"She looked beautiful, even more beautiful than before and I didn't even think that that was possible." -Ahmed Abdulrahman, FH.

CHAPTER SEVEN: Seeing Him

Amara Abdullahi

I let out an exasperated sigh as I sat down on a random chair in the furniture section of the store that we were in. Man, who knew shopping could be so tiring? Especially shopping for decorations! They're just decorations for crying out loud but Amelia wants everything to perfect and to precisely color coordinated. "Are we done yet?" Hamid complained. Call it twin telepathy or whatever but I already know what he's thinking and it's probably along the lines of, "I need to get out of here!' You and me buddy, you and me both.

"No." Amy said as she looked through her check list.

"Please can we hurry this up?" Zubair asked while sitting down next to Jamal and Hamid. Just like before, a group of girls walked by pointing and staring at my brother, Jamal and Zubair. Ugh, I hate girls like that. They just see guys they think are 'attractive' and immediately fan-girl and start whispering about them. Do they seriously have no life? I think not.

"We're almost done! Come on everything has to be perfect for my brother. He's very picky you know?" Amy explained, getting annoyed that we were all sitting.

"Yeah we know, let's just finish this." I said with a sigh. "Okay, let's split up, Jamal you can go get the banners, Amara and Hamid can go get the cake and Zubair and I could get the paper plates and napkins" Amy suggested. As long as I'm not paired with Zubair then I'm happy. My brother let out a sigh as a look of realization dawned on his features.

"Actually I also need to get something for Mahi so can we switch it around?" He asked as he stood up as well. No, no, no! Please say no! I don't feel like being annoyed today! Okay, maybe I should Zubair the benefit of the doubt? I mean he's not that bad, right?

"Fine."

Thanks a lot best friend, I mentally groan.

* * *

"Come on hurry it up! You're slower than my harabeoji!" I complained. Oops, you see when I'm annoyed I kind of just mix in some Korean while speaking English. It's a bit of a bad habit that I have ever since I was little kid. "Grandpa? That's what harabeoji means right?" Zubair asked as he parked the cart in the line for the cake. How did he know what it meant? I couldn't help but wonder. I slowly raised an eyebrow at him and he laughed. "My little sister watches Korean dramas a lot so... I picked up a few things here and there." He explained with a shy look on his face.

"Yeah, that's what it means." I replied in a bored tone. How long is this line going to take? I can't stand just standing here in this awkward silence. "I have something to tell you, well more like show you." Zubair said as he dug in his pocket. What does he want? Oh my Lord please give me patience.

"Can we sit?" He asked as he looked around for somewhere for us to sit down. He walked out of the line and sat down on one of the furnitures in the furniture section. "Come back here Hassan! I'm not in the mood!" I said with an irritated look on my face. "Not until you sit down and hear what I have to say!" He exclaimed from the other side of the mall where the benches were. I reluctantly left the bakery side and tried to catch up with him.

"Shhh... you're too loud! What do you have to say anyways?" I replied as I sat down on the couch in front of him. This better be good, I internally groaned.

Zubair Hassan

Now's the time Zubair, just tell her. I know that I can tell her, but what I can't help but wonder about is what  happens after I do? Will we click like we did  when we were kids or we she still see the jerk that got her detention on the first day back to school? Okay now I'm honestly starting sound like a character from those sappy romantic Bollywood movies that my sister always watches. "I-" I was quickly cut off when Amy came rushing to us looking horrified and furious. "What are you guys doing!? We need to hurry! My mom said Ahmed is getting suspicious!" Amy screeched and pulled Amara up from the seat.

Ahmed... why do I feel so annoyed every time I hear the dudes name? What about this guy is annoying me? I don't  know.... Oh Allah what is going on with me?!

Amara Abdullahi

After we bought all of the decorations and the special cake that we had custom made, we finally made it back to Amy's place and started to set up for the party. I'm surprised Kenny and Jamal are still here and helping us. Maybe I'm wrong about Kenny? Maybe he isn't that bad after all, he is helping us willingly after all. I mean he's giving up his weekend and helping setting up a party for someone he doesn't even know. Maybe I am too harsh on him? Aish. You see I have this problem where I tend to sometimes overreact to some situations and I think I did overreact with the whole detention situation.

"Okag place the cake over here." Amy ordered the guys. They carefully placed the cake with Ahmed's picture on it with also a 'Welcome Back' message written,  down on the counter table. After thirty minutes we were finally done and some of Amelia and Ahmed's relatives and friends started to arrive. Now all we have to do is surprise him. Ahmed...To say I've missed him would be an understatement.

I've had feelings for him ever since I could remember, he was my best friend, my rock for so many years. I don't know if I still feel the same way towards him but I know that no matter what, I'll always care for him. I remember all of the times he'd always stick up for me whenever Hamid wasn't around, he'd always play with me at the playground and make sure that I was never alone when Amy wasn't there. And to say I was depressed when he left would be another big understatement. I still had Amy but it was different, it felt like a part of my life was just ripped up and thrown away. He was a big part of my life, I always imagined myself marrying him, I always imagined Amy as my sister-in-law. That was a nice fantasy, but sadly, I don't think it's going to be a reality.

* * *

The front door began toto the house opened slowly and in came Amy's parents then shortly a tall light skinned guy walked in behind them. I'd recognize him anywhere, even if it has been six years since we've last scene each other. In a lot of ways he looked different, his hair was longer than before, his eyes became more mesmerizing, but the one thing that stayed the same would be the fact that his smile still blew me away. The guy slowly turned around and his mouth dropped so low that it might as well have touched the ground the moment he saw us.

"Welcome back Ahmed!" We all shouted in unison.

"What? This is for me? I thought you guys forgot!" Ahmed exclaimed with a huge smile across his tan features. I missed that smile... I missed his curly brown hair that was always spiked up, his gorgeous honey brown eyes, his perfect smile. I really missed him...

"How could we forget!?" Hamid said as he walked up to Ahmed and gave him a bro hug. For a moment they were just talking until he looked at me. He stared at me and I stared at him but neither of us said anything. Mara, just go up to him! This guy was your best friend at one point and you can't even go up to him to say hi? I mentally scolded myself. Just when he looked like he was about to approach me, a bunch of his relatives came up to him and started to give their salams."Hey, are you okay?" Amy said as she slung her arm over my shoulder. I slowly nodded and looked away.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Let's go outside and walk around." I suggested. After five more minutes we managed to get away from the crowd and walk outside. "You don't look too good. Are you sure you're okay?" Amy asked worriedly. Honestly I don't know if I'm okay or not. It's just it's so weird seeing him after so long. It's like something just went off inside of me. I can't explain it...

"Yeah, it's just...so weird to see him." I replied as we were walking around their neighborhood. "I know, he looks different right? I told him the same exact thing. But are you sure that's it? I know things didn't end well for you guys." She said with a sad look on her face. Ugh, don't remind me. I don't want to think of that, how our friendship started one day and ended faster than it came. It's like right when it ended, my father also left. A coincidence right?

"Uhm, please let's change the subject." I pleaded. She nodded her head, making her long brown hair bounce up and down."Hey, what are you guys doing?" A car stopped right beside us and I notice that it was Nur. He was still in his suit and tie so I'm guessing he just got done with work and didn't have time to change his clothes."Nothing," I replied. "Come on, I'm your bro. I have been for a while now so what's really up? Why aren't you two at the party?" Nur asked again.

"We needed some air." Amy answered Nur nodded his head and parked his car then got out and walked to us. "I don't trust that two girls can be out alone so I'll tag along." My brother-in-law said as he walked beside me. Oh God no! I can't talk about how I feel about Ahmed's return with him here! He's just going to tell Amran after this. I don't want her to know or anyone else. The only one who knows is Amy and I'd like it to stay that way. "It's okay Nur, really you can go. We'll be fine so you don't have to worry." I told him as reassuringly as possible. He shook his head again while he continued to walk with us.

"Nah, I'll stay and plus your mom," He looked at Amelia and then turned back to me. "and your sister would kill me if I let anything happen to the two of you. Also why don't you call me Oppa anymore?" He asked. Oppa? I've grown out of that stage a long time ago buddy! "Oppa?" Amy laughed. I couldn't help but laugh a little too, the only one who uses the term 'Oppa' is Mahirah and only to get something out of either Nur or Hamid.

"I'm not a kid anymore, what's next you're going to ask Hamid to call you Hyung?"

"Why not?"

"Fine if I say I'll start calling you Oppa will you please go? I need to talk to Amy about something." I pleaded as I batted my eyelashes up and down adorably. Amy started pleading too and Nur sighed as he looked at the both of us. "Fine, don't walk too far though and call me if anything happens."He said as he starts walking the other direction towards the party. Thank you. "Wow he's really protective of you!" Amy stated.

Tell me about it.

Ahmed Abdulrahman

She looked beautiful, even more beautiful than before and I didn't even think that that was possible. I've missed her, why couldn't I walk up to her and say 'How have you been?' 'I've missed you, best friend' I couldn't even say anything when our eyes connected. The past couple of years have been really difficult not seeing Amy and not seeing her. Did she miss me like I missed her? Is she still mad about what happened? Impossible, she's not one to keep grudges. Is she? Did she change a lot? All of these questions kept on running through my mind yet I didn't have an answer to any of them.

"Hey, I want to introduce you to my friends." Hamid said as he lead me to the direction of two guys that I've never seen before. They looked about our age which is cool."Sup dude, I'm Jamal and this douche right here is Zubair." The tall one said as he tapped the other guy on the shoulder.

"Nice to meet you guys, I'm Ahmed." I responded with a smile. I then turned around and noticed that Amara wasn't here anymore. So she isn't even going to say hi? Well, maybe she had something to do? All of the sudden the front door opened and in came Nur, Amara's sister's husband. Him and Amran got married before I moved away.

"Nur!" I exclaimed as I gave him a hug. "What up bro? Long time no see. How was Europe?" He asked as he slung his arm over my shoulder. "Boring as hell, I missed it here in Miami." I said truthfully. I really did miss it here, the beaches, the sun, the cool ice cream on a hot summer day. Ahh... I'm truly home. I mean don't get me wrong, Monte Carlo was amazing and breathtaking but I just missed being here with the people I love.

"We missed you and I'm pretty sure your partner in crime Amara did too." Nur said with a smile. She missed me? So she doesn't hate me? She probably will now if I don't man up and talk to her. "Speaking of my partner in crime, where is she?" I asked as I looked around once more. I also noticed my sister wasn't here either, they're probably together.

"Her and Amy are outside."

"Thanks, I'm gonna go find them." I said and took off.

Amara Abdullahi

I kicked a rock to the side as I was walking with Amy, we stopped talking about Ahmed a while ago. I couldn't take anymore of it. "Hey..." A familiar voice said from behind us. I know that voice, it belongs to none other than Ahmed. I quickly turned around and saw him running towards our direction. He finally stopped running when we were facing him. Now that I could fully see him and not just from a side profile, I noticed in some ways he also still looks the same.

"Hey bro, I'm gonna go inside." Amy said as she started to walk away. Before she left, she gave me a wink and two thumbs up. No, Amy don't leave me alone! Thanks a lot and I thought we were best friends! I thought to myself bitterly. How could she leave me with him? I don't want to be alone with him. I might do something awkward! Oh God, what am I even thinking? This is Ahmed that we're talking about! How could I be weird around him of all people?

"L-Long time no see." Ahmed said with a nervous smile. Just act natural Mara, this guy was once one of your closest friends. No need to be shy, just talk to the guy! Just put aside your feelings for him for a sec and be normal.

"Yeah. How've you been?" I asked him as I flashed him a small smile. He also smiled once he saw my smile, he always did that. Smile when I smiled, cried when I cried, console me if I was feeling pain. That's what made me fall for him at such a young age. At that age, I knew what liking someone felt like. When he left it completely shattered, when my mom got sick I felt like there was no mercy in this world, I was devastated when dad became an alcolic and then bailed on us. Everything bad happened after he left. But then I just reminded myself it's all just a test from Allah. I shall pass In Shaa Allah.

"Good enough, what about you? How's auntie Su Ji?" He asked worriedly, referring to my mom. My mom's Korean name is Kim Su Ji but her American one is Suzy, some people just call her Su Ji. "She's getting better Alhamdulilah..." I replied. I can't take this, it's so awkward."I'm so s-" I was cut off.

"No, I'm sorry. It was totally and completely my fault. I want my friend back. I'm really sorry Mara." Ahmed said with a sad smile. "Me too, I missed you." I admitted. "Me too... we should get inside. It's going to rain soon." He said. Just as he predicted, I started to feel little droplets but still didn't bother to move. I love rain, I love just standing in the rain and making duas.

"We should go." He repeated.

"Wait, I want to stand out here for a while. What's the rush?" I asked as I looked up and let the rain hit my face."You always were a rebel. You're right, whats the rush?" He smiled and looked up at the sky like I am. "Ahmed?" I called his name. He looked at me and smiled at me which brought butterflies to my stomach. "Yeah?"

"Welcome back."

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Oppa- Older brother (blood or just out of respect practically any guys older than you) [Girl]

Hyung- Older brother (blood or just out of respect practically any guy older than you) [Guy]

Harabeoji- Grandfather

A/N WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK!? TEAM ZUBAIR OR TEAM AHMED? ME I CAN'T DECIDE! THEY'RE BOTH GROWING ON ME! I GOT LOTS PLANNED FOR THIS STORY AN INSHALLAH I'LL UPDATE MORE OFTEN LIKE THIS!
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STAY

QURUX

MY

QURUXLEYS

MWAH!!:)