Imperfect Desires

59 To Say Goodbye

Darren looked at her indecisively, "Do you know how to play the piano?"

Xiu grinned in reply and said, "There is a voice in my head and it's saying, 'You can do it.'"

"Are you sure there is no contradicting voice in your head?" He asked as his eyes glinted mischievously.

Xiu scrunched up her face before poking his arm with her finger and said, "Actually, there is another voice. And it's saying, 'Don't listen to her, she's drunk.'" She even imitated voices as she talked about her own conflicted mind.

"Who are you gonna listen to?" He questioned rubbing his bottom lip with his thumb.

"Drunk people are cool and awesome. I'll naturally go with the first voice. Besides, drunk people never lie." Xiu answered without even thinking. Right now, she was in her own happy world where everything was sunshine and rainbows. And every word was making her laugh as well.

"You'll end up doing something regrettable." Nora finally interrupted as she could see that Darren was gonna give in.

Xiu stood up, with her hands on her waist, she glared at Nora and said, "In alcohol's defense, I've done some pretty dumb stuff in life while being sober. So, even if I really do end up regretting this moment, I'll just blame it on alcohol."

Nora didn't know why she was smashing her head against this wall named, Bai Xiu? It was so infuriating. Darren's gaze on Xiu had changed once more as he said, "Come. I'll make your wish come true."

"Yay!" Xiu happily exclaimed and walked, actually, stumbled her way to the staircase. But the staircase before her looked like an abyss and she didn't know where to step. Everything was making her dizzy. She turned and her nose bumped into Darren's hard chest. This time, the collision was very light but as she lifted her eyes and saw that it was a familiar face, she covered her nose with her hands, "Ah! My nose! You broke my nose!"

Looking at her performance, Darren was suddenly reminded of his dramatic best friend, Dylan. Well, the drunk Xiu had something in common with Dylan.

"Stop making a fuss!" Darren tapped on her forehead with a warning edge in his voice.

Xiu immediately stopped and opened her arms saying, "You pick me up and take me down." Darren raised his eyebrow at her inquiringly. "How will I go down otherwise? Aren't you my Male God? Tall, dark and handsome?"

Behind them, Nora's face had changed several shades already. She thought she had seen all of Xiu's drunk versions but tonight, she was able to see a very different Xiu. She was talkative, fun, sarcastic, witty, and was even hitting on someone now. Well, it was not exactly flirting but Nora was gonna stick with this belief for now.

Darren shook his head at Xiu's childishness and picked up Xiu in a bridal style. He was so accommodating to her that if Dylan had seen this scene, he would have fainted for certain. But Darren's indulgence in Xiu had nothing to do with his feelings for Bai Xiu. But it had everything to do with his feelings for Chen Xiu.

For the first time in the last five years, someone had made him recall Chen Xiu; the innocent and pure self of her. For the first time in five years, he thought of that beautiful face without tears in his eyes.

After putting her back on the floor, he had a talk with the manager and led her to the piano stage. "Stage is all yours, Sweets. Break a leg!" He encouraged her and went down towards the lounge area to watch her performance with Nora.

Both of them obviously didn't have many hopes for Xiu's musical performance but they were still cheering her. Xiu's posture was all wrong as she sat down before the pure white piano. Without preparing herself, her fingers touched the ivory keys of the piano producing a bland and unimaginative sound.

Biting her lips, she looked in Nora and Darren's direction and mumbled, "Sorry!"

But seeing the warmth of their eyes that were even reaching their smiles made her stunned for a moment. She felt an aching pain gushing in her heart. The earlier cheeriness suddenly vanished from her eyes as she stared at the ceiling decorated with shimmering bright lights. She closed her eyes for a moment letting her whole life to replay in her mind.

As she opened her eyes again, there was a heartwrenching pain in her eyes that looked glossy under the lights; but still bright, beautiful and breathtaking. She lifted her long and slender fingers and they easily swept over the keys of the piano as if a casual wind lightly caressing the wind chimes. Those thin and frail fingers slowly started playing a beautiful melody.

?? Let me start with the memories you left me

The love memories that I so hate

The pieces of lost time that I kept safe

And the scared me you left trapped

With the feeling of being scared

Dear boy, take all your memories

just like you left and moved on

'Cause I also want to say goodbye

And stitch my broken heart ??

Her soothing voice and the accompanying melody stirred wonders in peoples' hearts. Her fingers seemed like they had found a home. Her voice held the pain to convey the meaning of her lyrics.

?? You promised not to make me cry

Yet you're the one to tell me a lie

I want to unchain my heart

That you've been still holding on

I'll remember this love

No matter if it's gone

So,

Dear boy, take all your memories

just like you left and moved on

'Cause I also want to say goodbye

And stitch my broken heart

Dear boy, I wonder where you learned

the art of letting go

'Cause I also want to say goodbye

And stitch my broken heart ??

Tears had flooded in her eyes and shimmered under the lights and yet, she resolved herself to not let them fall. She was pouring her heart out but she had no desire to pour her tears out as well.

?? I look at the deeply colored night sky

All I see is darkness and my wasted tears

I was the one blind

I've kept my hopes alive

Dear boy, you just take your memories

along with your longing and your trace

I'm done with you

And the love that I called my saving grace

Dear boy, take all your memories

just like you left and moved on

'Cause I also want to say goodbye

And stitch my broken heart ??

Her voice was delicate at times like silver bells and then it would seem like an echo from the fairytale. Her slender figure dressed in a long peach-colored floral skirt and white shirt looked broken from behind.

??Dear boy, I have to leave you

'Cause I have a long way to go

I can't approach you anymore

I'm letting you go

To set my soul free

This is my last goodbye

To let my broken heart fortify ??

As she hit the last note, a silence surrounded her. It was eerily silent that could shake one's heart.Please go to