Liya’s POV
“Excuse me, Mei? Can I talk to you alone for a moment?” I asked, stepping closer.
Levi and Mei both looked at me, confused. Levi raised an eyebrow. “We’re in the middle of rehearsal, Liya. Can it wait?” he said, clearly annoyed.
I smiled innocently. “Oh, it’ll be quick, I promise.”
Mei hesitated for a moment but finally agreed. “Fine,” she said with a sigh, “let’s make it quick.”
We left Levi behind and walked up to the rooftop. The air was cooler up here, and there was a certain quietness that made it feel like the perfect place for this confrontation.
“So... you’re playing Juliet, huh?” I said, leaning against the railing.
Mei crossed her arms. “Is that what you wanted to talk about? Seems pointless.”
I cut straight to the point. “Do you like Levi?”
Her reaction was immediate. “I love him,” she said, without any hesitation.
I didn’t miss a beat. “So do I,” I said calmly. “That’s why I want you to give it your all in this beauty pageant, Mei. I’m challenging you. Whoever loses… will give up on their feelings for Levi and move on.”
Mei’s POV
What? Did she just—what did she say? My thoughts were spinning, but somehow my mouth moved faster than my brain.
“Deal,” I said, glaring at her. “But don’t think I’m going to lose to you. You may be his childhood friend, but my love for Levi is deeper than yours.”
Liya smirked, completely unfazed. “Looks like someone’s determined. Well, I’m not going to lose either.” She started walking away, tossing a final challenge over her shoulder. “Good luck, Mei. May the best girl win.”
I stood there, stunned. What just happened? Liya’s beautiful—I can admit that. How do I compete with her? I stayed on the rooftop for a few more minutes, lost in thought. I had to win. There was no way I was backing down now.
Levi’s POV
Where are they? I tapped my foot impatiently as I watched the door, waiting for Mei and Liya to return. Just then, Liya walked back in, looking as if nothing had happened.
“Liya, where’s Mei?” I asked, standing up.
“Probably still on the rooftop,” she said nonchalantly, not meeting my eyes.
I was about to go looking for Mei when she finally entered the room. She looked distracted, like she’d been lost in thought. “What took you so long? What did you two talk about?”
Mei just smiled at me, but there was something different in her eyes—determination, maybe. “Oh, it’s nothing. Let’s just get back to rehearsal,” she said cheerfully, brushing past me.
I couldn’t help but feel like I’d missed something.
Levi’s POV
As time went on, the tension between Mei and Liya became more noticeable. The awkward silences between them were impossible to ignore. During rehearsal, I finally turned to Mei and asked, “Okay, seriously—what’s going on?”
Mei avoided my gaze. “Really, Levi, it’s nothing. Drop it, okay?”
Her tone felt too dismissive, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. I started worrying that whatever was going on might affect her performance in the play. A few minutes later, I asked again, “Mei, did Liya say something to you? What’s—”
That’s when Mei snapped. “Levi! Please just shut up for a moment!” she yelled, her voice breaking. “I’ve got a lot on my mind, and you’re making it worse! I’m trying to focus on rehearsal right now, so just…!”
The entire room went dead silent, and I felt like the air had been sucked out of me. Mei had never spoken to me like that. I saw the regret in her eyes immediately after her outburst. She covered her mouth, and I could tell she was on the verge of tears.
Without another word, Mei turned and bolted out of the room, heading straight for the bathroom. I stood there, stunned, feeling the sting of her words and wondering what had just happened.
Mei’s POV
I couldn’t believe what I had just done. Why did I snap at him like that? My heart pounded in my chest as I ran to the bathroom, feeling the embarrassment and regret washing over me. How could I have yelled at Levi—the person I love most?
I reached the bathroom and locked myself in one of the stalls, trying to hold back the tears. My hands shook as I replayed the scene in my mind. I’d hurt him. I could see it in his eyes—the way his face fell when I snapped at him. I hated myself for it. What’s wrong with me?
I leaned my head against the door and took deep breaths, trying to calm down. I had to fix this… but how?
Levi's POV
The classroom was dead silent. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me, and it was suffocating. I replayed what had happened over and over in my head, asking myself, Did I meddle too much? Does she hate me now?
I tried to hold back the tears, biting my lip, not wanting to make a scene in front of everyone. Ryan came up to me, concerned. "Woah, what was that? Are you okay, Levi?"
I shook my head, unable to meet his gaze. “Sorry, Ryan… I don’t want to rehearse right now.”
Without waiting for a response, I grabbed my bag and left the classroom. The air outside felt heavier as I walked home, weighed down by regret. I shouldn’t have pestered Mei. Maybe I just made everything worse.
Mei's POV
I stayed in the bathroom, trying to gather my thoughts when suddenly, the door creaked open. Liya walked in and stood there, crossing her arms. “Is this what you really want?” she asked.
I wiped my eyes, startled by her sudden appearance. “What do you mean?”
Liya smirked, her eyes gleaming with a challenge. “By doing this—by pushing Levi away—you’ve given me the chance to be with him forever. So, if you don’t mind, I’m going to take him.”
Her words struck me like a bolt of lightning. Without thinking, I blurted, “I won’t let you.”
Liya raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “You’re standing here crying, but you still want to compete in the beauty pageant with that face?” Her grin widened. "So, let me ask again, is this what you really want?"
I clenched my fists, staring at her through teary eyes. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She laughed softly, leaning against the bathroom sink. “If this isn’t what you want, then why are you sabotaging yourself? You yelled at him. You’re pushing him away. I can see you regret it.”
“I do regret it,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “I hate myself for yelling at him.”
“Then make up with him!” Liya cut me off, her voice firm. “Apologize.”
“I can’t… What if he hates me now?” I protested. “What if he never talks to me again?”
“You don’t know that for sure,” she said, crossing her arms. “I want a fair fight with you, Mei. So stop acting like an idiot and go apologize to him.”
Her words hit me hard, and I realized she was right. I needed to make things right with Levi. I loved him too much to let this fester. I wiped my tears, nodding slowly. “I’ll apologize. I need to fix this.”
Liya gave me a nod of approval. “Good. Don’t waste time. You have a lot to lose.”
I took a deep breath and made up my mind. I would find Levi and make things right, no matter how hard it was. I couldn’t let my fear keep me from the person I loved most.
YOU ARE READING
You And I
RomanceLevi's life was ordinary-school, friends, and the quiet rhythm of everyday life. That is, until he met Mei, a mysterious girl who quickly became the center of his world. Their relationship blossomed, and for the first time, Levi felt like he had fou...
