Imperfect Desires

Sometimes we come across people who manage to make an instant connection with us. And that too on a deep level. It doesn't have to be a karmic relationship and this connection is not like a twin flame either. It's just like the universe wanted to bring you together to learn how to cherish yourself.

These connections can be found even in a stranger. And on very unexpected places as well.

"Sweets!" Xiu was walking sluggishly through the park when she heard this familiar way of calling. She turned her face and saw Darren on the running track. "Hold the lampost! Now!"

"Huh?" Xiu was dumbfounded since she couldn't understand why he was asking her to do something so silly.

"Just hold the lampost! It's important!" He shouted from his position.

Xiu frowned but still held the lampost with her both hands. When he ran up to her, she asked, "Why am I holding it though?"

"As a precaution," he replied with a straight face.

"Precaution for what?" She asked with a confused look on her face. 

"The wind is picking up its pace. I was afraid it might blow you away." His reply was in a serious manner but it made Xiu's lips to twitch. However, she wasn't sure if she wanted to laugh or get angry. "There is even a prediction of a thunderstorm at night, you keep the windows locked."

She hit his head with her purse and said, "That was not funny."

Darren rubbed his head and said, "Your face says otherwise." Xiu looked at his face and both of them burst out laughing together. "By the way, you're very easy to prank."

"That's because I didn't know that you'd actually tease me because of how I look," Xiu replied hitting his arm with her purse again.

"But I wasn't teasing you for your looks. I'm teasing you for being lighter than a matchstick." Xiu gaped at him in disbelief. 

This man! He really was outspoken!

"McSpicy, don't tease me again for looking like a matchstick. Don't you know, matchsticks are used to start a fire?" Xiu harrumphed away from him and started walking in the same sluggish manner as before.

Darren also took a step to catch up with her and said, "Sweets, matchsticks don't just start a fire." Xiu looked at him with a raise of a brow and he went on, "Matchsticks are burnt along in that fire."

This was the connection between Darren and Xiu which they had made without even realizing it. They both found a friend in each other and this connection was irrevocable.

"Hey, isn't the apartment building on our right. Why are you taking the turn to the left side?" He asked when he saw her walking in the wrong direction.

"I heard there is a new diner around the corner, I'm gonna have my dinner there," Xiu replied with a shrug of her shoulders. "Nora has gone to her parent's place. And I don't wanna eat in an empty apartment. Would you like to join?"

"Since you're insisting so much. I'd love to join you." He said with a cheeky grin. 

"Who's insisting? Don't be cheeky!" Xiu took a pause before speaking on her own, "In the silence of an empty apartment, we often can't tell whether we are eating the food or the silence is eating us." Darren gave her a strange look. "And in a crowd, I often find myself left out. As if I don't belong anywhere."

"Sweets, the world can never give you the feel of belongingness. You have to find it within yourself. If you don't even think that you belong anywhere, how will you find the right place in this wild world?" Xiu looked at him and gave him two thumbs up.

"You're really a good friend to have," said Xiu in a delighted and satisfied manner.

"We are friends now?" he questioned.

"What? Aren't we?" Xiu stopped walking to face him as she said, "Are you telling me we are just strangers? We have met more than five times already. Even had two meals together. We are going to have our third meal just now. After three dates, people even move from holding hands to rolling under the sheets. You're telling me, we are still stuck at being strangers?"

Darren facepalmed himself and stayed quiet. He really didn't know what to say to her. Does she even think before speaking? How can she be so careless with words?

"I feel like I said something wrong," Xiu scratched her head and as she just repeated her words in her mind, her eyes widened in shock. "Fuck! It sounded so much better in my head." She looked at Darren guiltily while he was still fighting the urge to laugh.

"Sweets," he called her.

"Hmm..." she hummed in reply not willing to trust her mouth.

"I was just confirming that we are friends now. There was no need for such a long explanation." 

"Roger that," Xiu replied lowering her head to look at the ground.

"But you're right. We have met so many times. From that Men's Bathroom to hot spring and then that accident..."

"Do you have to embarrass me even more by reminding me all that?" Xiu interrupted him. "I get it we didn't meet in the best of moments but still... As a friend, you shouldn't be talking about it."

"Actually, as a friend, I am the only one who has the right to embarrass you like this." Darren's reply made an appalling look to cross her face. "I will remember our first meeting for the rest of my life. Wait, I think the second one was even better." 

Xiu covered his face with her hand and scowled, "Stop talking already! This much embarrassment is enough for the next couple of years."

Darren pushed her hand away and said, "Who asked you to zone out all the time?"

Xiu couldn't even retort with that. She really had a habit of zoning out. And it always ended badly.