Imperfect Desires

~~Oslo, Norway~~

The bright ceiling light was illuminating the windowless office where the atmosphere of tension had become so severe and pervasive that one could barely breathe. Aside from business suits and egos, one could see the blank expressions of people around the table. When the lights turned off and the projector was turned on, every pair of eyes went to the screen as the slideshow began.

Darren looked at his friend and business partner, Asher Andersen across the boardroom table and tried to display the agony in his eyes as if to say, 'Just end it already!' But since Asher wasn't done with his presentation, he disregarded the pleading eyes of his friend. The thing he hated about these meetings were the numbers on those slides that always left him dizzy. Designing cars was his passion but one could say if Asher wasn't there to help him, he would have never succeeded in his own business.

If Darren could avoid, he would love to opt-out of such board meetings. His phone screen had flashed six times already and he had to return all those six urgent calls but he was stuck here from the morning. As his phone buzzed again, his eyes darted over towards the screen on reflex and his brows knitted together.

With the phone in his hand, he shot up from his chair which stopped Asher from continuing. 

"Excuse me for a moment," said Darren as he rushed out of the room.

Considering the time difference, he knew that Xiu must be on her way back home right now. But she never called him at this time. So, her sudden call really alarmed him. As he had just placed the phone against his ear, he heard Xiu's sulky voice, "Boyfriend, when are you coming back?"

Darren pressed his lips together as he imagined her pouting like a kid and a faint smile lingered on his lips. He had come to realize that every single time, her first question had been, 'When are you coming back?' followed by, 'How are you?'

"Soon," replied Darren and went on, "I'll be back soon."

"Hmm... Okay," said Xiu in response. "Are you busy?"

Darren looked towards the closed door of the meeting room and replied with, "Absolutely not. I've time..." he took a pause before adding, "For you."

Xiu giggled at his reply and said, "Then I have a lot to tell you."

He leaned against the wall saying, "Go on, I'm listening."

"Let me start with the highlight of today," said Xiu excitedly and continued, "Here it is, I finally made Dylan my friend."

Darren's brows quirked up in surprise, "You and Didi are now friends?" he sounded uncertain.

"Yes," replied Xiu but when he stayed silent, she asked, "You don't believe me?"

"If you're saying it, then I have no reason to question," was Darren's reply.

Xiu thought over it before speaking, "Sheesh. You really don't believe me."

Darren chuckled, "Sweets, then make it sound a little believable. Or at least, say something believable."

"Okay, I accept. It's not friendship. But it's still something along the lines of that," Xiu didn't talk about her compromise-treaty. "Depending on the time and circumstances, we'd be friends or enemies."

As Xiu elaborated on the nature of her new relationship with Dylan, Darren said, "So, you guys are now frenemies."

"Wow! That's it! That's the right term for it. Frenemies. Me likey!" Xiu was really excited since now she wouldn't have to spend a few good minutes just explaining the nature of her relationship with Dylan. "By the way, why are you so certain that Dylan and I can't be friends?"

"I told you before, you and Didi are more like a pair of siblings who can never stop arguing. You both are very much alike."

"Ha! No way! How can I have any similarities with him?" Xiu denied it straightforwardly. "I mean, come on, I'm pretty and he's pretty dumb. We are not the same."

"Touché!" said Darren and looked at his impatient business partner reminding him that time was ticking. Darren gave him a hateful glare before gesturing him to go away. 

"My stop is here," he heard Xiu's voice from the other end and understood that she must have reached home. 

"Sweets, I'll call you later..." 

Darren was about to continue when Xiu interrupted him.

"Wait! I forgot the reason why I called you," she knocked on her head as she got off the bus and went on, "So, quick question. Carolina Blue or Tiffany Blue?"

Although he wasn't sure why she asked this, he still answered, "Carolina Blue. Definitely."

"I thought so too. No wonder I love you. You know me well," blurted out Xiu without even thinking her words over. But when the words had already left her mouth, she bit the tip of her tongue. 'Stupid Xiu! What the hell did you do?' She slapped her mouth as she wondered, 'Why is this tongue not in my control even when I'm sober?'

As for Darren, he was stuck frozen at his place when he heard her words. He was in a state of stupefaction. But along with incredulity, he was flabbergasted. However, he couldn't bring himself to look over that feeling of euphoria that had rushed out of his heart. It wasn't that noticeable but it was there.

"Sweets, what did you say?" he questioned for reconfirmation since he wasn't sure if he could believe what he just heard.

"Nothing," replied Xiu in a calm manner. Her first instinct was to hastily hang up but that would prove her to be the guilty party. So, she decided to calmly handle this situation.

"Sweets, are you drunk?" asked Darren as he recalled how her first confession was when she was drunk. So, he didn't want this one to be another drunken nonsense.

"I'm not," Xiu emphasized her words to make him believe.

"You better not drink when I'm not around," said Darren as a reminder yet again.

"I won't," promised Xiu and relaxed as he had forgotten about her slip of the tongue. "Alright. You go back to work. I'll talk to you later. Bye and take care. Don't forget to enjoy yourself but not too much. Also, come back soon."

With that, she hung up the phone and Darren was left staring at his phone screen with a silly smile on his face. He felt a tap on his shoulder and only realized that Asher had been standing right there till now. 

"Regan, you're in love."

Darren scowled and pushed his face away saying, "Go away!"