Imperfect Desires

Ashley was listening to him attentively and she felt like she could even feel his pain as he recalled those memories. She had never seen Darren acting like this so it came as a surprise to her. Looking at him, one couldn't possibly tell that he also had moments in his life where he wanted to give up on everything.

"What happened then?" she asked.

Darren looked at her as he answered, "Then... Then she came rushing into my life. First, she banged into me head-on, and then she banged into my car. But just like that, she became a part of my life." He chuckled to himself as he went on, "I have heard people say that love always knocks at your door when you least expected it to. I believe it's true. Because the way Sweets entered my life, I wasn't expecting to fall in love with her. I wasn't even looking for love." He took a deep breath as he continued, "I didn't even know what I needed at that time was love. But she made me realize that all I really needed was just love. And she was willing to offer that love."

"Then you asked her out?" 

Darren shook his head, "It was her who asked me out."

"Huh?" Ashley was surprised. 

"She was the one who suggested that we should first date and then eventually we'd know if we're gonna work out or not. She was the one who pulled me in and kissed me catching me off guard. The thing is, she had always been very bold. But learned to be bold at the cost of a lifetime." His last sentence was spoken in a soft voice that she couldn't hear. 

"Sister-in-law is really awesome," stated Ashley. "She really does what comes to her mind."

"That's because she doesn't want to have any more regrets in her life," said Darren. He touched her head lovingly as he added, "The reason why I told you all this is to tell you that life isn't a one-way street. It always takes some detours to reach your destination. Sweets wasn't my first love, but she definitely is the last one."

"It's not easy to find a love like yours, bro," said Ashley sadly.

"We didn't find this love easily as well," he told her. "We both gave up way too much to find this love. But it was worth it. You're still young. Don't hang on to that one heartbreak. You never know what the future holds. All you have to do is believe in that future. Even when the future looks dark, just believe in the fact that someone along the way would turn on the light in that darkness and lead the way out for you."

"Bro, why do you call sister-in-law Sweets?"

Darren thought about it for a while. He had been calling her that since the beginning as for how it began... "The very first thing she offered me was a cupcake that she baked herself."

"Is that why you call her that?"

Darren shook his head, "Not really. It's just that between that cupcake and her, I found her sweeter. So, the name Sweets just got stuck with me. And until today, it hasn't changed at all. She will always be my favorite Sweets in the world."

"You really know how to make someone feel jealous," commented Ashley.

"That was not my intention," said Darren.

"Baba!" Rowan called out excitedly. "I caught one. I caught it!"

Darren rushed to his side and looked at that small fish his son caught. He rubbed his head proudly, "Wow, my son is really good. When I first started fishing, I couldn't catch anything for days."

Rowan was even more proud of himself when he heard his father say that. Although originally he felt like his fish was way too small, however, after listening to his father's words he didn't feel like that anymore. He felt like he was quite powerful to be able to catch a fish on his first try. 

"I'm gonna show it to mommy!" he announced.

"We'll go together," said Darren. "You won't be able to find her yourself."

"Then I'll wait here for you," said Rowan. And although he said it, he was still too excited to wait patiently as he continued to jump around.

"Baby tiger, be careful," said Xiao Li. "Don't fall down."

"I won't," answered Rowan.

"Don't come close to the water," added Xiao Li.

"Yes, Uncle Li!"

"Bro, you have the cutest son in the world," said Ashley. She picked up Rowan as she kissed his face.

"Cutest?" repeated Darren. "He is just as much of a devil as his mother. It's just that they both are good at masking themselves as the cute little bunny."

Ashley laughed out at her brother's words, "You still fell for a devil."

Darren tsked at that, "I sure did. But you see, devils are good at seducing people. I definitely fell in that trap."

"Want to repeat that before Xiu?" questioned Xiao Li.

"Li bro, don't do that to me," said Darren. 

"Then stop talking nonsense," warned Xiao Li. "My sister definitely didn't seduce you. And even if she did, you better not say it out loud again."

Darren stared at him and said, "As if I have anything to complain about that."

While they were walking back towards the tents, Xiao Li said to Ashley, "You shouldn't waste your life because of a person who didn't even respect you enough. It's not really worth it."

"Brother Li, you're talking as if you're quite experienced in this."

"I am," answered Xiao Li. "That's why I'm warning. It's worth it to offer all of your heart to someone who had trampled on it like it meant nothing. It's painful and I know it. I can completely understand what you're going through right now. But I'll advise you to not give up just yet."

Ashley smiled at him, "With all of you here, I can't possibly even think about giving up on myself." She felt like her eyes were stinging with tears again when she said it. Perhaps, this feeling of having so many people caring about her was far more precious than the pain that her breakup brought to her.. She wasn't willing to lose this precious feeling.