422 Bitterness

What can come to your mind when you're jobless? 

Considering Xiu's nature, one would think that her to-do list will only consist of:

1:Sleep.

2:Sleep again.

3:Just keep sleeping!

In fact, that's exactly what Darren even thought about her. Knowing her obsession with sleep, he was certain she'd like to catch up on her sleep now that she resigned from her job and didn't have to wake up early. And that was the reason why he didn't disturb her when he got up to get ready for the day.

However, unlike what others expected, Xiu actually was more well-planned and prepared than any other jobless person. And sleeping wasn't on her list of things to worry about at all! At least, not this time around.

Waking up, she saw Darren standing before the mirror trying to set his hair. He looked at her reflection through the mirror when she sat up. "Why are you up? Go back to sleep. You don't have to go to work."

Xiu covered her mouth to yawn before beckoning him to come closer. He silently went to the bed while she stretched her hands to close the top buttons of his shirt as she said, "I have so much to do. How can I sleep?"

"Hm? I thought you'd like to rest now that you resigned, why do you have so much to do even now?" He allowed her to even fix the cuffs of his shirt while he just stood there. She even tied his necktie for him. 

"I promised to take mom out for coffee. First and foremost, I'm gonna take her for that coffee," answered Xiu and frowned slightly as she looked him up and down. "Usually you don't like wearing suits. What's the occasion?"

"I have an important meeting," he answered while Xiu nodded her head.

"It gives you an intimidating look," she noted.

"Oh, really?" His fingers drew in her hair and rubbed pleasingly as he went on, "So, I should try this look from now on?"

Xiu shook her head, "No. I like my smiling Regan better than this one who is giving a cold and broody look."

Darren chuckled at her reaction but didn't continue the topic.

"So, where are you taking mom for coffee?"

"It's an hour and a half drive from here, I think..."

"That far? Just for coffee?"

"It's worth it," she replied back and added in a whisper, "At least, that's what I heard."

Darren kissed her forehead softly and whispered, "Just take care of yourself." Xiu nodded her head obediently. "I'll see you at night."

"Oh, wait! Let me make you breakfast," Xiu hurriedly stood up but he stopped her.

"I'm getting late..."

Xiu placed her finger on his lips saying, "No, no, and no. There is no such thing as skipping breakfast. It's not allowed in our home."

"Our home?" he repeated softly with a raise of his brow at her.

"Yes, boss!"

Xiu's face twitched at his reaction but she didn't say anything as she rushed to the bathroom to wash her face and get to making that breakfast for him.

....

Xiu had only planned to take Francesca out; coffee was just an excuse because she didn't know what else Francesca would like. But luckily, Francesca was such an active person that Xiu didn't have to plan anything else. Instead of Xiu taking Francesca out, it seemed the other way around since it was Francesca dragging Xiu around for different activities.

"The last time I moved to this city, coffee was very difficult to find," told Francesca to Xiu as she picked up a dress from the rack. They both were standing in the boutique which Francesca found very interesting. "Now there are cafes on every other street. Back then, I was really having trouble."

"It's a tea-drinking country, obviously coffee wasn't that famous back then," said Xiu as she just accompanied France without any complaints.

"Hmm... True." Francesca pushed a blue dress into Xiu's hands and while Xiu looked perplexed, she said, "Go, try it on."

Xiu pointed at herself, "Me?"

"I came with you, obviously this is for you," said Francesca making Xiu even more dumbfounded. Uhh... This was quite a strange situation for Xiu. She thought Francesca was looking through these dresses for herself. "Try it on. Or you don't like it? Should I pick another one? I think I should."

"No, no. I... I love it. I'll try it on right now," Xiu couldn't even form her sentences correctly. So, she hurriedly ran off to the changing room. After locking the door, for a good while she just stared at her reflection in the mirror.

'Mom, should I try on this dress?' A distant voice rang in her mind as a scene flashed through her mind. 

A sixteen-year-old girl standing in a famous clothing outlet trying to get her mother's attention who was busy on her cell phone.

'Mom...' the girl whined again while tugging at the woman's sleeves. 

The woman excused herself and turned to face the young girl saying, 'Xiu if you like anything just take it. Mom doesn't have time for this.'

'But you promised to go shopping with me,' the girl grumbled unhappily.

The woman placed her hand on her head and said, 'And I am here with you. But you should also understand mom doesn't have much time. So, get whatever you like.' After that, she got busy talking to the person on the phone again leaving the young girl whose eyes stared at her back longingly.

'But I just wanted to spend some time with you...'

As Xiu looked up into the mirror again, she couldn't find that sixteen-year-old girl. In fact, the face in the mirror was completely different and those eyes, those eyes that stared back at her didn't have any longing for anything left.

Xiu slapped her cheeks as she said, "I must be crazy thinking about that bitter past at this happy moment." She knocked on her head and agreed, "I'm definitely crazy."

'Let the bitterness of the previous life end with that life.' She had decided that just a few days ago then why was she suddenly reminded of that bitterness once again?

Drawing in a long and deep breath, she changed into the dress which Francesca chose for her. It was a printed midi dress with an asymmetric style. It wasn't tight fitted and was loosely hanging on her body. She touched the fabric softly and nodded in satisfaction before opening the door of the changing room.

However, her hand on the doorknob trembled slightly and so did her eyes while her body went stiff at what she saw. Or precisely, because of the person she saw talking to Francesca.

One of the biggest nightmares of her past life was standing just right there smiling happily.