Imperfect Desires

Earlier when Darren had come to his wife's side, he was able to hear the constant banter between Dylan and Xiu from quite a distance. He really had to give it to these two. Although these banters had become a norm to everyone surrounding Dylan and Xiu, it was still a sight to behold each time.

"Xiu, you're annoying!"

"No, dear Dylan! I told you already, I'm not annoying, I'm Xiu!"

"I'm very serious!"

"When did I say your name is nonserious?"

"Don't kid around with me!"

"There is no kid around here, Dylan." Dylan was gnashing his teeth at this point at how Xiu kept on twisting his words repeatedly. It was truly getting on his nerves. No, no! It got on his nerve pretty early, now he was just hanging by a thread. As soon as that thread broke, he might end up tackling her down right here and right now! "Actually, the only kid I see here is you!"

"XIU!"

"Don't scream! My ears are perfectly fine. Just because you're deaf doesn't mean everyone is!"

"I don't even know why I started this knowing very well that I was the one who was gonna suffer in the end?"

"That's a question you should be asking yourself."

"I hate you!"

Xiu laughed at him, "Why is that whenever you have no other way to retort, you resort to saying you hate me? I already know you hate me. I have said it repeatedly that the feeling is very mutual. Don't bother wasting your breath!"

Dylan took a deep calming breath before his sight fell on his best friend as if finding his life savor, he started, "Dazi, your girl is bullying me."

Darren took a seat beside Xiu and looked at her who in turn smiled innocently. "Come on, Didi! My wife looks so innocent. How can she bully a bully like you?"

Dylan gaped at his best friend in disbelief, "You certainly know how or when to change sides. Don't forget it's pals before gals!"

"Ah-Si, did my wife bully him?" Darren completely ignored Dylan and shifted to ask Ah-Si who had been silently watching the drama unfold between Dylan and Xiu for a while now. 

Ah-Si looked at Xiu and smiled before shaking his head, "How can she? She is such a cutie pie!"

"Wow! You all are turning your backs on me. Fantastic!" Dylan was out of breath now that he was done whining around. "Hey, Xiu! Pass me the water. I'm thirty."

Xiu tried to hold back but still ended up saying, "Hi, thirsty. I'm Xiu." She passed the water bottle as she adding, "And this is water. We are both pleased to meet you."

While Dylan's lips twitched, the rest of the group started laughing out. Dylan was left lamenting, "My bad! I thought it would be my day but apparently with you in my life, no day can be my day."

Xiu patted his shoulder, "It's good that you finally know that."

Just like that the three pairs; Darren and Xiu, Dylan and Cali, Ah-Si, and Nora were immersed in chit-chatting. It was truly like a gathering of friends for them rather than a party. Because none of them even made an attempt to go around to greet anyone. Darren didn't want to leave Xiu's side anymore, Dylan wasn't really familiar with anyone here and Ah-Si didn't want to be repeatedly asked about his father. So, they all ended up staying in their group.

"Xiu, aren't you the drinking queen? Why aren't you drinking tonight?"

Hearing the question from Cali, Xiu touched the tip of her nose as she answered, "We should learn from our mistakes and move on."

"Wait! But you love to repeat your mistakes," Nora chimed in making Xiu scowl.

"Oh, no wonder I'm still friends with you."

"Did you just call me a mistake?" 

Xiu shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly, "When did I? Don't put words into my mouth. Even if you think you're a mistake, that's all your own thinking. I have no say in that."

"It's not me who loves to put words in others' mouth, it's you! You're really good at it!"

Xiu twirled a strand of her hair with her finger as she said, "That's also a talent only a few can have."

"That is so like you, my best friend," said Nora before they shared a cheeky smile with a meaningful look that only those two best friends could understand. 

"I'd like to give props to you both for being so dramatically weird best friends who loved to act more like lovers than best friends."

Xiu and Nora narrowed their eyes at Dylan and smirked, "They hate us 'cause they ain't us." With that, they both shared a high-five just to annoy him before Nora added, "Bro, we are best friends. If we won't treat each other like lovers, what's the point of such a deep bond?!"

"I never acted like that with my best friend," pointed out Dylan. 

Xiu snorted, "Yeah, because you loved acting more like a mistress than a lover."

"Hahaha!"

"Dazi, are you really gonna marry her?"

Darren looked calmly at his best friend and nodded, "Yes. I'm sure, she's the only wife for me."

"Can't you rethink this?"

"No, I can't," answered Darren solemnly.

He pointed between himself and Xiu as he exclaimed, "This is gonna be difficult."

"Oh, that's why Xiu calls you the mistress," remarked Ah-Si as he tapped Dylan's shoulder.

"Why are you of all people on her side?" 

Ah-Si leaned closer to his ear as he whispered, "Bro, first of all, I really like her. Secondly, if I dared to even say a word against her, my father might have my head on a platter."

"Huh? When did Uncle Zi get so protective of someone?" He scowled at Xiu as he asked, "What sorcery did she use on him?"

"That I don't know but I only know that dad loves her a lot. He even specifically called me to his room to say that I have to take care of her."

"Aiyo, I should give her a new title... Xiu, The charmer!"