Imperfect Desires

"Kids! My poor old heart can't digest this much sweetness! Can you please get a room already?!"

Francesca's teasing words made Xiu blush so badly that she didn't dare look at her now. Ah! Crazy, stupid, idiot, Xiu! How can you forget that she was still here? Where did you lose your brain? Did you forget it at home or something?! She really thought she left her brain something but then again, it was all Darren's fault. He was a constant threat to her sanity!

"Mama, we got this room. You're being the third wheel on your own."

While Xiu was trying to literally get herself to act normal, this boyfriend of hers just went on saying those words to his mother. I repeat, HIS MOTHER! 

All Xiu thought she knew about life was changing before her eyes because instead of minding Darren's words, Francesca smiled even more mischievously. "If I can get on your nerve by being the third wheel, I'm gonna be exactly that!" She seemed to be really having fun teasing her son. 

Darren shook his head at his mother. "Sweets, you don't mind her. Just pretend like she isn't here at all." He really didn't know why his mother was being a third wheel. He wants to be alone with his Sweets! 

"I can't do that," Xiu argued softly.

"Hahaha..." France laughed at her reply. "At least someone here has manners. I wish I had taught my son those manners as well." Wait! That sounded so wrong to Xiu. But how did it become worse when France continued with, "But I don't even have manners myself so who cares?" 

Xiu jaw was gonna hit the floor now. The more tense Xiu felt the more easygoing Francesca was. Why was she going against the norms? Shouldn't she be putting her son on a pedestal before her while reminding her about the ways she didn't deserve him? Then why was she doing the other way around?

*Knock! Knock!*

"Oh, that must be the chicken broth," Francesca was the one who reacted as she heard the knocking. She opened the door, took the tray from the maid, and came back to Xiu's side. "I asked the cook to make something healthy for you. Since you had porridge in the morning, we decided to change the menu to chicken broth."

"You didn't have to though," Xiu was still being cautious self who didn't want to trouble anyone. 

Francesca waved her hand. "It's not like I cooked it myself. Besides, you might get even sicker having my chicken broth." She poked Darren's head as she went on, "I still am amazed at how he survived even after eating all those burnt fried eggs, burnt rice, burnt everything!"

"I survived because you made it with all your heart. How can I get hurt by having a little too much of your love?"

"My dear son, you don't even eat sweets how did you get such a sweet tongue then?"

Darren's eyes lingered on Xiu's lips as he licked his own and said, "I think I'm eating more sweets these days. And want to try more and more every day." Xiu gaped at his double meaning while Francesca simply hit his head. "I'm really craving Sweets."

"I'm right here and don't act like I can't understand you," Francesca was really not sure what was wrong with her son. She had never gone through this sweet feeling of love before so, she didn't know how it could turn her rational son into such a... Argh! She couldn't even find the right word for him now!

Xiu's elbow hit the side of his stomach as she whispered, "Can't you behave? It's really embarrassing!" Darren shrugged his shoulders, not minding it all.

"Anyways," began Francesca as she pushed Darren away from Xiu and sat down beside her. She took the tray and said, "Let me help you in drinking this."

"I can do it..."

"No," France stopped her even before Xiu could protest. "Let me do this. This son of mine never let me feed him even when he was young. Also, I don't even have a daughter. I'd love to feed you with my own hand. Can't you let me do this much? It's my only wish!"

Darren poked his mother's shoulder. "Don't you think I should be doing that?"

"Stay out of this. Can't you see that I'm busy with my daughter? You go and sulk over there!" 

Xiu chuckled on her own while Darren jutted his lower lip out as if he was really gonna sulk now. Francesca didn't pay attention to him, she happily got herself busy with feeding her new daughter. 

"Sweetheart eats lots and get well soon. I was hoping you'd go around the city with me. I have so many places I want to visit and I can't do it alone. I need a company. I wanna go shopping with my daughter and I wanna eat those street foods that are so famous on the internet. I still have so much else planned."

Xiu silently ate while listening to her plans. One thing was consistent with Francesca, she never stopped addressing Xiu as a daughter and it calmed Xiu's nerves. She slowly started forgetting that this was her mother-in-law. The bridge between them seemed very easy to cross now.

"I'll take you wherever you want to go," Xiu agreed happily with her. "Oh, I even heard of a new coffee place. I heard they make the best coffee. Do you like coffee?"

"Like it? Honey, I love coffee! It's my life!" 

"Oh, I love coffee as well."

"See? We already have something in common." 

Darren who had silently been observing them smiled. He could see how his mother managed to break Xiu's wall and let her open up to her. They looked rather comfortable now that Xiu was losing her tense feeling. 

"Are you guys forgetting? I also love coffee!" He couldn't help chiming in.

"Regi, stay out of it!"

"Regan, stay out of it!"

As they both spoke simultaneously, Darren was left gaping at them in disbelief. How could they both do this to him? Were they planning on forgetting about him? Wow! A mother found a daughter and a daughter found a mother. Why would they need him? What son? What boyfriend? It was all just an illusion now!