Let them do their Job

"Girl, you came really late yesterday. I couldn't stay up seeing you getting back from your visit?" Brehilda comments, her legs crossed over my bed.

My back is still in bed, as I fool with the hem of my white top pajama; my eyes up at the décor of the sky of my room.

I breathe, my breath very heavy as though I just carried a log of wood.

"Yeah, visit. I'm sorry I didn't know I'd stay that long" I answer simply.

She repositions herself more comfortably, her headlining forward and hands supporting her jawbones "Ok. Tell me. What happened? What was the dinner about?"

An instant vision of yesterday replaying in front of me warrants me to take my eyes off the rough. I stare at the eager lady blankly, with no intention of telling her about the details.

"It was about meeting a new family and exchanging wonderful ideas"

Her fonts pleats in frown "Is that all?"

"I guess so. Nothing much was said."

"Oh."

"How is Eliz and Tiffy? Did they stay home yesterday?"

"Tiffy, yes, but Eliz no. She had an appointment"

"An appointment?"

"I don't know. She just said that before leaving."

"Did she tell you when she'd be back? We need to make scenes today"

"I don't know about that either. I think you should just call her"

"Absolutely. I can't tell when I'd be free after noon" I reach for my phone resting on the nightstand and swipe on the screen, searching for her number in my list. I spot it and call while Brehilda stares at me disappointedly.

"What?" I ask as I wait for the person on the other side to respond.

"Where will you be after noon? We normally act the whole day"

The call goes to answering machine. I sigh, taking the phone off my head "She can't be sleeping at this hour. What is she doing?"

After more than a sec, I respond, "I have a night ceremony to attend. I must rest before then."

Her thick brows spring in apprehension "Let me guess. Still with this girl . . . Patricia?"

"Yes. Her brother will be having his engagement party and his mom requested for my presence."

"What? Am I coming with you?" She dances with excitement.

I open and shut my mouth. I can't say no to her and I don't intend to. "That's if you'd be available before then."

"Oh no! I have to meet with my boyfriend" her face is scrunched, naughtily

My brows furrow in confusion "Was that a program of today?"

She looks hesitant as she muffles "Well . . . I'd planned on telling you yesterday night. Not that I'd plans on dismissing our acting."

I jerk from my bed, moving towards my mirror "You're not good at lying"

"It's not bad__"

I complete her statement "To lie for love's sake"

We giggle as I stare at my reflection on the mirror.

...

The engagement party is on. The guests are enormously classy. Everyone is standing as servants move around with a tray of wine, while the tables are filled with all sorts of appetizers.

"Myla! I'm so happy to see you" Patricia runs towards me and we get into one another's embrace. Unlatching myself I let her walk me towards the guest. She introduces me to some them and I spot Jamal conversing with a man. His hair is silky and glossy. His black vest is fit and his button down is not tugged in. He looks so charming.

He's merely talking but his dimples don't stop displaying each time he twist his mouth. He seems to have a habit in doing that.

"She's beautiful" the voice of the man Patricia introduced me to wakens my conscious mind.

I look at him and he offers me a mischievous smirk, his eyes full of lust. It makes me uncomfortable as I smack Patricia in the arm.

"Can you take me somewhere else? I've not seen your mom"

She creases her brows a lit before replying "Sure"

She walks us away and I meet Mrs. Mehdi holding Latif and smiling at a group of women, about her age.

Jamal's mom sees me coming and her smile widens "Oh my dear. Thanks for accepting my invite."

I flop into her open arms and we kiss each other's cheek "Thank you mom for giving me this opportunity."

My eyes abruptly meet Latif's. She stares down at my outfit, jealously. I'm wearing a simple white but eye-catchy gown. I look mesmerizing as usual.

Her fiancé comes to meet her and she snakes her hand over his bicep. He glares at down me like we've never seen before. And I do the same.

The family talks to their invitees. And I picture Latif's mom in our mist. No doubt she's this showbiz. Her mom wares all those characteristics.

I feel really awkward here. It's not as if I know any guest apart from Patricia and her mom. The 'soon to be' couples are parading together, telling the crowd how lucky they are to have met one another.

As naïve as I am in cases like this; I always find a quite place to rest my mind. Patricia is not next to me as she excused herself some minutes ago to see another extended family.

I find a way to carry myself away from the couples and their family gossip, towards an airy space in the balcony. I don't miss the glasses of wine parading towards me as I lift one from a tray, matching along with a straight face.

The air out is cold. I love it. This is my best moment: just me, and, the silence. I exhale and sip on my drink. Someone settles next to me and I roll my head to see who it is.

The man of earlier. Jeez! I avoided him and now he's coming to me. I fake a smile and re-look ahead of me; the vast land below my eyelids and the number of cars packed in it.

"What are you beautiful lady doing here all alone?" he compliments.

I saw this coming.

"What do you see me doing?"

This is just the best way to respond to someone like him. They always pretend not to read body talk. In my hometown, when foreigners ask if we truly respond to a question with a question, I am like: 'who told you?'

He chortles "I guess, running from the crowd to have a time alone"

"Good guess"

I sip another drink and get a familiar scent from over my shoulder, followed by a voice "Amid . . . hjydj"

I didn't understand any word after the name, Amid. The man next to me walks away and the man over my shoulder stops at my side.

I raise my head to meet him though I knew who it was. Jamal. The first thing that catches his attention is my glass of wine. What is he even doing here?

He looks at my face coldly "You still drink uh?"

I blink my eyes, greatly confused. What is his god damn problem?

I try not to scold him for ceasing my silent moment but he takes the glass I had off my grasp. I gasp.

"Can I know why you keep doing this?"

He squints his eyes "Have you ever been told how ungrateful you are?"

I face him properly. And a chuckle leaves my mouth before my prevailing. He's so unbelievable. How did I even get here? No man dares to treat me like this.

"What are you even doing here? You should be with your fiancée"

He places the glass somewhere in the chattering room and comes back to me "This is my house. I go wherever I want. Do you have a problem with that?"

I cross my arms "Well, I have a problem with you minding other people's business."

"I am in charge here. I don't want people humiliating me."

I shake my head "Are you even listening to yourself right now? You placed so many collaterals here for décor or what? Why don't you just let them do their job? We know you are the 'boss', and that's why you must reason and act like one."

He deeps his hands into his pants and I stare away annoyingly. He's such a headache.

To be continued . . .