Starbucks 5

The death of Yousef's mum didn't really help him. The frustration, the anger that builded up in him was immense. Looking at his mum being carried from a cold room, seeing the familiar outlines of her body on top of people's shoulders, covered in a white cloth. Forced into praying in the front row of his mother's funeral. She, being so close, yet so far wasn't an easy thing to handle for young Yousef.

He was also moved by his father's behavior. Recognizing, for the first time, the weakness any human being can be exposed to. His father, the successful, wealthy, business man. The person that divorced his mother, the person that seemed to hate her, that talked shit about her all the time, was weak, fractured in her lifeless presence under that sheet. Tears never left his father's red eyes, and occasional bursts of baby whimpers were noticed by Yousef.

That was the first time Yousef was really tested by life, and it was a tough lesson that Yousef never passed.

After a period of lonesome time, Yousef, under the continuous pressure of his father to enjoy his time and get out of that depressing state, travelled to Dubai for the first time without his family. 7amad accompanied. A virtually unlimited cash flow was in Yousef's credit card, with the blessings of his father.

To say the least, it was fun.


.
.
.
.

27/12/2009
"Ha Buwaleed, elyom Ay Club?" was Yousef's question, as he entered 5aled's room.
"Wallaa chinna Mal Ams Jayyed?, Mu Chithee?"
"Laa?, Ent tathker shay men Ams Allah Yhadak, 3ashan T3arf etha kan jayyed Wella La2?" Yousef joked, to start a chuckle between the two.
"Walla, La2." Answered 5aled. "A9lan nasee Esmaa ba3ad."
"Shfeek Ent Ath-wal?, Esma The Lodge"
"Yalla, 3ayal grayyeb, 5anrou7laa again?"
"Ana adree laish yal kalb tabee trou7, Hatheek elleeee Rega9t weyyaha o ma 5alait shay ma jesta feeha, shakelha mwa3detekk Ehnak?"
"Went shdarak 3anhaa?, Ana 7a6 3ainy 3alaik, ma hadait el kas, O Kent 6afee, Shlon La7a9't?"
"Yuba, 5ft la teshtekee 3alaik, Lammast Ellee Aku wellee maku, Shway shway, mu chithee 3ad"
"Ya Yousef, Ent shfeek?, Hatha el fan yuba. Ent mu meshait mbacher?, Raddat Weyyay Jessica, O kanat Laila men Bed Elleyalee"
"Kiss Ummek, SHLON? Ent wain o Hal 7elwa Wain? A5af 3amya"
"Expertise yuba, Expertise?" 5aled continued, "Went Laish ma 5athait Ma 9'aba6t A7ad?, Thalatha yaw solefaw weyyak. Shfeek?, Hal yomain chinnaa el Dubai personality ellee 3endekk 6aye7 Sougaa?"
"Walla madree, 7atta rag9 ma rega9t T9addeg?"
"Shfeeek, Bess masek hal Vodka o Ga3ed?"
Yousef hid his beautiful secret from 5aled, he didn't want to share a cheesy, romantic story at this moment with 5aled. So he kept silent.
"Ahaaa!" Exclaimed 5aled. "Dam chithe El Salfa, Goum baddel, Warana the lodge, I wannaaa lodge it, in it, yuba"
"La tensa el Durex, Mu tneechly Ay wa7da, 3ala bu ennaa Sakran o matadree 3an hawa darekk Lamma tred?"
"Taamer Amer M3alemnaa, O Ba3dain Ana el 6abeeb mu ent" 5aled, Joked again.

The night was very similar to the last. Yousef kept to his drinks, with shots of Jin with Mountain Dew being the main theme of his drinking night. And 5aled, went on working his magic with the various, diverse, hot expats in short dresses looking for some warmth from december's chills on the dance floor and possibly, hotel suites.