Imperfect Desires

'Today, I took someone very special to see your movie with me. And that special someone just slept through the whole movie. Now, before you think anything let me clear up. I still am an understanding person. I knew my mentor was tired. However, being your die-hard fan, I still took revenge by making my mentor watch the same movie five times. 

No one should be allowed to disrespect my Goddess Xiu's hard work. No one at all!

Let me just add, after this day, my mentor would never do the mistake of sleeping in a movie theatre again. Not even in wildest of dreams.'

Xiu couldn't help smiling as she read the third letter. She didn't know why but it really brought a genuine smile on her face. Well, this one seemed like a lighter one than the previous ones she read. Or so she thought...

'There is something else special about today. Yes, I didn't decide to write this letter just to tell you that silly story of mine. I have another reason. 

While I took my mentor to the cinema for five days, coincidentally, I came across a father-daughter pair. The girl was only about five or six maybe. She was dressed as a princess while her dad dressed up as a prince matching the costumes to whatever movie they were about to watch together. The way he held her hand made me really envious.

Before you wonder why? I'm gonna enlighten you that I haven't met or seen my father. Like ever! I don't even know anything about him. I do know that he's in this country but nothing else. 

As for why I brought up that father-daughter pair is because they made me think. They made me wonder whether my father would have treated me the same way hers did? What do you think?

I don't like sharing these feelings with anyone but I still want you to know though.

I'm close to finding out who my father is now. Actually, I'm very close. But... I'm scared.

Because I don't even know if my father wants me or not? What if he doesn't want me and that's why I had been all alone with mom? I really don't know if I'm prepared to hear the answer or not. 

But my mentor said that the answer will always be no if you'll never even ask. So, I think I'm gonna take my chance. I have nothing to lose because I have nothing, to begin with.

Wish me luck!'

Xiu could understand her feelings very well. She grew up with those feelings. Whenever she asked her mother about her father, she never got an answer. So, it made her wonder if her father actually wanted her or not. In fact, the feelings Destiny just described were very familiar to her. She was also scared of knowing the real truth. "I wonder if you found him or not?"

"Find whom?" 

Xiu looked up at Darren who came to sit beside her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder like he usually did. It had become a habit of his and Xiu somehow found it very fulfilling. 

Xiu pointed at the letter in her hand saying, "Destiny was looking for her dad."

"Oh, so she found him?"

Xiu shrugged her shoulders showing she didn't know. "According to this letter, she was close to the answer. Should I try reading the next one?"

Darren didn't let her get up, "You promised only one letter a day. Don't overdo it."

Xiu sighed in defeat, "Fine. I won't try to overdo it. Did you meet mom before coming over?"

"She's sleeping. I guess you really exhausted her."

"I did no such thing. It was her... Forget it." Xiu wasn't gonna continue this at all. Even if it was Francesca who wanted to see everything, she wasn't going to say anything about it. Why bother? She also had fun. "By the way, do you notice something...?"

Darren stared at her face with a clueless look, "What? What am I supposed to notice?"

"Something changed..." Xiu tried to give him a hint by playing with the strand of her hair.

Hiding his smile, he still acted carelessly, "I don't see any change though."

"Baobei!" Xiu squinted her eyes dangerously at him.

Darren laughed at her reaction as he pinched her nose saying, "I don't know why but I find you very adorable when you're angry." Xiu puffed up her cheeks and looked away. Yes, we are doing the ignoring play now! "By the way, if you're referring to how your hair color is different then I did notice that." Xiu didn't react. "Also, your hair is shorter now."

Xiu's eyes widened as she turned back to look at him, "You even notice that?"

Darren nodded his head, "I told you I know your body better than you." Xiu pushed the throw cushion at his face while laughed at her reaction. "I'm not lying though. I'm the one who loves playing with your hair. Of course, I can notice that you decided to get a hair cut."

"So, when you say you only look at me. You actually aren't lying eh?"

"I'm definitely not lying about that."

Xiu held his face in her hands and said, "Sometimes I wonder that you should get an award for putting up with me."

Darren nodded his head agreeably, "That's called a wedding, Sweets."

"Huh?"

Darren patted her head saying, "I mean the ceremony should be called the wedding and the award should be a wife."

 "And who's the wife?" Xiu questioned trying to hide her smile at his overdose of sweet words which he never seems to get short of. Why did he always have something to say? And how did he always have something so sweet to say?

Darren tapped his chin thoughtfully, "I don't know. I'm still looking for her."

Xiu hit his head with the same throw cushion again. "Dare say that again?!"

Darren held her wrists as he pulled her over his lap said, "Sweets, when you know the answer don't ask stupid questions." He kissed on the side of her neck before the kisses shifted towards her jawline then running on to her lips before he went on, "I've only dreamed of seeing you in a white dress waiting for me. There had always been you. Just you!"

While Xiu was eager to kiss him again, a voice from behind her almost made her drop down to the floor.

"Get married already!"