Imperfect Desires

Sensing how Darren just went silent after hearing her question, Xiu felt like she must have said something she shouldn't have. She knew his real mother's topic must be a very sensitive and painful one but she couldn't hold back her words. Her curiosity was gonna kill her otherwise. She just wanted to know whether he felt like he needed to know his real mother or not?

"I'm sorry for bringing this up," she hurriedly tried to fix the mood. "If you don't want to answer, that's alright. I know it must be very hard." She was hesitatingly gonna compromise now.

Darren placed his hand on her head gently and yet not so very gently as he shook her head saying, "Why would it be painful? I never even thought about her. Florence is mama's sister, and if she doesn't care where she is, I don't either."

"Did you never feel like trying to find her? Really?" Xiu was truly intrigued to know his reply. Was this his way of running from heartbreak? Because he didn't want to know why she left him, he never bothered looking for her?

"We find people who are lost, not the ones who leave by their own choice!" said Darren firmly. Xiu tilted her head to look up at him. "Sweets, people who are meant to leave eventually leave. Even if you cage a bird, it eventually finds a way to fly away. That's life. Neither can we stop water from flowing nor can we hold sand in our hands."

His words reminded Xiu of her own life. You can't cage a bird forever. It eventually will find a way to fly away. She also found that way. It's a pity her way of flying away was... Death! Argh! She was really recalling the wrong part of her life.

"She chose to leave on her own. It was her choice to leave me behind. Now, it's my choice to not care where or how she is. She had never been a part of my life and I'd like to keep it that way." He looked into her eyes as he questioned, "Got it?"

Xiu nodded her head in reply. "What about your father?"

Darren's expressions turned complicated at that. He seemed indifferent when she mentioned his real mother but why did he suddenly seem restless?

"You know your father, right?" she questioned strangely.

"Of course, I do," Darren replied in a low voice. "But I prefer not talking about him."

"Did he also leave you by choice?"

Darren smiled a bit sadly as he shook his head, "It's more complicated than that." Just as Xiu was about to open her mouth, he went on, "Sweets, I'd love to share my everything with you. But talking about my dad is a bit difficult. I'm not able to bring myself to either love him or hate him. So, I really don't know what to say about him."

"So, he didn't leave you, right?" Xiu didn't know why but she was feeling anxious to know his reply. 

"No, it was Florence who left him," said Darren making her heart feel complicated for real now. Xiu's mouth was hanging open now before she puffed up her cheeks angrily. "You look so cute doing that."

"What cute? I'm trying to be angry here!"

"But I find it super adorable!"

"You find everything adorable these days," complained Xiu.

"Oh, that's because my Sweets is so adorable. So everything she does is also adorable to me."

Seeing him smile at her again, Xiu was relaxed and decided not to pursue this topic anymore. He really avoided talking further about his dad and Xiu could tell that. And since he didn't want to talk about it, she wasn't gonna push it either. It was enough for her to know this much. For now, at least. Although she couldn't grasp the reason why he didn't want to talk about his dad, she still wasn't gonna rush in. 

Besides, she was the most patient person now! She'd wait for him!

"Oh, I suddenly remember something!" Xiu rushed out of his grasp but he didn't let go. "Let me get my cellphone. I have to show you something." 

Darren sighed and let her go. She ran to her room to get her phone and when she came back, she saw him with open-arms beckoning her to get back down. Xiu could only shake her head at him. But still silently took her seat on the floor with his legs around her while his chest supporting her body.

"See this," she showed the clip from this morning to him and complained, "I told that stupid boss of mine to remove this from the forum but he didn't." Darren only smiled and didn't react at all. "Why aren't you saying anything? Have you seen it already? Did that stupid boss of mine sent it to you?"

Darren shook his head and took her phone from her. Using the search engine he typed; R. D. Salvay public love confession.

Xiu quirked her brows but her eyes went wide when the search result showed the top trending video on the internet. It was the same clip that was posted in her company's forum. What the bloody hell! Xiu was staring in shock at the video; the views were increasing at a tremendous speed. 

"I'm not often seen in public and since the time I gave that interview, some nosy reporters had been way too curious about my other half. So, no wonder it just blew up."

He talked as if it was the most natural thing to happen. Okay, she agrees! He wasn't really an ordinary man just because he acted low-key. Either it was his previous status as a star sports racer or the current status of being the managing director of a multinational company; he was famous in both fields. 

"Why didn't you do something about it?" she complained.

Darren shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly, "Your face is not even clear in it. Only I'm seen mostly. So, I just took this chance to prove that I do have someone in my life who is very important to me. You see, most people thought I was just kidding in that interview."

Xiu nodded her head in understanding. She couldn't possibly hide in shadows for life now. Just because she didn't want to appear in news anymore didn't mean her other half wouldn't have to. Well, looks like she had to get used to the cameras once again. Being Mrs. Salvay wouldn't be easy. Sigh!