Alina Kanaan

Chapter 33

"And whomsoever Allah guides, there is none that can mislead him." (Quran 39:37)

Another two weeks has passed. It's the Saturday after graduation. Both Francisco and I graduated with honors, alhamdulilah. Our relationship is still strong. 

I'm getting ready for my engagement/graduation party. It's starting in an hour. It's going to be at Francisco's house since his house is slightly bigger than ours. Plus, a lot of his family from Mexico were able to come. Some of my family used their savings to come here from Egypt, UAE, and Lebanon. I feel bad because of the current situation in Palestine, my family from there weren't able to come. However, Francisco and I are talking about going there again soon, in sha Allah. 

Some of my cousins from the various countries do my makeup and hair. I'm wearing a flowing pink dress with lace on the bottom. I think I look really nice. 

Rosa and Ashley show up too. Ashley is looking more and more pregnant every day. The baby is going to be a girl. I'm so excited for her!

"You look gorgeous!" they both exclaim when they walk into my room. 

"Thank you! I feel so happy!" I exclaim. 

"I haven't seen you smile like this in ages," Ashley says. 

"Me neither," I reply. 

They both do some touch ups on my makeup and hair to make sure I look the best I can. 

It's now time to go. We all get into as many cars as possible to drive over to his house. I'm glad that Francisco lives close to me because all of us are squished in cars. I'm actually taking a few people in my car including Rosa and Ashley. I gave Ashley the passenger seat since she needs the room for her stomach.

"Rosa, Ashley, did you know that Francisco had feelings for me?" I ask them. I'm curious.

"Well, he told us after he first saw Hussein for his Arabic lessons," Ashley says.

"That was about three years ago in Sophomore year," Rosa adds. 

"He swore you into secrecy, huh?" I laugh.

"Yeah, he did," Ashley says and we laugh.

We get to Francisco's house quickly. There are so many cars parked at his house already that it's a struggle for my family and I to find parking. 

After all of us find parking, I help my family carry food and other things. 

Francisco sees us and comes out to help with his parents. 

As soon as he sees me, the biggest smile spreads across his face. He looks to the sky smiling and then back at me.

"You look absolutely beautiful, mi amor!" he says. 

"Thank you, mi amor! You look extremely handsome in your tux," I say. He kisses me and takes the food I'm carrying from me. 

"I don't want you to carry everything. Now I'm not carrying anything," I tell him.

"Don't worry, it's fine," he says. He wraps his free arm around me and walk inside the house. I admit, I'm a little nervous meeting his entire family. But I'm also glad at the same time.

I see Francisco's parents beaming at me. I smile and greet them. 

The rest of his family sees me and greets me with warm words and hugs, even though I don't know them. That just shows how hospitable and sweet they are. I then have to act as a translator between my family and his since his only speaks Spanish and mine mostly only speaks Arabic. Francisco helps me out too since he's pretty much fluent in Arabic.