Imperfect Desires

-The Next Morning-

Nora heard some fumbling noises from outside that woke her up. She looked at the clock. It was only 5:50 in the morning. This was not the time Xiu would wake up. She was certain of that. Even if the world would be ending, her best friend would like to sleep through it. 

Then who was outside? A thief? At this time?

Nora got down from the bed and tiptoed her way to the door. She slowly and carefully opened the door and almost got a heart attack at how suddenly and out of nowhere, Xiu's face appeared before her eyes.

"Ahhh!" She shouted in shock while hitting Xiu with her eyes closed.

"Stop hitting me!" said Xiu and recognizing her voice, Nora finally stopped her attack. 

She placed her hand over her heart which was beating really fast now as she said, "Xiu'er! What the hell are you doing at this time? You scared me!"

Xiu pouted, "I'm just cleaning the apartment. What's wrong with that?"

"At this time?" questioned Nora while pointing at the clock. "Aren't you sleepy?"

"I am," said Xiu and even yawned showing that she was indeed sleepy. "I woke up at 4 o'clock and wasn't able to fall back asleep. So, I decided to do something useful. I didn't get the time to clean our place over the weekend, so I'm doing it now."

Nora stared at her face helplessly. She'd really be doing anything at any time without a care in the world.

"Oh, I have to hang the laundry. You can go back to sleep," said Xiu as she placed the mop at the side and ran over towards the laundry room. 

Looking at her back, Nora mumbled, "How am I supposed to sleep now?" She went back inside the room and freshened up. She came out and called Xiu, "Wanna have some coffee?"

Xiu craned her neck to look at her and nodded. She hung the laundry while Nora made coffee for both of them and brought it out in the fresh air on the balcony and waited for Xiu. 

"When did you come back last night?" questioned Xiu as she sat beside her.

"At 9 but you're already asleep."

"I was exhausted," replied Xiu. "So, what did you guys do after I left?"

Nora smiled mysteriously as she replied, "We went for a walk beside the lake. It was nothing really special but everything felt special. Even holding his hand felt special. Surprisingly, someone proposed so we got to even enjoy a firework show. It was really fun. Now, you can't tease me for this but I honestly feel like I became a lot closer to Ah-Si. And I have never felt this closer to him before."

"Good for you both," said Xiu while yawning again. 

"At least say it like you mean it."

"I might not seem like it but I truly mean it."

Nora shook her head at Xiu before asking, "What's your plan for the day? How about coming with me to the hotel? Then we'll go to see Ava in the evening."

"Not interested," retorted Xiu making Nora huff. "Don't be moody now. I have plans."

"What plans?"

"Well, I have to meet Dylan in a while then I have to pick up Jackie for school then I'm..." Nora's head started feeling dizzy with Xiu's itinerary. How come a jobless person seemed busier than her? How was that possible?

"Are you trying to keep yourself busy so that you won't miss your boyfriend?" Nora teased her playfully poking her cheeks.

Xiu opened her mouth and acted as if she was gonna bite her finger off. "Don't tease me. I also bite back sometimes then you don't like it."

"Oh, please! I still haven't forgiven you for how you tricked me yesterday."

"I didn't ask for forgiveness either. It's not needed because I know you loved kissing him."

"Xiu!" Xiu picked up her coffee mug and shrugged her shoulders in response. Nora shook her head at Xiu while sighing. "By the way, how come you're seeing Dylan every day now? You don't even work for him anymore."

"Didn't I tell you I'm teaching him piano?"

"So, the lesson is every single day? Just how dedicated are you to this task?"

Xiu sighed tiredly, "I'd feel accomplished if he really managed to learn anything."

Xiu was seemingly lost in staring at the birds flying in the sky when Nora tapped on the table to get her attention. Xiu looked down at her and she asked, "Ah-Si told me his elder brother is getting married. Do you know about that?" Xiu nodded her head in reply. "It's odd but when he told me that he was really happy. But suddenly he looked at that Ying Jie of yours and his smile vanished. That's when he chose to greet her as well."

"Do you really wanna know what's going on?" Nora straightened up and nodded her head eagerly. "I'm not telling."

"Xiu, why are you becoming so... Infuriating?"

"Thanks for the compliment." Xiu smiled at her before adding, "I don't mind telling you but it doesn't concern you. Right now, your main focus should be your daughter and your daughter's father. Stop getting distracted. And leave your old ways behind you."

Nora suddenly clicked her fingers, "That just reminded me, that stupid bastard of an ex-boyfriend almost ruined my first date with Ah-Si. I was so angry that I wanted to kick him where the sun doesn't shine. But a pity that Ah-Si was there."

Xiu patted her shoulder, "It's okay. Sometimes, even supergirls like us love a knight in shining armor."

"Are you kidding with me?"

"I'm not. Weren't you happy seeing how a snap of your man's finger was enough to kick that douchebag out of your sight?" Nora couldn't help nodding in agreement. How could she not like that? That was the moment she was reminded that Ah-Si might be simple but his background wasn't simple at all. "That's exactly what I mean. Although we are way too used to dealing with our problems on our own, there is nothing wrong with leaning a little on your significant other. What's the harm in having a sense of security?"

Nora perched her face on the heel of her hand as she said, "Xiu'er, is it just me or the way you talk is becoming a lot sweeter?"

"I was always sweet," replied Xiu.

Nora scoffed, "Honey, you had been acting like a block of cold ice."

"No way. If I was like that why does my Baobei call me Sweets? It's because I'm sweet."

"I never thought you'd be delusional one day. But it can't be helped. It's not your fault. Love does that to everyone. You're just another victim of it."

Xiu slapped her hands on the table startling her as she got up. "I forgot. There are buns in the oven."

Nora looked at her up and down before tilting her head. Soon, her eyes went round and she covered her mouth as she gasped. "You... You have buns in the oven?"

"Yeah!" Saying that Xiu ran inside to check up on the buns she was baking and when Nora followed her inside she was again shocked.

"You're talking about these buns?" she asked.

Xiu looked up at her face as she placed the bun on the serving plate and nodded her head. "Yes. What were you thinking?" Nora pursed her lips and her eyes instinctively went to Xiu's flat tummy. Xiu followed her gaze and when she realized her meaning, her face twisted. "NORA!"

Nora ran away while Xiu followed her. "It's not my fault. You said it like that!"

"I'm not gonna let you go today!" said Xiu as she threw a cushion at Nora which she dodged.

"How can you be so mad at me? It's good if there is really no bun in the oven for now. But you never know about the future."

Xiu threw whatever she could find at her best friend who was running to dodge. She brought it upon herself.