-Ameena-

I watched with amusement as Demi fumbled with my suitcase trying different combinations on the lock.

"Argh ...you are so evil. You know that don't you?" She sighed.
"Lemme see...4242...no. Okay...4344...
I suck at this." she said lifting both hands.

"You will only see the dress during the fittings." I laughed.

Just then her phone rang and she picked it up excitedly pulling it a little farther from her ear and mouthed the word "Kareem" before putting it on speaker and motioning me to keep my mouth shut.

Demi: hello handsome.

Kareem: hey sweet. How are you?

Demi: am fine, guess what?

Kareem: um...Ameena has arrived?

Demi: you just killed the fun part where I tell you she's here.

Kareem: you can still tell me

Demi: are you mocking me? Now am not talking to you for thirty...seconds

Demi: okay times up,I miss you already

Kareem: miss you more...listen sweet, can I see you? say...in an hour's time?

Demi: where?

Kareem: Reuben's

Demi: okay handsome, till then. Love you!

And she kissed her phone before hanging up

"That's gross, do you realize how many microbes just got into your system?"

"Well not much, seeing that I did not lick the phone. Just sending a breezy kiss to my one and only. And guess what? We are going to see Kareem this evening." She said all in one breath.

"It's almost five. Don't you think its late?" I asked.

"Reuben's just an eatery down the road. it's a walking distance from here, don't worry we will be home in time for magrib." She answered.

Soon we heard excited voices coming towards the room and I guess demi's girls are back. In less than a minute the room was swarmed with six girls of about the same age as I. After the excitement has died down, Demi began introducing the girls.

The lanky girl with the bright smile and cropped hair is Debra.
the girl with the fake eyelashes, fake hair (crochet braid looks nice though), fake nails and bleached skin is her cousin Lola.
The bashful girl with the pleasant face also happens to be her cousin is Alima.
The Dark skinned beauty with an open teeth is Bola.
The busty one is hikmah and the lovely light skinned girl with dimples is saudah.

After the introduction, they all welcomed me and bombarded me with questions.

"So demi says you are a designer. Can I see your designs?" Said Bola.

"Did you make what you are wearing?" Debra added.

"Is your hair real?" Asked hikmah.

"You look way prettier in person than in pictures." Alima added.

And I could swear I saw Lola rolled her eyes at that.

"Girls let her breath." Demi cut them off.
After some minutes the girls went down stairs and demi checked the time and exclaimed that an hour is almost gone.

"hurry else we are gonna be late."she said while quickly rubbing oil over her face.

"What's that?"

"It's coconut oil. I read that it's the most natural way to remove make-up, plus you get extra moisture." She said excitedly.

I smiled at that. Demi always gets excited about new beauty regimen which wanes when she is onto another. A month ago, she told me she uses olive oil as make-up remover and she's always after me to try this new diy face pack or hair mask she found on the internet.

I put my abaya back on and rolled my scarf while she did her make up.when she was done she begged me to put on some make up and I obliged by putting on some lip gloss.

"You will never change." She huffed

While passing through the gate, I smelled shayi (tea) brewing and sure enough, I spotted a kettle by the gatemans room even though no one was there. I can tell that the maker of this shayi is from the north as the brew smelled of ginger, red chilli pepper and clove just the way it is done at home.

Reuben's is a small cosy eatery tastefully furnished with Italian wood chairs. The walls are decorated with the works of contemporary African artists. We arrived earlier than Kareem so Demi ask us to hide behind a parked car outside.

"Why are we hiding like criminals?"

"It's un-ladylike to come and wait for the man. "She said in a hushed tone

"Are you Kidding me? What happened to 'I miss you'? And how are you sure he won't see us while coming?" I replied in the same tone she used.

"He's coming the other way so no chance, Stop whining and wait." She said.
After four minutes of waiting her phone rang.

Demi: hello handsome

Demi: we are on our way

Demi: soon baby

Demi: bye

As she ended the call I tried to get up but she pulled me down.

"Not now, we wait a bit longer."

"What? I can't believe you are making me do this. We are not some eighteen year olds for God sakes."

"Almost there"she said as she held my wrist to check the time.

After a few minutes which seemed like forever, we got up and demi straightened her dress and I dusted my abaya and we made our way to where Kareem and another guy who was on the phone and looking down at God knows what where sitting.

"Salam alaikum," we said in unison.

"Wa alaikumussalam."Kareem answered while phone guy kept talking with his head down."

"Finally we meet." he said to me and I smiled. " Finally." I answered.

Although I have seen his picture and we talk at times when they are together on phone, this is the first time we are meeting.

"Baby you said you missed me but you are totally ignoring me." Demi pouted.

"Wa alaikumussalam" said a cool voice unexpectedly that my heart skipped a beat.

"Sorry I was on a call" he added.

For some unknown reason, our eyes met and he held my gaze for almost a minute before I broke away looking at my nails instead.

What the hell. I screamed in my head.

Despite myself, I have to admit this guy is a walking definition of handsome. I didn't know men could have such long lashes and such lips...

"Ameena, this is brother Ahmed," Demi said. bringing me back to reality.

"He is my cousin and Kareem's best friend. Brother Ahmed this is my bestest friend Ameena."

"Nice to meet you" he said.

"Nice to meet you too" I answered without making any eye contact.

I can't recall any time in my life where I have felt awkward in the presence of any guy except today.

I have always find it easy because I wasn't looking for anything with them. I don't fret over how I look nor do I give a damn what guys think of me. Their opinions concerning me is just as good as the girl's next to me.

But the way Demi and Kareem were all over each other made me feel uneasy. He seem to be engrossed in his phone and at the same time making small talk.

Kareem was teasing him about taking some time for himself and leaving work where it belonged.

I was fascinated by his eyes. He narrows them to slit like when he's looking but then it feels like he sees more than his eyes tell.

He talks with a hint of smile on his face except when he stares at his phone.

What the hell is wrong with me. Here I was seated beside my friend who has totally forgotten I was here, and instead of giving her a dressing down, I was busy analysing her handsome cousin.

l don't like this new found personality that has sprung out in me one bit.

I need to get out of here fast.

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