" I'm not very interested in the conventions and lectures going on, and I'm trying to leave London to go to school in New York. So I thought, why not have a job over here for the time being."
I heard footsteps behind and a whisper in my ear.
" Meera, if you're done flirting with this guy, we're ready to pay up". It was Amina, phew I thought it was some creep.
I looked back and there was kind of a line. I looked back at the guy. " I'm sorryyyy for the line, I kind of have to get going." I apologized.
" Oh, no worries love." He handed me back my card and I started to pick up my drink and walk off.
" Wait!"
I turned away at the guy and gave him a confused face because there's literally a line going on.
"I'm actually clocking out in 5 minutes." He said and his face kind of showed a nervous expression.
" Could you wait for a little bit?" He asked.
Just as I was about to say something, Jamila and Saara jumped into the conversation.
" She would loveeee too." They gushed simultaneously.
The man smiled and got to scanning and ringing people quickly.
The girls rushed towards me smiling from ear to ear.
" Oh my God, Meera. He's so cute and he wants to tag along with you to the conference."
" Bro, if you don't let him take you OUT."
" This could be love at first sigh type of thing."
My head starting spinning, it is wayyy too early.
" GUYS!" I sighed. They stopped the geeking.
" First off, I just met the dude. He could be a serial killer for all I know." I said then turned around.
" Althoughhhhh, he is kind of cute and we're going to be together so why not." I smiled and added. The girls started hyping it up but they need to chill for a second, I doubt this is going to go anywhere further and I don't want to get my hopes up. ESPECIALLY about a guy that I just met.
After a few minutes, the man walked towards us with a huge smile which was so contagious because it got all of us smiling.
" Oh, I forgot to introduce myself, I'm Hussam, but you guys can call me Sami for short."
" I'm Meera." I introduced.
The girls introduced themselves and walked off smiling.
I reached my hand out for them and they were already far.
I scoffed and looked up at Sami. " Great, my friends had left me and I don't know where the conference room is."
" Oh, that's not a problem. I'm pretty sure my dad is one of the speakers. I'll walk with you." He inisited.
I smiled and felt some type of butterflies in my stomach. " Okay, that sounds cool."
We started walking in silence for a little bit but it wasn't awkward and then he asked a question.
"So, where are you from? Like your ethnicity and such." He asked me and looked down.
I didn't make eye-contact with him but I could feel his eyes on me.
" I'm from Somalia but lived in America my whole life, how about you?" I replied.
"I was born in Qatar, then I moved to England when I was 6 years old."
I looked up at him. "Wow Qatar? That's such a beautiful country!"
"It really is, I can't wait go back after I graduate university."
" What are you planning to major in?"
" I'm trying to master in business and become an entrepreneur."
We started talking about our interests and hobbies, and he can actually hold a conversation for so long and make me laugh. It's so cute when he talks about something dear to him, his eyes start lighting up and he uses his body language to emphasize it, but he doesn't over do it.
We finally made it into the 9 a.m conference and it was literally so packed. I'm pretty sure there's more then 400 people here. The speakers were standing by the door and greeting people.
" Ahhh, Hussam. Asalamu Alaykum! I'm so happy you can join us." A speaker greeted him. I'm assuming that's his father because they resemble each other. I kind of stood back so his father wouldn't assume we're walking together, because that would be awkward.
" Asalamu Alaykum Baba." He said nonchalantly.
He looked back at me and indicated that I follow him so we can find a seat.
After looking for a while, we finally found a seat that wasn't too far from the speakers .
" Man, I haven't been to anything like this in a while, have you?" He looked at me. Our seats were literally smushed together and we were super close. I felt insecure at him looking at me, especially this close. Homeboy was trying to keep eye contact. Our shoulders were touching.
I looked down at my twiddling fingers and replied to him. " No, I haven't gone to any back in my city.
He bumped into my shoulder lightly causing me to look up at him.
He smiled. " Well, that makes the two of us."
the strange one
Start from the beginning
