Imperfect Desires

Oftentimes, we overlook the small blessings in life while trying to look for some miracle. For instance, what could be a bigger blessing than the fact that the smile you took to bed last night was still blooming on your face when you woke up.

It was rare for Xiu to wake up in such a good mood on a Sunday morning. But since she had plans with Darren today, she woke up early. Although it was close to 11 in the morning, it was still very early for Sunday. Her facial muscles were definitely not under her control since her lips had lifted up uncontrollably into an arc. Pulling off the duvet, she stepped down from the bed and walked towards the windows to pull the drapes.

However, just as she opened the thick drapes, her eyes widened and she screamed out, "AHHH!!!"

Her loud voice startled even Nora who fell down from the bed with a thud. "What happened? What's going on?" It took her a couple of minutes to completely wake up and as she did, she frantically stood up. With a baseball bat in her hand, Nora ran inside Xiu's room. "Who is it? Tell me, who should I hit?"

Nora looked around Xiu's room with a frown while Xiu looked at Nora with a strange look as well. "What's up with the baseball bat?"

"Oh, this is my weapon. I thought there is some burglar or something," replied Nora while yawning tiredly. "But now that I think about it, you'd never scream because of a burglar. In fact, you'd make the burglar scream instead."

"Haha... Very funny," said Xiu in dry humor. 

"Nevermind. Why did you scream?" asked Nora while putting the baseball bat over her shoulder.

"Look," Xiu pointed outside the window and Nora followed suit.

"What are we looking at?" questioned Nora with a perplexed look.

"Look at how heaven is messing with me," said Xiu and as she turned her eyes to look outside the eyes, she felt distressed. It was supposed to be a fine sunny day of summer but... The clouds of gloominess were looming around in the sky darkening not only the day but also Xiu's mood. Grey had dominated the sky making the morning appear as night. "It was supposed to be a good day. I was supposed to spend that good day with my boyfriend."

Nora fell on Xiu's bed and kept nodding her head absentmindedly while Xiu was still going on with her complaints. Nora had gotten quite used to Xiu's complaints. According to her, before losing her memories, Xiu used to complain about her shortcomings but after she lost all her memories, Nora never heard Xiu complain about her own self. She had become confident in a way that even surprised Nora.

Xiu shook Nora and asked, "Why are you so sleepy?"

"I couldn't sleep much last night," said Nora as she sat up on the bed and looked at Xiu standing with her hands wrapped around her stomach.

"Couldn't sleep? Do you know it's a Japanese legend that if you can't sleep at night it means that you're awake in someone's dreams?" Xiu bumped her shoulder with Nora playfully and added, "I wonder who kept you awake in his dreams."

Nora rolled her eyes at Xiu and spoke derisively, "That sounds romantic and utter bullshit!" Xiu shrugged her shoulders indifferently as she hugged her knees to her chest. Nora patted her shoulder and added, "Xiu, don't look so down. In this weather, only outdoor activities are not possible. But you guys can still go out for movies, dinner, and stuff."

Xiu nodded her head as she tried to look optimistic about this situation and said, "Right. We can still have fun. It's absolutely fine. I love rainy days anyway. It's perfectly fine. Nothing's wrong. Nothing's wrong at all." She repeated it in her mind like a mantra and it worked at some level to calm her nerves. But as soon as she passed by the wardrobe mirror, she ended up screaming again.

"Now what?" Nora was startled awake once again.

Xiu looked at her face with a horrified look and turned her head slowly. "BAM pimple BAM pimple BAM pimple!" Xiu pointed at three very obvious pimples on her face. Xiu arched her back uncomfortably as she said, "I don't think this day can get any worse now."

Nora turned on the lights in her room and looked at her pale face. "What date is it?" Nora asked while arching her brow at Xiu.

At Nora's reminder, Xiu picked up her phone and cursed out, "No wonder I'm gifted with pimples overnight. Congratulations to me, my day just got worse."

Nora pressed her lips while Xiu ran inside the bathroom. At this time, even Nora had to admit that Xiu's luck was not on her side. First, the weather gave up on her, afterward, zits ruined her face and now, her Aunt Flo visited right on time.

Tsk. Tsk. Only Nora could tell how moody Xiu was gonna be now. And just as she expected, when Xiu came out of the bathroom, her face looked ugly. It looked like there was a gloomy cloud lingering over her head. She changed into another pair of pajamas and snuggled back in her bed while grumbling, "Mother nature hates me the most." She stuck her middle finger to the sky and shouted, "Screw you!"

Nora coughed to conceal her laughter. She sat down beside Xiu and said, "You should stop cursing your luck. It's not that bad."

Xiu snorted, "I have a new rhyme. Would you like to hear?" Nora didn't know what to expect but she still nodded in response. "Here it goes: It's raining red, as I fell in a crimson wave of hell. Then why am I feeling blue? Must be the weather's hue. With my tipsy-turvy hormones, Mother nature, I want to fuck you!"

Nora burst out laughing at Xiu's face which darkened her mood even more. "Shut up!" said Xiu with a warning look.

"Sorry, I'll stop now," answered Nora. "Should I pull out your secret chocolate stash?"

"Yes, please," replied Xiu.

Right at this moment, the doorbell caught both of their attention and Nora looked at Xiu knowingly as she said, "I think it's your boyfriend."

Xiu curled up in a ball as she mumbled, "Tell him, I'm dead!" and hid under the duvet.