September 2023
Two years later...
"Should I wear a black and white outfit or blue and grey," I held the two outfits up for my friends to pick. "Blue," Lulu said. As Toji nodded her head. I consider it for a moment. "Blue it is," I agree and run back to my room closing the door behind me to change.
It was a grey sweater with Liverpool written in bold and dark blue. I tried to find my darkest jeans and found my favourite mom jeans. It was tight from the waist and thighs but wide from the bottom. I matched it with a dark blue scarf and a light blue tote bag. I finished my makeup and put on my white sneakers.
"I still can't believe we are here," Lulu said. I nodded my head. It just feels like yesterday the four of us gathered around my table as we discussed applying to the University of Liverpool. Two weeks later I received my acceptance and then the following three of my best friends. Each time one of us got hers we squealed and jumped around scaring our classmates and teachers.
"Living in this beautiful apartment too," I added while admiring our penthouse. Worth every penny! I remember coming across our apartment on the internet in our History and Geography class and right then and there I knew that this was going to be our home for the next four years.
"We are late!" Toji shrieks out of nowhere. My poor eardrums stung. Lulu threw one of the pillows at her. "We still have time, classes start at 9, now! We are no longer in school."
I unplugged my laptop from the charger and put it inside my tote bag, "pick that up," I pointed at the pink pillow laying on the floor, "Yes, mom," Lulu rolled back her eyes while dragging her legs to pick up the pillow.
"We got to go," Toji threw our breakfast dishes into the sink before putting on her jacket and scarf. "Reetaj Reetaj Reetaj!" Lulu groaned. "The school is ten minutes away, BY FOOT," she put on her shoes as she said that.
I grabbed my jacket too. "I want coffee," I grumbled. I still didn't buy myself a coffee machine. I should go look for one today.
"Remind me of a time that you didn't want coffee," Lulu rolled her eyes. I smack the back of her head as I passed her. "Don't forget the keys!" I reminded her as I opened the door and we three walked out.
"I saw this cafe called Nero. It's five minutes away," I said. "I want Matcha Vanilla," Lulu added. "EWW!" both I and Reetaj shrieked in disgust. "Fuck you!" she flipped us off. I gave her a disapproving look. "This way," she pointed to the right. "No this way," I pointed to the left.
"I am going this way," I pointed to the street google maps showed me, "and I am going this way!" Lulu said stubbornly. Huffing at each other, we both walked in opposite directions marching to get to our destination. "WHERE DO I GO? WHO DO I FOLLOW? I DON'T DRINK BOTH!" I hear Toji screaming at the top of her lungs. I barked out a laugh and continued on my way.
I heard the cafe's door ring as I pushed it open. The warm air of the shop that engulfed me made my body relax. I sighed in contentment and walked up to the counter, ordering a hot cappuccino. I paid and waited for my coffee. I heard the doorbell jiggle and ring again. Without much thought, I turned my head and stared at the door. A guy dressed in all black stepped in. His soft dark curls fell over his face as he was typing something on his phone.
I peeled my eyes off him and grabbed my coffee. I stepped out of the shop but stopped short when I saw the rain pouring down the sky, Liverpool. I am scared of the rain and more so the fact that I don't have an umbrella with me right now. How could you forget that, Haneen!
I felt the panic start to come in but I didn't let myself get carried away instead I reached into my tote bag and grabbed my phone to text Lulu or Reetaj to get me one. None of them answered. I stood by the door, the rain pouring and wetting my brand-new sneakers. I heard the cafe's door ring again but before I had the time to react I felt someone bump into my back.
'Bismillah," came the deep Arabic voice, his accent so familiar to mine that I turned around in shock. I came face to face with the dark-clothed guy that entered the cafe moments after me.
"I am sorry," I apologized as some of his coffee spilt on his hands.
"It's okay, are you alright? Did I burn you," he spoke in a light British accent. But there is a hint of another language in his voice. It's obvious it's not his real accent but developed it with time.
"Yes, I am okay, you?" I shoved my hand inside my bag and grabbed a tissue, "here," I handed him the tissue. "Thank you," he accepted my tissue and started to wipe the coffee drops off his hand and jacket.
I took that as my sign to take a better look at him. My eyes drifted to his face. It was thin, his cheeks hollow and covered with a light chiselled beard. My eyes drifted up to his nose and then his eyes. Grey eyes. Those eyes! I know those eyes so well. They have been embedded deep into my memory for two years now.
This can't be real. Him! My gorgeous grey-eyed boy? No way! He just looks like him doesn't mean it's him. This guy is broader and more built than my gorgeous-grey-eyed boy. He snapped his head up and I took a better look at his face. I let out a low gasp and staggered backwards, almost tripping over the small step. It's him.
"Easy there," he held out his hand. Which I didn't take. "Is this freshman's first-day nerves kicking in?" he asked with a sly grin, his eyes soft and adoring, beautiful eyes. "What makes you think I am a freshman?" Was the first thing that came out of my mouth. I swallowed my surprise, shock, and nerves. Act normal, Haneen. Act Normal.
"Never saw you here before," he shrugged. "Right, yes! First-day nerves are kicking in," I said, still not wrapping my head around the fact that my gorgeous grey eye boy aka the love of my life, my future husband, and the father to my kids is standing right in front of me.
I felt my phone vibrate in my hand. Staring down at the screen it was my alarm. "Shit, ya rabi I'm late," I stomped my foot, splashing water everywhere. "Do you know the way?" he asked. "Yeah, it's just the rain," I pointed at the heavy rain falling from the grey sky. "Liverpool, better get used to it," he shook his head. "But it's nice. We don't see that every day back home," he shrugged.
We didn't say where we are from, but we came to an understanding that we come from the same place, and I would've really loved it if he didn't know which city I come from because I don't want to look like a stalker, coming from the same country, city, and school!
"Especially in Jeddah," I added, Fuck me! I wanted to smack my head against the tiles of the store or throw myself in front of one of the passing buses. "I am from Jeddah too! What a nice coincidence," he grinned. Indeed, what a coincidence! Nice? Now that, I am not so sure about.
"Here," he handed me his coffee to hold it; before unzipping his backpack and pulling out something. "I didn't happen to have an umbrella on my first day here too, and it was a mess, so I started carrying two instead of one on my little backpack right here," he patted his black backpack.
I chuckled at his paranoia before he opened the umbrella and held it above my head. He took his coffee from my hand, and I took the umbrella stick from his. "Thank you, you are a lifesaver," I smiled. "More like a knight in shining armour," he puffed his chest. I barked out a laugh. "Dear knight, your sacrifice of this mighty armour is highly honoured. Thank you," I bowed a little and held up the umbrella.
He threw his head back laughing, and I felt a boost of pride. Even though I was confused and fifty percent sure this is a dream, I somehow felt at ease. He seems like a nice person with a pretty smile. "I must go don't want to be late for my first class," I smiled. "Good luck," he smiled back before I turned around and started walking away, disappearing from his view before I sprinted toward the girls.