Imperfect Desires

"I..." Dylan struggled with words. As for why? He didn't know. He silently followed her inside the house as he said, "I was just gonna come inside."

"Didn't seem like it," replied Xiu before beckoning him to lower his head. Dylan frowned in confusion but didn't dare to argue as he silently lowered his head. Xiu took his towel from around his shoulders and started wiping his hair. "I thought you guys weren't friends anymore."

Because of the towel, Dylan couldn't see her face. He thought for a minute before saying, "We are not."

"Then why was he here?" questioned Xiu as she pulled off the towel from his head and walked away.

"He was here as a neighbor to complain about the blunder I did last night." Xiu turned around with an inquisitive look. "The cat I played with was his." Xiu's frown deepened and as if understanding her, he went on, "I also am surprised to know that he's my neighbor. Shocking, right?"

Xiu shook her head in reply, "No... The shocking part is that he has a cat? Isn't he allergic to cats?"

Dylan also noticed this and nodded his head, "Oh, that's right. He does have a cat allergy. Then why is he keeping a cat?" All of a sudden, his eyes shifted to Xiu with a strange look.

"What? Why are you looking at me?"

"You didn't even know that your boyfriend doesn't like dogs but you do know that your ex-boyfriend is allergic to cats. That's hurtful."

Xiu rolled her eyes at him, "My boyfriend didn't tell me about his dislikes at that time. As for my so-called ex-boyfriend, he ended up in a hospital because of his cat allergy and I was the reason. I can't possibly forget that."

"Really?" Xiu nodded her head in reply. Dylan took a moment hesitating before he started, "About seeing your ex-boyfriend here... It must not be a good experience."

"I don't mind," was Xiu's casual remark which left Dylan staring at her agape. 

"You don't have to keep up this facade before me. I won't judge. I promise."

"But I'm not wearing any facade," retorted Xiu.

"You can't fool me."

"I know I can't fool you." Dylan felt smug when she said that but almost instantly wanted to choke her to death as she concluded with, "Fooling a fool is not my style."

"Xiu!"

"Lower your voice! I'm not your E.A anymore." Xiu's voice was calm but he could hear the warning lying underneath that calmness. "Also, as I said earlier, I really don't mind seeing Zhou Jinhai here."

Dylan was perplexed. How was that possible? He really wasn't willing to believe her words. 

"Then why did you just stood there? Seeing him at the door, you didn't move."

"I was a bit taken aback seeing him at the door and that too in his sleepwear. There is no other reason."

"Can I trust you?" asked Dylan.

Xiu exhaled before sitting with him. "Dear Didi, I know you're concerned about me but it's unnecessary. Seeing Zhou Jinahi, my heartbeat didn't change. It didn't rise, it didn't fall. It was so leveled that you could say looking at him was like looking at a stranger. I felt nothing. No love, no hate. Just nothing."

"Nothing?" Dylan repeated softly before saying, "Sourab Souryavanshi wrote, 'The feeling of feeling nothing anymore is the worst feeling ever.'"

Xiu smiled at him and replied, "When I said I feel nothing, I mean to say that I'm not reminded of the bad memories anymore. He doesn't have the power to control my emotions anymore. As for my feelings, I feel everything but it depends on the person I'm willing to feel it with."

Dylan stared at her face and said nothing.

"Now, get up. You've already wasted so much time. Let's get to that piano lesson."

Dylan's stomach grumbled in response. He rubbed his tummy saying, "But I'm hungry." Xiu raised her brow at him as he pleaded, "Can you make me something to eat?"

"Why should I?"

"Please! Shifu, you should be responsible for your disciple." Xiu raised her fist as if she was gonna hit him but ended up not doing it. Grumbling incoherently, she went over to the kitchen and looked through his fridge. "I just want some congee." Xiu glared at him and he changed his request, "I won't be picky. Anything is fine with me."

He looked so adorable doing it that Xiu couldn't bring herself to say no. She ended up getting the ingredients for the congee as per his request. Now she was reminded of what Darren warned her about, 'It's easy to fall into Dylan's trap. He has a way to play with feelings. There is a reason why no one has ever been able to say no to him for anything.' 

Xiu understood those words completely now. The way Dylan looked at her was enough to make her feel guilty for even thinking of saying no. She really wondered why this big baby was so good at throwing his charms around!

When Dylan finally got his bowl of congee, his face lit up so brightly that it could put a fluorescent bulb to shame. Wait! That was the wrong reference. But whatever!

Anyways, big baby Dylan just happily dug into his bowl of congee and forgot about the rest of the world. Xiu watched him eating and suddenly questioned, "Where is the bouquet of orchids that I placed at the table?"

Dylan choked and Xiu passed him the glass of water while rubbing his back. "I threw it out."

"Why? Such pretty flowers, how can you just throw it out?"

"If you want it, I'll get you new flowers," retorted Dylan which earned him a smack on his head.

"Give those flowers to your girl. I don't need flowers from you. I have my boyfriend who can even write a love confession with flowers."

Dylan sighed, "Then let's not talk about the flowers I threw out."

"But-"

Dylan raised his hand to stop her. "And don't ask why I did it."

Xiu stared at him dumbfounded. Why was he getting so worked up? She just asked about the flowers! What was there to get mad about? Argh! It was really hard to understand him sometimes.