Imperfect Desires

Hearing his words, Xiu was in deep thought as she mumbled out, "My favorite little brother?" Then she frowned at him, "Are you talking about my Jackie?"

Han Bohai felt like something snapped in his brain and yet, he didn't flare out. Not because he didn't want to but because he didn't want her to see how much her words affected her.

She not only just accepted that 'Jackie' was her favorite brother, but she also called out, 'My Jackie'.

What happened to 'my Xiao Bobo' this and that? Bloody Xiao Bobo was even kicked out of the favorites list now? He was THE ONLY person on that list and now the tables had turned!

Xiu didn't perceive the change in his breathing as she was focused on his words. "Are you serious? Did Jackie really expose my secret?"

Inhale. Exhale. Han Bohai repeated the process silently before nodding his head, "Indeed, that little guy exposed you."

Xiu's frown deepened, "That's not possible. He doesn't know anything."

Han Bohai shook his head at her, "But surprisingly he knows you better than anyone around you." Even though there was some bitterness in his tone, he was still feeling admirable towards that tiny bomb called Jackie!

He was a whole lot of trouble packed in that tiny body.

Xiu had to agree with that. Jackie indeed knew her better than anyone. She raised him, it was inevitable that he won't learn about her deeply. He even inherited a lot of her troublesome nature. Even though he was not as hyper as she was, his inside was exactly like hers. It was just that Xiu was hasty while Jackie had always been patient and calm.

Xiu didn't realize that a smile had crept the way on her lips which Han Bohai had noticed. He knew she was thinking about that little guy again but said nothing. Just decided to silently silk again. He just couldn't come to terms with the fact that his Sister Xiu had someone more important than him now.

"So, how did he expose me?" Asked Xiu as she looked into Han Bohai's eyes. "I'm curious now."

Han Bohai took a deep breath and honestly told her the course of events that led to his suspicion turning into reality...

*Flashback*

It was at the wedding where Jackie and Han Bohai had unexpectedly found a topic that was not only common between them but it happened to be their favorite topic as well. And the name of this topic was; Their Sister Xiu!

That's right, both of them had the same favorite person and they both loved to brag about their sister Xiu as well.

Normally, Jackie wouldn't even spare others a second glance. He never even cared about Ah-Si who was even dating his sister. But he was extremely cordial towards Han Bohai since the time he learned that the latter also had a Sister Xiu who was supposedly awesome.

However, how could Jackie just let anyone claim that their sister Xiu was better than his? Wouldn't that be an insult to him?

That's why these two who were fanatics of their own sister, found a silent place to talk. Originally, Han Bohai had the same thought that he wanted to prove that his sister Xiu was better but the more he heard, the more his heart hurt at the possibility.

"My sister Xiu was a master-level chef!" Claimed Han Bohai clearly boasting without any restriction.

"But my sister Xiu is grandmaster level chef!" Was Jackie's response

"My sister Xiu loved to drink and she would then cause a scene," said Han Bohai in a nostalgic way.

"Mine also loved to drink and then she'd do all sorts of things. She'd be dancing, singing, playing piano, beat some random person, bake cupcakes for hours, then cry before passing out on her own."

Han Bohai's chest constricted when he heard that. Chen Xiu had a habit of doing all sorts of things in her drunken stupor as well. The liquid courage always made her turn into a bold person. Even he wished she'd be that bold and carefree on usual days as well.

From bragging to each other, both had turned into talking about their memories related to their sister Xiu.

"She used to talk about random things. Always lecturing me to be happy but I never found her happy." Said Han Bohai.

"I also never saw her happy," replied Jackie. "At least, not before brother-in-law came into her life. Although there was always a smile on her face, I just couldn't find her happiness behind that smile."

"You know 75% of the times, I didn't even know what she meant. Her words were too deep for me. So, I started recording her voice. It was only after she was gone that her words started making sense to me and I realized, how painful her words were behind that playful smile." Han Bohai's eyes dimmed down as he recalled all of that.

Jackie patted his arm saying, "My sister doesn't make sense 90% of the time. She has all the weirdest logic to justify her actions but she will never find an excuse for her cold-heartedness. Even though she is not cold at all."

Han Bohai had unconsciously started thinking that they both were talking about the same person. Even though there were significant differences between those two people.

Jackie took a deep breath and told him, "My sister says, losing someone is a part of life. It's painful only because that's just how love is. But the person is already lost, you can only let go now. The longer you hold on to a dead person, the longer it will take to heal. You have to let them go to set yourself free."

Han Bohai felt like his breath hitched and he couldn't breathe anymore. Those words reverberated in his mind. The same exact words he had heard from Chen Xiu when she was consoling him on his parents' death anniversary. He had never forgotten those words. But now, he was hearing those words again from a different person. And yet, the feeling was still the same.

*Flashback, to be continued*