I pick up.

"Aloo?" I say into the phone
"Ahlan ahlan Mrs Anorexia..." His voice killed me, it was the first time I heard it on the phone.
"That's Miss Anorexia to you" I say with a sarcastic tone in my voice
"The first step in a problem is admitting you have a problem" He said as he laughed out loud
"Ok Mr Big Mouth, cut to the chase, where do you want to eat?"
"Mmmm...." He said as he exhaled, I could almost imagine him sitting there with his arms back in his car, one hand on the phone held to his ear and one on the steering wheel with a cigarette wedged between his index and middle finger, patiently waiting for the engine to warm up as the white smoke from his Marlboro light crawled out of his lips and out of the car dispersing into the air above him.
"I’m craving Prime & Toast" he finally said after about 15 seconds of silence.
I wanted to argue but Prime & Toast was my favourite place to eat, could it be that someone had told him? Or did he like it too? I guess we'll never know.
As soon as his words started pouring out I realised this was all too fast for me, he’s the rabbit and I’m the turtle. I just couldn’t keep up. I contemplated backing out right this second, telling him something came up, but I wasn’t good at lying. I’m sure he would catch me out.

“Rakan?”

“You sound hesitant, look, ana 7as 3alaych you’re going to cancel on me but you’re not right?”

“Emmm, I’m kind of beat” I went with the only excuse that doesn’t really count as lying.

I was tired, but that wasn’t the reason, I wanted to go out with him more than anything. Would he get a bad idea of me?
“Of course he won’t… He asked you first” said the voice on my right shoulder
“Of course he will, it’s Kuwait not NY” replied the voice on my left shoulder

But it’s just a meaningless breakfast, but things are moving too fast, but, but, but. The but’s were endless.

“Rakan, why don’t we take a rain check?”

“Look Dana, I’m going to say it exactly how it is, I just want to eat with you, it’s not rocket science, I’m hungry, you’re hungry, let’s just grab something to eat”

“But I barely know you Rakan”

“I don’t want to have your children; I just want to eat… Dana”

“That’s not the case, I’m really tired”

“Your wish is my command” I felt the sorrow in his voice.

“I’m taking a rain check, I’m not cancelling on you” I optimistically said.

“Ya okay, see you soon then”

“Kay, bye”

“Bye Dana”

The next four weeks were just Rakan and I getting to know each other not a single day passed without him reminding me of our late night rendezvous on MSN but on one specific night it was much different, he knew I was leaving in less than a week and I still hadn’t met him for our promised breakfast.

Rakan
So have you ran all your errands for leaving?

Dana
Almost

Rakan
Are you excited?

Dana
Not really

Rakan
Are you serious?!

Dana
Ummm yeah.

Rakan
I would be psyched to go to New York

Dana
Mmmm it’s very over rated

Rakan
Ya well duh! You lived there for God knows how many years.

Dana
Mmm I guess

Dana
Rakan?

Rakan
Amray…

Dana
When do I get to see you…?

Before I could even wait for a reply his name flashed on my screen for the second time, the last time I heard his voice was the night of the wedding.

“I‘ve been waiting to hear that for the longest four weeks of my life” I could almost here his grin through the phone.

“When do you want to go?”

“Today? Tomorrow? Now?”

“Rakan” I giggled

“Ya 7elo ismi 3ala lsanich”

“Seriously stop! You know I can’t deal with your soppiness”

“Hahaha, well deal with it”

I parked right outside PQ and walked in, our cars were the only two in front of the small restaurant., the 7AM sun beat on my face as I walked in.

“Good morning” He said looking up from his cup of coffee and flashed me his million dollar smile.

“Good morning” I replied and took my seat in front of him.

"So what are you up to today?"

“Not much really, just going to pick up my ticket from the travel agent” I said with a huff.

“Really?”

“No I’m lying… Yes of course really”

He smiled although I could see it was a cover for his sadness “So what do you want to eat? Cucumbers? Carrots? Water?” he laughed.

I looked at him, not impressed at all “No” I said smiling, I called over the waiter.
“I’ll have the omelette with Swiss cheese to start off with. And the…” I paused as my eyes scanned the menu “emmm also the fruit yoghurt parfait, sugar waffles with golden syrup and strawberries and cream on the side” I smiled up at the waitress as I handed her the menu.

“Do you want the strawberries and cream with your waffles?”

“Yes”

“And to drink ma’am?”

“Orange juice”

“And for you sir?”

I looked at Rakan waiting for him to answer her, but he just sat there looking at me waiting for an explanation as to what I just ordered.

“Rakan, she’s waiting for your order…” I smirked

“Ummm, I’ll have the omelette with Swiss cheese as well, and just a regular garden salad on the side please, and can we get a bread basket in the middle to share?”

“Yes sir, and to drink?”

“I’ll just have a refill for my coffee please” As soon as the waitress left he looked at me and asked “Are you serious?”

“Umm, yeah, of course I am, I have a fast metabolism”

“Seriously?” he asked again, bewildered at the amount of food I had ordered.

“Seriously” I smiled.

As soon as the food arrived we were pretty much silent, I was too indulged in the food to notice anything, he was too indulged in the sight of me eating to eat his own food.

“Rakan!!! Why are you staring?” I said taking a long gulp of my orange juice

“Because I seriously thought you were going to have a handful of lettuce!”

“Listen!” I reprimanded, pointing my fork at him “If you don’t eat that wallah I’ll eat it, and YOU!”

He chuckled and mimed quickly scoffing forkfuls of his omelette in his mouth.

“That’s more like it! Now Mr Rakan, tell me what you want from the states?” I said putting my fork down.

“Honestly?” he said, his cheerful tone now turned serious.

“Honestly” I said nodding and pouting my lips in a humorous manner.

“Just for you to come back” he half heartedly smiled.

“If I pass” I exclaimed laughing out loud

“Inshallah khayr, inshallah you will Dana, goolay inshallah”

“Inshallah” I smiled at him “Now eat or I swear I’ll eat you”

“Inshallah! Inshallah!” He picked up his cutlery and shovelled a forkful of his omelette to the back of his mouth

“Dana…?”

“Mhmm?”

“I really don’t like beating around the bush, I always say what’s on my mind…” he paused hesitantly

“…and what’s on your mind Rakan?” he remained stationary looking straight at me, into my eyes, he didn’t take his eyes off of mine, I wanted to blink but didn’t want to miss out on a split second that I could have spent looking into his beautiful big black eyes, he brought his face closer to me so that no one would hear him although there was not a soul insight and he delicately whispered “…not letting you go”