Imperfect Desires

"Pfft!" 

"Dylan, don't you know no matter how sensible Jackie is, he still won't go against Xiu?" Nora looked at Dylan as if she was looking at an idiot.

"A bunch of bullies you all are," muttered Dylan.

After Dylan, Nora also stood up to make a toast and started with, "Good evening everyone! I'm happy you all joined us on this special day. Unlike Dylan, I'll be keeping it short." She faced Xiu and continued, "Xiu darling, becoming your friend I never thought you'd become my everything over time. But you did without me even realizing it. While trying to be your memory manual, I came to discover you all over again." Xiu's face stiffened slightly while Nora added, "But I didn't just re-discover you, I came to find a new meaning of our friendship as well." Xiu smiled softly at her. "I still remember the days I used to push you to hit on our new neighbor. But considering how stiff you had been becoming over years, I thought you needed a push. However, I was so wrong about that."

Xiu chose to cover her face with her hands while Nora chuckled, "You weren't becoming a nun. You're just waiting for that one person who could evoke the craziness in you. And that person happened to be Darren. I was so shocked when you called him over in the park and you wanted to teach him the art of sightseeing."

"Stop it!" gritted out Xiu.

Nora laughed louder, "Even though you guys have been married for months, you've always acted more like lovers. Lovers who loved to make my days sour with their overload of sweetness." She raised a toast and continued, "May you remain the lovers for all your life. Here's a toast to love, laughter, and happily ever after."

While Xiu lifted her glass to take a sip of the juice, Nora also followed Dylan's example and added, "Oh, I forgot to remind you. The right order of a relationship doesn't start with a kiss."

"Shut up, Nora!" 

Nora grinned at her before sticking her tongue out. There weren't many people here who knew how Xiu and Darren started dating but Nora was clear about that drunk kiss that led to both of them asking each other out. She had loved to remind Xiu that she didn't follow the right order.

"Newlyweds, are you ready for your first dance?"

Darren looked at Xiu and offered his hand, "Is it alright?" She nodded. "Then may I have the honor to dance with you milady?" 

Xiu slid her hand into his and replied, "Yes, you may."

♪♪What would I do without your smart mouth?

Drawin' me in, and you kickin' me out

You've got my head spinnin', no kiddin'

I can't pin you down

What's going on in that beautiful mind?

I'm on your magical mystery ride

And I'm so dizzy, don't know what hit me

But I'll be alright

My head's underwater

But I'm breathing fine

You're crazy and I'm out of my mind

'Cause all of me loves all of you

Love your curves and all your edges

All your perfect imperfections

Give your all to me, I'll give my all to you

You're my end and my beginnin'

Even when I lose, I'm winnin'

'Cause I give you all of me

And you give me all of you, oh-oh ♪♪

Following the rhythm of the slow music, both of them danced slowly. Completely lost in their whole world. A world where they could even see the people surrounding them. Xiu still couldn't get rid of her habit of forgetting the world once her eyes held the sight of his grey orbs. 

As she always claimed, those grey orbs were the death of her. They made her forget her own existence. 

And Darren didn't have to forget the world with her around. His whole world was her. With her, he felt alive. And she was the world, he didn't wish to lose for anything. This world was far too precious to him. 

"What are you looking at?" she asked.

"You!" he answered with a smile.

"Why?" she inquired.

"Because I love you. I can't anything more beautiful than you here."

Xiu made a sound in reply but one could see the way her eyes squinted while trying to suppress the smile that threatened to bloom on her lips.

He touched her face and asked, "What are you looking at?"

"Your eyes," she answered honestly. 

Darren made a face at her, "Sweets, do you love my eyes more or me?"

"Both!" she replied cheekily.

"That's not the right answer," he grumbled.

Xiu wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly as she said, "Baobei, I'm happy."

Darren's fingers dug into her hair moving in a comforting motion, "How happy?"

Xiu looked up at him and answered, "So happy that I feel like my heart is having difficulty taking in this overwhelming happiness. In both lifetimes, I did see a dream of a day like today. But I also knew it'd always be just a dream. I never thought it'd become my reality."

Xiu buried her face into his chest as she let her tears fall. She really had no way to express her happiness right now. She never thought she won't just get the chance to be the bride of the man whom she loved and he also loved her. Perhaps, even more, than she could ever love him.

Xiu knew Darren's love was silent. But he always let her feel it. 

She also never expected this wedding would be in the presence of a family that belonged to her. Friends who genuinely loved her. And loved to tease her as well. Brothers who were fighting for her attention and parents who would shed tears of happiness for her.

This was truly a dream that she never dared to believe in before. But now that it was real, she didn't know what to do. But since dream belonged to her, she'd just embrace it wholeheartedly.