Imperfect Desires

Xiu even put his head on her shoulder as she caressed his head saying, "Xiao Bobo, some people are irreplaceable in our lives. You're are the irreplaceable one for me. All of these people came into my only now, you have always been a part of my life." She chuckled at his puerile act and added, "And you don't have to be jealous of anyone. Even if I call Jackie my favorite brother, he can't be you. He is dear to me but you'd always have your own place in my life. Stop comparing yourself to others because the comparison isn't fair for others. You'll always have the advantage over others."

Han Bohai let himself rest his head on her shoulder and felt relaxed hearing her words. It was his morose expression that didn't escape her eyes. Even today, she knew him best. She could understand his mind with just one look. He didn't have to voice out that he felt wronged, she'd always know it.

She ruffled his hair, "Now, would you stop sulking? It really doesn't suit you. Haven't you always been cool and debonair? What changed while I was gone that you turned into a kid?"

"I missed you," he said as he hugged her.

"You already said that," she told him.

"Well, I want to say it again," he said stubbornly. "I really missed you a lot!"

"I know," she replied. "I missed you a lot as well."

Han Bohai's lips curved up slightly as he continued to enjoy this comfortable silence between them. Her hand on his head was really comforting. She had always been the one who could calm his raging emotions. She just had that control over him. Her one look was enough to make him get his act together.

Even though there were years between them, the feelings didn't change. He realized he still loved her intensely. He also realized her touch and her words had the same magical affect on him as his mother did. And since her gentleness and tenderness had always reminded him of his mother, he suddenly felt like he finally found a warm embrace again. The feeling was indescribable!

"By the way, now that you're jealous of little Jackie, I wonder if you're planning on being jealous of your nephew as well," Xiu was the one who broke the spell of silence as this thought suddenly crossed her mind. Since her husband had been getting more and more jealous of their little tiger, she couldn't help thinking about it now.

Han Bohai lifted his head abruptly, "Oh, I suddenly remembered. You're pregnant! I'm going to be an uncle soon!"

"Not soon," replied Xiu seeing his excitement. "There are still over 8 months before that time comes. Don't scare me by saying 'soon' as if it's gonna happen tomorrow."

"Why are you scared?" he asked in confusion.

Xiu stared at him squarely, "Why don't you try giving birth in my place? Let's see if get scared of it or not?"

Han Bohai chuckled seeing her fuming like that, "Sister Xiu, even after everything, you're merely being a coward before childbirth? I didn't expect that from you! Even death couldn't bring you down and you're gonna let this little kid dance all over your will?"

Xiu tucked her hair behind her ear saying, "Now, that you put it like this... I agree. How can I let myself get scared of this? I've been through worse." She looked at him and added, "But I'm still scared. Let me be!"

Han Bohai laughed at her and told her, "Actually, I won't be jealous of my nephew."

"Really?"

He nodded his head, "It's my own nephew, what's there to be jealous about? He is gonna be in a league of his own. Currently, I'm fighting with the brother's league. Nephew... Brothers... Totally different category. So, no comparison there!"

Xiu looked at him in amusement, "And if he ended up liking his other uncles better than you?"

Han Bohai looked smug, "His mother loves me the most, he has to love me the most as well."

Xiu laughed out at his logic and ruffled his hair, "You're really my brother. Even our sense of logic is undefeatable!"

Han Bohai draped his arm around her shoulder as he said, "Of course! Even we are undefeatable. Our sense of logic should also be like us."

"I have to say it, only you understand me truly!" She took a pause and happily told him, "Today, I heard his first heartbeat." Han Bohai's eyes widened in surprise and excitement as she went on, "It really made me feel strange inside. It was the kind of feeling I never had before." 

"Have you thought of a name yet?" he inquired.

"Won't little tiger do?" retorted Xiu.

Han Bohai narrowed his eyes at her, "Sister Xiu, please, don't torture the kid. He hasn't even been born yet."

Xiu pouted at him, "How can you say that? I quite like that name. It makes me feel close to him."

"You can keep it as his nickname," said Han Bohai. "But please, give him a good name. You can't let my nephew get bullied for his name just because his mother's mental health was questionable!"

Xiu gave him a look but didn't say anything. She couldn't bring herself to be harsh with this idiot. It wasn't that she didn't have something to say, she was just unwilling to say those words out loud to him. It just didn't sit well with him.

"Since the time I woke up in this body, I never thought one day I'd be sitting here like this talking to you," said Xiu. "Looking at you reminds me of the past."

"Is it painful?" he questioned.

Xiu shook her head, "Not anymore. Now, the past is just a past. And I don't want to live in that past anymore."

"Are you still trying to escape from that past?" he inquired with a complicated gaze.

Xiu gave him a smile, "No. Now, I'm finally trying to embrace it."