No Boundaries: Chapter4.

Enjoy!

❥
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I woke up the next day happier than I have been in a while, and excited. It's been a long time since something made me this excited. This Yousef guy is definitely affecting me more than he should. I was overthinking again, what if I found a new friend? He is a great guy. I won't even have to see him again anyway. It's just so nice to have someone to talk to. 

I got dressed quickly in an actually nice and preplanned outfit, huh, who would've thought. I made sure my natural waves were tidy, and my make up was on point. I didn't even realize I was so into the way I looked, until my mother pointed it out. 

Mom: ewa? Sh3ndk 9a7ya gbl 39afeer el9b7 w mtjhza w ksh5ah? La ykon el7beb jaa?

I blushed, and shook my head vigorously. 

Areen: MAMA!

Mom: wsho? Mn 7agi a3rf!

Areen: 6b3n mar7 a6l3 m3ah! 


Mom: ajl ween ray7a?

Areen: Starbucks ely t7t bes!

Mom: bes?!

Areen: yes! 

Mom: wl make up 3shan men? Thu wla Mike? 

Areen: I just feel like looking pretty! 

Mom: ahm shy la twr6en nfsk m3 a7d, w la tgablen 3yal 6ay7en fe m9ayb.

Areen: akeed! Flnehaya enti rbeteeni! Have some faith in me. 

Mom: wath8ah feek million blmeya!

Areen: love you, bye! 

I kissed her cheek and even took out the nice bag that my mom got me, I heard her sigh so I turned around. 

Areen: mama feek shy?

Mom: laa wla shy.

Areen: ok-ay?

Mom: have fun, be safe!

I walked to Starbucks with a little jump in my step, I felt happy and I'm sure I looked it too. Little did I know that this would open the doors of something way above my league. 

I walked into starbucks, smiled at Thu, and nodded to Mark while he handed me the coffee this time with something a little extra written on it. 

'You'll be missed, Ari!' 

Aw, so sweet of them. They know I come back every month with my mom even if it was for a weekend, but they always do that to cheer me up on my last day. 

Areen: aw! I love you guys! You know I will keep this with the rest of the cups you guys always decorate for me before I leave. 

Thu: well this time be back quick, 'cause Mark is leaving by christmas!

Areen: no! 

Mark: yep! I'm heading back to the states. 

Areen: awh!

Mark: I got a job offer once I graduate it'll be in LA! Maybe I can keep an eye on that boyfriend of yours that you're forgetting about ever since you met The Hulk that sits next to you.

I know Mark was teasing me, but his words were true to a certain point. Ever since I met Yousef, my thoughts about Abdullah lessened.

Laty: hey! Be nice, she deserves better than that scum anyway. And did you see the guy? I would forget about my husband if I saw him, too. Hell I do every time he comes here. 

Thu: Laty is right, Abdul has not been very good to her these past couple of months. Ever since she met Yousef she's been happier, can't you see?

Areen: hello people, I am standing right here?

Laty: it's only because we love you sweetie. 

Areen: I know, I know. Hey, what do you think about us all having lunch once you get off work?

Thu: sure, but you rich Saudi is payin'!

I laughed, they meant well. It wasn't said in a mean way.

Areen: of course!

Laty: now, go, The Hulk has been waiting for you since we opened today.

I blushed, and poked my tongue out at them. Those sweet people have been working in this Starbucks for 5 years now, and little by little they became very close friends of mine. Thu was from China, Laty was from Ethipoia, and Mark was American. They all had other jobs of course, but I met them through Starbucks. They know everything about me. 

I sat down at the table across from Yousef, and he instantly looked up from his laptop and smiled at me. He was wearing black thick rimmed glasses today, they made him look even more handsome. What? Handsome? Mn meta afkr ki4a?

Yousef: ma hgait ench btyeen hni! G3dtay tsolfen wyahm wgt 6weel.

Areen: ygolon they'll miss me w ki4a so lazm ag3d m3hm shwy. 

Yousef: ready for your surprise?

Areen: duh! 

Yousef: t7ben elhdaya?

Areen: akeed! 

I squealed like a kid, and a few heads turned around to give me a weird look. Yousef laughed quietly, and pulled out a little wrapped gift. He placed it on the table, and motioned for me to wait. I couldn't contain my excitement, it's been a while since I got a gift.

Areen: so what is it?

Yousef: yah! Mako 9br enti? 

Areen: laa, mo mrra.

I gave him a shy smile, as if I was a kid who just got scolded.

Yousef: ha4i elhdya lch, mamno3 tb6lenha gbl ma a6l3 mn hlmkan. Ok?

Areen: it's not like a bomb or anything, 9a7?

I whispered the bomb part don't worry, it was bad enough ena we were Arabs. Again, he laughed that laugh that goes through your spine from how deep it is and makes you shiver. 

Yousef: 9j habla. Elmohim n6ray l7dat ma a6l3, ok? W don't follow me! Till next time Areen. 

And with that he walked out of Starbucks. Wait, what? That's just it? He's not going to give me his number? Or an email? Or anything? How are we supposed to communicate? I felt tears clouding my vision but I kept them in. 

I unwrapped the gift slowly, and found a leather pocket size notebook. Not one, not two, but five. Wow. They all had little things engraved on them, each notebook was titled by my tattoos. 

I opened the first one and a found a note:

'Read the first page of every notebook. This is not the end for us, we will meet again. Till next time, Areen.'

I opened the first one, 

Hope

'For you, 

to write the thoughts that take you across the oceans and through the continents.'

Second one,

الله

'For you,

to vent about the demons that constantly fight in your pretty little head.'

Third one, 

Independent

'For you,

to make sure you achieve everything you set that pretty little head to.'

Fourth one,

Fahdah&Sita

'For you,

to remind yourself everyday of the little things that give you hope in life.'

Fifth one,

أحب نفسك أولاً

'For you,

to remember that you are a beautiful soul, and a breath-taking person.'

Without even realizing it, I was crying my eyes out. A guy who has known me for a week, did the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me. I wiped my tears, gathered my stuff, and ran back to my apartment. I was met by my mother right before I opened the door.

Mom: Areen? Wsh feek?!

Areen: t3ali jwa bwrek.

And we went in, and I showed her everything Yousef did for me, and I told her that we've been seeing each-other every day in Starbucks and that we talked a bit. She smiled. 

Mom: atw83, e4a mani 3'l6ana, you started falling in love with him..

I was shocked at such a thing. I know that I was starting to have feelings for him, but I could never be with him. He is not Abdullah, and I always have to think of Abdullah. No matter how bad of a person he might be, he still was there for me through the toughest of times and he needs me now so I will not bail on him just because I met a sweet guy. 

So I decided to freshen up, forget all about what happened with Yousef, and continue going on with my day. I went on with my day, but I felt like there was something nagging on me the whole time. I don't know what it was, but I felt like something utterly wrong was bond to happen. Allah ystr. 

xo