Imperfect Desires

Xiu and Jackie looked at Nora and shook their heads, "You have impeccable timing."

"Are you both being sarcastic with me?" asked Nora as she stared at them behaving in the same manner. It could get creepy sometimes considering how much Jackie was taking after Xiu as he grew up. "Forget it. You, little brother, tell me if she's the best what exactly am I?"

"Why are you so hung up on that?" retorted Jackie. "You both are my sisters and you're both the best to me." Nora finally felt relieved to hear that. "But, now you should put more effort into becoming the best mother like our mom. Because I know you're awesome but your daughter doesn't know."

Nora was staring at him agape then she pointed at him and turned her attention towards Xiu, "Can you please enlighten me why every word of his feels like he's taunting me?"

"He isn't though," replied Xiu while hugging her little brother. "Jackie is absolutely right. You need to grow out of this phase. Your daughter is young and she needs you. Besides, Ava might find that familiarity with you because you're her mother but she still needs time to get comfortable with her."

Nora was contemplating her words when she went on, "Also, don't overlook the fact that you and Ah-Si have no clear definition of what's going on between you two. We're not trying to force you into anything. But it's time for you to think. And by thinking, I definitely don't mean overthinking. Thinking means, you need to sit down with Ah-Si and decide where you both want to head to from here on. And whether the two of you can take that route together or not. I feel like a parrot repeated my words again and again to you."

"This is why I think Xiu is the smartest one," Jackie chimed in making Nora squint her eyes at him dangerously. But since Xiu's arms were wrapped around him from behind, why would he care about Nora? Nora was like the paper tiger before the real tigress named Xiu.

"I already am thinking about that," said Nora after a while. "I told you I still love him. And I'd love to spend my life with him as well. But..."

"But? There is still a but in that statement?" argued Xiu.

"There is always a but when it comes to Nono," added Jackie in disappointment.

"Will you both shut up and listen?" Xiu and Jackie shared a look before nodding agreeably. "But I wasn't certain about Ah-Si's stance at all. I was hesitating to even ask him. However, today he asked me out on a date and I don't wanna jump to conclusions but I think he has the same idea as me."

Seeing the blissful smile on Nora's face, Xiu was pleased. "Great! The problem solved right here then." Xiu got up from the bed and patted Nora's head, "It's time for you to finally start the journey then. Instead of running from the pain, it's better if you focus on embracing everything life throws at you."

While Nora was in deep thought after listening to Xiu, the latter was busy muttering to Jackie, "She is so big and she still needs lectures from me. When is she gonna grow up?"

"Never..." was Jackie's nonchalant reply which Xiu completely agreed with.

Xiu and Jackie got busy with laughing at her meanwhile the person being laughed at was still in a daze. Which only broke with a scream.

"Ahhhh!"

"What the bloody h-"

"Bad words!"

Xiu looked at Jackie with a guilty smile and changed her words, "I mean what the bloody fish! Why are you screaming?"

Nora held Xiu's shoulders and looked at her anxiously, "We have an emergency."

"Huh?"

"I have nothing to wear on the date!"

Xiu's face twitched before she facepalmed herself and smacked Nora's head later on. "Is that an emergency? Stop overreacting!"

"You also overreacted when you were supposed to go on your first date with Darren. Why can't I? I had been waiting for this for years."

Xiu found Nora's reasoning very reasonable and replied, "I agree. But do you wanna go shopping at this time? It's almost 9 o'clock now. Isn't it better to pick something from your wardrobe?"

"You don't get it, my wardrobe is anything but first date material."

"That doesn't even make sense," said Xiu with a tired look. "How about checking my wardrobe then? I still have so many clothes that I never even tried on."

"That's because Xiu loves sleeping rather than going out for fun." Jackie's words made Xiu smile at herself in pride. Just how smart was she! Her motto; 'Sleeping is better than fun.' had not only saved her so much trouble, but she also saved up a lot of money. 

"Are you feeling very happy to hear that?" asked Nora and Xiu nodded her head without hesitation. "You're lucky that your boyfriend is also just like you. He also loves to stay indoors. You both are such a homey couple that it makes me feel..."

"Envious?"

Nora stared at Xiu's smirk and felt indignant. However, she still bobbed her head up and down honestly. She indeed found them very envious. Xiu and Darren were the only pair she saw who would rather have a homemade meal than going on adventurous dates.

First, they both didn't have time for that. Second, they both were homebodies. 

And yet, their small gestures like going to the office together, coming back together, sharing at least one meal together, going for grocery shopping together, having a walk in the park together, or just simply accompanying each other to sleep were enough to make anyone jealous.

"You just made me realize that I still haven't gone shopping with my Baobei. And I still have to take him to the beach and see fireworks together. He has to buy me balloons as well." Nora's words finally enlightened Xiu who was already content with her dating experience. She never hoped for anything extravagant. This simple dating was enough for her. She shrugged her shoulders and said, "But whatever! We have our whole lives to do that stuff."

Nora rolled her eyes at Xiu and said, "Sis, you really love rubbing it in that your love is superior."

"There is no such thing as superior love," argued Xiu. "It's all about how much you trust your love and your loved one."