Imperfect Desires

Dylan had finally come to his room and fell face down on his bed without any care. He was really tired now after running around the whole day. He rolled over on his back as he picked up his phone and opened the photo gallery.

'What is she to you?' 

Xiu's words rang in his mind as he stared at the photo on his phone. His brows knitted up tightly as he wondered out loud, "What is she to me?" He sat up as he answered his own question, "Isn't she just a friend? A really cool and amazing friend."

'Didi, we don't keep a friend of a friend's photo on our phone for no reason at all.'

As Xiu's other words rang in his mind, his frown got deeper. "But I have Dazi's photos as well..." he tried to reason with no one in particular as he looked through his gallery and realized that even though he had Darren's photos, it was either a group photo or a shot they took together. 

But it was completely different when it came to Cali's photos that he had, after all, most of hers were solo shots and were taken personally as well. 

'I think you either re-evaluate your relationship with her or delete those photos.'

Dylan chewed on his lips as he thought deeply about Xiu's suggestion. "Re-evaluate my relationship with Cali? But there is nothing to re-evaluate." He reasoned with himself and pressed the screen to delete the photo. However, his thumbpad only hovered above the confirmation box, he couldn't bring himself to press 'confirm'. 

"This doesn't make me a stalker. Not at all!" He assured himself.

....

Cali had just taken a shower and lied down at the big couch in the sitting area. Her bed was occupied by Ying but there was another reason why she was on the couch, being on-call in the hospital had left her with a habit of sleeping at odd places. So, she found the couch rather more comfortable than the bed.

With her arm over her eyes, she closed her eyes. It hadn't even been five minutes when her cellphone's vibration made her groan in exasperation. She took it from the table and accepted the call, however, the other person hung up before she could even say hello.

Cali frowned and looked at the screen. Her eyes went round in surprise when she saw the caller id. But then a trace of doubt flashed through her eyes. 

11:48 pm

She read the time and felt even more strange. After thinking for a good minute, she called back.

"Hello, who's this?" came a prompt reply as if the other person was holding the phone in his hand all this while. However, his answer made Cali raise her brow.

She really wanted to say that since he called first he must know who she was but chose not to. "Cali..."

"Cali who?" came Dylan's reply.

"Regan's high school friend," she really didn't know why she was willing to play this dumb game with him. She hadn't been this patient with anyone in her life.

"Oh, that Cali," said Dylan as if he suddenly got enlightened but Cali just rolled her eyes at his lack of acting skills. "So, why are you calling me doctor?"

"You called first," answered Cali.

"I did?" Dylan pretended to be uncertain before adding, "It was a mistake. Actually, I was gonna call... umm... a friend named... Cami. Yes. It was Cami but since your name Cali sounds so similar, I must have messed up."

Dylan wanted to bang his head against the wall for such a dumb excuse. But his brain wasn't working very well. He could only think of this at the moment. Besides, he originally wasn't planning on calling her. It's just that he accidentally dialed her number but hung up as soon as he could.

Cali stayed quiet for a long moment and when he didn't hear a reply, he frowned, "Hey? You there?"

"Yeah..." she replied calmly.

"So..." Dylan wanted to say something or perhaps wanted her to say something.

"So?" she retorted.

Dylan cleared his throat, "I heard you're in my city."

"I am," answered Cali shortly.

"You even came to my house with Darren but chose to leave without saying hi," grumbled Dylan, not even realizing that he was sounding like a kid who was complaining. "It's like you came to the doorstep and without knocking chose to leave."

After a brief moment of silence, he heard her reply, "If I really decide to knock, are you willing to open the door?" 'Would you really be willing to open your heart if I really decide to give my best?' She chose not to say those words out.

"Why wouldn't I open the door?" said Dylan with a frown completely not getting the hidden context behind her words. "In fact, today was such a good day. Everyone was here, you should have really come inside with Darren."

Cali shook her head at him as her lips lifted up in a smile. "I can't believe it..." 'That I really like a dense person like you.'

"What?"

"Nothing." She wasn't gonna explain her words. Suddenly she recalled something. "Vier sent a painting for you," she stated as she was reminded of the painting that sat in her bedroom. She didn't know why a person like Dylan was suddenly interested in paintings. After all, Dylan was really clueless about art. So, it was really surprising for her to know when her friend Xavier told her that Dylan had asked him to get this painting.

"Oh, he found it?" Dylan was suddenly excited to hear that.

"If he sent it with me, obviously, he found it," retorted Cali matter-of-factly.

Dylan chose to ignore her way of speaking as he said, "Everything is good as long as he found it."

"So... I'll bring it to your office?" Cali questioned a bit doubtfully.

"No!" came Dylan's abrupt reply and her face fell. He sounded really against that idea. "You can't come to my office." After all, Xiu was at the office and if Cali appeared there to meet him, Dylan knew she was gonna tease him for the next decade or so. He was not willing to go through that.

"Oh, okay. Then I'll give it to Regi. He'll send it to you," said Cali as she thought of the only alternative that she found suitable. Because it seemed like the painting was quite important to Dylan otherwise, he wouldn't be so against the idea of having it mailed to him.

"Why would you give it to Dazi?" Dylan scowled at her words. "Is it that important for you to avoid me?"

"I didn't say that..."

Dylan didn't let her finish as he went on, "Yes, you meant that. Otherwise, why didn't you just come to my house? You're clearly at the door, does it look good to leave just like that from the door?" He really wasn't over that. "And even now, you want to use Dazi. If Vier asked you to send the painting personally, you should be doing it personally!"

Cali sighed out heavily, "Okay. Then we'll have to meet somewhere."

Dylan smiled to himself, "Where are you staying? I'll come over right now."

"Are you that eager to get your painting?" 

"No, I'm eager to see y..." he bit his tongue before he could complete his sentence. "I mean, you just give me the address."

"Dylan, it's midnight," reminded Cali.

"So? You're not Cinderella and I'm no Prince Charming who can't meet after midnight," replied Dylan stubbornly making Cali laugh out. He really was THAT idiot who used a fairytale reference. Damn! It was really a wonder that she liked him so much.

"I meant, I'm trying to sleep right now," answered Cali. It wasn't that she didn't want to see him but she really didn't want him to drive over at this time.

Dylan's face fell slightly as he muttered, "You don't wanna see me?"

"What? No! That's not what I said," Cali was really having a difficult time adjusting to his mood swings as always. She tried to calm herself as she added, "How about we meet in the morning? I'll text you the place."

Dylan thought about it for a while and nodded, "Okay. But you have to text right now."

"Fine..." grumbled Cali.

"Goodnight then!" said Dylan after getting the confirmation and hung up the call.

Cali stared at the screen of her phone and smiled, "Goodnight to you too..."