Chapter 23

I stopped in my tracks. What was Adam doing here?!

I was frozen to my place, shocked. Adam, feeling that someone was staring, turned his head and saw me. The elevator made a sound notifying that it had arrived. Adam smirked as he went in.  Another voice made by the elevator. I dashed and stopped right as it closed. I quickly pressed the button and waited for the other elevator.

A minute later, the door opened and I got in quickly. I pushed the button that got me to the lobby and I was there. The door opened and I rushed looking for Adam. Running from place to place searching for him. He was nowhere to be found. I leaned on the wall taking a breath.

....: Little Miss, are you okay?

I turned to see a worker guy. I looked at his tag and his name was Thomas.

Latifa: Yes thank you.

Thomas: Would you like to rest a bit? and get a glass of water?

Latifa: Yes please. Thank you.

Thomas: It's my job.

He started walking to an office. And I followed him. He let me sit on a chair and got me a glass of cold water.

Thomas: I'm Thomas. And you are?

Latifa: I'm Latifa.

Thomas: Nice to meet you.

Latifa: The pleasure is all mine.

Thomas smiled.

Latifa: Ummmm have we met somehwere?

Thomas: I don't think so. Why?

Latifa: You seem really familiar.

Thomas: I don't think so. 

......: Hey Thoma- Oh Latifa.

I turned my head to see none other than Johnny.

Latifa: Johnny!

Thomas: You know each other?

Johnny: We were seated next to each other on the plane yesterday.

Latifa: Yeah. How do you two know each other?

Johnny: Well, we're actually..

Thomas: Brothers.

Latifa: Oh. Now I know why I felt I knew Thomas from somewhere. 

Johnny: What a coincidence.

Thomas: Yeah.

Latifa: Anyways, thank you Thomas for your help. Also, Nice to see you again Johnny.

Thomas: No biggie.

Johnny: Same here.

Latifa: Well, I got to go. Bye.

Johnny: Bye.

Thomas: Bye. 

I got out of the room and the hotel. I put on my headphones and started walking. I went through some park and then I saw a small dinner. Remembering that I haven't had any breakfast, I walked in. I ordered some toast and a glass of milk. I sat and looked through the window as I waited for my order.

I was interrupted by my phone's ringtone. Mama was calling. I answered..

Latifa: Alo

Shmoo5: Hla mama. Wenk?

Latifa: Knt amshii b3deen r7t zy el-m63m 3shan af6r.

Shmoo5: Y3nii ma f6rtii bil-hotel?

Latifa: La. Wgt'ha ma knt msht'hya.

Shmoo5: Uha. 6yb yalla erj3ii. 7na k4a sa3a bil-ktheer o n6l3.

Latifa: Wen bnroo7?

Shmoo5: Walla ma adrii. T3alii o n8rr.

Latifa: Okay, bye.

Shmoo5: M3 el-slama.

A little later my food was finished. I ate in silence. When I finished, I asked for the bill, payed, and then got out and went back to the hotel. I saw Thomas and Johnny take a smoke right by the door of the hotel.

Latifa: You know, smoking is bad for your health.

Thomas: Yeah, but we still smoke.

Thomas: I tried letting go but it's hard.

Latifa: Give it another try.

Thomas: Too lazy to.

Johnny: It can cost you your life, you know.

Thomas: Dude, you have one in your hand right now.

Johnny: I'm letting go little by little. Do the same.

Thomas: I don't want to.

Latifa: You-

My phone interrupted me. It was Hayfa.

Latifa: Alo

Hayfa: Wenk?

Latifa: T7t, leeh?

Hayfa: Bjeek zahgana l-7alii foog.

Latifa: Okay, ana 3nd el-bab bra mn 3la jmb shwii.

Hayfa: Okay.

-

Thomas: Where are you from?

Latifa: Saudi Arabia. And you two?

Johnny: We're from around here.

Thomas: Yeah.

I heard a scream from front of the door.

Hayfa: Latifa!

Latifa: Hla!

And Hayfa came to my side.

Hayfa: Wsh tsween?

Latifa: Wla shii. Thomas, Johnny this is my sister, Hayfa. Hayfa these are Thomas and Johnny.

Thomas: Hey, what's up?

Johnny: Hello.

Hayfa: Hi.

Latifa: Well, we got to go to bye.

Hayfa: Bye.

Thomas and Johnny: Bye bye.

Me and Hayfa walked inside the hotel.

Hayfa: F6rtii?

Latifa: Ewa.

Hayfa: 6yb ana ma f6rt emshii abii af6r.

Latifa: Okay. 

We went inside the dinner and I sat on one of the tables whilst Hayfa went to get her something to eat. I put on my headphones and got out my iPad to draw something. Suddenly, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned to see El-Jazii. 

Latifa: El-Jazii! Ya hla bil-zeen walla. 

I left my iPad and everything on the table and got up to hug her. She hugged back. 

El-Jazii: Hla feek 7beebtii. Kefk? 

Latifa: Tmam walla. O entii?

El-Jazii: El-7mdlilah.

Latifa: Mta jetii? Lw ma shftk bil-9dfa kan kna ana wyaak b-nfs el-mkan o ma 6l3na m3 b3'9 -.-

El-Jazii:  W9lt gbl yomeen k4a m3 o5oy o zojt'h. 

Latifa: Ga6a m3hm -.-

El-Jazii: Klii zg. 

Latifa: Izznda ejlsii m3na. 

El-Jazii: Enti o meen?

Latifa: Ana o Hayfa e5tii. 

El-Jazii: Ya 7leelha Hayfa mn zman 3nha. 

El-Jazii said as she took a seat next to me. 

Latifa: Eeh. 

Hayfa came with a plate in her hand and a juice in her other. 

Hayfa: Ahln. 

She put her plates and hugged El-Jazii. 

El-Jazii: Hla feek 7beebtii. Kefk?

Hayfa: El-7mdlilah, o entii?

El-Jazii: El-7mdlilah tmam. 

The three of us chatted with each other.

Hayfa: Jtnii fkra. 

Latifa: Esh he?

El-Jazii: Yalla a6rbii msam3na. 

Hayfa: 7lwa o atw83 klkm btwafgoon 3leeha. 

Latifa: 6yb yalla golii. 

Hayfa: El-yom b3d ma kl a7d fena yjii mn 6l3aat'h m3 ahlh, ns'hr 3nd w7da mn el-'3rf. 

El-Jazii: Fkra 7lwa. 

Latifa: 5la9 el-yom b3d ma nrj3. 

Hayfa: Gdaam. 

A sudden scream interrupted us.

.......: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!

We all turned around to see..........