Me:-
Am I dreaming? No this is a nightmare and I really need to wake up now. My brother was glaring at me, "why is he here? He supposes to be at the other branch."
"Hi, welcome to the restaurant." My brother said forcing a smile, but I could see that this wouldn't be easy. Darren smiled back to him still with the flower in his hand.
"Who is that?" my brother said in Arabic.
"He is a tourist; we just came back from the pyramids." I said innocently.
"I didn't know that nowadays tourist give their tour guides flowers and have a romantic lunch." He said sarcastically.
"It isn't what it seemed. This isn't a romantic lunch and I didn't accept the flower." I said trembling.
"We won't talk about that now." My brother said looking at Darren.
"Ok, I'll drive him back to the hotel then I'll go wait for you at home. Let us go Darren." I said then I looked to Darren who was looking at me questioning but as soon as I stand, I found my brother's hand on my shoulder to make me sit again. Darren glared at my brother.
"I still want you here and for Mr. Darren I can make one of the staff drive him to the hotel or we can call a cap." My brother said in English just to make sure that Darren knows that he was not welcome here, that was rude and embarrassing. Darren looked at me more confused I took advantage of my brother looking away.
"You go now, I'll explain it later." I whispered to Darren.
"No problem, I will take a taxi." Darren said when my brother looked at him waiting for a reply.
"You are our guest; he will take you to the hotel." My brother said pointing at some guy. Darren nodded and stood to walk away but then he turned out and waved at me. I could see how my brother was looking at me.
Darren went out of the restaurant and my brother turned to me.
"Well…"
Darren:-
It was a nice lunch I felt happy until that guy showed up, he looked angry and he talked to me in a rude way he was kicking me out of the restaurant, I didn't want to go but I didn't know who this guy was and she told me to leave.
As soon as I got into the hotel, I started feeling sick, dizzy, fever and I was Unable to concentrate on anything.
"Take a cold shower before going to sleep and drink a lot of cold water if you still feeling sick call me." She sent a text to me.
I took her advice and I fell asleep as soon as I got off the shower.
I wake up at the middle of night I was still feeling lost and a little dizzy with a fever.
"If I'm going to die it would be better to let me." I said to her after I found myself calling her.
"Stop nonsense talking, you'll be fine in the morning. How much water did you drink?" she said and I noticed that her voice has something wrong.
"Not much, what's wrong with your voice?" I asked.
"My voice, yeah I was sleeping?" she said it like a question.
"This is the worst excuse ever, and you suck in lying. Did the guy that was at the restaurant do something to you?" I said concerning.
"I'm not laying, I'm fine okay." She said annoyed but that didn't stop me I was too curious.
"Who was he anyway?" I asked grabbing a glass of water. She released a deep sigh.
"He is my brother." She said and the water spilt from my mouth as an expression for my surprise.
"What?" I exclaimed in surprise and she released an annoying sigh.
"Sorry, I have to go now, talk to you tomorrow. Take a good care of yourself salaam." She said whispering and ended the call, after a while I wasn't surprised anymore, I was feeling guilty. If I weren't carry away by my feelings that I was still confused about, she wouldn't be that sad. What could her brother do to her? He was rude but he seemed harmless. I kept thinking about her until I fell asleep once again.
In my sleep, I saw a strange dream. I was on the beach at night holding my guitar playing "a whole new world" that is when I heard a girl singing, I felt happy and nervous. I turned to face her I knew in my heart that girl was the one for me, but when I did, I wake up before seeing her face.
"Geez this fever really affected my brain." I said to myself after I wake up from this dream. However, I wasn't feeling the fever or the dizziness but I'm not still all well.
"How are you feeling today? I hope that you are well. Take some rest; I'll talk to you soon." I saw her text when I got out the bathroom.
Me:-
Once again, I was having a tough night, the same argument and the same words but a different brother to say. I felt like I was reliving the same day, but this time my dad saved me from this dilemma.
"Don't you think that taking him to your restaurant for a romantic lunch would be the stupid thing ever?" my dad said and it was the first sensible sentence in that argument.
"It's not like that, dad." My brother said mumbling and I knew it he felt defeated. This was the end of the argument and I was glad that my parents are on my side but I have to be careful because they won't be in the third time.
I was still worried about Darren, even if my parents believe me but I was under telescope. I took advantage of my parents watch the TV and I went to my room to text Darren with what he should do. When they slept, I found Darren calling me it was late but I have to know how he is now. He was still tired but he was so curious about what happened and I was sick and tired from this subject. Finally, I decided to tell him.
"Are you still awake?" I heard my mother's voice outside my bedroom. I had to end the call I didn't need anymore troubles.
In the morning, I got the chance to go out with my mother to buy grocery. She tried to reassure me that she and my dad trust me. They knew that not like the other girls, I don't just fall for someone and in that time I wished she was right.
"Hello" I said answering Darren's call.
"Good morning beautiful" he said cheerfully and his word made me blushed.
"You're so cheesy." I said smiling being away from my mother.
"I guess this is the fever effect, but don't you like it." He said still with a happy tone.
"Yeah right, how are you now? Feeling better?" I said concerning.
"Better but if you came now, I'll be a lot better." He said smoothly.
"Oh, Darren Everett Criss stop your sweet talking, I'm with my mom and you caused a lot of family problems for me." I said looking at my mother who was in the front of cashier.
"Okay, then when you will come? I don't want to be sick and lonely." He said like a little child and it was super cute.
"You can play on your guitar until I come to pick you up after lunch; sorry I got to go now my mom is a waiting for me." I said it was our turn for check out.
"Ok see you." He said and ended up the call.
I went back home and helped my mother with lunch and we talk about how much I missed my living abroad sister and brother, they living at the some country but unlike my brother, my sister won't come this year. Being apart from my sister was hard for me.
"On my way" I sent a text to Darren before start driving. In less than half hour, I was in the hotel hall.
"Finally you are here, I don't know how but I have been used to see you in the morning." He said looking at me with a warm smile on his face.
"Are you sure that the fever is gone? Because this is make nonsense." I said to cover my shyness from his words because I feel the same too but I couldn't tell him that.
"You can see for yourself." He said lifting his head for me to check the fever with my hand and he closed his eyes with a weird smile on his face.
"No need I believe you." I said wondering about that smile.
"Then let's go." He said huffing and I could hear him whisper "dammit" to himself.
"Ok" I said and I was thinking why he was acting weird today I was sure that I didn't do anything to cause such a thing.
We get in the car and he was silent I could tell that he watching me but when I made any move he turn his head to look through the window.
"Oh, no" I gasped, it was my aboard brother calling me on whatsapp.
"Darren, could you please not to make sound?" I said and he just nodded.
"Hi, how are you?" my brother said.
"I'm fine, how's your wife and your little monsters?" I said.
"They all fine and little monsters want to come to play with you, all the time they ask, 'Dad, when will we go to our aunt?'" my brother said, and I just smiled because I really like them.
"What are you doing now?" my brother asked and it made me suspicious.
"Did my brothers tell you anything?" I said suspicious.
"No, what's happened?" he asked which made me relived.
"Nothing, it just my father monthly check was good." I lied.
"Yeah, I already know that. So do I bother you?" he asked and I guess it was clear that I'm lying.
"No, I'm in the car drive my way to the work." I lied once again but this time it won't work because Darren spoke actually, he sung.
"Say, Say, Say What You Want.
But Don't Play Games with My Affection.
Take, Take, Take What You Need,
But Don't Leave Me With No Direction."
"Oh my god, what I'm going to do now?" I said to myself.
Darren:-
I was so happy that she was here, she looked beautiful today the eye shadow she had made it irresistible not to look deeply in her eyes. Not to mention her lipstick it was so light that make you think that her lips are shining. And when she teased me about my fever I didn't know what happened but I knew that I want to feel her touch on my skin.
"What the hell I'm doing?" I said to myself, I have to control my feelings for her I'm still confused and she seemed not feel the same.
"Dammit" I said scolding myself.
When we were in the car I put my earphone to listen to some music, I couldn't talk to her with these feelings running through my soul. But I couldn't stop myself from looking at her; she has something different from all the girls I met in my life.
After a while I been carried away by the music I started to sing along with the song but I found something hit my arm I looked to her.
"Hush" she said glaring at me.
"What?" I whispered to her, I took off my earphone and I heard her talking through her phone and the speaker was turning on. It was a guy I looked to her phone which was hanged in the phone holder I saw his picture and his name. She finished the call and turned to me.
"What the hell is wrong with you? Did you come all the way to ruin my relation with my family?" he said angry.
"What did I do this time?" I asked for explaining because I didn't know what she was talking about.
"I asked you not to make a sound because I was having a call with my brother, but instead of talking you sung, what were you thinking? Seriously Darren I have so many problems because of you. All my brothers are against us and you add more salt to the cut." She exploded at me then she sighed.
"I'm sorry; it looks like I'm a troublesome to you." I said sadly because I didn't mean to do anything that makes her sad.
"Can we forget what just happened? Sorry that I just scold you, it wasn't your fault and it wasn't mine too. Let's enjoy today, deal?" she said quietly and I nodded.
"By the way, I really like, "say say say" she said smiling, she was fine now. All the way, we didn't stop talking and laughing, I felt the butterflies in my stomach every time I hear her laugh.
"Time for souvenirs, we are in Khan el-Khalil." She said excited.
"Isn't it early for buying souvenirs?" I asked because I still have three weeks here in Egypt.
"I know but I changed the schedule because you still tired." She said.
"I'm not tired as long as you here with me." I said and I know that it sounded soppy but it was the truth.
"That's so cheesy." She said teasing me.
"I thought you like cheese." I said seriously.
"I like to eat it not to hear it, let's go." She said grabbing me from the shirt I looked at her surprised.
"Sorry" she said blushing.
"No, it was adorable. I think you're adorable." I said to break the awkwardness.
"Hey Darren your Blaine is shown, and I'm not Kurt." She said laughing and THAT was adorable.
We bought many things; I bought for my brother chuck, my mom and dad and for Joey too. It was a beautiful place it was hard not to buy everything in here. She bought things to her family too.
"What is this sound? I hear it every day more than once." I asked her as I heard the sound of man I always wonder if that person is speaking or singing.
"Oh that's 'adhan' the Muslims' call for prayers. It goes five times a day and one of them at the beginning of the dawn." She said after the man finished.
"Yeah this one wakes me up." I said smiling.
"It wakes me too, but for me it is a good thing to catch the time of the pray which I had to do now." She said smiling as well and then she gave me a questioning look.
"Yeah you can go; I'll wait for you at that café." I said pointing to one of the cafés.
"Thank you, I won't be late. Take care of my bag." She gave me her bag and walked to the mosque. I took the bag and I entered the café, the café was Arabian style. I ordered a Turkish coffee and when I put her bag on the chair next to me, I found it open I was weirdly curious when I saw her purse opened. I looked inside, it was full of cards names cards and a punch of different credit cards, and she didn't seem like one of those girls that have this kind of staff. She is a simple girl. I also found photos, this girl has many of boys' photos I knew some of them were her brothers and that old man is definitely her father. There was a photo she was with a handsome guy who doesn't look like an Egyptian he looked like a western guy. They were drinking from the same cup with straw and in the background; there were happy birthday's sign.
She entered the café and I closed her purse and put it right back in its place.
"Was I late?" she asked smiling.
"Not at all" I said still thinking who was that guy but I couldn't ask her.
We had a nice day and it was time to get back to the hotel.
"Where you are going to take me tonight?" I wondered.
"Somewhere special on the top of Cairo, we are going to have dinner at the Cairo tower." She said excited with a sparkle in her eyes.
"That's sound magical." I said excited as well.
"Yeah it is awesome; I'll come pick you at 7. Don't dress causal." She said as I get down from the car.
"Ok, see you." I said waving at her.
I hurried to my room to get prepared for tonight's dinner. I opened my closet to know what I'm going to wear; I wanted to look good and chic. I tried so many outfits until I chose a white shirt, a gray jacket and a black skinny pants. Right on time my phone rang which meant that she was already here. For the last time, I took a glance of myself sprayed a bit of perfume by my neck and went to the hotel hall.
She was there in a grey lace high neck short dress, a black long sleeves blouse and a black skinny pants. She looked gorgeous in the black smoky eyes and nude lipstick.
"Are you ready?" she said smiling but I was lost in her eyes as if I were in another world a magical one.
"Earth to Darren, are you ready?" she said smiling and I was sure that I looked like an idiot.
"More than ever" I stuttered making fool of myself. She smiled and her crystal white teeth showed up which rarely happened.
"Are you sure that you are okay? You like you had been struck by lightening." She said still smiling.
"I guess I'm not the only one if you looked around you will find everyone is the same, you're shining more than lightening." I said looking to her eyes. She turned her face to avoid my gaze blushing hard.
"Did you get taller? Because I remember that, I was taller than you were." I said smiling as I felt the awkward moment, as we were walking out of the hotel.
"I drink a lot of milk lately." She said joking.
Me:-
I was so nervous because I didn't know if my outfit was hit or miss, but from Darren facial expression and his comments it was a surprise.
On the other hand, I was surprised too by the way he looked because I really like men in suits. When we got into the car all that I could smell was his perfume.
"Your perfume is really good." Oops did I say that aloud that was supposed to be for myself.
"Really, thank you." He said smiling with a sparkle in his eyes.
"By the way, you look stunning tonight and the fact that we are dressing the same colors is…" he said but he didn't complete the sentence.
"Weird?" I said
"Yeah right, weird" he said with a sad smile. "Why is he sad all of sudden?" I said to myself.
We spent the entire road to the tower we were laughing and talking that had some of flirty comments made by him and for some odd reason that I didn't know I didn't stop him from saying these comments.
"Wow, it is so beautiful" he said when we were under the tower.
"Wait until you see the revolving restaurant." I said entering the elevator and he entered behind me. In there I saw how he was looking at me and for the first time I didn't like it because I didn't like to be checked out.
We got into the restaurant, and Darren was a gentleman. He grabbed the seat for me to sit down.
"I have a gentleman here." I said amused as he bounced down.
"Anything for you, princess" He said smiling warmly.
"Can I be a Disney princess?" I asked enthusiastically like a little girl.
"Only if I become your prince charming." He answered with a smug on his face.
"I think I'll pass the royalty, it doesn't fit me anyway." I said trying to avoid the blush but he looked sad.
"I'll let you pick up the food we are going to eat. What do you think?" I said trying to cheer him up.
"Cool" he said forcing a smile and looking at the menu.
He ordered grilled chicken, pasta and coke for both of us. But before the waiter go to filled it, Darren glanced at me for confirmation and I just nodded.
"The view from here is amazing; I liked this city at night. It has a perfect combination between the nightlife and the sleepy city, modern and classic.
You girl are lucky to be living here, everything helps to clear your mind, to relax and to love your life." He said looking at the city his words touched my heart, it always made me emotional to hear someone talking about my country like that.
"Egypt always had something, even Egyptian don't know what it is. It's hit you like a wave all of sudden and if you left yourself to be carried away it will be hard to get out. Maybe Cairo is not New York or even Paris or Rome because Cairo had that something; you will find it in the water, in the air, in the people face, in children smiles and no matter what you will do it will get you, to leave a smile like this on your face." I said inspired by the view but then when I looked at him I found him looking at me awestricken.
"Wow, this was deep. I think that is I'm in love." He said and I looked at him questioningly.
"In love with the city" he said clearing his throat and blush a little he must felt impressed as he thought that I might think that he meant me.
"I'm in love too… with the city." I said looking at him stuttering because the way he looked at me, this time his eyes seemed to have a lot of unspoken but I couldn't figure it out. The waiter brought the food it was delicious.
"Before you go you will see this city and you will get more amazed." I said to break the silence. He looked at me smiling.
"Speaking of which, will you be the one who will accompanied me to Sharm el-Sheikh?" he asked hopefully.
"I'm afraid that I won't but they already have one for you. Don't worry you won't get lost there." I said looking at my dish, he didn't anything about it instead he changed the subject. He talked to me about some funny moments he had when he was filming glee this year, I talked also about my funny moments with the tourists. It was a wonderful evening that it was the time to get back to the hotel.
"Tomorrow we are going to visit one of my favorite sights. See you then." I said before he went upstairs waving at me.
I walked to the parking lot to get my car to drive my way to home.
"I feel that something's coming, something good if I can wait." I sung all the way to home.