Imperfect Desires

After leaving Ah-Si's room, Nora had brought a bowl of soup for Xiu and Darren. Obviously, she wished to brag a little about her cooking skills. 

"Xiu, I brought some soup for you."

Xiu looked at Nora who had her eyes covered as she stepped inside the room. "Why are you covering your eyes?"

Nora slowly peeked through the gap in her eyes and put her hand down as she sighed, "Because I don't trust you both."

"Excuse me?" 

"You even kicked the nurses out of the room. I was afraid the blinding light of your love might blind me. Or the pink bubbles emitting around you too might get into my eyes."

"Regan, can I throw a slipper at her?" asked Xiu as she looked at her husband. 

Darren ran his hand through her hair to calm her down, "There is no need for that. See? She is so thoughtful, she even brought you soup."

Nora put the table on the bed and placed the two bowls of soup before them saying, "You both should try it."

Xiu eyed the soup that looked just alright in an appearance before she took a sniff of it. However, her eyes still held doubt as she eyed this bowl of soup intently.

"Why are you being so cautious?" asked Nora. "I made it with so much love."

"I have to be cautious," replied Xiu. "I don't trust the - you who would want to cook."

Nora glared at her, "I made it for my sick boyfriend and he had it as well. He said it's delicious. Don't you dare slander me!"

Xiu frowned at her words, "Ah-Si is sick? What happened to him?"

"He has a fever," replied Nora looking worried.

"Fever? How did he get a fever out of nowhere?"

"Do you have the trademark to get sick out of nowhere? No one else can do the same?" Nora shot back.

"You!" Xiu huffed and decided not to say anything when she felt Darren's hand on her back. She calmed down instantly. She took the spoon and drank the soup, only to want to spurt it all out. She choked it down with much difficulty and seeing how Darren was about to take a sip as well, she held his hand, "Don't!"

"Why are you stopping him?" inquired Nora and Darren had the inquisitive look on his face as well.

Xiu looked at her best friend and said, "Nora, if you want to kill me just give me a tiny bit of poison. Don't feed me such things in an attempt to make me hate one of the things I cherish in my life; eating. Food is sacred!"

"What does that supposed to mean?" 

"Is it raining salt these days?" retorted Xiu. "How can you even feed a patient with this kind of a thing? Isn't it torture enough for me to eat bland food that now you're throwing this salty food at my face?"

Nora stepped up and took a sip from her bowl, she also wanted to spit it out. She coughed a little before saying, "How come it's so salty?"

"You tell me, food goddess! How is it this salty? Did the salt god overwhelm your food with blessings?"

Darren pursed his lips while Nora glared at Xiu, "I have been wondering where did this habit of sarcasm had been lately. You've been so sweet lately that I almost forgot that you have a poisonous tongue. My food is salty but you! Your whole being is salty! Idiot!"

"Do you expect me to be nice?" questioned Xiu. "You and I both know that I don't compromise on food! Anything but food!"

Nora grumbled, "But Ah-Si said it's good. So, I didn't taste it myself."

"Who told you to believe in the words of a man who is head over heels in love with you?" questioned Xiu. "Nora darling, love is not only blind. Love is a liar as well. Even if you fed him poison, he'd say it's delicious. Why? Because he is not eating the food you made, he is eating the love you put into that food. He wasn't tasting your food, he was tasting your love and he found that delicious, and you fell for his words." She took a pause and added, "However, I'm your best friend and I can be your worst enemy as well. Because if I won't be honest with you, how will you learn? I'm doing it for your own good!"

"Keep your goodness to yourself!" exclaimed Nora unhappily. "You ruined my mood!"

"Nora, I'm sorry on behalf of my wife," said Darren. "You should know food is very dear to her. That's why she said all that." Xiu was about to say something when he held his hand over her mouth to stop her and continued, "Don't pay attention to her."

"I don't mind her words, Darren!" said Nora. She held her hair saying, "I can't believe I fed this to Ah-Si! Argh!"

Xiu scoffed and pulled Darren's hand off her face saying, "Next time, ask Clara mom for help."

"You won't help if I ask?" 

"I can do it but Clara mom makes the best chicken soup in the whole world," said Xiu. "And now, I'm craving it badly."

Nora took out her phone, "Should I tell mom you're craving her soup?"

"Put that phone down and take this soup before I throw it at your head!" 

Nora immediately took the bowls from the table and stepped back. She could see Xiu was angry now. And she found it quite petty. A person would slap her and she might not feel this wrong as she was feeling over getting a salty soup. Just how deep was this love of hers for food?

"I have a long way before I reach your level," said Nora in disappointment.

"Aim higher!" said Xiu. "Don't set me as a goal! You should be aiming to surpass me! Not turn into me!"

Nora pointed at Xiu and looked at Darren saying, "Sometimes I hate her but at the same time, I can't help falling deeper for her."

"I can understand," replied Darren.

"I'm gonna take my leave now," said Nora and turned around to leave.

As she left, Darren looked at Xiu and said, "It's been a while I haven't seen your feisty side."

"I can show it more often if you want," replied Xiu.

"I'd like that," said Darren.

*Knock! Knock!*

Both Xiu and Darren turned towards the door when someone pushed it open.