*BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP* My phone alarm rang like there's no tomorrow. That meant it was the next day... The day I met Khaled for coffee!
I yawn and get out of bed, Shadow following close behind as usual, and head to the door to take Shadow for his morning bathroom trip. That's when it really sinks in...
Wait a second. I'm meeting Khaled for coffee. Does this mean its a date?! I shake my head, curls flailing everywhere, snapping myself back to reality. There's no way this is a date. It's just a casual cup of coffee with an acquaintance. A few seconds later, Shadow is finished and wagging his little tail while begging me for his breakfast. "Alright. Let's go to the kitchen, bud."
Shadow has eaten, and I'm fixing myself some breakfast. Okay, so today's breakfast is... I look over to the meal schedule I wrote and planned out and stuck on the fridge. Ah, two hard boiled eggs, a large cucumber, and one slice of whole wheat toast. Yum. After I had eaten, I head over to my room to start prepping to meet Khaled, with little Shadow at my heels. I checked the time to make sure have plenty of it to get ready.
"Okay, boy. What should I wear?" I ask Shadow, not expecting any answer. I open my closet and stare...and stare...and stare. What should I wear?! I'm starting to panic. This would have been so much easier if Farah was here. Unfortunately, Farah couldn't video chat with me to help me pick an outfit because her wifi was down. "Okay, calm down, Yasmine. Think. This is a casual meetup for coffee, right? So casual means comfy yet stylish. I should wear something I feel comfortable in." I pull out a pair of grey joggers, a maroon hoodie, and my black ACDC tshirt, try them on, and step in front of my full length mirror. "Hmmm... Nope, too casual. This is my 'not caring look.' And right now I care loads." I turn to Shadow and notice him sitting on my couch, with his head tilted to the side in utter baffle. He must think I'm either crazy or he's not sure if I'm talking to him.
"Okay. Maybe I should put a little more effort in my outfit. 'First impressions,' as they say." I then proceed to dig through my wardrobe and pull out a maxi dress, my only black leather jacket, and a knit infinity scarf, try that on, and back to the mirror. "Oh definitely no. Too much curves and not enough confidence." Shadow then yawns and lays down on the couch for a little nap. "Thanks for the support, Shadow," I sarcastically say.
After what seemed like an eternity in clothing underworld, but really was half an hour of pulling out clothes and trying them on, I decided to settle on my favorite outfit: A green, grey, and black plaid shirt, a white tshirt, and some boyfriend jeans ripped at the knee, matched with that black leather jacket and black converses. "Done!" It's not the most appealing, but at least its me.
Just then, my phone vibrates with a notification, to which I almost leaped towards from a mix of excitement and anxiety. It's a notification from Messenger. It's from Khaled.
'Morning :D Getting ready to leave so I thought I'd give you a heads up. See you soon!'
I smile my big goofy smile while reading the message. I then commence replying.
'Same here! See you there! :D'
Finishing up my preparations, I do a bit of makeup (basic concealer, eyebrows, mascara, and blush) add some serum to my curls for the sake of controlling the frizz monster, and pack up my bag. I head out of my room towards the front door, Shadow still trailing me. I kneel down and scratch behind his ear. "Wish me luck, Shadow!" I tell him. He responds with a little bark. As I'm in the elevator going down, I make a mental checklist of everything in case I clumsily forgot something. Keys, wallet, phone, chap-stick, perfume. I spritz myself a couple more times with it just to be safe.
10 minutes later, the taxi pulls up across the street from where the cafe is. I pay the driver and get out, then stare at the cafe for a few seconds. Please don't be awkward, me!! I beg myself not to make things weird in any way. Crossed the street, and just as I put my hand on the door handle, I could swear I heard my heart pounding in my ears. Breathe, and just be cool. Or be normal, I tell myself. I walk in and look around, then I saw him sitting at a two-seated table by the window, a little sunshine pouring through and illuminating him. Just my luck. He looks even better than when I last saw him. Khaled turns away from staring out of the window and spots me just standing by the door, staring like an idiot.
"Oh, Yasmine! Over here!" he says as he gestures towards the table. I snap out of it and give an awkward smile then walk over to the table.
He gets up and we shake hands. They're as warm as they were last time.
"Please, sit," he politely says as he pulls out the chair on the other side of the table.
"Thank you," I nervously reply.
"Are you a bit cold or something?" he asks. "Your voice is a little bit shaky." Crap. I need to calm down!
"Oh! A little, but I just came in from the cold, so I'll warm up in a second haha."
"Okay, good," he says, sounding reassured. "Also, you kinda took a good minute to realize I was over here. Mind if I ask why?" he asks, jokingly.
Think think think think don't blurt out anything! "Oh it was the sunlight hitting your face. It made your features look different so I was trying to be sure it was you, since you were also facing away. Hope I didn't embarrass myself haha!" Nice save!
"Aha I see. No of course not, I'm only messing with you a little," he replies. "Anyways, what will you be drinking?"
"Mmm I don't know if I should go iced or hot," I reply.
"You would drink iced coffee in the cold?" he asks, looking astounded.
"Umm yeah? It's my favorite kind of coffee."
"Hmm...Well then, although I'm not one to do this, I'll follow in suit. I'll have a coffee of the iced kind too," he says playfully.
"Alright then, but don't blame me if you can't handle it and get a brain freeze haha," I joke. "I always go for the caramel frappucino they have here. It's great."
"I'll have what you're having, since you're the connoisseur of iced coffee here haha," he says.
We order and as we wait for our drinks we both start chatting about how life has been since we saw each other on vacation 4 years ago. Listening to him talk is both enjoyable and intimidating. He speaks with so much enthusiasm and pep that it's captivating just watching him. But to him I must be a bit of a child. He's already finished university and achieved quite a bit in his career, whereas I'm still in my second year of university, and I haven't joined any extracurricular clubs or anything.
Just as I finish what little I have to tell about my life, the waiter brings our frappucinos. We both thank him, especially me since I wanted my painfully short story of my existence to end.
"So, tell me more about what you're studying. I don't know much since I went to a different faculty," he says.
"Well, it's just the school of commerce. Nothing much. Accounting, marketing, math, some economics, a bit of law too," I reply.
"Sounds interesting," Khaled says. "Any favorite subjects thus far?"
I take a few seconds to think.. "Well, I haven't found a particular favorite, but there are subjects that I found myself surprisingly good at. Like Law Principles and Organizational Behavior."
"Okay. I know enough about law here, so what is this Organizational Behavior?" he asks.
I tell him all about this subject and what were my likes and dislikes about it. We continued talking up until his phone rang. He looks at his phone to see who it is.
"Sorry but I need to take this," he apologizes.
"Oh no it's okay, go ahead," I politely reply.
Khaled answers his phone. "Hey Peri. Good morning to you too."
A short pause. "I'm sorry I forgot to call.... Because I'm having coffee with someone before work.. It's an old friend and I'm just catching up..."
Another pause, this one a bit longer. "I'm not prioritizing, it just slipped my mind.... Can I call you later please?" he says, sounding very embarrassed. This sounds like a girlfriend. I hope I'm not causing any tension.
"Peri, I will call you after my coffee with Yasmine.... I'll tell you later. Later...Bye," and he hangs up. That was awkward.
Khaled sighs heavily.. "Sorry about that. Must have been awkward for you."
"Oh..no..not at all," I anxiously reply.
"Then it was. Peri is just a bit...much," he says.
"Your girlfriend I assume?" I ask shyly.
"Yes.." he answers. "But anyways, let's just pick up where we left off. So you're currently preparing for the first term finals?"
"Uhh yeah. Revisions and studying is what my life basically is at the moment. Although it's very different from how it usually is this time," I answer.
"Really? How so?" he asks, looking curious.
"Well, I kinda sorta rescued a puppy, as I previously told you," I bashfully answered. I don't want to come off like a snob or anything.
"Which is amazing!" he reacted. "So, how did you do it?"
And then I tell him the story of how I found Shadow, from beginning to end, including the event that occurred just before I found him. Khaled didn't interrupt me verbally, but I could tell by his facial expressions that he was shocked, concerned, and gripped by my story.
"Whoa. But how are your knees now? I hope they're not too injured!" he asked, looking very concerned. I couldn't help by feeling a little bit giddy, feeling that he cared.
"Yeah they're better, just bruised up. The bruising hasn't disappeared, but the swelling has gone down and it doesn't hurt as much when I walk. Still functional thankfully haha," I joked.
"Well..that's good to hear. You had me worried there, for a second," he said. He was actually worried about me? ... Well I guess anyone would be in that situation. "And how is Shadow doing now?"
"Oh he's great, just being a puppy. I still haven't found a home for him though," I said.
"Do you wish you can keep him?" he asked.
"Well...yeah. I kinda do, but as my dad said, I have to focus on my studies, get my GPA up," I answer, solemn look on my face.
"You know..." he begins to say, "and I say this as an experienced university graduate, GPA isn't everything. I think what helps someone leave a mark is themselves as a person."
"Really?" I ask.
"Yes, very much so. Just the fact that you saved a puppy from starving or freezing, even when you lost something you loved and got injured, and even though you knew you probably can't help him in the long term, shows that you're quite the amazing person. And I believe God will help you out later in life," he replies.
I feel my face starting to blush. How is he so wise? And so nice, too? Peri is one lucky girl. "Yeah, I think you're right," I say.
"I know I'm right," he says, smiling at me. I smile back and then look down shyly.
"Oh boy," said Khaled a couple of seconds later. I looked up to see him looking at his watch. "Duty calls. I have to get to work."
"Oh," I said, wishing that we could have stayed longer. "Well let's get the check then."
We ordered the check. I start pulling my wallet out when he asks, "Uh what are you doing?"
"I'm paying for my drink, and I'm not going into the whole 'men pay the whole bill' argument," I said, raising an eyebrow at him playfully.
"Hmm alright. I can tell a feminist when I see one," he says, then chuckled a little.
"What?" I asked. "Why is that funny?"
"Oh no reason. I just happen to be one too," he answered, smiling. "I'm glad to meet another one."
We each paid our half and headed out of the cafe. "Well, see you later, I'll just walk a bit to catch a taxi," I had begun to say when he interrupts me.
"Oh no you don't. I'm driving you home. And this isn't about anything that concerns feminism. The building where I work is in the direction you're heading and I don't want you to walk with those knees of yours," he said.
"So I guess there's no point in my arguing, right?" I asked.
"Yup. After you, miss," he gestures towards his car. I shake my head, then walk towards his car. We both got in and he drives off.
"So where is your house, exactly?" he asks.
"Oh its Shaheen street. Right before the 6th of October gardens," I reply.
"Oh I know just where that is. Easy." We were silent for a good 3 to 4 minutes. So I thought to break the silence.
"Sorry for making you go through the trouble of driving me home," I said, feeling embarrassed.
"You didn't make me do anything so don't apologize," he said, smiling.
"Well, thank you," I said, looking away into the window because I was blushing.
"You're very welcome," he replied.
5 minutes later, we pulled up in front of my house. "It was great catching up and talking to you, Yasmine," Khaled says.
"The feeling is mutual," I reply.
"I'll see you later then?" he asks, extending his hand.
"Sure, I'd like that," I replied, extending mine.
We shake hands, and unknowingly, our eyes kept contact for what seemed like forever. I felt like I was floating on a cloud and was under the warmth of the sun. "Bye," I said.
"Bye," he repeated.
So I get out of the car, and wave at him from my front porch while he drives away. I didn't realize then, but I was smiling the entire time getting back to my apartment. From getting through the building entrance, to riding the elevator up, to unlocking the front door.
Shadow snapped me out of my trance by running up barking to welcome me home. We exchanged our hellos, then I took off my jacket and bag, plopped them onto the nearest chair, and dropped onto the couch lying down, exhaling a breath of joy.
That was probably the best cup of coffee I've had in..ever. I thought to myself. But for some reason, a little fact popped in to my brain and ruined the ecstatic feeling I was experiencing. But he has a girlfriend. And even though that shouldn't have made me sad, I felt my heart plummet towards my stomach. It's not like I had any chance with him to begin with. We met for coffee as friends, anyways. This just confirms that I have no chance and should just be a friend.
Even so, I still wanted to be with him again. I wanted to talk more with him. Get to know him even more. I felt like the more I spent time with him, the more I find that he's amazing..and kind..and sweet.
"Wait no!" I snap myself out of it. "He has Peri! And we're just friends, if not less than that!" As I said those words, I was falling from the cloud I was previously floating on down to reality.
He'd never look at you that way. Why would he? He has a girlfriend who is probably a knockout, unlike you. Alright, then. Just friends. How it should be.