Imperfect Desires

Darren took Xiu's phone which was on the bed and put it on charging. Just as the phone turned on, it started buzzing off nonstop. Darren raised his brows when he noticed that the person who had insistently been calling her had been Dylan.

Rrrr...

The phone rang again and the caller id was still the same. He was contemplating whether to pick up the phone or not when Xiu's voice came from the bathroom, "Can you check who that is? And if it's Dylan tell him to fuck off! It's Sunday, I'm not working!"

Darren laughed a little before he took the call.

"Are we going through a break-up or what? Why are you not taking my calls? Why are ignoring me? Damn it! I'm frustrated. I need you!"

Darren's voice hardened, "I don't know about break up but I'm certainly gonna break you bloody legs if you didn't stop talking like Xiu is your girlfriend." Dylan was startled to hear his best friend's voice from the other side. 

"Dazi!" Dylan tried to speak.

"Shut up! Whether my girl ignores or not, don't you dare raise your voice at her."

"Yes, boss! I understand!"

"Now, why are you looking for her?" Darren finally questioned in a slightly better tone.

"Why can't I? She's my assistant and my sister-in-law. I have double rights on her."

"Are you really trying to fight over who has more right between the two of us?" Darren was amused by Dylan's words. 

"I can't fight with you," answered Dylan honestly. "But seriously, where is she? Why am I not able to contact her from last night?"

Darren took a deep sigh as he explained Xiu's adventure to him and went on, "I think she forgot her cellphone here. That's why you're not able to get to her. But why are you even looking for her? What's up? If it's work-related, I'm not letting her help. She needs rest."

"It's something personal," retorted Dylan grumpily.

"And since when did you start having personal things to discuss with my Xiu?" Darren had emphasized on 'My Xiu' as a clear reminder call to Dylan that he was playing on a dangerous edge now. "I'm your best friend. Talk to me. I'm here to listen."

"How stingy are you really?!" Dylan spoke disdainfully. "Now you even have an issue with me talking to your girlfriend?"

"Yes, I have a problem because I don't want her to get involved with your stupid issues."

"So, now my issues are stupid?" Dylan sounded really sad. 

"Didi, stop trying to digress from the real topic. Tell me what's going on with you? I feel like just like Xiu, you're also hiding something from me. But my question is, why? You never hide anything from me but now, you're more comfortable sharing your issues with my girlfriend rather than me?"

Dylan stayed quiet. What was he supposed to tell him? It's not that he didn't want to share what happened between Cali and him but he also knew that Darren already knew. There was no way Cali didn't say anything to him.

"Dazi, I want to tell you but... I'm not sure what to tell you." 

"Why is it so difficult?"

"It's not difficult. It's complicated."

"What exactly is complicated?"

"My feelings," answered Dylan without hesitation this time. Because he was certain about this one. His feelings were complicated. And Cali wasn't really helping much either. He had mustered up so much courage to say something but she left without even listening to him. Now, where was he supposed to gather that courage from again?

"Haven't you heard, dear Didi?" Dylan raised his brow waiting for him to continue, "Feelings are not complicated. It's feelings that complicate everything."

Dylan was stunned still. Those words hit the mark. He could feel the reality of those words. No, he was living the reality of those words. Until he knew there were no feelings, everything was fine between him and Cali. But now those feelings got involved, everything just got complicated.

"Cali told me everything about the other night," Darren finally revealed the truth as he sat down on Xiu's bed. Dylan wasn't surprised at all, that's why he didn't react. "Now, my question to you is, are you certain about your feelings?"

"You don't think my feelings are real?" Dylan questioned with a heavy heart. "Do you think I'd kiss her with uncertain feelings?"

"No, I don't," replied Darren. "But I'm just trying to say that... Maybe what you're feeling is just 'Suspension Bridge Effect'."

Dylan was surprised to hear that. 'Suspension Bridge Effect' is a situation where you might misunderstand the feelings when crossing a suspension bridge between fear and love. It could also be described as you fell in love with the other person only because he/she rescued you from trouble or maybe invoke those feelings of belongingness. But this kind of love is only temporary.

"I can assure you that it's not a temporary feeling. That's all I can tell you but I have no way of making you believe it," answered Dylan in a firm voice. He knew Darren said all that because he cared about both him and Cali. He didn't want both of them to get hurt. And he was thankful for that. It was enough to know that Darren wasn't trying to push him away from Cali. This much was really enough for him.

"If it's not temporary then are those complicated feelings of yours... Are they worth fighting for?"

Dylan thought deeply about it before smiling to himself. "Yes. Not just my feelings, she's also worth fighting for."

Darren was relieved to hear that. It brought him great joy to know that his best friend was thinking this way. "Then, Didi, go and fight for those feelings and your girl. What's holding you back?"

"The girl herself is holding me back!" Dylan retorted in annoyance. "She's running from me."

"She's not a runner though," replied Darren thoughtfully. "But if she is, give it your all. If she's running from you, you run after her but don't you dare run away from her."

"Whose side are you on?"

"I'll stick on Cali's side. I have a hunch that you already have my Sweets as your backer."

Dylan laughed out, "I chose the real boss as my backer." 

Darren wasn't upset that he was teasing him with Xiu's name. Yes, between these two, Xiu was the backer but so what? He was more than happy to let her have the throne!

"I guess you got smart!" muttered Darren.