Imperfect Desires

"What's your plan for today?"

Darren placed a plate of French toasts on the kitchen island as he questioned his mother.

"I'm going shopping with Weiwei," Francesca answered as she picked up a French toast and took a bite. "I still haven't bought a gift for your girlfriend. I'm definitely gonna buy something today."

"You really don't have to," he said with firm persistence. "I'm not gonna stop you from shopping but you shouldn't buy anything for Sweets."

"But I have to," she abruptly asserted. "Weiwei managed to impress Xiu by using her culinary skills. I don't have that advantage since I suck at it. So, I have to find other ways to impress my new daughter."

Darren's eyes gleamed in amusement as he wondered, "Aren't you going in the wrong order? I thought Xiu was supposed to impress you and not the other way around."

Placing her cup of coffee down, she squinted her eyes at her son. "Dear son, which era are you living in? If she needs to impress me for my approval, shouldn't she have the right also to decide whether she likes this mother-in-law or not? It goes both ways."

Bzzzz...

Darren looked at his phone screen as he offhandedly told his mother, "I'm not even gonna argue with your unique views about life." He picked up his cellphone. "Hello! Uncle Zi, is everything okay? Why are you calling me so early in the morning?"

"It's not early in the morning," came Xin Zimen's flat reply. True, it was close to 9 am but Darren still thought it was early in the morning. "Anyways, do you know where your girlfriend is?"

Darren's brows drew together at his question. "Sweets might be at her place."

"Did you talk her to her?" 

"No, I haven't contacted her since yesterday morning." Darren was telling the truth. From the time, Xiu just pushed him out of her place, he hadn't gotten any time to contact her. "Why are you asking though? Why this sudden curiosity about my girlfriend?"

"Aren't you gonna check up on her?"

Since Xin Zimen didn't bother answering him, Darren couldn't even push him for it. "Right now?"

"Yes. Now!"

"Uncle Zi, it's Sunday. Sweets gonna sleep for the rest of the day. If I even bother her for a second, she's gonna be in a cranky mood the whole day." The corner of his mouth quirked up just as he mentioned Xiu. 

"I'm really disappointed in you." Xin Zimen's words made Darren's eyes to widen in surprise. "Your girlfriend's been sick and you didn't even notice it." Darren's smile faded. "She has a high fever and..." Xin Zimen told him in detail about Xiu's condition which he learned from the doctor.

Darren abruptly got up from his chair and ran towards Xiu's door but before he could ring the doorbell, Xin Zimen informed him, "There is no use going to her place. She's at my house right now. You should come here."

Darren didn't even bother asking why or how Xiu ended up at his house. He didn't really care at the moment. All his brain processed was that Xiu was sick and he wasn't there with her. That's it. This was the only thing circulating in his mind.

"I'll be right there," he told Xin Zimen and hung up the call before going back to his place. He only put on a jacket and changed his shoes before taking the car keys and running out again but not before shouting over his shoulder, "Mom, I'll be back later. Xiu is not feeling well."

His whole body was feeling jittery as he took the elevator down to the parking. He ran up to the car, settled down but just as he was about to start the car, his expressions dulled. He urged himself to hold the steering wheel but just as he did, his whole body went rigid and beads of perspiration started forming on his forehead. 

He really hated this feeling. He wanted to fly over to his Sweets but he couldn't even drive! It had been a long time, he felt like this. The first time, he had that accident he was feeling lost. And that feeling of being lost had come crawling back into his heart today. 

While he was contemplating what to do since his driver, Ben was on holiday and he really didn't want to disturb him, the car door opened and he looked up to see his mother standing beside him. "Come out. Let me drive." Darren didn't know what to say as he kept looking at her face. "Why are you wasting time?"

Darren silently got down and went around to ride shotgun while his mother took over the driving seat and said, "If I got in trouble for not having this country's driving license, you better help your mother out." Darren glanced at her with a straight face but his eyes showed his emotions very well. "It was a joke, don't be so serious about it. Now, give me directions."

He nodded his head and instructed her along the way while he also told her why he was so anxious. Learning that Xiu was sick, Francesca could understand why Darren was feeling so restless. When she stopped the car at the door of Xin Villa, Darren ran out without even looking back.

Knowing where Xiu was, he entered the room without even knocking. But stopped immediately. The scene before him really surprised him. Xin Zimen was sitting beside her bed on a chair with a towel in his hand. He soaked it in cold water before placing the wet towel on Xiu's forehead gently. 

"Why is your fever not going down?" Darren heard him mumbling to himself. 

"Uncle Zi..." Darren called out softly. It was his first time seeing Xin Zimen looking so restless. He had never seen even a crack in Xin Zimen's indifferent bearing and yet, today it seemed like Xin Zimen had forgotten to even hide his emotions.

Xin Zimen looked up at Darren and seeing how curiously Darren was staring at him, he cleared his throat awkwardly before standing up and walking to his side. He shoved the towel into Darren's hands as he chided, "Oh, you're finally here. Take care of your girlfriend. Don't be such a bad life partner. She's your responsibility!"

As he shoved past Darren, he didn't forget to turn to give a parting glance to Xiu. But he definitely wasn't gonna show his emotions to Darren, so he decided to leave first. 

After the door closed, Darren stepped closer to Xiu's side and looked at her. She started grimacing as if she was going through some pain or discomfort. As he took off the towel from her forehead, he could see her brows drew together. His pointer finger pressed down on her frown.

"I'm sorry for not taking care of you," he keened as he stroked her face affectionately. "I should have stayed with you especially when Dylan told me that you're bothered about something. I'm really sorry." As if she heard his voice, she held the hem of his shirt tightly. When Darren saw her expressions easing up, he also relaxed and kissed the top of her head.

Even in sleep, she was playing with his heart. However, one thing Darren was certain about after this incident. They had to live together. There was no other way he would know what she was up to and what's going on in her life. Besides, he needed her in his life. No, he wanted it badly!