Imperfect Desires

"Let my hand go already!" Ying shook Cali's hand away. She looked really mad now. "What the hell is your problem? You're so eager to meet your cousin and now you just dragged me out. Weren't you gonna talk to her?"

Cali had actually started treating Ying as a friend and also forgot that no matter how calm and innocent Ying seemed, she was that dangerous as well. In fact, the suspicions and wariness that she initially even had about her were now gone. She rubbed the side of her neck saying, "I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know? You already know Xiu that makes it even easier to get close to her. It's a blessing. You can actually get close to her without seeming like a bloody creep."

Cali agreed with everything Ying just said but she couldn't explain her feelings. She had just experienced two huge blows today. One that Dylan actually had feelings for her and second that Xiu was her cousin, Destiny. How was she supposed to deal with both these feelings? She literally had no idea.

Xiu; the girl she met in a bar. The same girl whom she found quite funny and yet strange. The same girl who was her best friend's girlfriend now. Wait! Her best friend was dating her cousin! COUSIN! Her one and only cousin!

"Ying, have you ever felt so confused by your own feelings to the point of feeling lost?"

Ying contemplated before nodding her head. "It happens to me every day since the time I did the mistake of falling in love with the wrong person."

"Even you do mistakes?"

"I'm only human," replied Ying nonchalantly. "But seriously, what's your problem?"

"I told you I don't know. It was easy to face Xiu when she was just Xiu. Now, you're telling me she's..."

Shaking her head, Ying looked at Cali, "If you can't deal with this sudden change. Just pretend like Xiu is just Xiu and not Destiny. If you'll try to find your lost cousin in her, I think you'll feel even more lost. Because Xiu has grown up now. You need to learn about the present Xiu and get close to her."

Cali thought about it and nodded, "I think you're right."

Whatever version of Destiny she had in mind was long overshadowed by the dust of time. Now, she could only look ahead. And the present version of her cousin was already very likable. How could she be having second thoughts right now?

.....

"Sweep her off her feet??!" 

Dylan lifted his eyes up to look at Xiu's amused smile as he read that the title of the document in his hands. On an A4 page, the title was written in bold and glaring letters.

"What exactly is this?" He was referring to the long list in his hand. He had a hint in his mind but he really didn't want to go down that road. 

"Read it yourself," she suggested while taking a seat languidly. Right after her working hours ended, she had specially come to his room with this. After all, she needed to see his reaction.

"Number one; Plan an epic date.

Number two; Give her your undivided attention.

Number three; Make her feel special.

Number four; Keep the element of surprise in mind.

Number five; If she's the one make her feel like THE ONE!

Number six; And if she's really the one then treat her like a potential wife.

NUMBER SEVEN; COURT HER. DON'T JUST TRY TO DATE HER!!!"

Dylan stopped reading ahead. It was a long list and he really wasn't gonna be able to digest it all now. He really was not sure what this was all about but he could see how hard Xiu was trying to hold back her laughter.

"Is this a joke?"

Xiu shook her head, "I didn't write that though." Dylan frowned at her reply. "Apparently, all your secretaries think that you need help. Because it seems quite obvious that you'd do a bad job. So, since they all want to see you happy, they jotted down all the things that a woman would fall for."

Dylan was left stunned. He really didn't expect that he had such thoughtful employees. But why did they all assume he'd do such a bad job? Was it written on his face that he knew nothing about this? Or his secretarial department was having a good laugh over him now?

"Oi! This number seven is written in bold and capital letters. It means I have to pay extra attention to it. But... What do they mean by court her and don't try to just date her?"

Xiu straightened up. "In the morning, I told you that courtship is an art. It's an art of seeking the love of someone you want to spend your life with. In other words, marriage."

Dylan nodded his head in understanding. "And dating?"

"Dating is just an act of spending time with each other for fun, casual relationship, or... Sex!"

Dylan's eyes seemed complicated as he stared at her long and hard. "Do you ever think before speaking?"

"Nananana!" 

Dylan facepalmed himself for even asking that question. 

"Anyways, it's time to leave. I had already delivered everything I needed to. Now, my boyfriend is here and I can't let him keep waiting."

"Dazi came to pick you up? I'm gonna go meet him."

Xiu glowered. "Stay right where you are!" Dylan instantly sat back in his seat. "Sit and spend your time thinking about how you're gonna get your girl. Don't try to steal my boy from me."

"When did I?"

Xiu raised her hand to stop him. "Don't continue. I don't wanna hear it. I just said to put your time and effort into getting your girl." She picked up her bag and ran off saying, "Have a good time thinking."

Dylan was left staring at that detailed document on how to woo a girl in his hand. Now that Xiu had a solid reason to kick him away from Darren, she was not gonna let it go. But then again, she was right. He needed to stop prowling around his best friend's relationship and put that effort into coddling a certain special someone!