Imperfect Desires

"I heard you went out shopping with Cali."

Since downstairs no one was interested in talking to her, she'd just have her long-overdue heart-to-heart with Nora. It truly had been a while since these two sat down to talk it out. Especially since Nora learned about Ava, she was either focused on bonding with her daughter or rekindling her love with Ah-Si. 

"Yeah! She said she needed an expert's opinion."

Xiu smirked, "You must be proud of being an expert in this field."

Nora scratched her head sheepishly, "I actually felt awesome that someone actually called me out for shopping and even said that I was helpful. Otherwise you and mom always just go on and on about how useless hobbies I have. I mean shopping is a women's right and passion. How can it be a useless hobby?"

Xiu looked like she was really bored to hear Nora saying all that about shopping. Actually, she was bored since it wasn't her first time hearing it. And she even knew that Nora wasn't done yet.

Indeed, with a swooning expression, Nora clasped her hands together saying, "Let me tell you... Whenever that 'Swish!' sound of swiping the card is heard, I feel like I found a new freedom. You guys just don't understand the feeling... As if you own the whole world."

Xiu exhaled a long and heavy breath before she sat up on her knees to smack Nora's head, "Can you let go of this obsession? You're supposed to teach good things to your daughter, are you planning on teaching Ava how to shop like you?"

"Why? Is something wrong with that?" Nora didn't get Xiu's point. "I'll teach her whatever I'm best at. And as you know I'm best at sh..."

"Squandering money over useless things," Xiu finished her sentence for her making Nora glare. 

"How can you even say that about your best friend?" Nora wasn't pleased to hear that remark.

But Xiu didn't really care as she said, "Why? Did I say something wrong? There are over a hundred clothes in your wardrobe that you have never even touched. And yet when you go to the closet to see what to wear, you always end up saying, 'I don't have anything to wear.'"

"I'm not the only one like that. All normal girls do that," argued Nora firmly.

"I don't though," retorted Xiu.

"Then you must be not normal." Seeing how Xiu's eyes were narrowing, Nora grinned and tried to distract her with, "Anyways, let me just tell you this. We girls only need an excuse to shop. Whatsoever the occasion. And if we can't find any occasion, we'd still make one just to justify why we are going shopping."

Xiu rubbed her forehead and wondered if Nora was really gonna make her daughter just like her? She honestly hasn't found the fun in shopping that Nora always talked about. It was still just words to her with no basis. 

She laid back on Nora's bed and covered her eyes with her arm.

"What's up? Are you tired?" asked Nora when she looked at Xiu.

Instead of answering her, Xiu began, "Do you know Cali is actually my maternal cousin?"

"What?" exclaimed Nora as she hurried up the bed and shook Xiu's body asking, "What do you mean? Are you sure about that?"

Xiu lifted her arm from her eyes but didn't open her eyes as she went on, "Her name is Calista Novell. She is from Italy. I hope you haven't forgotten that my name is Destiny Novell." It felt weird to address herself as Destiny Novell since she wasn't used to it at all. But she felt like this was something that Nora needed to know. 

When Xiu briefed in on whatever she knew about Cali and her relationship, Nora was stunned for a while before she voiced out carefully, "But she doesn't have any resemblance to you." Xiu's brows quirked up. "I mean she is a typical western beauty. As for you... I have never said it but let's face it you don't have any feature that brings out that Italian side of your blood. Isn't it weird?" Nora tapped her chin and added, "But then again, you had no resemblance to your mother as well. I shouldn't be surprised that you look nothing like your cousin."

"Nora... My dear Dora, the explorer..." Nora glared at Xiu for using that nickname but Xiu disregarded her expressions as she went on, "Stop putting things into my head. My life isn't that easy, to begin with. Don't try to complicate it further."

Nora pressed her lips together and nodded but couldn't help asking, "So, did you find anything else? For instance, anything about your father?"

"I know who is he now but I haven't met him yet in person."

They both lied down in silence as Nora could feel the complicated mood of Xiu and didn't want to probe any further. She knew 'this father' topic was very sensitive to Xiu, she wouldn't was to push it. It was already a very huge accomplishment for her that Xiu had opened up to her this much on her own.

*Knock! Knock!*

The silence in the room was broken by the knocking sound. Nora got up and pulled open the door. Seeing Darren at the door, she turned around to Xiu as she said, "Your husband really can't live without you. It's just been fifteen minutes and here he comes looking for her."

Darren didn't mind Nora's teasing as he answered, "I can't help. If I don't see my wife for just a few minutes, I get anxious."

"Of course, you do. Mister Thief!"

"Thief?" repeated Darren. "What did I steal?"

"My sister!" roared Nora. "Without even telling me, you stole my sister."

"First of all, I think I had told you that I wanted to propose her like a month ago. So, it can't come as a surprise to you." He took a pause before adding, "Secondly, blame it on your sister. She attacked me first with her charms and stole my heart. So, the real thief here is my wife."

Nora was baffled, "I'm trying to be angry at you for marrying so abruptly. And here you are shoving your bloody love right at my face. Don't you have any shame?!"

Darren walked inside the room and sat beside Xiu who was silently watching these two argue. He held her hand and kissed her knuckles softly as he said, "Let's not forget that while I was not here, you all made my wife depressed with your extreme display of affections as well. I have to get back at you for that."

Nora rolled her eyes at Darren, "So, you're really one of those husbands who will do anything to get back at everyone who wronged their dear wife, eh?"

"Was there ever a doubt about that?" wondered out Darren. "I think it's pretty obvious that I won't let anyone go whoever dares to hurt my wife in the slightest."

Nora's brows knitted up as she suddenly realized something, "OMG! You are totally taking advantage of this argument to casually just call her, 'My wife! My wife!' You're enjoying it, aren't you?"

Darren smiled at his wife and kissed her forehead before saying to Nora, "I'm definitely loving it. It's sounds so natural."

Nora held her head in her hands. "Bloody hell! I don't even have words for your shamelessness at this point."

Darren hugged Xiu who was still silent but now her eyes were twinkling as she heard more and more. Placing his chin at the top of her head, he went on, "If showing my love for my wife publicly makes me a shameless person, I don't mind being one." He tucked a strand of Xiu's hair behind her ear as he said, "As long as I can see her smile."

"I can't believe you both are still able to make me feel jealous even when I'm no longer single. It's truly appalling." No matter how she worded it, inside, she was feeling really happy seeing these two together. It was just like she felt proud of herself. Her vision was great. She always knew these two would make the best pair. And see? They are indeed the best! "Darren!"

"Yes?" Darren looked up at Nora.

"You better take care of my sister. Don't even think about leaving her alone! Never! Ever! She needs you."

"Just like humans can't function without oxygen, I can't function without my wife." Xiu pulled away slightly to look into his eyes as his eyes found hers, his smile softened, "It's not her who needs me. It's me. I need you more, Mrs. Salvay."

Seeing the loving looks they were sharing, Nora's heart felt stuffy. It felt like some cotton candy was stuck inside. These two lovebirds were really something else!

"Ahem!" Nora cleared her throat sensing the heated stare between them and added, "Xiu's room is down the hall, you both can take this sexual tension there and leave my lonely room."

Xiu whipped her head around to glare at Nora who stepped back a little and laughed awkwardly, "What? You looked like you're gonna eat him up here. So, I was just being helpful."

"As much as I appreciate your help, it'd be good if you shut your mouth for now."

Xiu's one warning and Nora already zipped her lips and locked it before even throwing the key far away. It was enough to tease this much for today. If she continued, Xiu was certainly gonna have her head for dinner!