“Everyone! This is the first day of Silvergrove Academy's Culture Festival! Make sure to have fun!” The cheerful announcement echoed through the halls, and I felt a surge of excitement. This is it, I thought.
As I entered our classroom, Ryan called out, “Levi! You’ve got to take a look at this!” Curious, I rushed over. There stood Mei, wearing a maid costume. My jaw dropped as I stared at her.
“Do I look okay?” she asked, glancing down shyly before meeting my eyes.
“You look great, Mei,” I managed to say, feeling a warmth spread through me.
“Thanks, Levi! I didn’t expect it to fit so well,” she replied, beaming.
Just then, Yvonne called out, “Mei! We need some help over here!”
“Well, Levi, see you later! I’ve got some work to do,” Mei said, her smile lingering as she hurried to assist Yvonne at the counter.
I wandered around, sampling food from various stalls and admiring the creativity of other classes' projects. After a while, I found myself back in our room, pondering what to do next. My phone buzzed with a message from my mom: We’re back home, the house is empty. Where are you? I replied, letting her know about the festival, but she didn’t respond.
Suddenly, Kris and Yvonne rushed in. “Levi, we need your help! The others are busy with their parts of the festival!”
I raised an eyebrow. “So… what do you want me to do?”
They exchanged glances before Yvonne smirked and brought up the maid dress. “Oh no, that’s not happening,” I said, shaking my head.
“Are you sure? Because if you accept, I’ll assign you to the same work as Mei,” Yvonne teased.
Groaning, I realized I couldn’t decline this offer. But wearing a dress in public? That was a whole different story. “Fine…” I relented, feeling both embarrassed and resigned.
I looked in the mirror, taking in the frilly dress and wig. “I look awful,” I muttered.
“Don’t be so harsh on yourself,” Yvonne replied, adjusting the wig on my head. “Here, wear this.”
“Great, now it looks even worse,” I groaned, feeling like a complete fool.
Just then, Jane called out to Mei, “Mei, look at this!” I covered my face, hoping they wouldn’t notice me. “Please don’t look at me!”
“Why not? You look adorable!” Mei shot back with a teasing smile.
I felt my cheeks heat up, but before I could respond, a familiar voice caught my attention. “Is this their classroom?” I turned around to see my mom and Amelia walking in.
Amelia burst out laughing, pulling out her phone. “Oh, I’ve got to post this!”
“Hey, stop it, guys!” I exclaimed, my embarrassment peaking.
Yvonne chimed in, “Come on, let’s get back to work!”
Amelia, still grinning, said, “Ahem, waitress, can I get your bacon and eggs?” She added, “That looks good on you.”
I ignored her teasing and went to take her order. As I made my way through the bustling classroom, I took a moment to rest and looked in the mirror again. Twirling around, I thought, you know what? This isn’t actually that bad. Maybe I could make it work.
As I stepped outside, I bumped into Ryan, who grinned widely. “Hey, what’s up, young lady?”
I was mortified and felt like I wanted to disappear. “Very funny, Ryan.”
The day progressed, filled with laughter and the hustle of festival preparations. I served food, chatted with friends, and even managed to enjoy the ridiculousness of my outfit.
As the evening drew near, I found Mei practicing for the beauty pageant in a quiet corner. She was rehearsing her walk and smile, glancing at herself in a hand mirror.
“Hey, Mei! How’s it going?” I called out, trying to sound casual.
She looked up, her face lighting up. “Levi! It’s nerve-wracking. I want everything to be perfect for tomorrow.”
“You’ll do great. Just be yourself,” I encouraged her, and she smiled, but I could see the worry in her eyes.
“Thanks, Levi. I really appreciate it. Can you help me practice my poses?”
“Sure,” I replied, stepping closer as she demonstrated a few poses. “Like this? Or maybe… this?” I tried to mimic her, striking silly poses that made her giggle.
“Okay, maybe not that one,” she laughed, her eyes sparkling.
As the first day of the festival wound down, I felt a sense of camaraderie and excitement building between us. I knew tomorrow would be even more significant, and my own heart raced at the thought of finally confessing my feelings for her.
Later that evening, when I got home, I saw Liya practicing in her room. I said, "Are you ready for tomorrow?"
She replied, "Yeah, I’m a little nervous because there are a lot of pretty girls in our school."
"You got this. Good luck!" I encouraged her.
"Cheer for me, okay? Don't just cheer for Mei," she added.
I laughed, "I will!" and then went to sleep, feeling the excitement and nerves of the festival buzzing in the air.
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...
