Chapter 27

6.8K 461 71
                                        

Chapter 27

Bailey

Considering it's a Saturday, there have been barely any customers this morning. The place is actually empty at the moment.

Dad's taken this as an opportunity to make Ethan sift through the entire kitchen for any things we might be running out of or possibly be needing. Emma felt bad for him working while she and I got to rest at the tables, so she's joined him. Ethan has been trying extra hard to get on her good side all week with frequent compliments and a lot of pictures of his cat. Thankfully, it seems his efforts are paying off.

The two of them are talking about something while going through the cabinets. I can't hear them from where I'm sitting, but it gets them laughing. It's sweet seeing the two of them standing side by side like that. I can almost forget what loneliness feels like.

"Here is the list, Master Cho," Ethan says, handing my dad a piece of notepaper.

"Hm, that is a lot," my dad replies. He takes his credit card out and gives it to Ethan. "Go out and buy them. Emma, you don't need to go."

My mom enters the scene, wearing a huge frown aimed only at my dad. In a voice that nearly shakes the floor, she shouts, "You work Ethan during entire morning and not even give him something to eat! You are terrible creature!"

My dad freezes.

Ethan has his hands together and politely says, "Please, Mrs. Cho, don't be angry with Master Cho—"

"Master Cho? Ha! He is always working you so much, my poor Ethan. Call him Master Chores!"

My dad gasps.

Meanwhile, Emma snorts at that unintentional pun.

My mom turns to the three of us, and it's scary how quickly her mood has taken a one-eighty. Smiling, she says, "You go out and have lunch before errands. Take your time."

The way she is cracking her knuckles right now has me worried. "Actually, mom, I don't think we all have to go. What if the restaurant becomes busy while we're gone? Emma and Ethan can go. I'll have lunch here." With a very saddened and possibly heartbroken father...

"Are you sure, Bae?" Emma asks.

I pass her a concerned look for my dad and nod.

"Ah, okay. We'll bring you something back."

"Thanks."

I wave the two of them goodbye and also secretly send a silent good luck to Ethan. He smiles with an equally silent thank you. Even in the midst of all this chaos, I still remember to help him out to the best of my ability.

Now, I have to go and help out my dad.

***

My mom's eating some cold noodles in the kitchen by herself. I think it's for her to cool down the anger she couldn't throw out at my dad with me around. On the other hand, my dad and I are having his extra special spicy ramen at an empty table. He is in the middle of sweating out his tears, as he had told me before on a different sad day.

I'm not worried though. I'm sure my parents will be fine with each other by the end of the day like usual. It's fascinating that no matter how fed up my mom gets with my dad, she always comes around to forgive him. As for my dad, I have never seen him get mad or hold grudges towards her once. To be honest, my parents have had a lot of chances to become separable. Yet, they still remain together as inseparable as their dating days over twenty years ago.

"Hey, dad," I start.

"Yes, Bailey?"

"Um." I feel a little embarrassed about the question I want to ask. "What made you want to meet mom back in college?"

My dad smiles as he reminisces about the old days. "It's so long ago but still a funny story how we met. I never told you?"

I shake my head.

"Okay, we will start storytime. Back in university third year, I broke up with past girlfriend. So, my friend said he would introduce me to new girlfriend. I went on one-time date to see that girl's friend dance. Your mom was a dance major, you see. When I saw your mom on stage, my whole future was clear in my eyes. So, I stopped seeing the girl my friend introduced. But before we separated, I asked her about her dancing friend. Thankfully, I wasn't slapped!"

"Oh, well that's good," I reply, awkwardly joining my dad's moment of laughter.

He places his hand on top of mine, patting it gently. "Bailey, you are still so young. But one day a man will see his whole future with you as well. He will come to take this beautiful hand. However, he must come prepared. He must fight with me first to win it! Haha!"

My dad's laughing again, but I can't sympathize with his humor this time. I carefully slide my hand free. I stare at it for a second and imagine a guy holding it in his own. It fills me with a warm feeling, only until I realize I can't picture a single face to be the owner of the other hand. I sigh, hiding my hand away under the table.

My dad and I finish our lunch. He lets out a deep breath before taking the tray with our plates and chopsticks back into the kitchen. My mom has probably been waiting for him. I assume things will be okay with how quiet the restaurant remains while I clean the table.

The silence is soon broken by the ring of the bell at the door. Finally, a customer to keep the place a little busy.

"Welcome. Please take a seat wherever—"

I gasp midsentence, seeing Caleb standing a few steps behind me. I completely go blank on the rest of what I'm supposed to be saying. I've said the same phrase hundreds of times to customers before without a single thought. But this one boy has made me forget what my job even is.

This is bad. Emma isn't here. He's probably here to see her. How should I tell him that?

"Um..."

"I'd like to sit there if that's okay with you," he says, pointing to the table I've just been cleaning. 

Don't Try the NoodlesWhere stories live. Discover now