Imperfect Desires

After Xiu was done with the chicken broth, she still kept talking to Francesca like they had known each other for a long time. But oddly, not even once Francesca talked to her about Darren or her relationship with Darren.

However, Xiu failed to realize that Francesca wasn't interested in knowing about her relationship with Darren. Of course, the people who were in a relationship knew better about each other. And whether they were perfect for each other or not. She as a third person had no right to comment about that. Besides, she wanted to know the girl named Xiu. She wanted to know the real girl Xiu. One who had her own individuality and her own life. 

Francesca was indeed more interested in getting close to the girl who was becoming a part of her family.

"Wow, Francie! You didn't even bother coming to say hi."

Francesca only stopped talking when she heard Xin Zimen's voice and turned to look at him.

"This little lass needs rest to get better but knowing you, I'm certain you didn't let her even blink an eye from the time you sat down with her."

Francesca looked sad to hear his say that. "How can say that? I'm just trying to have some small talk."

"Like I don't know what your small talk is like," he spoke with contempt visible in his voice. But just as his eyes fell on Xiu, he stopped talking. What he just learned from Ying had a huge impact on him. It wasn't easy to look at Xiu for him now. Especially when he knew whose daughter she was. Also, how she became a reminder of something he'd love to forget.

For Xin Zimen, even though this girl didn't inherit her mother's features, she had inherited those signature eyes of his family. No wonder, there was unknown familiarity between them. At the end of the day, she was still part of the Xin Family.

But even after knowing the truth, one thing was certain, Xin Zimen's behavior didn't change with Xiu. Just as he had said, he could hate her parents but no her. Besides, who could hate such a girl? At least, he couldn't.

"Regi, did I call you here for this? You don't want her to get better?" He finally looked away from Xiu's face and turned to chide Darren whom he called to take care of Xiu. But right now, Darren was busy sulking at a side. His mother had pushed him away from his Xiu for a while now. How was it his fault!?

"You can't put the blame on me for this, Uncle Zi," Darren protested for his rights as well. 

"But since the little lass is your responsibility, I think I'm only gonna blame you!"

"Oh please! I'm still trying to figure out how she even ended up at your place?" Darren's mind was, in fact, contemplating over this detail. How was it that Xiu was at Xin Villa? There had to be a reason behind it? Who was gonna tell him that?

Xiu's eyes shifted to steal a glance at Xin Zimen who also did the same. He could tell what Xiu was fretting about. But before he could say anything to help her...

"Xiu'er!"

Oh, there is her best friend running over to her side with a worried face.

"I thought you went home when I woke up. But I only learned from the maid that you are sick and resting. How did you get a fever? And why didn't you even tell me? If you're not feeling well, you should have woken me up?" Nora's nonstop complaints got Xiu's mind to buzz now. One should never underestimate this Latina's concern over Xiu. 

"Nora, you're sleeping with Ava so peacefully that I couldn't bring myself to disturb you. Besides, you spent the whole day crying. You needed a good night's sleep. How could I take that from you?"

Nora scoffed at her reply, "As if you'd have woken me up if I hadn't had a bad day." She poked Xiu's head lightly. "I know you. You'd never share that you're not feeling well." Xiu could only scratch her jaw at the reality of her words. "Now, tell me. What's wrong? Is it serious? Should we go to the hospital? Mom will definitely murder me if she got to know that I didn't take better care of you."

"Will you shut up?" Xiu's words got Nora to finally shut up. Xiu shook her head. "I'm fine. It's just because I'm tired. That's the reason why I got this slight fever." Nora squinted her eyes at Xiu who had to change her words, "I mean yes, I threw up a few times." Nora's eyes squinted even more dangerously. "Okay! I threw up a lot. But is it my fault that I was feeling so nauseous? It happens. Why are you getting angry?"

Nora pulled her ear which Xiu let her. "If you're sick, go see a doctor! Damn it! Why would you always ignore your own health? And if you're already feeling sick why the hell did you drag me here?"

"Because that was important!" Xiu argued while wincing at the pain in her ear now.

Nora hit her head but gently. "You fool! Your health is more important to me!"

"No! Your happiness is more important to me than my health!" Xiu shot back without holding it in. 

Nora was short of words now. "You're stubborn! And you're impossible!"

"Hehe... I know right?"

Seeing her giggling Nora glared at her. "Is it something to be proud of?" 

"Isn't it?"

"No! It's not, you..." Nora's temper was rising up now. This stupid best friend of hers was really something she couldn't understand. The more she thought she had grasped the essence of Xiu, the more Xiu would slip away from her understanding. 

"Now, don't be mad at me. It's not fair. We all have those down days. I also am just under the weather. What's the big deal?"

"The big deal?" Nora stared her down. "In just one day, you're back to square one. You again look like a scrawny little girl. Exactly like the time when Darren told you to hold the pole unless wind might be able to blow you away."

Xiu huffed at that. "You know I hated that stupid joke of his!"

"But he wasn't lying back then!" 

Xiu pouted at her best friend for saying that. Okay, she might have seemed a bit thinner than she did last week. But it couldn't possibly be that worse as Nora just referred to. Because when Darren had played that joke on her, she was really thin like a matchstick!