304 Using His Charms

Darren was constantly looking at the face of his friend whom he genuinely cared about. If he was asked to tell any difference between his feelings for Dylan and Cali, he won't be able to. Because truly, both were equally important him and both were like his... bros? 

Yes, it was weird for him to call Cali as a brother but if one met her in person they wouldn't be able to disagree with him. She was a proud tomboy through and through. In fact, she was the first person who made him realize that gender was just a word. 

But this one-sided love...

Why was he stuck with so many people suffering from this one-sided love thingy? Well, a few months ago even he was on the list of those people. But fortunately, he managed to change his status. He really wondered when the rest of them were going to be brave enough to take a chance in life?

Or better, find someone like him who was willing to take a chance for them just like his Xiu did. 

He shook his head and exhaled sharply in distress, "I really don't get you sometimes. Why are you so scared to even reveal your feelings?"

Cali propped her elbow on the counter and supported her chin on the heel of her hand as she tilted her head to look at him. The first thing that caught Darren's attention was her beautiful little birds' tattoo on her forearm. It was simple but it was so elegantly done that it grabbed one's attention almost instantly.

"You're right, I'm scared when it comes to him," she agreed without any hesitation making Darren's brows to raise up in surprise. "Your best friend is like..." she searched for the right word before continuing, "Erm... I'd say he's like an innocent little kid." She nodded as if she found the right word. "I don't know how he did it but he really managed to protect his soul from the debauchery of this impure world. It's a pity that he couldn't protect his heart from breaking but even then he didn't lose his essence."

There was a small smile playing at the corner of Darren's lips as he listened to her. He had nothing to disagree with. Everything she said was true. It was just that simple to define Dylan. That's what made him precious.

Cali frowned a little in her own thought as she continued, "I'm not like him. My parents got divorced when I was young. Unlike him, I grew up in a broken family. I feel like he deserves someone better- OW!"

She didn't get to finish as Darren had slapped her head, "These foolish thoughts really don't go well with your confident-self. So, stop before I kick you!"

"Kick me?" she raised her brow in amusement. "You will hit a lady now?"

"Pfft!" Darren laughed at her face without any restraint. "Lady? Act like one first!" She scoffed at him before punching his shoulder and not so gently. He laughed at her reaction as he added, "See, even now you're not gentle."

"I'm helping you," he replied with a wink and waited for the call to connect as he placed his phone on speaker. 

Cali was frowning at his reply when she heard the voice of the other person which took her by surprise, "Heya, bestie! You finally came back from the dreamland?"

Dylan's overly excited voice even took Darren by surprise. What got him so excited?

"Hmm... I just woke up with a bad headache. So, I made some coffee for me," answered Darren. 

He heard a sigh from his best friend who went on to say, "Bitter. Yuck!" Darren could only roll his eyes at Dylan's remark and so did the person right next to him who was listening. Because both of them knew how much Dylan despised bitter things. His innocence wasn't the only thing like a kid, even his palette was like one. 

"Grow up, Didi!" 

"I refuse to grow up if it means I have to like bitter things and bitter people. After all, I can't digest both," Dylan gave his firm response without even thinking. "OW!"

"What's wrong?" asked Darren as he heard Dylan's voice. He looked at Cali who looked anxiously at the phone and rolled his eyes at her reaction as well.

"Nothing... I was cutting green chilies a while ago and I didn't wash my hands later. Now, I just used the same hand to rub my eyes... Ssss... Oh, it's burning now!"

Darren facepalmed himself for having such an idiot friend while Cali sighed in relief beside him. Then she smiled thinking about his reaction since it was something really Dylan-like thing to happen. 

"Idiot!" Darren commented feeling really distressed thinking about this best friend of his. Then he frowned slightly, "Wait! What are you doing in the kitchen? Who is sick of living that he put you in the kitchen?"

Dylan stayed quiet for a minute before he burst out laughing at his best friend, "About that dear friend..."

"Didi, what are you doing?" Darren suddenly stood up as he heard that very familiar voice from Dylan's side.

"Dicing the carrots, just like you asked me to," Dylan answered with a proud face while Xiu's face was twitching uncontrollably. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Xiu took a deep breath as she answered thoughtfully, "I'm wondering whether to hit you first or laugh at you first."

Dylan took a step back as he replied, "How about laughing first?" It will allow him to run away from her! However, his plan was completely spoiled when Xiu chose to hit his head first. "Ouch! Why did you hit me?"

Xiu laughed at him as she replied, "Because you're the dumbest person I've ever met in my life!"

"What did I do now?" Dylan scowled unhappily. He was doing everything that she asked him to do obediently.

Xiu pointed at the carrots he cut and said, "I told you to cut them evenly."

"Yes, I know. That's what I am doing," said Dylan.

"Didi, which idiot use a damn ruler to take measurements before cutting carrots?" 

Darren and Cali who had been listening silently ended up laughing when they heard Xiu's words. Darren really had no trouble in picturing Dylan using a ruler to cut the carrots in even pieces.

"You'd be mad at me if I didn't cut these evenly," Dylan was trying to act pitifully now. He really couldn't understand what he did so wrong this time. He could vaguely remember that he saw someone else using a ruler to cut even pieces of carrots. Perhaps, it was in a drama but he didn't pay attention back then.

Seeing that Xiu was rubbing her forehead, Dylan felt like he was gonna be in trouble soon, so he used the tactic that he learned this very day, "Sister-in-law, I did it all to impress you."

Darren choked on air as he coughed at Dylan's words and tone of voice. Why was his best friend acting like a spoiled kid around his girlfriend? Why was he using these charms on his girlfriend?