Imperfect Desires

Xiu placed her palm over Darren's heart as she said, "Who her parents were or why they left her or how did she end up with Chen Hana. None of that really matters." She licked her dry lips before sighing out, "Chen Xiu is dead. Stop forgetting that."

Darren's hand in her hair paused for a moment as he said, "Trust me, I've never forgotten that."

Xiu was silent before she lifted her hand and held his hand that was in her hair. She intertwined their fingers as she said, "I'm sorry."

"What? What for?" Darren was taken aback. He wanted to look at her face but she kept her head down.

"I'm sorry you had to watch that. I'm sorry, for scarring your life like that."

Darren could tell she was talking about the night he watched Chen Xiu die right before his eyes. He bit his lips before he lifted their intertwined hands to his lips and kissed her hand saying, "Since you're the one who left those scars, you should be the one to heal them as well." He kissed her hand again and added, "Don't ever say sorry to me. I've long felt sorry for not being able to save you back then. Now, that I have finally come to terms with that, I don't want you to feel sorry now. We don't owe each other anything."

"I do owe you something," said Xiu.

"Oh? What is it?" he questioned curiously.

"I owe you the love I didn't reciprocate back then," replied Xiu.

"That's right!" agreed Darren instantly. "So, you better give back that love with interest!"

Xiu chuckled silently but Darren could feel her shoulders shaking. "How much is the interest?"

"You figure it out yourself," retorted Darren. "But don't you dare be stingy. My unrequited love was filled with pain. The interest should at least make me feel like that pain was worth it!"

Darren was actually very surprised and very happy to see that Xiu had managed to face this truth so bravely. And he could see she wasn't pretending to be strong. 

His other arm around her waist tightened as he said, "My wife is turning mentally stronger."

"Oh?" responded Xiu. "Actually, I heard someone say, women are strong but mothers are stronger. Do you think it's my little tiger's magic?"

"He had still not come into this world he is being favored? What about little tiger's father?"

"Regan, are you really gonna fight over this? Already? He still isn't here."

Darren eyed her, "That's what I am saying. He is not even here and he is already taking credits. I'm telling you, whether he is here or not, you're gonna always take my side!"

"If I do that, who will be on our son's side?" she retorted.

"We'll both stand by his side," said Darren making her chuckle.

"There is still a long while before he comes into this world," said Xiu. "So, before he comes I'm all yours."

"I'm gonna repeat myself, whether he is here or not, you're mine! That's not changing! Because I'm not sharing!"

They continued to argue over the same thing over and over again. Xiu really didn't know what was gonna happen once their child really came into this world. Baby's father was already possessive. It'd really be a sight to see Darren being jealous of his own son. Especially because he didn't get jealous of anyone else around her. He was always sure that she loved him and only him, that's why it was very rare to see him getting so jealous.

And finding it amusing, she continued to tease him. It was really entertaining. 

After a long while, as they laid together in silence, Xiu brought it up, "My laptop is at home. How should I get it?"

"What do you want to do with it?" asked Darren.

"I'm bored here," said Xiu. "I'm gonna do some work."

Darren was stunned. "My Sweets who love to run from work, is actually looking for work? How did that happen?"

"Who said I run from work?" Xiu retorted. "I was a very diligent actress once. Do you know why? Because I liked what I did! The only work I'd run from is the one I don't like doing."

"So what do you have in mind?" asked Darren.

Xiu grinned at him, "I'm gonna make an interior plan for our home. After we get better, let's move into our home."

Darren hummed in agreement, "As you wish. I'll get someone to deliver our laptops."

"Not ours!" Xiu glared at him. "Only mine. You're not working. Not until I say so!"

"Sweets, do you want to leave this country?" asked Darren all of a sudden.

"Huh? Why?" questioned Xiu. "Why would I want to leave this country?"

"This place holds the most painful memories of yours," said Darren.

"And also my most beautiful ones," added Xiu. "Besides, everyone I love is here. You said since I gave you the scars, I should be the one to heal them for you. Since I got all my scars here, this place needs to heal all those scars for me as well. Running away won't get me anywhere." She took a pause and added, "When I first opened my eyes in this city, I thought if I didn't go to the Capital, I won't have to face my painful past. But as you can see, everything came around back to me. I didn't go to find my past, but it found me instead. That's why no matter where I go, those bitter memories will follow. So, why should I leave the people who love me?"

"As long as you're okay with this, I'll stay anywhere with you," said Darren. "By the way, we didn't buy a house yet. So, which one are you gonna make the interior plan for?"

"We don't have to buy a house," replied Xiu. "We already have one."

"We do?" 

Xiu nodded, "The one at the mountain. The one you built for me."

Darren's eyes widened, "You really want to move in there?"

Xiu nodded again, "Yes! Even after all this time, it's still my dream place. Far away from the crowd! But the interior is not my type."

"I picked it out just as you described it to me," said Darren with a hint of nostalgia in his voice.

"Regan, that bland taste was Chen Xiu's! I'm a colorful person, I want to make my house bright like your smile brightens up my life!"

"At every chance, you just have to flirt."

"It has become a habit now," replied Xiu sheepishly.