Imperfect Desires

Everything that Xiu learned from Francesca in the restaurant left her in deep thoughts. Francesca was not only respectful, admirable but also the most amazing person she had come across. 

Unlike her mother, Francesca made time for Darren even though they both were single working mothers. But the difference was huge. Here she was who never even got to have a proper conversation with her mother and then there were Francesca and Darren who had built a beautiful bond.

~~

When Darren rushed back and unlocked the door of her apartment, he saw her in a daze staring blankly at the tv screen which was turned off. He frowned to himself while waving his hand before her eyes but she didn't even flinch. She was really in her own world.

He thought of something and smirked playfully.

Xiu's trance was only broken when she felt Darren's weight on her body. "What are you doing?" She hit his arm trying to push him but he was acting as if he was too tired and lazy to even move. He had crushed her body into the sofa. "Baobei, you're heavy!"

"But I don't wanna move," his breath hit straight at her neck before she felt him nuzzling up against her. "This is comforting." 

Xiu ran her fingers through his hair with a soft smile, "What is comforting?"

"The way you smell, the way you feel, and everything about you."

"If you're using this cute boyfriend act so that I forget about my anger, then drop it."

Darren supported his weight on his hands by her side and lifted his body up to look at her face, "But you said you're not angry. I'm really sorry that I couldn't come to pick you up."

Xiu shook her head, "I'm not angry about that."

"Then?"

Xiu squinted her eyes and squished his cheeks saying, "When were you planning on telling me that you're diabetic?" Darren pressed his lips together. "I like an idiot kept offering you cupcakes and you never even refused. Do you even think I'm important? How could you hide such a big thing from me?"

Darren finally sat up and rubbed his nape, "Once in a while, I also deserve to eat cupcakes." Xiu glared at him. "Sweets, I didn't intentionally hide it. I promise. It just... It just never came up."

"Not even when I offered you cupcakes?" she was being sarcastic now. Earlier when she learned from Francesca about his diabetes, she was really mad at him. How could he not tell her? Weren't they supposed to know everything about each other? Why wasn't he telling her something so important about his health?

"I wanted to but... Those cupcakes played as a cupid between you and me. How could I say anything?" He hugged her waist and leaned his body against her side. "I promise it wasn't intentional." He rubbed his head against her shoulder.

Xiu had to remind herself that she couldn't fall for this. Not so soon. She had to hold her ground for just a little more. She just had to!

"Don't be upset with your baobei, eh? Your baobei will start crying otherwise."

"FUCK!" Xiu screamed in her head. He was really not making it easy for her to hold her ground now. 

"You know I'd never hide anything intentionally from you. I love you so much. Can't you forgive me just this once?"

Xiu's expressions cracked as she sighed and tilted her head slightly to look at him. Looking into his eyes right beside hers, she was really lost for words. "You're using my tactic now."

"Well, two can play this game," he shrugged nonchalantly. Obviously, he learned this cutesie act from her. Since he always fell for her cute girlfriend act, he also tried the same with her. And it was working exceptionally well. Also, he was loving it.

"I hate you," Xiu grumbled unhappily.

"No, you love me."

"I don't," she denied childishly.

"Yes, you do." He asserted.

"I said I don't," Xiu denied again as she turned her head away from him.

Darren held the back of her head and forced her to look at him. "Oi! Don't you ever dare say you don't love me? That's not an option anymore!" Xiu looked at that slight darkness in his eyes and felt amused. "Now, say you love me."

"Are you forcing me to say that?" Xiu tried to hold back her smile when he nodded his head. When she stayed silent for a minute, it felt exceptionally long minute to Darren. His eyes were getting darker and darker. Xiu chuckled at his sulky reaction and ruffled his hair, "I love you! I love you! I love! Happy, you sulky baby?"

Darren immediately flashed her a beautiful smile. "Yup. More than just happy now!"

"I really can't tell whether you're trying to be funny or cute with me?"

"Does it matter?"

Xiu shook her head, "No. Because I love you anyway."

"That's more like it," Darren was really pleased with himself as he kept hugging her waist with his chin still perched on her shoulder. "And you don't have to worry, I won't ask for cupcakes now."

"Really?" Xiu was surprised a little bit and had her suspicion about this sudden statement. 

"Yes, really."

"Why? Don't like my cupcakes now?" she raised her brow at her rhetoric question.

"Nah. I love the baker even more now." He winked at her mischievously making her feel all shy again.

She scoffed, "Trying to be cheeky, eh?"

Darren shook his head and kissed her lips. "I'm not trying to be cheeky. I just said the fact."

"Fact? What's the fact?"

Darren's tongue licked the seam of her lips making her gasp in surprise while he inserted his tongue inside and when pulled away, nodded in satisfaction saying, "See? My Sweets is sweeter than any cupcake. Why bother with superficial things?"

"Bloody son of a biscuit!" she cursed at him in her usual way.

He pinched her nose, "Sweets, what really is this 'Son of a biscuit'?"

"You don't have to know," she grumbled while rubbing her nose that he pinched.

"So, you're not angry with me now, right?"

"I'm not but I should be," said Xiu making him frown. "You didn't tell me anything. There's a lot you're hiding from me."

Darren straightened up and looked carefully at her, "You had a chat with mama?"