Stated Love

Chapter 11

It's been a week now since we've been in New York, and I've been spending my days catching up with old friends, and visiting family. Before we left for New Jersey, Walaa and our family friend named Mustafa had plans to get engaged. But since we moved, it became difficult to have the official engagement party. Since they both wanted it simple, it was easy to plan. Today would be their engagement party, Inshallah. Walaa and her fiance decided they only wanted family and close friends there. Lucky for me, Muna and Duaa's families both fit into that category. Mama, Khalto Samah, and I were helping Walaa get dressed and all dolled up for her tonight. "Hey, did you guys see the hairspray?" Khalto Samah asked. We all shrugged so she went to go look for some. "I'm going to the bathroom, I'll be back soon, Inshallah." Mama walked out of the room and it was just Walaa and I. An awkward silence fills the room and I feel like I just have to say something. This would be my last moment with my sister until she was an engaged woman. "Hey, um, Walaa?" She glances over to me slightly while packing eye shadow on her left eye. "Mhm?" She didn't want to spend any money on a makeup artist, so she did her own glam. "I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for everything. I honestly wish we had a better relationship," I take a breath, trying not to cry as I say this. "Look, you're getting engaged today. You're going to be an engaged woman and move out and have a wedding and get fat and chubby because you'll be pregnant and I don't want to remember my last moments with you badly and-" She cuts me off with the tightest hug. After practically squeezing me to death, she smiles. "I'm sorry too. I should be there for you more often. Let's hang out together more often, talk, or something." She shrugs and cocks her head to the side. I work a smile between tears. "Yeah, I'd uh, like that very much." We continue getting ready and once we're done, the car is here to pick us up."

The hall is small but fits everyone perfectly. As Walaa picked a pink theme, the room was filled with pastel and blush pink decorations and pink roses in vases lined each table. Once Walaa walked in, everyone clapped and the party began. I really enjoyed the night; I'd never seen Walaa so happy. "Girl, you look gorgeous!" Muna exclaimed. I turned around and faced her. "Hey!" I wrapped her in a hug. "Have you seen Duaa?" She asked. I frowned and looked around. "No, I just got here." After looking around some more, we caught her at the juice bar, sipping on  iced ginger ale. "Guys!" She began. Duaa gasped when she saw us. "They have those cool juice dispensers that looks like a hose, it's so cool!" Typical Duaa. Muna and I helped ourselves to some ginger ale and found our way to a table. "Salam Khalto." They both said hi to my Mom while I said hi to their moms. All of our parents were sitting at the same table and catching up. "Waalaikumalsalam, how are you girls, I've missed you so, so much, Wallahi!" After chatting with the adults, we went to the dance floor. The singer who was singing Sudani was taking a break, so someone connected their phone to the speaker and the dance floor was filled with youth, dancing, singing, and laughing along to the music. "Ooo, I love this song!" I pulled the girls to the middle and we began swaying along to the song. Walaa made her way to us and we danced with her till our feet began to hurt. At the end of the night, we parted ways and it was just my family and Mustafa's left. We were all talking and making wedding plans. I was so excited. The wedding would be in May and all of our family and friends from New York would be coming down to Jersey. "Why don't you come over soon, Inshallah and we can chat in more depth?" Khalto Samah suggested. Mustafa's parents were kind and humble people. His whole family was, including him. I really liked and approved of Mustafa. "Hey," I nudged his shoulder with my elbow playfully. He chuckled. "Oh, Aloya, you look amazing!" I curtsied. "Thank you, you as well." One thing that I liked about Mustafa was that he didn't treat me like a kid. Well, not like a little kid, at least. He'd talk to me the way he'd talk to anyone, not any different. And he was nice and fun company. One time, he wanted to take me out so we could bond. So although Walaa didn't want it to happen, I joined them on a boba date. You could say I was their chaprone. It was a pretty fun day. We then walked around downtown and got caramel apples, my favourite before I got braces.