Imperfect Desires

Early in the morning when Ah-Si came to drop Ava off, he was left baffled seeing Dylan and Darren there. He could understand why Darren was there but what the hell was Dylan doing here?!

Nora, however, didn't pay attention to his expressions since she was busy hugging her little bun whom she missed so much in just couple of days. How was it that she felt so bloody attached to the girl whom she only met twice? Perhaps, that's what being a mother was like. She loved the feeling of how Ava would snuggle up to her every single time as she if she found comfort against her chest. 

How come she never knew before that this motherly feeling could actually make you feel so full?

"Wanna have breakfast, Si bro?" Xiu invited Ah-Si to join them for breakfast as she served the other two lads at the table and joined them.

Ah-Si didn't hear Xiu's question since he was still engrossed in throwing daggers at Dylan with his eyes. He really wanted to ask him what he was doing at someone else's home early in the morning?

"Ah-Si, if you're that hungry try this breakfast that my younger sister-in-law made. Trust me, I won't taste half as good as her food." Dylan knew Ah-Si was really gonna gnash him under his teeth if he didn't stop so he added, "Would you look at that... My elder sister-in-law is so happy seeing my cute niece who I apparently didn't even know existed until a couple of days ago."

Poor Dylan became the last person to even find out about Ava's existence. Either he was too clueless or he was too engrossed in Cali that he didn't bother about what was going on around him these days.

"Dylan, what did you call Nora?" asked Xiu.

"Elder sister-in-law," answered Dylan simply. "Since Nora came first she is technically elder sister-in-law while you're the younger one."

Darren patted Dylan's shoulder saying, "Didi, you're getting smarter."

"I know," said Dylan and looked at Ah-Si whose murderous aura was finally replaced with something different. 

Xiu leaned close to Dylan and said, "I know what you did there. But come on! Those two have a child together and yet they are acting like bloody teenagers on a first date. At this rate, that niece of yours would be bringing home her first boyfriend before her parents could make any progress."

Dylan laughed out. He gave Xiu a thumbs up saying, "I didn't see you for a day and I almost forgot how savage you can get."

"Keep in mind next time," said Xiu making him laugh even more.

"Uh-oh, there goes another volcano," Dylan said pointing at Darren. "Relax. It's just an inside joke between me and my sister-in-law."

Darren didn't say anything. It wasn't worth it really because he knew the nature between Xiu and Dylan's friendship. They were one of the weirdest pairs after all. Even their inside jokes were the weirdest ones like them.

"Dylan why are you here so early in the morning though?" The question came from Ah-Si who finally joined them at the breakfast.

"I never left bro," answered Dylan. "I mean I slept at Dazi's place. I was gonna have breakfast with my favorite aunt in the world but Francesca went out on a date with my mom."

"Aw, poor Dylan was abandoned," teased Xiu making Dylan pout.

"Xiu, you won't like me when I'm angry!"

"I don't like you anyway," replied Xiu as she stuck out her tongue at him. 

Dylan pointed his finger at Xiu saying, "Someday you'll have to answer God for your actions and trust me, God won't be so merciful."

Xiu patted his head to annoy him as she said, "And that's why Dylan, you need to do better in life."

"Xiu!"

"Dylan!"

"Kids, let me eat in peace."

Ah-Si was left dumbstruck at the way this breakfast turned out. He didn't know whether he was supposed to laugh or not.

However, Darren's words worked like charm since Xiu and Dylan decided to keep it down.

"Does this happen often?" Ah-Si asked Nora. In some way, he knew this happened often since he had seen the way Xiu and Dylan bickered but he thought they'd keep some civility for a show before Darren. Who knew these kids were unrestrained. 

"This is very normal between Dylan and Xiu. In fact, you should be glad that they aren't pulling each others hair."

"You don't mean it literally right?" 

Nora smiled at Ah-Si's reaction as she nodded. "I do mean it literally though." She turned to her baby girl as she said, "Ava baby, you shouldn't learn such bad things from your aunt and uncle. They both are psycho."

"Hey! You can't slander us like that!" Both Xiu and Dylan exclaimed simultaneously. "We are the most innocent ones here!"

Nora rolled her eyes at both of them, "I wonder how your face doesn't even hurt calling yourself innocent at this point."

Darren got up since he was done with breakfast and looked at Dylan, "You coming?" 

"Nope," was Dylan's reply.

"Exactly when are you gonna leave?"

"I haven't decided yet," answered Dylan and took a sip of his soy milk not paying any heed to what Darren's face looked like right now. 

Xiu helped Darren with his jacket and walked with him to the door which made Dylan shout from behind, "No wonder you resigned. You just wanted to be a good housewife!"

"Dylan, don't forget your fate is in my hands right now," Xiu threat worked as Dylan made the gesture of zipping his lips. He knew she wasn't gonna help if he continued being a jerk like this. Then she turned to Darren and kissed him saying, "Have a good day, Regan!"

"If you say it like that I wouldn't want to leave you," he was hugging her waist refusing to let go.

"But you have to," said Xiu.

"Why?"

"Because if you won't earn money, how will I splurge it all?"

Darren kissed her forehead saying, "Then I have to earn more and more."

"Yes, you do."

"What is he doing here really?" asked Darren as he pointed at Dylan.

"I'll tell you when you get back," answered Xiu mysteriously. "Something tells me, you'll find it very interesting."