Timidly Yours
Encounter with the Coward
Disclaimer:
The images used in this story are not mine. They have been sourced from Pinterest and are used purely for illustrative purposes. All credit goes to the original creators. If any creator would like their work removed, please let me know, and I will take it down immediately.💗🫶🏻
*It's a day before the end of winter break where the piercing sound of the alarm clock shattered the quiet morning, echoing through the small but cozy apartment. Mei Ling groaned, burying her face deeper into her pillow, hoping to escape the inevitable.🚨🚨🚨*
mother
Mei mei, wake up!!
I need you to run to the shop and buy some fresh onions and tomatoes before it gets too busy
*Mei Ling rolled over, her messy hair sticking out in all directions, and squinted at the sunlight creeping through the curtains. She let out a dramatic sigh, half-annoyed but secretly amused by her mother’s predictable urgency.*
Mei Ling
Just few minutes Ma❗
**Mei ling shouted back, her voice muffled by the blanket she refused to let go of just yet.**
**Just as Mei Ling began to drift back under the covers, determined to steal a few more minutes of sleep, the door creaked open. She peeked out from her blanket, only to see a familiar figure shuffle in—her grandmother, Mei Nainai, she yanked the blanket off her**
Grandmother
MEI MEI! HAIYAAHHH. LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER BEFORE SHE GETS UPSET.
Mei Ling
Ah nainai(grandma) **Mei Ling squealed, curling up into a ball as the cool morning air hit her**
give it back to me, I'm awake! I'm awake
Grandmother
**Grandmother chuckled, shaking her head.**
You young people, always sleeping the day away. When I was your age, I’d already have breakfast made and laundry drying in the sun!
Mei Ling
When you were my age, the internet didn’t exist, Nainai. Times are different now!
Grandmother
Times may have changed, but lazy habits haven’t! Now hurry up, child. Your mother needs those groceries, and I want some fresh ginger for my tea.
Mei Ling
Alright, alright. I’m going nainai
**Throwing on a hoodie and jeans, Mei Ling grabbed her phone as she made her way out of the room, still grumbling under her breath but secretly warmed by her grandmother’s tough love.**
**After a while Mei Ling reached to the Jiang Fu Mart. The store was busy, with people crowding the aisles and standing in line at the counter. She grabbed a small basket and made her way to the vegetable section, picking out fresh onions, ripe tomatoes, and a good piece of ginger for her grandmother’s tea.**
Mei Ling
I got everything they told me to buy, I guess I should buy myself banana milk on the way home.
As Mei Ling made her way toward the door, a loud voice interrupted the steady hum of the store.
Random Aunty
I saw it first!
A woman’s voice screeched from the aisles. Mei Ling turned to see a middle aged woman, raven haired and looking like trouble pointing at a can of soup in the hands of a younger man.
Random Aunty
That’s mine, I’m not leaving until you hand it over. I need it more than you! 💢💢💢
**The man stayed silent, his face red with frustration but not a single word escaping his lips. Mei Ling watched, feeling a mix of disbelief and annoyance. The woman’s demands grew louder, more insistent, but still, the man said nothing. Finally, with a dramatic huff, he handed over the can of soup to the woman, who snatched it with a triumphant smirk.**
Jian Wei
**Jian Wei sighed quietly berating himself.**
Why couldn’t I just speak up? I was never good at confrontation.
**Mei Ling rolled her eyes and picked up her pace toward the exit, wondering how anyone could let someone walk all over them like that. As she stepped outside, the drama from the store faded, but the thought of the silent man lingered in her mind.**
**After few minutes the door creaked open, and she stepped back inside, the cool air of the outside world still lingering on her coat. In her hands, she held the vibrant bags filled with fresh vegetables**
Mei Ling
妈妈我回来了
Ma, I'm back!
mother
Give it to me fast! It's getting late your father might be coming home by now.
Mei Ling
Do you need help mama?
mother
No, Mei Mei, mama doesn't need your help if she needs anything Nai Nai is here to help.
Now, sweetheart don't waste your time and pack your bags for tomorrow don't let me remind you❗
Grandmother
Ah, Mei Mei, Nai Nai is here to help your mother. After all, it's your first time going to high school! You must be so happy, yes? **she patted Mei Mei’s head gently.**
Now, go on and pack your bags properly, my dear. Don't forget anything important!
Mei Ling
好吧，那我就走了
Okay, than I will leave.
mother
Mei Mei take your time, but don’t dawdle. Tomorrow is an important day!
**Mei Mei carefully packed her bag, making sure to include her textbooks and notebooks for the classes, a set of pens, pencils, and highlighters, her planner with her schedule, her water bottle, and a small wallet with some money just in case. She added her school ID, a tissue pack, a hand sanitizer, and a light sweater for the cool classrooms, along with her camera tucked away safely in the front pocket of her bag. As she zipped it up, her mind wandered back to the guy she had met earlier in the shop**
Mei Ling
**I couldn’t help but to roll my eyes at the memory.**
What a coward, He barely said anything and quickly backed away. What was the point of being so shy?
**Mei Ling sat at the kitchen table, finishing her bowl of rice and stir-fried vegetables, when her phone buzzed beside her. She picked it up, saw Xiu Ying’s name flashing on the screen, and quickly answered.**
Xiu Ying
Mei Ling!
Are you eating? I just finished lunch and couldn’t wait to call you!
Mei Ling
**Mei Ling chuckled, swallowing her last bite.**
Yeah, I was eating too. What’s up?
Xiu Ying
Tomorrow’s the big day! High school! Can you believe it?
**Xiu Ying’s words came in a rush**
Xiu Ying
Promise me you’ll wait for me at the school gate in the morning. I want us to walk in together. It’s our first day, and we have to do it side by side!
Mei Ling
Of course, I’ll wait for you. We’ll go in together.
Xiu Ying
Good! And don’t forget to bring the camera, we’ll take lots of pictures. It’s a day we’ll never forget!
Mei Ling
All right, all right. I’ll see you at the gate, Xiu Ying. Now go finish planning your outfit or something.
Xiu Ying
You know me too well! See you tomorrow, Mei Mei
As the call ended, Mei Ling sat back in her chair, her nerves replaced by a quiet sense of excitement. With Xiu Ying by her side, tomorrow didn’t seem so daunting after all.
Later that night, as Mei Mei lay in bed, thoughts of tomorrow’s adventure swirling in her head, she couldn’t keep her eyes open. The excitement had drained her more than she realized, and before she knew it, she was fast asleep, dreaming of her new school, and new friends.
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