Imperfect Desires

On one fine winter morning, Xiu dragged Zhao Huan and Xin Zemin inside a room and made them sit down before taking a seat before them feeling guilty inside. She has thought about it for a long time before she decided to come clean with these two people.

Seeing her playing with her fingers uneasily, both of them surprised, "What's wrong, darling? You said you have something to tell us. What is it?"

Xiu looked up at them anxiously, "I do have something to tell you."

Xin Zemin placed his hand on her hands and stopped her from breaking her nails, "Tell me. Whatever you have to say, you can say it. You don't have to be scared. Don't think of anything."

"My words might end up hurting you both," she added.

"It's alright," said Zhao Huan. "But we do want to know what's bothering our daughter."

Xiu looked at their gentle and loving eyes before coming to a conclusion. She took a deep breath, "Do you remember you got into a fatal accident where your car even fell from the cliff in the water?"

Zhao Huan was surprised to hear that from her, "How do you know about that accident?"

"Because I did it," she said in a small voice.

Even after thinking for a long time, Xiu had thought that since she was taking Destiny's life, she was supposed to own up to her mistakes as well. She couldn't distance herself from the bad part of Destiny's life. All of it now belonged to her. Just like her parents belonged to her now. 

She couldn't bring herself to make them lose their daughter all over again. Especially when she could feel their warmth and feel their love for her. She could see just how much they cherished her. How could she just walk away from them just because the soul inside their daughter's body was different? They didn't deserve that. 

If by not telling them about this soul swap bizarre, she could keep them happy, she was willing to do it for a lifetime. It didn't hurt anyone. In fact, it'd only make them happy. And that was all Destiny wanted to see. How could she take that happiness from them?

Hearing her words, the couple was silent for a good while. 

"What do you mean by that baby girl?" asked Xin Zemin.

"Back then, I tried to find you. And while I tried to reach out to you, I came across some strange things. For instance, everything before me indicated that the one behind Carina Novell's death was Zhao Huan. She did it in jealousy and all. I fell for those tricks and then I played my own trick in my impulsiveness." She held Zhao Huan's hands, "I am so sorry. I'm really sorry, mother. It is true my intention was to kill but I..." 

When she couldn't find any words to say, Zhao Huan pulled her in for a hug while Xin Zemin was still in shock from those words. He couldn't believe anything he heard but he had no reason not to believe it either.

Xiu didn't know why she burst out crying when Zhao Huan pulled her in for a hug. Maybe it was the remnant emotions of Destiny that still lingered in this body but she felt like crying her heart out and screaming that she didn't want to hurt her mother. She didn't want to do it. But she still did it. 

"I'm really a bad daughter, aren't I?" 

Zhao Huan caressed her head and shook her head, "No. Don't say that at all. There is nothing wrong with my daughter."

"But mother..."

"Shh... I'm telling you, there is nothing wrong with you. Mom still loves you."

"But I hurt you," she cried out.

"Silly, am I not sitting before you right now? Am I not perfectly healthy? Nothing is wrong with me. No wonder you've been keeping a distance from me. You must have gotten your memories back and declared yourself the guilty party."

"I am the guilty party."

"I don't care," said Zhao Huan. "Even if you can live at the cost of my own life, mom will happily give up her own life. I couldn't give you anything in this life, if I can offer my own life to make up for it, I'd be more than happy to do it."

Xiu felt like she couldn't look into her eyes right now. She was really a mother who could forgive anything. Even if she was clearly the one in the wrong. 

Xin Zemin wiped Xiu's tears and told her, "Your mom is right. Stop crying now. It's hurting us even more. We couldn't give you anything, but please, don't make us feel like the only thing we offered was tears." He stroked her face, "Mom and dad love you. We love you a lot. And that is why we can forgive anything. But there is a condition that you'd never think of avoiding us again. And you won't leave us."

"I won't," promised Xiu. 

"Then stop these tears, if my brother saw it, he is gonna kill me. Even though you're my daughter, he is even more possessive about you," said Xin Zemin half-jokingly and half-seriously.

Xiu laughed through her tears, "Ah-Xin gets a little extra when it comes to me."

"Yes, he does," agreed Xin Zemin. "He loves you like a father, not like an uncle."

"I also love him like a father."

Zhao Huan patted her head, "That's even better. See? My daughter is so lucky. She has two fathers who dote on her so much. I'm quite envious."

Xiu hugged them both, "You both are really good parents. I thought I'd at least get a slap on my face."

"Who dares to slap our daughter?"

"Thank you!" she said.

"Which child says thanks to their parents? Don't be ridiculous."

Xiu smiled and didn't say anything else as she continued to hug these two silently. She seriously thought she would get into trouble after telling this truth but these two were really too good for that. They had gotten betrayed by the people for this kindness of theirs and yet, they didn't forget to be kind-hearted. 

Aiyo! What to do? She really likes these two!