Imperfect Desires

Have you ever felt like murdering your best friend? Because that was the feeling Xiu was going through right now. How was it that Nora was always coming in at the wrong moment?! This was definitely not the first time for Nora to walk in on them like this.

Standing at the side was indeed Nora who was using her hand to cover her eyes but just like any other curious child, she also didn't forget to take peeks. As if she'd miss the show!

"Why are you here?" 

Xiu was gritting her teeth threatening Nora to crush her with her... teeth? Maybe. But just Darren had said earlier, she looked rather adorable doing it like a rabbit. Hehe...

Nora removed her hands from her eyes as Xiu got off Darren's body and sat down at the sofa with an annoyed face. "My dear Xiu'er, I know you become a little dumb queen when you're with Darren..." Xiu glared at her for calling her 'little dumb queen' but Nora didn't pay attention as she went on, "But you shouldn't forget that I still live here." 

"I didn't forget that," grumbled Xiu before asking, "But weren't you gonna stay at home for a while?"

"Wouldn't you be happy about that?" Xiu ignored her teasing. She really didn't want to argue about it. "But on a serious note, when are you both really getting married? Aren't you tired of torturing people like me? Just ring those wedding bells already!"

"You really need to stop," saying that Xiu got up and left the lounge. 

Seeing how Xiu went to her room, Nora sat down beside Darren and said with an amused, "Hi, Darren!" She could see his excitement when she mentioned those 'wedding bells'. 

"Hey!" Darren finally spoke after he was done enjoying the playful argument between Nora and Xiu. "How are you, Nora?"

"I'm good. Very good actually," replied Nora with a sweet smile before adding, "I won't ask you the same though because it's written all over your face how good you're feeling."

"Indeed, I'm feeling great," said Darren with a sweet smile playing on his lips and didn't bother commenting over how Nora's brows were wiggling at him playfully. "But I'd like to know about you. How are you feeling? Now that you've met Ava and even cleared up everything with your family. How's it going?"

"Pretty good," answered Nora with an affectionate look on her face at the mentioning of Ava's name. "I honestly still can't believe that such an adorable little girl is actually mine."

"I can't either," replied Darren which earned him a hard stare from her.

"Being savage are we now Darren?"

Darren shrugged his shoulders, "Maybe." He took a pause before asking, "Your parents met Ava?"

"Not yet. Ah-Si promised to bring Ava tomorrow morning and since I didn't want him to come to my family home, I came here instead." 

"Why don't you want him to come to your parent's place?"

Nora chuckled at Darren's reaction. Right at this moment, Xiu came out of the room and Nora asked her, "When are you bringing your boyfriend home? I'd like him to know why I don't want Ah-Si to come knocking at my parent's door just yet."

Darren also looked up at his girlfriend questioning, "Yes, when are you taking me to meet them?"

"Soon," replied Xiu offhandedly.

"I guess that soon is never coming for you Dazi."

Xiu looked at Dylan who appeared out of nowhere and frowned, "I thought I finally got rid of you. Why are you here?"

Dylan came to stand beside Xiu and even perched his elbow on Xiu's shoulder saying, "Then I guess you're never getting rid of me. I'm an annoying pest, I won't leave you even in a grave! Hehe."

Pushing Dylan away from his Sweets, Darren pulled her behind him. "I warned you to keep some distance from my Sweets."

"Easy there, man! I was just joking," Dylan raised his hands in defense. 

"How did you come inside?" asked Xiu.

"Oh, I met him downstairs. But he was busy on a call, so I left the door open for him," answered Nora to Xiu's question.

"Have you lost your mind? Nora, we don't leave doors open for wild monkeys!" 

Darren and Nora were the only ones who laughed at Xiu's words while Dylan was squinting his eyes at her. Meanwhile, Xiu wasn't also backing off as she stared right into his eyes challengingly. 

"Whatever!" finally Dylan shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly surprising everyone around him.

"You don't mind Xiu's words," questioned Nora in confusion. And when Dylan shook his head, she continued, "That's a first."

Xiu, however, knew this ex-boss very well. She wasn't falling for it that easily. Not so easily at all. "Dylan, what do you want from me?"

Dylan smiled at Xiu before saying, "Aye, my sister in law still knows me best."

Xiu smiled at him mockingly as she said, "Now start talking before this very understanding sister-in-law starts digging your grave right here."

"You can't dig the grave. The promise is of when you have a back garden." Dylan laughed at that old joke of Xiu while she deadpanned.

"Dude, that's not funny anymore."

Dylan's laughter died down with just her words. Did she have to ruin it all for him? If she made the same joke, it'd be funny but since he's the one doing it, it's not considered funny any longer? What kind of logic is that? Where is the justice?!

"I'm not gonna argue since I really do need your help," said Dylan and tried pushing Darren away from his way. "Bro, I'm not stealing your wife. At least, give me some access."

"Keep your hands off of her and I'll give the access," replied Darren plainly.

Dylan sighed out, "Fine. Fine. I won't touch her."

Darren made that 'I'm watching you' look before stepping away while Dylan took Xiu to a side since whatever he wanted to talk was supposed to be a secret from this best friend of his.

When Darren looked at Nora, she found him starring at her with a judgmental look. "Boy, your possessiveness really knows no bound."

Darren touched his ear saying, "I can't help it."

"And this is why I'm still asking, where is that bloody wedding ring?"

Darren looked back to see Dylan and Xiu at quite a distance before he pulled something from his pocket and showed it Nora saying, "It's here."

Nora's jaw almost dropped to the floor seeing the ring in his hand. She was joking. Why was he taking it so seriously?

"Since when are you carrying this around?" The reason why Nora asked this question was that she had come to understand Darren at some level. He wasn't someone impulsive. This ring had to be with him for a long time.

"Do you remember the time when I went to Norway? We hadn't been dating for that long at that time but I felt the void within my heart without her. That's when I knew if there is someone I'd be willing to spend my life with, it's definitely her." Nora gaped at him in disbelief. It had really been a long time. "I bought this from Norway. I just haven't found the right moment to pop up the question yet."

"Bloody hell! Even I'd be willing to say yes anywhere anytime if the one asking is you much less my sister who is head over heels in love with you."

Darren chuckled at Nora's response. "I know she'll say yes. I just want that moment to be special for her."

Nora patted his shoulder saying, "Bro, you're already very special to her. I don't think she's looking for anything fancy." Taking a pause, she went on, "I really think you should go along with it."

Darren also agreed with that but he still wanted to do something special and memorable for her. Teasing his Sweets was one thing but she was his other half, she deserved the best of everything!