You And I

Chapter 25: Unresolved Feelings

After a few busy weeks at the bakery, my mom suggested I invite one of my classmates to help out. I immediately thought of Mei.

When she arrived, my mom raised an eyebrow. “Oh, she’s a girl! I didn’t expect that,” she said, a playful glint in her eye.

“Good morning, ma’am!” Mei greeted cheerfully.

“You mean Mom, right?” my mom nudged me with a smirk. I felt my cheeks heat up.

“Mom, she’s just a friend,” I stammered.

“Oh, sure! Every couple starts that way!” she teased. Then, turning to Mei, she asked, “So, Mei... that’s your name, right?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Mei replied, trying to keep a straight face.

“Do you know anything about baking?” my mom inquired.

“Yeah, a bit,” Mei said, sounding a bit unsure.

“Perfect! Let’s get to work! But first, show me what you got,” my mom said, her enthusiasm palpable.

We headed to the kitchen, and my mom watched Mei closely as she prepared the ingredients. I couldn't help but smirk when I heard my mom scribbling notes.

“Mom, are you a critique or something?” I joked.

“Well, I may run this business, but who knows? I might learn a thing or two from Mei,” she chuckled. I noticed Mei blush under my mom's scrutiny, and it made me smile.

After a few busy minutes, the baking was done, and my mom took a sample of Mei’s creation. She chewed thoughtfully before exclaiming, “Mmm, yeah! She’s the one! Marry her, Levi!”

We both turned beet red. “Mom, you’re embarrassing me!” I protested.

“Well, we need to pass down this business to your generation, so... when’s the wedding?” she continued, walking away with a laugh.

Mei covered her face with her hands, clearly flustered. “Your mom is something else,” she giggled, shaking her head.

“Yeah, she has her moments,” I replied, relieved to see Mei smiling again.

As the day went on, we worked together seamlessly, mixing, rolling, and chatting about everything from school to our favorite snacks. It felt effortless and fun, and I found myself stealing glances at her, feeling more and more comfortable.

After finishing a batch of cookies, Mei turned to me, her eyes sparkling. “Thanks for asking me to help. I really enjoyed this.”

“Me too. It’s nice to spend time together outside of school,” I admitted, a bit shyly.

We shared a smile, and I felt a warmth spread through me. This was one of those moments I wanted to hold onto.

Later, as we cleaned up, I caught her looking at me with a thoughtful expression. “So, Levi, do you think your mom really wants us to get married?” she teased, a playful glint in her eyes.

I chuckled nervously, trying to play it cool. “Nah, she just likes to embarrass me.”

“But what if she’s onto something?” Mei said, her tone suddenly serious.

I looked at her, unsure how to respond. “I mean... I wouldn’t be against it.”

Just then, my mom peeked back into the kitchen. “What’s this? Are you two planning a wedding without me?”

We both burst out laughing, breaking the tension, and I could tell Mei felt more at ease. As we finished up for the day, I felt a sense of anticipation for what was to come, both in our friendship and maybe something more.