You know you are head over heels in Cairo when your love conquers traffic, bad salaries and you change your phone’s ringtone into a Samira Saeed song. Your friends might have stopped believing you will act normally again, but we get your biggest Cairene struggle of all time: Love.
1. You live in Heliopolis and drive all the way to Sheikh Zayed to pick her up
2. Your salary is a joke, yet you don’t think twice about taking her to a restaurant with a minimum charge
3. You are almost out of phone credit, yet behave recklessly, cancelling her calls then calling her back
4. You spend all night in bed, laying on your tummy, talking on the phone
5. You drive all the way to El Ain El Sokhna to watch the sunset together
6. It’s 2016 and you think holding hands in the movies is still a sign of affection
7. And you still have it in you to hold hands in the car regardless of the annoying traffic
8. You just came back from work at Smart Village and agree to meet her at a furniture store
9. When you introduce her to your work mates, you call her “khatebty”
10. You tried to get away with sitting with her by El-Korniche in Zamalek thinking you look different than those on 6th October bridge
11. You go for the dabdoob wrapped in tulle and glitter on Valentine’s day
12. At some point of your sad existence you thought the Titanic pose was a good idea
13. You start a Facebook page to share the trials and tribulations of your love with Egypt
14. When she takes a taxi, you stay on the phone with her until she gets home
15. Your profile photo is Tamer Hosny or ugly Photoshop
16. Your role models are Jack and Rose
17. You don’t take breakups well
18. You notice her new haircuts even if she’s veiled
19. You don’t know what a private proposal is. Everyone you both know must be there
20. You still throw surprise birthday parties on their birthday at 7 PM. Seriously, no one will ever be surprised
21. You met five minutes ago and you’re already thinking who will do you hair and makeup on the wedding day
22. You channel your inner Mai Ezz El-Din and give him the straight eyebrows shy smile
23. You’ve been friend-zoned for five years and still think time will change things
24. And finally, the one irreversible act of romance that proved to everyone you are shameless and an expert manipulator is buying fake debal
