Chapter 07
Bailey
"Gifts! So many gifts!" my mom sings in all her excitement. She is in the middle of diving through the luxury bags and boxes Ethan brought back from his home country.
"I'm glad you like them, Mrs. Cho," he replies with a noticeably stronger French accent. That accent of his alone has gotten him quite a few admirers over the year.
My mom holds a pair of gold pearl earrings up to the ill-fitting white of the kitchen lights. "These are just gorgeous! Ethan, you be our son-in-law now. Okay?"
"Mom!"
Ethan looks at me and laughs. If it had been anybody else, I would have assumed he was laughing both at me and the embarrassing idea of being with me. But knowing Ethan, there probably was no harm meant behind his laugh. Still, I don't exactly feel happy to have been on the receiving end of it. There's no need to have the harsh truth spat right at my face, no matter how much I have gotten used to it.
Ethan softens his expression as his eyes leave me and return to my mom. Lightheartedly, he says, "I would love to have you as a mother-in-law, Mrs. Cho. But I think I'd have to get Bailey's approval first."
My mom's face gleams even further you'd think she belongs outside in the summer sky. I just stop myself from shielding my eyes, although that's really just an excuse to want to cover the immense blush on my face. Ethan technically just said he wouldn't mind marrying me. I have to remind myself that he only meant that as a joke. I can't think too deeply into it because that'll only increase the disappointment and humiliation I'm bound to have about myself in due time.
Ethan probably finds the conversation awkward because he shifts his focus to my dad, who's been chopping up vegetables to fry for our orders today. "How are the new knives, Master Cho?"
My dad tries his best to stay humble, despite having just received a set of chef's knives with a price tag in the thousands. "They work well. Thank you, Ethan."
Ethan bows in respect. "You're welcome, Master Cho. Thank you for accepting my small gift."
Small is completely an understatement. Then again, Ethan could and probably would buy my dad a new restaurant, if only his master wanted it.
I don't notice that Ethan has his eyes on me until he says, "That dress is a part of my mom's summer collection. I knew it'd look nice on you."
I immediately put down the pastel blue dress, regretting ever considering trying it on. I am not a dress-type of girl, especially when it comes to dresses that reveal too much of my legs. I don't have pretty legs like other girls. I rarely even wear shorts.
It is nearly time to open up the restaurant for the day when we hear the tiny bell ring at the front door. We're not given any time to consider who it might be. The loud greeting instantly gives that away.
"Hello, Cho Family! I have returned once again from the Far Fields of Free!"
The Far Fields of Free sounds like some remote mystical village leagues away, and not a small colonial town that requires a much more reasonable two-hour drive.
"Emma!" I say, practically running out of the kitchen in blissful surprise to give my best friend a hug. She told me she would come visit today, but I didn't expect her to be this early.
She's waiting for my embrace with open arms when I stop dead in my tracks. For as long as I've known Emma Scott, which is most of my life, she's always worn her black hair long. But now, all of that is gone.
I can't help bursting out, "Your hair!"
She reaches up to pull back some of her sleek short bob. "Yeah, I got bored of the same old look and chopped it all off after graduation. Best decision of my life."
"It looks good."
"Thanks." She chuckles. "But I still need some getting used to."
I have always believed Emma to be on the prettier side, and many other girls thought so too. It seems almost ironic to have her as my best friend. With her big dark eyes, golden brown complexion, slim five-foot-nine body, and now bold short hair to accentuate her sharp face, she can easily try modeling if she wants. She certainly knows how to make anything she wears look fashionable. And suddenly, I become self-conscious of my baggy t-shirt and skinny jeans, even though Emma is essentially wearing the exact same outfit.
"Wow..." I hear a breathy voice close by. It's male, though definitely not my dad's.
Although Ethan has no problem holding casual conversations with customers and meeting strangers at parties, he claims to be quite the shy guy when it really matters. I suppose Emma must matter a lot because Ethan stands frozen behind me like a fragile kitten.
I'm not sure whether he meant for me to hear, when he whispers, "Je suis amoureux."

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