Imperfect Desires

As Dylan suddenly popped out from nowhere, Xiu had the urge to slap him on the face but she decided not to do so. Not because she was conscious of her image or anything but because this task was done by Darren himself. The difference was that instead of a slap, Darren had punched Dylan making him grunt in pain.

"Since when were you standing there?" Darren asked as he glared at his best friend.

Dylan rubbed his side and said, "I've been standing since the time she decided to teach you the basics of dating which is funny considering the number of girls you have gone out with. But that's not the highlight of tonight. Instead, the highlight is that it's the first time my best friend treated me like thin air because of a girl."

"Are you eating vinegar?" This question was asked by Xiu as she eyed Dylan oddly.

Dylan looked at her and said, "So what if I am? I feel betrayed right now!"

Xiu laughed at his face, "Uncle Dylan, you're sounding like a wife who had been abandoned at home while the husband is out having fun with his girlfriend."

"First of all, stop calling me Uncle!" Dylan said through gritted teeth and went on, "Second of all, even if I sound like a wife, that's between me and my best friend. Who are you?"

Darren opened his mouth to say something but Xiu shoved him behind her body and said, "Who am I? I'm the official girlfriend here!" She looked back at Darren as she asked for confirmation, "Aren't I?" When Darren gave an affirmative nod, Xiu looked back at Dylan with a provocative look in her eyes and a haughty expression on her face.

Dylan snorted in disbelief at her and said, "You're getting comfortable with that title. Way too comfortable for my liking."

"Why shouldn't I? It's my right to be comfortable with that title," replied Xiu in a taunting manner and added, "Besides, Uncle Dylan just because you have nothing better to do, doesn't mean that you should spoil my dates."

"Woah!" Dylan exclaimed, "No wonder you're called pompous demotivator. I literally wish to jump off the building whenever I talk to you."

"Then why don't you just jump? Even the earth will be delighted to get rid of a burden like you," retorted Xiu.

Darren rubbed his forehead as he felt a headache coming on and had to step in between both of them before they could pull each other's hair again and said, "Can't you both consider where we are? At least, consider the time and place before fighting."

"But you can't decide time and place for two things," Xiu looked at Darren as she said. "First is love and second is arguments. Both can happen anywhere and anytime. And both love and arguments are amazing when they come unexpectedly."

Darren hugged her from the side and kissed her temple softly as he said, "Indeed, both come unexpectedly."

Dylan tapped his shoulder and said, "Bro, don't forget that this time your girlfriend started it by calling me Uncle again."

Darren smiled weirdly at his best friend before saying, "Actually Didi, this time you started it by eavesdropping on us." Without giving any chance to Dylan to say anything defense, he went on, "And you went too far by calling my girlfriend pompous demotivator."

"The whole office calls her that," was Dylan's defensive stance.

Darren looked straight at Dylan and said, "I don't care what the whole world says, I care about what my best friend has to say about my girlfriend. Questioning her means you're questioning my choices. I think I made myself clear about that."

Darren's response not only stunned Dylan but Xiu was equally taken aback. It felt surreal at the way his words interpreted to her as how he and she weren't different. 

"Sheesh!" Dylan cursed under his breath. "For a moment, I forgot that my best friend has a way with words." He glared at Xiu hatefully as he added, "Never thought he'd use his eloquence to shut my mouth."

Darren's phone rang and as he checked the caller id, he looked at Dylan with a warning look as he said, "Behave yourself, I'll be right back."

Watching Darren walking to a side, Dylan turned to Xiu and said, "Just a moment ago, you had a drink in your hand like you're gonna drink the night away. What happened?"

Xiu looked in Darren's direction and replied, "Now I can just get drunk on his eyes."

"Eww..." Dylan rubbed his hands over his arms as he cringed and said, "Say something I can digest. Don't make me cringe with your cheap dialogues from third-rated romance movies." Xiu growled at him dangerously as she harrumphed in frustration. "By the way, you were in a pretty bad mood as well."

Xiu sighed out, "Again, slow-witted Uncle, that was until I saw my boyfriend. With a big bright halo around him, everyone else looks like the blurred background which is completely unnoteworthy."

Dylan looked at the way her eyes were sparkling and muttered, "You're painting him as angel. Even though he's also just a human. A very lost one at that."

One side of Xiu's lips curled slightly upward as she said, "Isn't that awesome? He's a human with flaws and so am I. Neither he's perfect nor am I. But who knows, maybe we are perfect for each other."

Dylan was stunned by her reply. She spoke with such hope and confidence that Dylan who wanted to break her away from his best friend really was left in a dilemma. But that didn't mean that he wasn't gonna tease her. 

He pulled out his cellphone and waved the screen before Xiu's eyes saying, "Look, don't I and my brother look good in one frame?" He was showing her the photo he clicked earlier with Darren. "He even wore that suit for me. That's how much value I have in his life."

Xiu was irked by his behavior and that's why when Darren came back and asked, "What's going on with you two now?" 

Xiu extended her hand and said, "You phone." Darren frowned but gave his phone to her nonetheless. Xiu held the phone with the camera on and kissed Darren's cheek on purpose before Dylan while clicking the photo. While Darren was taken by surprise, Xiu pulled away and smiled at Dylan while wiggling her brows.

"I think we look much better in one frame," said Xiu innocently and pleasantly.

"You did not just do that," was Dylan's reply.

"I did. So what?" Xiu's intimidating response shut him off immediately. "Dear abandoned wife, can you do anything about it?"