Imperfect Desires

"She really loves you," Dylan had said after a long pause. He was in a daze because of the heartbeat that he heard and then Darren's words really made him unable to say anything else.

Darren chuckled at that, "Was there ever a doubt about that?"

Dylan gave him a helpless look as he said, "Even though I feel like I'm seeing after years, it still seems like nothing changed. You still love to show-off the relationship you have with your wife."

"I can never stop talking about it," said Darren resolutely. "That's something you just will have to get used to."

Dylan shook his head and asked, "Then where is your wife now? After pushing me in, she isn't planning on coming inside?"

"She must be trying to eavesdrop on us from outside," said Darren. 

Dylan raised his brows as he walked towards the door slowly and placed his hand on the doorknob. However, as soon as he tried to twist it, he realized that the door was locked. Awesome! He wasn't just pushed inside! He was practically locked inside with no way out! At least, unless he resolves everything with his best friend.

"Your wife really knows how to plan stuff!" Dylan's voice was dripping with sarcasm as he stared at Darren. The latter just smiled lovingly.

"I know, isn't she just awesome?"

Dylan facepalmed himself before laughing out. For the past week, he had been so down that he practically forgot all about how shameless this couple could get. But now that he was faced with it all over again, he not only felt nostalgic but also a little sad. He really was no match for Darren and Xiu. In fact, he didn't think there was anyone who could rival Xiu and Darren.

Sighing out, he asked, "How am I supposed to leave now?"

Darren pressed his lips together before he picked up his phone and dialed Nora's number. 

Right outside the two closed doors...

"AH! I won!" shouted Ah-Si in excitement.

Nora's face darkened as she looked at his cards and her own. She definitely lost this round of poker! What the fuck! How could her innocent-looking boyfriend be so good at poker? That was so wrong!

"Don't be so excited," said Nora in a bad mood.

Ah-Si laughed out, "Oh, but I am excited. Now, show me the money! Take it all out!"

Nora cleared her throat as she smiled at him, "Ah-Si, how can you talk about money here? We are not gambling. It was just a game to pass the time."

Ah-Si squinted his eyes at her, "Dear Nory, don't try to act with me. It was you who set the rules of the games and you clearly stated that money will be involved! Don't go back on your words now!"

Nora avoided his eyes and tried to act again, "I know I said that but when I thought about it, I felt ashamed of myself!" Ah-Si raised his brows at her as she continued, "I mean, by gambling what kind of example are we setting for our daughter? Our little Ava... Think about her! What will she think of us?"

"I don't know about the rest but she needs to learn what a bloody trickster her mother really is," retorted Ah-Si.

Nora didn't even feel bad to hear that remark as she grinned at him, "I love compliments. Especially from you. And for some reason, I feel like this is the most genuine compliment I'm hearing from you."

"Unlike you, I'm a very genuine person," he said as he crossed his arms over his chest. "I never deceive people."

Nora pouted at him, "Ah-Si! Boyfriend! My daughter's one and only father! Listen to me!"

Ah-Si shot her a glare, "Honey, don't even bother!"

Nora's face hardened as she said, "Are you listening or not?"

Slightly taken aback by that tone of her voice, Ah-Si unwillingly decided to hear her out, "Fine. Say your piece."

Nora smiled at him as she came to sit beside him and held his arm saying, "Whether you win or I win, what's the point? We shouldn't fight over little money. It'll stay in the family anyways. If it's your money, it's definitely mine as well. Isn't it?"

Seeing through her trick, he asked, "And if it's your money, it should be mine as well?"

Nora shook her head, "No. That is also my money."

"So, mine is also yours. And yours is still yours, eh?"

Nora nodded her head without hesitation. Ah-Si was left staring at her with his mouth agape wondering whether to laugh or to get angry right now? Just where else would he get a girlfriend like her? Oh, how he wished their daughter didn't inherit her mother's deception.

  "What are you thinking about?" asked Nora.

Ah-Si ruffled her hair saying, "Nothing." Hearing that, she extended her hand towards him, he raised his brow inquisitively, "What?"

"Give me the money now!"

"Huh? But I won the game," he shot back. Nora made a face at him and seeing that Ah-Si groaned in frustration. What was going on with him? He actually took out the money and placed it in her hand. Even though he was the one who won, he was still the one who had to empty his pocket as well. He sighed out, "Having a girlfriend is really not easy."

Nora hit his arm saying, "I'm not just your girlfriend! We have a daughter together!"

Ah-Si smiled at her and even tried to placate her like a kid. He had really brought it upon himself. His girlfriend's mood was all over the place as always. Sometimes, she'd be running around like a gangster, and other times, she'd be crying like a baby! It even made him wonder if she had a Bipolar personality disorder!

*Ring! Ring!*

Nora took her phone that was placed near the cards and glanced at the caller id. Then she looked at one of the closed doors and mumbled out, "Why is he calling me?"