You And I

Chapter 28: Christmas Party

After just a few days of preparation, the long-awaited Christmas party finally arrived. The air was filled with excitement as we all gathered in the festively decorated venue—bright lights, a towering Christmas tree in the corner, and festive music setting the mood. Ryan, as usual, was leading the fun, darting from one corner of the room to another, making sure everyone was having a good time.

Tables were laid out with food, and laughter filled the air as we all gathered around, eating and sharing stories. Mei and I sat together for most of the evening, enjoying each other’s company as we snacked on cookies and sipped warm hot chocolate. Everyone seemed in high spirits, and the energy was infectious.

Everyone started gathering in the living room, laughing, chatting, and exchanging little gifts they had brought. The party officially kicked off when Ryan brought out a speaker and blasted some Christmas music. We all cheered and started dancing, with Jane leading the way, showing off her goofy moves. Ryan, of course, had to join in with his exaggerated dancing, causing everyone to laugh so hard that our sides hurt.

As the night went on, Ryan stood up and clapped his hands loudly, gathering everyone's attention. "Alright, folks, time for some karaoke! You know it's not a party until we sing our hearts out!"

Everyone cheered in agreement, and the karaoke machine was quickly set up. Jane, always full of energy, grabbed a microphone and waved me over. "Levi! Come on, let's do a duet!" she exclaimed, smiling brightly.

I hesitated for a moment, glancing over at Mei to see if she was okay with it. She didn’t say anything, but her face hardened just a little, and I noticed her smile disappear. Still, before I could say anything, Jane had already handed me the microphone and picked out a song.

The music started, and Jane and I began to sing together. I could feel the room’s energy rise as everyone clapped along, enjoying the performance. But every time I glanced at Mei, she was looking down at her phone or talking to someone else, avoiding my gaze entirely. I could tell something was off, but I couldn’t stop in the middle of the song.

As soon as the song ended and the applause came in, I immediately walked back to Mei’s side. She barely looked up when I sat down next to her.

"Hey, you okay?" I asked softly.

"Yeah, I’m fine," she replied curtly, still not making eye contact.

I could tell she was upset, but before I could say more, Ryan clapped his hands again. "Okay, folks, it's time for the big moment—exchange gifts!"

Everyone gathered around the Christmas tree, eagerly picking up their gifts. I reached into my bag and pulled out a small, carefully wrapped package for Mei. She hadn’t been speaking much to me since the karaoke, and I hoped this would help bring back her smile.

"Here," I said, handing her the gift. "Merry Christmas, Mei."

She looked at the box, hesitating for a moment before taking it. Slowly, she unwrapped the present, and her eyes widened in surprise. Inside was a soft, plush teddy bear, the kind I knew she loved.

Her face lit up instantly. "Oh my gosh, Levi, this is so cute!" she exclaimed, her earlier coldness completely forgotten. She hugged the plushie tightly, her smile finally returning.

"I’m glad you like it," I said, feeling relieved that she seemed to be in a better mood now.

We exchanged more gifts with our friends, laughing and enjoying the rest of the evening. As the party began to wind down, I offered to walk Mei home. She agreed, and we left the venue together, the cool night air nipping at our faces.

We walked in comfortable silence for a while, with the sound of our footsteps on the sidewalk and the occasional distant car driving by filling the air. Mei hugged the plushie to her chest, smiling as she looked up at the starry sky.

"Thanks for the gift, Levi," she said softly. "I really love it."

"I’m glad," I replied, glancing at her. "Sorry if things were awkward earlier… I didn’t mean to make you feel left out."

Mei shook her head. "It’s okay. I guess I was just being silly."

We chatted some more as we made our way to her house, talking about the party and how fun it was. When we finally reached her door, she turned to me and smiled again. "Goodnight, Levi. Thanks for everything today."

"Goodnight, Mei," I said, feeling content as I watched her head inside.

When I got home, I immediately grabbed my phone and texted her. "Did you get home okay?" I typed, hitting send.

A moment later, my phone buzzed with her reply. "Yeah, I’m home. Thanks again for walking me home and for the plushie. It’s so cute, I love it!"

I smiled as I read her message. "I’m glad you like it. Sleep well, Mei."

"You too, Levi. Goodnight."

As I laid in bed, my thoughts drifted back to the party, the gift exchange, and how Mei’s smile had returned when she opened the plushie. I felt a sense of peace wash over me as I drifted off to sleep, excited to see what the future had in store.