Imperfect Desires

Getting used to things is pretty easy in life, just like getting used by others. Pretty much it's the same thing. Either you get used by others or you get used to others.

However, getting used to being alone is a really terrifying experience. But the worst is when you get used to someone's presence in your life. Someone who wasn't there a few days ago. But that particular person still became a huge part of your life without you even realizing it.

One could say that Xiu got used to Darren's presence over the course of knowing him for a month or so. Perhaps that's why when she opened the door in the morning and didn't find him out there waiting for her, she felt something missing. She felt downhearted since she had to start the day without holding his hand again.

It's been only four days since he left but to Xiu, it seemed like a long time. But the reminder of how he had been calling every morning just to say 'good morning' put that smile back on her face. Even with the time difference, he had been punctual with his morning and night calls. Seemingly, his voice had become her alarm clock for wake up call and her lullaby before bed.

There hadn't been anything exciting going on at the office. Her arguments with Dylan at work were also limited since they both had been busy with work. But that didn't mean there were no arguments at all. Let's take this very fine day as an example...

After the lunch hours, Dylan had asked Xiu to help him with the customer concept and apparently the talk wasn't as pleasant as he thought it to be.

"I don't like this marketing strategy," she had said after looking through the slides. "There should be something more touching about the concept to attract customers. Don't make it seem so materialistic."

Dylan eyed her strangely as he said, "Business is not run on emotions. Besides, it's a marketing strategy, not a love story that has to be touching."

"No, but we manipulate emotions to make money is businesses. Besides, what's so wrong with love stories?" asked Xiu as if she was offended by his remark on a personal level. "Even love stories are a way to manipulate people's emotions to make money. A corporate person like you should not judge it like that."

Dylan also straightened up and said, "What's so good about love stories? They never end well. For instance, take Romeo and Juliet or Jack and Rose from Titanic. It's tragic."

Xiu crossed her arms over the chest in defiance and retorted, "The tragedy is not the point here. The point is their love for each other. The point is that Romeo had Juliet with him till the end and Jack had Rose with his till the end. As for what was the end, it doesn't matter because that end was beautiful for them. Besides, who are you to question their love? Romeo had Juliet and Jack got Rose, what about you? What you got?"

"Can I say dark circles and depression because of you? That's exactly what I got," was his reply. "Oh, wait! I think I'm getting a headache as well."

Xiu clenched her fists and glared at him. She was so close to punching him but held herself back as she reminded herself how her boyfriend wouldn't like that. With a long sigh, she said, "I think we trailed away from the real discussion."

"Congratulations!" Dylan gave a round of mocking applause as he added, "You finally noticed that this was not our topic of discussion."

After a long staring competition, Xiu got up to leave. Dylan extended his hand toward her and said, "Papers?"

A lightbulb lit up in Xiu's brain as she made scissors with her fingers and said, "Scissors! I won! Ha!" As Dylan gaped at her in disbelief she added, "What? What are you looking at?"

"I'm trying to figure out why my best friend is dating you," said Dylan in all honesty.

"Mr. Qiu, don't strain your brain so much," started Xiu and went on, "If he can have a clown-like you as his best friend then I don't think having a little crazy girlfriend is much of a deal." 

"You!" Dylan pointed his finger at her trying to come up with a comeback but she didn't give him a chance to do so.

"Ding! Ding! Ding! What was that?" Xiu questioned dramatically. "Oh, it's an elevator since you're not even on my level!" With that, she slammed the door and walked out of his room leaving a baffled and perplexed Dylan.

After a long while of trying to settle his emotions, Dylan was like, "She has the most childish remarks and yet I'm the one labeled as childish? What kind of justice is this?" While shaking his head, he sat down on the leather chair and said, "Does she even remember that I'm the boss here? Why do I feel like she's bossing me around now?"

However, he couldn't deny the fact that he had become very fond of these arguments. It always left a smile on his lips without him even realizing it. Honestly speaking, it wasn't hard for him to figure out why Darren was dating her. He had seen the way she managed to bring that old carefree Darren back.

He was lost in his own thoughts when he heard a knock at his door and soon Xiu entered again. Dylan raised his brows at her inquisitively while Xiu languidly came and sat down right before his desk. She didn't speak for a long while. Finally, she took a deep breath and said, "I thought about it for a long while and have come to a conclusion. And I think that's the best for both of us. So, I have a proposal for you."

"Proposal? What kind of proposal?" asked Dylan with curiosity palpable on his face.