Meera
The girls literally woke up at 7 a.m to start getting ready for 9 a.m conference. I was so irritated of the rummaging and rumbling nosies they were making. One is in the shower, the other brushing her teeth, and Saara running around looking for her makeup.
"AMINA, OPEN THE DOOR I LEFT MY BROW PENCIL IN THERE." Saara banged on the bathroom door.
Should I jump her now or later?
Or now AND later at this rate.
I had no choice but to wake up and use my phone till Amina and Jamila get out the bathroom.
It's been more then 20 minutes and Jamila is still in the shower with the door locked. I forced myself out of bed and banged on it.
" Jamilaaa, please hurry. I need the bathroom." I groaned, it's way too early wallahi.
" OKAY, AMINA LOCKED IT AND I'M BRUSHING MY HAIR." She yelled back.
"Okayy, please step out for a minute, I promise I won't look at you."
I heard the door unlocked and rushed in and freshened myself up.
I let Saara do my makeup but very naturally because I didn't want my face to feel super heavy through-out the whole day .
We all finally got ready and Jamila led us the way to the convention since our hotel was linked with it. It was like a maze really, just going through many halls and elevators and finally we're at the actual convention, and Jamila wasn't playing when she said everyone and their mothers show up.
There is soo many people, you see families and couples, and kids and teens running around the place and it's so diverse, never seen anything like it. It's 8:20 and we don't have any time for breakfast so we went to starbucks which was on the top floor and man the line was insane.
We decided to go to the mini markets inside the convention and just get chilled drinks and maybe a granola bar or something.
The girls and I kind of split up in the market because everyone wanted their own things, I just picked up a Starbucks chilled drink and some gum and headed to the cashier and started rummaging through my pockets for money.
" Find everything alright?" The cashier said with a thick British accent.
His accent caught my attention. I looked up and wow...
This man was beyond handsome. He had thick brown curls that fell to his shoulders and one strand of hair over his eyes. His eyes were a combination of green, gold, and brown. It's honestly a melt of autumn tones.
" Yeah I did, how much will that be?" I asked.
"That's going to be $4.80." He looked up and his face softened for a quick second. He went back on his cash register and clicked a few things.
"I'm sorry, it's $3.50." He looked back up and give me a small smile.
I scoffed then returned the smile and handed him my card.
" So ma'am, what state are you coming from?" He asked while swiping my car and keeping eye contact.
" Um, I'm coming from Columbus, Ohio, it's not too far from Chicago."
" Ahhh, the buckeyes, wondeful state." He smiled and handed me back from my card.
" Ehh, it's alright." I shrugged. " Where are you from and what are you doing over here?"
" I've came from London, and my father is a speaker for the convention. How did I end up as a cash register you might ask?" He teased.
I laughed. " Yeah... I'm kinda wondering the sameee."
" 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."