Don't Try the Noodles

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Caleb

It's really her.

That's the first thought that comes to me as Aiden pulls up to the Cho's Chows. I hadn't gotten the chance to closely look at the restaurant's sign last night. The logo is an image of a smiling cow chef. That wasn't the only thing I didn't have the chance to look at properly before either. But now, both the sign and Bailey are right in front of me as clear as day.

"Don't screw things up again," Aiden says, giving me a hard nudge on the shoulder for good luck.

"Yeah, thanks..."

I take a deep breath and leave the car. Aiden watches from afar as I slowly approach the restaurant. He has made it very clear on the way here that he has no intention to help me through this. It is my problem, and I have to deal with this on my own. I promised not to back out like an idiot this time. At least, I hope I won't.

Bailey must be taking a break. She is leaning on the front window with her eyes closed. She looks pretty with the warm sunlight shining on her face. I swallow the lump in my throat, getting even more nervous now. If I had known she'd get this pretty after middle school, I wouldn't have hesitated to ask her out back then.

Who am I kidding? I should have asked her out regardless instead of ending up like this four years later.

Bailey opens her eyes, and I instinctively try to hide behind a lamppost. Aiden must be shaking his head at me right about now. But I have good reason to hide. The same male worker who sent me off last night is talking to her. He's even taken a seat next to her!

I feel all the negative thoughts crawl up my skin. He has to be her boyfriend.

"No, you don't know that for sure, you idiot," I say aloud to gain some motivation to step forward.

I really wish I can read lips. What could that guy possibly want to talk about with Bailey for this long? He should leave her alone and get back to work. Yet, if he is her boyfriend, I have no right to be saying that about him...

I sigh. Maybe this isn't a good idea. It's not too late to turn back—

That could be you, Caleb! I hear Aiden say in frustration. Somehow, he has become my inner voice, and his guiding words are echoing on and on. That could be you, you idiot!

He's right. That guy sitting next to Bailey can become me. If I only keep going, I'll be the one to hold her hand like that.

Hold her hand? No, wait. He's holding both her hands!

"That's it!"

I grit my teeth and stomp towards the restaurant entrance. I don't care what relationship that man has with her, I am pissed off right now. I should have hurried the hell up and avoided all this from happening in the first place!

I push the door open to the sight of Bailey and that man still sitting together. If this were a K-drama, I would probably grab Bailey by the wrist and pull her out of here. Then, I'd get her into my fancy sports car and drive off to her disapproval. Although, on the inside, she'd actually be okay with the clear display of kidnapping, so I wouldn't actually go to jail—

Too specific, Caleb! Too specific!

"I'm sorry. That was really sudden, huh? Just think about it for me. Please," the man says with a bit of a French accent.

Oh, great. Of course, he's French! That automatically gives him way more romantic points than me. He looks a lot more mature too. My mouth runs dry at that revelation. What exactly does he want Bailey to think about?