Imperfect Desires

60 Where, Who, & Why

A single moment can trigger a million memories. But when these timeless treasures which we call memories are triggered, they bring an agonizing pain. For Darren, Xiu became the trigger that held his hand and made him walk through the memory lane.

During those four minutes of her performance, Darren went through many emotional changes. From those blissful and cheerful memories to pained, dark and dejected ones. He was absentmindedly staring at the side of Xiu's face with an impassive look.

The silence that had loomed over, after Xiu hit the last note was actually broken by a very unexpected individual. That certain individual had watched Xiu's performance from the second floor and he was the first one who lifted his hand and gave her an applause. And that person was... Dylan.

After getting rid of his blind date, Dylan hadn't made an attempt to leave immediately. He stayed back to enjoy the food he had ordered. The date was miserable, he needed something to compensate for that. But who knew when he was going to leave, a beautiful voice would halt him in his steps.

But following his lead, everyone in the restaurant gave her a warming round of applause. It took Xiu a while to come back to her senses and when she did, like a good artist, she gave a small bow and hopped her way down the stage.

Both Darren and Nora was astonished and had no words for her. But when Xiu looked at them, they both gave her a bright smile that started from their eyes and reached her heart. The warmth and appreciation in their eyes made her feel relaxed. However, perhaps she was emotionally drained now as she hugged Nora and closed her eyes to sleep.

The Xiu who was like a vibrant and free butterfly being drunk fell asleep like a baby who held a warm glow of happiness in the smile that lingered on her lips.

"She's out!" Nora informed Darren.

"You take her to the car, I'll follow you," Darren stated with a blank look and Nora nodded.

On Dylan's side, he wanted to approach Xiu. Because he could feel that she was hurt and upset. Also, because her voice had prompted some bittersweet feelings in his heart. But before he could move, he saw Nora had helped Xiu out of the restaurant. His whimsical mind took action as he mumbled, "Oh, so she was here with her girlfriend." He had an insightful look as he added, "No wonder she didn't like playing the role of my girlfriend."

If Xiu knew that Dylan was still thinking of her as a homosexual person, she would have stomped on his head with her heels and not just his precious jewels. And it would have been justified after all, who asked Dylan to have such a fanciful mind?

Anyways, in his own world, Dylan actually missed the chance to see his best friend as well and Darren quietly left the restaurant and went to Nora's car which was now parked upfront waiting for him. They had come together and since their destination was same, they were indeed gonna leave together as well.

Nora had laid Xiu on the back seat and took the driver seat for herself while Darren settled on the passenger seat. There was a very complicated atmosphere inside the closed car.

"I didn't expect Sweets to play the piano so beautifully. Did she took lessons?" Darren started the conversation to break the thick silence.

Nora's expressions were one of confusion and surprise as she said, "She once told me that her mother used to teach her piano. But... I never thought she was actually really good at it."

"Did she have a breakup?" was his next question.

Nora gave him a sideways glance and snorted, "No way! She never even dated anyone."

Darren's face lacked his usual nonchalance as he said, "How would you like to explain the lyrics of her song?"

Nora pursed her lips since she had no answer for that as well. "I honestly don't know." She said in a small voice and added, "She's been secretive lately. Maybe I really missed some detail." And when Nora said 'lately' she actually meant from the time her Bai Xiu lost her memories.

"When you weren't letting her drink, I seriously thought that it was a big deal. But she was so well-behaved." Darren turned his head to look at Xiu who was curled up on the backseat. "I found her quite fun."

"This is... Something out of my understanding. It had always been very difficult to deal with the drunk Xiu. But tonight... She really was like a little angel; Sarcastic, witty but still fun." Nora replied. She was also having some trouble believing that suddenly Xiu was a well-behaved child. How was that even possible? "But it's a good thing that she fell asleep. At least, she won't be bouncing up and down all night now."

There is a famous Murphy's law: when you believe that something will go wrong, trust that instinct because your worries will definitely come true. And Nora had actually even voiced out her worries, how could the heaven, or in this case, Xiu disappoint her.

On the backseat, Xiu had vaguely heard their voices but her droopy mind wasn't very responsive. Feeling tired of sleeping on one side, she tried to change her side but instead rolled down the seat and fell down.

Hearing the sound of her landing, Nora stopped the car at the side. Xiu, however, was busy rubbing her head with an aggrieved look. When she opened her eyes, her vision was dark. Because of the sudden impact, she couldn't see anything immediately. She didn't panic.

Instead, her reaction was completely out of the world...

"Where am I?" She voiced out and as her vision cleared up, she looked at her hands and said, "Who am I?" Then she scratched her head like a fool who lost his way and said, "Why am I?"

"Are you okay, Sweets?" Darren asked with concern from his seat looking at her still sitting on the car floor.

Hearing this voice, Xiu looked up and found two pair of eyes looking back at her. Her eyes widened as she pointed at Nora and asked vigilantly, "Who are you?" Turning to Darren, her voice turned softer but the question was same, "And who are you?"

Darren and Nora shared a look as he asked, "Do you think she hit her head too hard?"

Nora shrugged her shoulders indifferently as she replied, "Possibly she's drunk too hard."