Imperfect Desires

It had been years since Dylan had known about this place but he had never brought anywhere here. In fact, not even Darren knew about it. This could be considered Dylan's personal space where he liked to come whenever he felt lost. He never felt like he needed to share this space with anyone. In fact, he never thought it'd be so comforting to have someone special's company at such a place.

Today, however, this lost boy had brought someone with him. For some reason, Dylan wanted Cali to know about this place. And feeling the comfort with her presence, he just knew how right his decision was.

Cali wasn't the kind of person who would lean on Dylan's shoulder to enjoy this beautiful night breeze. But Dylan definitely was that kind of person. He pulled out a blanket from the bag and wrapped it around himself and her while sliding close to her. He even placed his head on her shoulder saying, "You won't feel cold this way."

Cali was speechless at his subtleness which was certainly not so very subtle. Or he wasn't even trying to be subtle anymore.

"Why did you bring me here?" she asked out of the blue. "I mean isn't it, your secret place?"

"It was my secret," he answered. His voice lowered a little as he added, "Now it's ours."

Cali didn't know what to say to that. For a while, she was lost for words. 

"I feel like you're taking special classes from Regi," she joked.

"Na-ah! I took a class from Xiu but Dazi is definitely not on my list of teachers."

"Earlier you talked about your master chef, you were talking about Xiu, right?"

Dylan didn't hide the most obvious thing, "Yes, Xiu made everything."

"She also hit you with the spatula?" 

"About that..."

*Flashback to earlier in the day*

"I told you to add salt," Xiu was seething now.

"And I did," trailed off Dylan because he was uncertain whether he really added the salt or not.

Xiu lifted her hand to hit him and Dylan took a step back to avoid but since Xiu was holding a spatula, it still ended up hitting him. It wasn't a hard hit. But since he could get bruises easily, he ended up getting one from that light blow as well.

"Ah! How can you do that?" he rubbed his forehead and pouted at her.

"Quit pouting. It won't work on me," scolded Xiu as she looked at the omelet that was ruined now. Xiu pulled his ear saying, "Are you blind? How can you mistake sugar and salt? And this isn't even the first time you did the same mistake!"

"They both look alike and even the jars are same," argued Dylan in his defense. Even he remembered, last time he ruined her sweet soup by adding salt in it, this time he added sugar in an omelet. How messed up was his eyesight?!

Xiu turned the jars and showed him, "It's clearly written which one is salt and sugar. Unless you're really dumb, you can't mess this up! AGAIN!!!"

"Oh, I didn't see that," Dylan seemed surprised to see the tags on the jars. It seems like he really messed up. "Whatever! I just took the wrong jar, no big deal."

Xiu smacked his head saying, "I think your mom also gave birth to the wrong thing. Because I'm not willing to believe you're Zhao Wei's son!"

"About that, I'll ask mom," replied Dylan in all seriousness.

Xiu groaned as she looked at him.

"What are we doing now?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you're the kitchen expert. You should know how to fix it," answered Dylan.

"We're starting again," said Xiu and got all the ingredients again. 

Dylan looked at her sheepishly and mumbled, "Sorry!" he was the one actually using her and he even messed up everything for her. He really felt bad about doing it.

Xiu ruffled his hair saying, "Forget it. It won't take that long anyway. We can fix it as you said, I'm the kitchen expert here." Dylan looked at her in surprise. "No need to frown so much. Keep that bright smile of yours on, we still have a girl to impress."

Dylan couldn't help chuckling at her response as he said, "Don't they say girls dig those cold and arrogant looking guys?"

"Whoever said that must have never met a man with a handsome smile," replied Xiu.

"Are you saying that I have a handsome smile or you're referring to your boyfriend?"

"My boyfriend looks handsome in whatever expression he wears, as for you..." she trailed off while looking him up and down, "You look grumpy if you aren't smiling."

Dylan shook his head at her, "I really can't tell whether you're insulting me or complimenting me just like I can't tell whether you're rooting for me or not."

Xiu patted his shoulder, "Don't worry. I'm definitely rooting for you just like I'm definitely trying to add some insult on that injury you just received from me."

*End of Flashback*

"I really can't tell whether you and Xiu are close or..."

Dylan smiled, "Dazi thinks we're closer than siblings." Cali was surprised to hear that as he went on, "To be honest, recently I think my own sister doesn't get me as much as Xiu does. She is like a mind reader, she always knows what's on my mind. She never push me for an answer, she first makes me laugh and let my guard down. Just like that, I end up pouring my heart before her."

"That's some real talent," said Cali.

"The other day, she was giving me those weird pick up lines to impress you. Do you know what she said?" Cali raised her brow inquisitively. "She was like, 'Hey boy, are you my sleep? Because I really can't get enough of you.'" Cali laughed out hearing that when he added, "Exactly that was Darren's reaction because according to him, from a person whose hobby is sleeping, he expected that kind of a pickup line."

"She sounds like someone who is full of life," remarked Cali which made Dylan quiet down.

'Full of life?' he wondered to himself. "I really don't know if she's full of life or not but she definitely takes life very seriously now. So, I'm giving you a piece of advice, never get in an argument with her. Like ever! She can get brutal in a way you won't even like."