Imperfect Desires

The previous night, Nora was standing at the same door looking all nervous and anxious. Tonight, she found herself at the same place with the same feelings but for a whole different reason. She didn't know how or why but Xiu didn't look like someone who was gonna back out.

Na-ah! 

She looked like she was ready for a bloodbath tonight.

Nora could silently pray for Ah-Si's safety because her faith in Xiu's mercy was non-existent! She could be pretty ruthless if she wanted to be. 

Xiu rang the bell while Nora was still trying to hold her back. Xiu didn't pay any heed to her best friend's pleads. A woman in her thirties clad in a crisp uniform which indicated that she was housemaid opened the door and looked at Xiu who was throwing fire and Nora who was half-hidden behind Xiu.

But since Nora was taller than Xiu, the maid could clearly see Nora and even recognize her from this very morning.

"Miyabi, who's at the door?" came a voice from behind the woman before a familiar face came into Xiu's view.

"Weird uncle?"

"Oh, little lass?"

"What are you doing here?" Both Xiu and Xin Zimen blurted out at the same time.

Xin Zimen chuckled softly before gesturing the maid, Miyabi to leave. He stood before Xiu and said, "It's my house. Why do you think I am here? But if you're here not knowing this is my place then I'm gonna assume that I'm not the one you're looking for."

At this reminder, Xiu threw away her earlier surprise and started breathing fire, "Of course, not. I'm here to find the one who made my sister cry!" She stared at Xin Zimen with rage as she added, "And I'm not leaving without collecting some tears."

"Made your sister cry? Collecting tears?" Xin Zimen frowned slightly. Xiu pushed Nora at the front a bit and Xin Zimen's frown deepened looking at her. "Nora?"

"How many sons do you have?" questioned Xiu completely disregarding the fact that Xin Zimen was looking really concerned now.

"I have two sons, why?" he answered.

"Well then one of your sons is the reason behind these tears and I'm so not letting this go!" She lifted her baseball bat and placed it on her shoulder adding, "If I don't make him cry the same amount of tears I'm not leaving!"

Xin Zimen looked at Xiu's stance then he looked at Nora who didn't dare look into his eyes. "You both should come inside first. This is not a good place for all this," he said and ushered them in the house. Although Xiu was reluctant, Nora pulled her in. "Have a seat, I'm gonna ask for someone to bring something to drink for you both."

"We are not here for that," reminded Xiu since she felt like he looked way too casual about it as if the person she wanted to beat had nothing to do with him. Or perhaps, he was taking her words way too lightly. Oh, that thought infuriated her even more.

However, Xin Zimen didn't have any of those thoughts. He just was being his usual self who was very concerned to look at Nora's condition. The beautiful woman he met in the morning was now looking so pale. Her eyes were swollen and red. He didn't like that. 

"Calm down, little lass!" he said that to Xiu seeing how this little one was about to explode. "You need the energy to beat someone as well. Get a breather first."

Xiu frowned at him and was about to retort when Nora held her wrist and shook her head. "He's one of the nicest people I have met in life, don't you dare act rudely with him." Nora's warning came handy since Xiu dropped the idea of acting willfully before Xin Zimen. Besides, he wasn't her target. It was his son! 

"Call your son! Or give me the directions to his room," urged Xiu as she saw Xin Zimen coming back with fresh fruit juice for both of them. He who wanted her to first have a few sips dropped the idea when she said, "I'm getting impatient and that's not a very good thing."

Xiu didn't know why but he smiled at her words. Looking at her face he seemed to be lost in thoughts as he couldn't stop smiling. What she didn't know was that even now he couldn't help seeing someone's reflection in her. 

"Ah-Si! Get your ass out here!" his booming voice rang in the house while Xiu was stunned since his smile was back as soon as his eyes fell on her again. Wow! He changed expressions faster than her! And she had been a professional actress once!

Then suddenly something clicked in her mind, 'Ah-Si? Did he just say Ah-Si? He can't be talking about that Ah-Si. Right? Right?' Xiu was busy trying to convince herself that there are so many people with the same names. 'But that Ah-Si whom I know and this weird uncle both are associated with Dylan. Then...? No, I'm still believing this!' But her hopes shattered soon enough.

"Yes, dad! Why are you so angry now?"

Xiu looked at Ah-Si standing at the doorway and gaped at him.

'Seriously? I hate that the Earth is round! Why can't it be flat? Why do I have to come across the same people so often?!' 

Xiu could only curse her luck. No, she was gonna curse her fate which was going round and round. This was really something unacceptable! How can coincidences be so dangerous? Why? Why? Why? She needed answers. Some serious answers here but who was gonna answer? Who could really answer why she was running into these people again and again?

"I think I clearly told you to be nice to Nora," said Xin Zimen glaring at Ah-Si who frowned, and only now his eyes caught sight of Nora sitting at one side. 

His heart clenched in his chest at her sight. What happened to her? Why did she look like that? He really wanted to rush over and hug her but stopped himself from doing so. 

"You... Why are you back? I think we're done talking in the morning," he spoke in a stern voice as much as he could to show his stance clearly.

"I..." Nora wanted to say something but didn't know what. What was she doing here? Even she didn't have the answer to that! Someone just go and ask that eccentric best friend of hers. She didn't have any answers, to begin with!

"Oh, I can give you the answer for that," Xiu's voice rang out from beside him. And the way it was laced with venom caught Ah-Si off-guard. 

"Xiu? What are you doing here?" Ah-Si was surprised to see Xiu here. He hadn't seen her in a while now but looking at her now, he could tell something was off about her. She didn't give those happy vibes. Nope! She was certainly giving some dark and murderous vibes at the moment.

"Well, Si bro..." Xiu lifted her baseball bat and struck it straight at his calf making him lose balance and fall on his knee. "I've come to collect a debt tonight!"