331 Tongue-Tied

Use your words wisely.

Xiu actually felt like today she understood the meaning of this sentence in a perfect sense. The words you use to describe others can often be used to perfectly describe you. For instance, in the case of Xiu, she loved calling Dylan a dumb person. But today, at this very moment, she wanted to use the same word for herself.

DUMB!

IDIOT!

BLABBERMOUTH!

Most of all, BLIND!

She was repeatedly condemning herself for having a single-track mind. Xiu would never hesitate to accept that she had flaws. Like she was selfish, hypocrite, sometimes a liar as well. But she never thought that her being a single-track minded person was also a flaw. That's something she only realized now.

The woman before Xiu's eyes looked to be in her forties but if one asked Xiu, she'd love to mention that Francesca could even outshine her beauty even at that age. She was stunning and those eyes that reminded her of Darren's radiated an irresistible charm like her son's which made Xiu believe that Darren definitely inherited his charms from this woman.

Xiu was flustered now realizing how she just acted like a clingy little girlfriend before her mother-in-law. Damn! Someone just kill me right now! This is so damn embarrassing! Xiu wanted to cry but had no tears. This had to be one of her most embarrassing moments in both her lives. How she wished the ground to open and swallow her whole.

Now her only hope was that Francesca didn't understand her stupid chatter. Yup! That's the thread of hope, I'm gonna hold with dear life. Xiu struggled to lift up her mood optimistically. However, Francesca's next words dumped her newfound optimism to a place where she really didn't dare to find it anymore.

"Don't look at me like that. If I'm disturbing, I can find my way out..." 

Although Francesca's Mandarin wasn't perfect, it still was enough to tell Xiu that her mother-in-law definitely understood her words. Great!! How awesome my life is! Note the sarcasm here!!! 

Xiu felt Darren's hands on her shoulders as he pushed her towards his mother and finally spoke out, "Mama, you were so eager to meet my Sweets and now, you want to leave?"

"I just thought I should leave some privacy for you both," said Francesca clearly in a teasing voice. She looked at her son before turning her eyes to Xiu who had yet to utter a word. It actually looked like she lost her voice. Well, at least that's what she felt inside. "How about you get the introductions out of the way..."

Darren nodded his head. "As you can already guess, Mama, this is my Sweets. My girlfriend. The only one I so eagerly wanted to introduce to you."

"Sweets..."

"For you, mama, it's Xiu. She's only my Sweets. You can't call her that."

"Oh, so possessive now. How mean of you!" Francesca looked at Xiu again with a smile. "Hello there, my Regi's Sweets."

Xiu slowly bowed her head a little as she tried to speak, "Hi!"

Darren slid close to his mother and began, "Sweets, this is my mother. Francesca Salvay."

Now that Darren stood beside Francesca Xiu was again stunned. No matter how she looked at it, it was really hard to believe that Darren was actually Francesca's son. She looked too young for that. Besides, Xiu was more willing to believe that they were siblings rather than mother-son. 

"It's really nice to finally meet you in person. I've heard a lot about you," Xiu somehow managed to find her voice from somewhere and said out those words politely. Completely unlike the way she just behaved before Francesca a while ago. Well, it was time to redeem herself and that's what she was gonna do! "It's really a pleasure to have you here. I have always admired you. I was really excited to meet the woman who raised such an amazing son."

Darren pursed his lips as he raised his brow at Xiu who was again talking without thinking. And knowing his mother, he was certain that Xiu was in a for a surprise. Sure enough, Francesca's lips curled up in a smile as she said, "Are you complimenting me or my son?"

"Err... Both," said Xiu looking really uncertain. With the way she was being stared down, it was nerve-wracking. Why didn't anyone warn her that mothers-in-law could make you so nervous? She, who had never even been frightened before a sea of audience was actually tongue-tied before a mother who was assessing her for her son.

"Mama, don't say anything else. Sweets is already nervous enough," Darren sided with his girlfriend who was turning pale now.

"But I didn't even do anything," retorted Francesca in her defense which was true since she had yet to even do anything. But apparently the way she suddenly showed up before Xiu was enough to scare the young one who was caught unprepared.

Darren caressed Xiu's head to calm her nerves as he spoke to his mother. "You don't have to do anything."

"I was wondering why my son didn't miss me like he used to do," began Francesca. "Only now I understood. We mothers can't hold on to our sons once their wives get in the picture." Her lamenting made Xiu feel like a bolt of lightning struck on her. "My son is not mine anymore and I have to accept this truth." 

Xiu frantically flailed her hands as she said, "Your son is still yours. You're really misunderstanding here." Francesca was taken aback by Xiu's sudden change. "I'm not trying to take him. I promise I'm not. He's still your son."

"Wait! Sweets, are you abandoning me?"

"What?"

"How can you just push me to my mother so easily? You should be calling me yours right now."

Xiu didn't know why he was behaving so annoyingly right now but she could only keep her curses within her heart as she spurted out, "I can call you mine anywhere but not before your mother. That's your mother we are talking about. I as your girlfriend, your love, or whatever can't compete with her of all people."

While Darren pouted at her for actually not calling him as hers, Francesca was amused. She chuckled at Xiu's words and lifted her hand to touch Xiu's face as she said, "Silly child, he's gonna hold this grudge for a long time now." Xiu frowned as she didn't know what she meant. "But I love it. You're amusing. Very cute. Just like a little girl."

Xiu's face fell at that comment. Like a little girl? Well, she couldn't blame Francesca for thinking like that she had indeed acted like a little girl before her. But it still hurt to know that that was the first impression she managed to get across.

Scratching her head awkwardly, she bowed again, "Sorry but I'll have to leave. I just came to give that meal to him. I think you both have a lot to talk about and I won't be disturbing you guys."

"Sweets, you're leaving? Why don't you stay? We'll go home together," offered Darren but Xiu refused flatly. She didn't want to be the third person between a mother and son who was meeting after a long time. It was fine as long as she got to see Darren. Now, she could be at ease.

"Yes, you should stay. I'd love to get to know you more," chimed in Francesca looking at Xiu with her sparkling eyes.

It was hard for Xiu to refuse those eyes but she was really not in her right state of mind. She thought if she ended up spouting any nonsense before her, then she'll be regretting it for life. So, it was better to be safe than sorry.

"I'd love to as well but I..."

"Right, you look really tired. Child, you should go back and rest. We can catch up later on. I'm not going anywhere."

Xiu was thankful that Francesca gave her a way out on her own. She just waved them both goodbye and almost ran out of the office.