Imperfect Desires

*Ding-Dong!*

Yan Ying was drinking the soda water when she heard the doorbell and frowned. Who was here to disturb her on Saturday evening? Wasn't she already disturbed enough in life? Not many people even knew that she moved here. She even canceled the housewarming party because she wasn't in the mood after whatever was going on in her life. 

*Ding-Dong!*

Ying groaned in annoyance as the doorbell rang once again before walking over to the door and pulled it open. But when the person at the door pulled down her shades and smiled slyly, Ying's expressions changed completely. Her shoulders hunched over as she questioned herself, 'Why the hell did you open the door?'

"Won't you invite a guest inside?" asked the person standing before her. 

"I don't think you're here as a guest, Meihui," replied Ying plainly.

"How rude! I heard so much about your exemplary manners and seeing it myself, I'm disappointed. As they say, seeing is believing." Ying knew she was trying to get under her skin. That mocking smile was enough for her to know it. 

She clenched the soda bottle tightly to stop herself from getting into another argument with Qiu Meihui. They have had plenty of those since they were young and to be honest, Ying thought now that they were almost 30, they really needed to grow out of these petty differences.

"Why are you here? Or how can I be of help?" inquired Ying keeping her voice at a calming level.

"I wanted to be the first one to tell you this news," began Qiu Meihui. "I'm getting married to Xiaoli." Seeing how Ying didn't have any reaction to this news, she pouted, "What is it? Don't make it boring for me. I especially drove all the way here to give you this news. And you're not even reacting?"

"I don't know why people think it's necessary for me to have a reaction," replied Ying calmly before taking another sip of her soda water to calm herself down. On normal days, Qiu Meihui's face was enough to get Ying's mood to go downward and today wasn't any different.

"You're really pretentious," remarked Qiu Meihui which made Ying's brow lift up slightly. "Aren't you Xiaoli's best friend? Oh, sorry! I mean that had been your cover to stay with him for years. So, as a best friend shouldn't you be happy?"

"I'm very happy. So delighted that I can't express in words," was Ying's reply. Qiu Meihui's smile stiffened slightly as she noticed the calmness in Ying's eyes.

"Interesting... You're not putting up a fight anymore?" Even Qiu Meihui knew Ying's fighting nature. She wasn't a quitter. At least, that's the Ying Qiu Meihui knew of; the one who never gave up and insisted on having this battle with her. "Lost the fighting spirit? Or you finally realized that you can't win from me?"

"You think too highly of yourself," stated Ying in a bored manner. "As Xiaoli's best... Sorry, I mean ex-best friend I should be happy with whatever he is happy with. This has nothing to do with my fighting spirit. I have sincerely treated him as my best friend. Yes, I had ulterior motives but even he can't say that I brought any harm to him."

"Ex-best friend?" repeated Qiu Meihui. "You're not even gonna fix that bond then?"

"It's not my responsibility to fix a bond I didn't break. Just like I can't create a bond that's not meant for me."

Ying's reply caught Qiu Meihui off guard. She really didn't expect this kind of reaction from Ying.

"This is really no fun anymore. I thought I'd get to see your face pale and you crumbling down after hearing about this. But since you're pretending to be so strong, it's not that fun." Ying rolled her eyes and seriously didn't want to comment on this. "But it's still quite entertaining to see you holding on to your pride."

"If you have nothing better to say, I'm gonna head back inside." 

Ying was about to close the door but Qiu Meihui didn't let her. "What's the hurry? You haven't even heard why I'm really here."

"You might be a sadist who finds gratification in humiliating me every single time but I'm not a masochist. I really don't enjoy this twisted game of yours."

"But I haven't even started the game yet."

"There is more to it?" questioned Ying with sarcasm palpable in her voice.

Qiu Meihui fished through her purse and extended the golden envelope towards her. "My wedding invitation. Wouldn't you like to see it?" Ying stared at the invitation for a long moment without moving. "Scared to hold it?"

Ying took it from her hand and even opened the envelope. "You seem to be in a hurry. The wedding is only three weeks away. Just how scared are you of me?"

"Dream on! I've never been scared of you," retorted Qiu Meihui. "The date is decided by my mom. I have no say in it."

Yan Ying laughed at her face. She kept laughing until she thoroughly irked Qiu Meihui and ruined her good mood with her laughter. 

"Is the news that depressing that you lost your brain?"

Ying squinted her eyes at Qiu Meihui and replied, "I haven't lost my brain. I'm just amused to see how much importance I hold in your life."

"What?"

"Not many people know about my new address since I just moved here which means, you actually asked around to find out about my address. Not only that, but you also came all the way here to give me the invitation in person. I think even friends don't get such privileges that I'm getting as your 'worst enemy'."

"Is it fun twisting everything in your own world? But then again, whatever makes you happy. After all, as I said, I'm already amused enough to see you trying to pretend to be strong in front of me."

Ying shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly, "Why should I pretend? I am strong. I don't need a certificate for it from you. Oh, wait! I don't even need your acknowledgment."