said.

“Im sorry about what happened. I can guarantee you and promise you that I will never talk to him again. I just don't want to cause problems between you guys. He's such a great guy and you're an amazing girl. You meant to be together, mabi Akoon esbb ely yfrg bainkom,” I said. 

“You're so sweet, ma tg9reen bs mu 3la I don't want you to talk to him. Bs enti 3arfa our religion  and cultures.” She said. 

“I know, And thank you for understanding.” I said 

“Yallah I need to leave, bye,” she said 

“Bye,” she hung up And I gave the phone back to Ali. 

“Thank you Ali,” I said. 

“No problem,” he said. 

“When are you leaving?” I asked. 

“I'm heading to the airport in 5 hours,” he said. 

“That's cool,” I said. 

“Btjeen Saudi?” He asked 

“Hmm I think so, I really don't Know,” I said. 

“I hope I see you soon,” he said as he stood up leaving my room. 

“Have a safe flight,” I said as I smiled. 

“Thank you, bye,” he said and left. 

I rested my head back on my pillow, I closed my eyes and my phone suddenly rang. I picked it up, he was my dad. 

“Hi..” I said. 

“Lily, how are you?” He said 

“I'm good,” I took a deep breath and add “I guess.” 

“7amdellah, I just wanted to apologize about what I did yesterday, even if it was so wrong, I shouldn't have blamed you, you're raised in that way, Ana mn elbdaya '3l6an ely 5laitk 3nd omk, mfroo'9 a54k w awjhk 3,97 w el'3l6. Sam7eeni ya bnti,” he said in a cracked voice. 

“Daddy, don't you ever apologise to me. You're my dad no matter what, you have the right to tell me anything. And about me living with my mother, it's fine dad, it's never was your fault, you wanted the best for me, and what will make me happy.” I said. 

“I really miss you lulu, I really do. Please t3aly Ana ma agdr ajeek.” He said. 

“Inshallah, I will book a flight now.” I said. 

#my father calls me lulu, cause he think it's just cuter than Lily.#

“Baba lazm askr, I need to pack,” I said 

“Yallah yba m3 eslamah w entbhi lnfsk.” He said

“Byeeee, I love you,” I said and I hung up. 

-- 

“Welcome home,” my father said as soon as he saw me. I hugged him tight I miss him so much. 

Riyadh's burning weather on the mid of July. No one knows how much I miss Riyadh. 

As soon as we hopped in the car my father asked me “Lily, where's your abaya?”

“Aa, I really don't have one.” I said. 

“Why?? You know the culture here,” he said. 

“Dad!!! You know that I can't find any abaya in Australia.” I said. 

“Allah y9l7k,” he said and drove off. 

The whole ride, was fill with laughs and giggles. God! No one knows how much I miss him. 

Living far away from your father kills, it really does. Everything seems harder, and terrifying. Those sleepless nights I get, I've always imagined him next to me so I can feel safe. No matter how much money I have, I still need him by my side. Since my parents got divorced, almost 12 years ago, I was maybe 11 years old, my life turned upside down, my mother stopped caring about me, the nanny used to do everything, my mother just gave me the money I needed. Since that, no one attended to any of my school's parents conference, no one came to see my play for the drama class. Oh and my graduation? My father was late, my mother left as soon as my father came. We really didn't have that 'graduation family photo.' You see how hard is it living away from you father, and with a busy mother? 

I tiptoed to my father's house, that big villa, with almost all kind of luxury, fancy cars are parked, and that huge fountain that almost hid the main entrance of the villa, “welcome home,” he said. I just smiled. We entered the villa, those big ceramics on the floor, were so clean and shiny, ornately marbles on the ceiling, all down to the floor. How fancy. A lady in her 40s came, with a 2 teenage girls and a little boy, 

“Halla halla wallah,” she said. She didn't seem that nice, I don't know but I didn't felt comfortable since the second I saw her. “Dieu!” I said in disgust. Lol how mean. 

Translation: God!

“Aish baba?” My father asked me. 

“Ha nothing,” I said as turned back to the lady and girls. 

I extended my hand to shake, but suddenly she pulled me into a hug. 

I. Don't. Fucking. Know. You. 

“7ya Allah mn janna,” she said as we both backed off and I shook hand with the other two girls. I smiled. 

“Sh5bark? 3sa ma t3bti?” She said. 

“6ayba,” I said. 

“Ha4i zojti, w omk ethaniya Muneera, w ha4ool 5watk, Hala, w Farah, w ha4a o5ok Saleh,” he said. 

“Nice to meet you all,” I said with a smile. 

He turned to his wife and kids, and he said “atwg3 3rftooha, w '3aniya 3n et3reef.” 

“Welcome to your first home 7beebti,” he saaid as he kissed my forehead. We both smiled. 

“Golo ll5dam y93doon a'3ra'6ha, Hala rou7i m3 e5tk Wreeha '3urft'ha,” he ordered. 

“Inshallah yubba,” she said. Her voice is so cute, and low. I walked with her. 

“so how do you feel coming back after that long time,” she asked. Her Canadian accent is so damn good. 

“It feels so good.” I said. 

“Your name is lily right?” She said. 

“Yeah, by the way how old are you?” I asked. 

“I'm almost 17,” she said. 

“So you're a senior?” I asked 

“To be,” she said

When we were walking something caught my attention, a photo of me and my father on my graduation day from the university, it was so big and framed with golden frames. How cute. I stopped for a while and stared on it. 

“Oh yeah this is you, my father loves it so much, he has another one in the same day but different position in his office and it's even bigger,” she said. 

“comme c'est mignon” I said. 

Translation: how cute! 

“What?” She said. 

“Ah nothing, it's just French,” I said, “and it means how cute,” I added. 

“You speak French too! I never knew that.” She said. 

“Yeah,” I said. 

“T3ali mn hena '3urftk, and the one right next to you, it Farah's, and excuse her stupid songs at 2 am, and the one in the end of the hallway is mine, and this one is Saleh's room, my parents room is downstairs.” She Said. “And yeah, 3ziz's room, our elder brother, is the one front of Saleh's but he's not here yet, he might come by lunch time.” she added. 

“How old is he?” I asked. 

“26ish something like that,” she said. 

My father married their mother like couple of years before my mine. He never mentioned Abdulaziz to me. 

“You can have some rest, el'3ada b3d 4 hours, you must come, grandparents, uncles and aunts are coming, and your stuff will be here in,” before she completes her sentence, two maids came holding my lagguage. 

“They're here,” she said. 

“Thank you, sorry if I bothered you,” I said 

“No worries, you really didn't.” she said. 

“Ma'am, your stuff are inside, if you need anything please call 677 from the phone, and I will be here,” one of the maids said. 

“Thank you,” she said. 

They all left, I entered the room, that puffy bed, those white sheets made me feel I wanna sleep for ages. I opened my lagguage I took my towel, and went to the bathroom, I took a relaxing shower, afterwards I wore very comfy shorts, with a tank top and jumped on the bed, I sat an alarm and drifted on a very deep 2 hours. When I woke up, I found my stuff are organized in the closet, and lights were off and I was covered. Who did all that, I pulled my legs to the bathroom and washed my face, brushed my teeth, I stood front of the closet not knowing what to wear, my all the time problem.

where are you Amy, my life saver.

 After 15 minuets of just staring, the door got knocked, “who!” I said. 

“It's Farah,” 

“come in, I really need you,” I said. 

“What's wrong?” She said as she came in. She looked at me, and then said “anti mt2kda enk mn 3yal alflani?” She said 

“Yes,” I said feeling confused 

“You're so white mashallah,” she said. 

I laughed, “I've been told since I was 1 day old.” I said. 

“Come help me, I really don't know what to wear,” I said. 

“Hmmmm let me see,” she looked through my closet, and she finally picked a casual dress that I bought from Zara the other day, it showed my shoulders, and covered my thighs, it was right before my knee. 

“This will look elegant on you,” she said. 

“Thank you,” I said. “But are uncles fine with short dresses?” I asked. 

“Honestly?? No.” she said 

“Tst'hbleen Farah? Why did you pick it at first?” I asked. 

“I promise ma ygolon lk shay, bs e7na cause we are Saudis, I mean full Saudi” she said. 

“Whatever,” I turned it back, and picked a navy jumpsuit, “what do you think?” I said 

“Niceeee, 7baita,” she said. 

“Thank you,” I said. 

“Be fast, grandparents are already here,” she said. 

“Okay okay,” I said as she left my room. 

I wore my clothes, applied makeup, I just left my hair fall on my shoulders naturally, I really didn't have time for waving it, or straight it, Joseph I need you. I wore my jewelries, and matched my clothes with a pair of summery sandals from Alexander Wang. I took my phone, and went down. Since it will take me at least 5 minuets to reach the living room, I decided to call my mother, it was early morning in Melbourne. 

“Hey,” my mother said with sleepy voice 

“Désolé, I didn't know you're still sleeping,” I said 

Translation of désolé: sorry.

“Hey Lily, it's fine, how are you how is it there, are they bothering you?” She said so fast 

“Mom mom, relax, I'm fine, I just wanted to say hi,” I said. 

“Thank god!” she said. 

“Maman, Tu me manques,” I said and my eyes are filled with tears. 

Translation: mom, I miss you 

I never knew that I will miss here since I step into this city. 

“Chéri, I miss you too,” she said. 

Translation: darling. 

“Listen mama, I need to go,” I said. I really didn't want to keep the conversation because I know it burst out crying. 

“Take care, Je t'aime” she said 

Translation: I love you 

“I do too,” I said and gave her a fly kiss through the phone as she did too, and hung up. 

Too be continued.. 

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