Imperfect Desires

When Xiu decided to get rid of her 'zombie' look, Dylan was pacing back and forth in her living room. And when she came back in a slightly better look - which at least looked like she wasn't about to die - she saw Dylan still pacing back and forth in the same place.

She let him be with his 'morning-walk' while she made herself a cup of coffee and sat down on the couch with a steaming hot cup of coffee in her hand. But it was a real struggle to see Dylan acting like this. She was getting dizzy and tired again from just looking at him pacing around.

"It's my apartment, not your personal garden! Stop moving around already." He already managed to get on her nerve without even opening his mouth. What was gonna happen if he started talking? Xiu really was dreading about that now.

Dylan ran his fingers through his already unruly hair in exasperation and took a seat beside Xiu saying, "I need something to drink."

Xiu shoved his shoulder. "Then get it yourself. If you have the energy to parade in my apartment, you certainly can find something to drink for yourself."

If he was expecting her to get something for him, he was so wrong. It was already a real battle for Xiu to keep herself awake while her mind buzzed so badly. And that constant feeling of wanting to vomit was not even going away. Her sense of taste was non-existent since the coffee that she usually loved to drink was now seemingly very bland to her.

"You're really not a good host," tutted Dylan before he stood up and went up to the fridge. He found a lot of beverages but settled with the juice of a red grape before coming to sit beside her again.

Xiu had paid no heed to his remark, pulled her legs up, placed her head against the backrest, and closed her eyes to avoid the bright light that was falling in the living room through the glass walls. "Are you ready to talk?" Her voice sounded raspy as if she was coming down with a cold.

Dylan drank his juice and slapped her knee saying, "Can you at least pretend to be interested in knowing? It's important and you're way too laid back right now."

Xiu had to open her eyes and turn her body slightly to face him as she said, "Is it better now?" She picked up her coffee again and took a sip to keep herself alert. 

Dylan also turned his body slightly to face her and breathed out, "I kissed Cali last night."

*Prrrffff*

Dylan had to close his eyes instinctively because the stupid woman before him had spurted her coffee at his face. 

"Really sorry about it," said Xiu as she took a tissue from the side table and wiped his face. Dylan opened his eyes to look back at her. "It wasn't on purpose. I promise. It's just that your words were unexpected." Dylan rolled his eyes at her. Wasn't she the one trying to make him realize his feelings for Cali? Why was she acting like this now then? As if Xiu had read his mind, she added, "It's not that I didn't expect anything to happen between you two. It's just that I didn't think you'd actually managed to do it this fast."

"Are you trying to insult me?" asked Dylan as he snatched the tissue from her hand and glared at her.

"I'm not insulting you." Xiu defended herself. "But hey! Did you expect any better reaction from me?"

"I knew it!" Dylan stood up. "I really shouldn't have come to you of all people."

Xiu held his hand and yanked him back on the couch surprising even Dylan who so easily fell back down. "Don't act like you're regretting your decision to come here. I know that when you needed to talk to someone, I was the first person you thought of."

"How do you know that?" blurted out Dylan. "Are you a worm in my stomach?" Indeed, it never crossed his mind that he could go to any other person as well. Xiu was the first person he thought of and rushed here without even thinking.

Xiu slapped his head. "Oh, please! I don't wish to be the unlucky worm in your stomach."

"How is the worm in my stomach unlucky?" retorted Dylan.

"You're a picky eater just like a kid. I believe the poor worms are starving in your stomach."

"How can you pity the worms when you don't even feel bad for me?!"

Xiu placed her hand on his head. "Can you remind me why are we wasting time on worms?!!"

Feeling her touch on his head made Dylan feel a bit calm now. He also wondered why he was again arguing about such a useless thing with her? What was wrong with them?

Xiu patted his head and encouraged him softly, "Stop thinking about the rest and tell me what happened. I can be of no help if I don't even know what I'm dealing with."

After a moment's reflection, Dylan told her what happened last night between him and Cali. Like a good listener, Xiu didn't even interrupt when he was pouring his heart out. Besides, she needed to hear it to know why this stupidly adorable brother-in-law of hers was acting so out of character today.

"So..." she drawled when he stopped talking. "She said she likes you and you couldn't hold yourself back. That's why you kissed her. And you don't even regret doing it. Am I on the right track here?"

Dylan nodded his head and looked at his hands. Oddly, he could still feel the way her skin felt under his touch. He could still remember the excitement he felt when his lips made contact with hers. And he couldn't even deny that he so wanted to live that moment all over again.

Xiu poked his cheek to get his attention back to the present and said, "Can you please stop blushing? It's cute but I really have an active imagination and I really don't wanna go through what's really in that mind of yours is making you blush so badly."

Dylan was startled by her words and lowered his head even more. Xiu laughed even more at his reaction. She pinched his cheeks, "Awww... Such an adorable baby you are, Dylan."

He swatted her hands away while grumbling to hide his embarrassment. "Will you shut up?"

"I can't help it. Your ears are so red. It's so funny and yet so cute. I can't help it."

Dylan really didn't know what to do. Usually, he wouldn't let his emotions come out before others but if he was letting his feelings show before Xiu, it only meant one thing; She was becoming a really important person to him.

"Why are you not surprised that she likes me?" asked Dylan seeing how she looked right now. "Didn't you say that only an idiot would be able to like a person like me?"

"And you believed my words?" Dylan nodded his head making Xiu shake her head at him. "First of all, Nora had already told me that Cali likes you. Second of all, she'd be the real fool if she didn't like a person like you."

Dylan's eyes widened in surprise. Seeing his reaction, Xiu rubbed his head like he was a kid and added, "Hey, hey, hey! Just because I love to insult you doesn't mean I don't like you. As I said, any person would be a fool if they didn't manage to see how beautiful of a person you are. Me insulting you is just like my way of showing how much I find you special in my life. I thought we already established that you are a very important person to me. Even if it was as Chen Xiu or now."

Dylan looked at her with a smile on his face while she pushed his face away, "Don't give me that look. It's annoying." Dylan chuckled knowing that she was also feeling embarrassed after saying all that. "Now... Can you move forward with the story? Her confession, your sweet kiss, and all should make you happy. It's progress, after all! But why do you look so down then?"

Now that she brought this topic up, Dylan could only sigh sadly and frustratedly thinking about what happened next.