Imperfect Desires

"What a pleasant surprise seeing you here!"

"La Madre Que te parió!![1]" Nora couldn't help cursing in Spanish when she turned her head to face that jackass of an ex-boyfriend who came out of nowhere. Didn't Xiu teach him enough lesson last time? Why the hell was he looking for trouble now?

Ah-Si looked at the boy behind Nora and then looked back at her. She lowered her head and tried to avoid his questioning eyes. 

"Found a new boyfriend?"

"None of your business," retorted Nora in a fed-up voice. 

"How long are you gonna keep him?" 

Nora clutched her fists tightly as she gritted out, "Again, none of your fucking business!"

"Still got that attitude huh?" The boy was definitely looking for trouble and Nora was holding herself back from saying anything. "Don't think I forgot what you and that slutty friend of yours did to me."

Nora was being very patient and civil with him but when he brought up Xiu, she was infuriated. How dare he called her sister names? He must be fed up of living!

"It must be painful since you can't fuck yourself anymore with that useless joystick of yours. Boo! Poor you!"

"Pfft!" Ah-Si burst out laughing. 

"You!" The boy moved over but Ah-Si stood in his way immediately and held him back. "Bro, step away. Trust me, she isn't worth it."

"And a cheater like you is any better?" said Nora as she craned her head to look at him. "I think you forgot what my sister warned you about."

"I'm not scared of you or her," he barked. 

Nora rubbed her ear saying, "Ah-Si, do you hear any dog barking around?"

"You, bitch!" he was gonna pounce on her when Ah-Si clicked his finger and two men dressed casually came out and held him back. 

"You don't have to be scared of her but you should be scared of me," said Ah-Si with a smile that didn't look like a smile. He waved his hand and Nora was left gaping at those men dragging the annoying pest away. She looked at Ah-Si who shrugged his shoulder, "I don't like people disturbing my date." Nora pressed her lips together. "But that ex-boyfriend..."

"I can explain," she abruptly said.

He chuckled at her and rubbed her head, "Nevermind. I don't care as long as he is just an ex." Nora smiled at him gratefully but she was really thinking of ways to strangle that fucking bastard who came to mess up her happy time.

....

"Where did those men come from?" questioned Xiu. Earlier when she saw Ah-Si stepping up, she was feeling scared for him. She knew Ah-Si wouldn't be able to take him on. But then those men came out of nowhere and took her off-guard. But seeing how calm Dylan was, she added, "You knew they were around?"

He nodded his head. "Either it's Ah-Si or Li bro, there is always someone around them. There is no way Uncle Zi would let them be. He is a very protective father, I must say."

"No wonder, Ah-Si was so willing to get into a fight." Now Xiu understood why Ah-Si didn't seem bothered at all. 

"What are they looking at now?" asked Xiu because when she looked back at Nora and Ah-Si, both of them were staring at something intently.

....

Back on Nora's side...

"Can you pretend like I didn't speak nonsense just now?" 

"Which one? Where you cursed in Spanish or where you just..." 

Nora lowered her head again and stared at her feet as if it was the most interesting thing in the world. "Both."

He nodded his head, "I can forget both. But it's not something new to me. In fact, I still remember how I used to find it amusing when you cursed in Spanish at someone just because they couldn't understand it and you'd get away with it easily."

Nora covered her mouth in shock, "Where did you hear me curse?"

"Quite a lot of places," he replied. Nora ended up covering her face hiding from him. He tried to pull her hands down but she refused. "If you think I fell in love with that innocent side of yours, then you're wrong." Nora peeped through her fingers as he continued, "In our circle, every other girl is the epitome of innocence. It annoyed me a lot seeing them acting weak, well-mannered, and pretty. You on the other hand always made a blunder with your fiery personality."

Nora kept staring at his face sweetly, "Did you just say you fell in love with me?"

Ah-Si's brows furrowed up, "Haven't we already established that? I do love you. It didn't change in all these years. And I don't want it to change anymore."

"Is it weird that I find it weird when you say something sweet? And when you're being so straightforward?"

Ah-si laughed at her and shook his head, "No, I don't think so." He was still laughing when he leaned against the glass railing but paused when his eyes caught the sight of a familiar face. 

Nora came to stand beside him and followed his line of sight. "She's beautiful." She couldn't help saying it but felt indignant because of the way his attention was caught by that beautiful face.

"I know Ying Jie is beautiful," he mumbled softly.

Nora's face lit up, "Oh, is that Ying Jie? I heard so much about her from Xiu. I was so eagerly waiting to meet her."

"She indeed is Ying Jie. But the real question is... Who is that guy with her?"

"Can be her boyfriend," replied Nora thoughtfully.

"Boyfriend?" repeated Ah-Si and shook his head. "How is that possible? If she had a boyfriend, my dad might throw a party for the whole city on her behalf. It must be a friend or colleague. It must be."

Nora pointed back in Ying's direction and said, "That doesn't look like just a friend to me though."

Ah-Si turned his head and was dumbfounded by the scene before him. 

[1] 'La Madre Que te parió!': Spanish for 'Motherf**cker!'