709 Pinky Promise

She turned her head to look at Darren and smiled, "I'm really jealous of him."

"Hm? Why?" asked Xiu.

"He managed to bring all that happiness in your life that I wanted to give you," said Nora feeling slightly bitter inside.

Xiu chuckled softly, "You're talking as if you're my ex-boyfriend who didn't cherish me when we were dating and is only realizing now what he lost me to another man who can love me better than you ever could."

Nora's heavy move instantly drowned in Xiu's teasing tone and she glowered, "My Xiu darling, don't forget, your best friend is your very first relationship! I'm that person with whom you can laugh, cry, act crazy, flirt, and even be your very real self. Because I'm that one person who would always be there for you."

Xiu's eyes had a complicated glint as she looked at Nora and said, "Thank you!"

"Are you getting your periodic emotional stroke?"

"My what?" 

"Darling, you have a bad habit of getting these periodic strokes where you continue to say 'thank you' to me. I get it. You're very thankful to me. I'm awesome, you should be thankful to God for blessing you with a friend like me."

Xiu's tears fell down as she laughed at Nora's words and shook her head, "Silly Dora, I always mean it when I say thank you to you. You're the world's best-est best friend I can ever ask for. I'm thankful to God for bringing you into my life but I'm also equally thankful to you for accepting me in every way."

Nora furrowed her brows, "Xiu, shut up! I really am feeling uneasy with your words now. It's as if you're saying goodbye to me. I don't like this feeling."

Xiu smiled at her, "I don't want to say goodbye to you. Not now. Not ever! So, no matter what happens between us, you better not walk away."

Jackie wiped Xiu's tears with his small hands and pouted, "Why are you crying?"

Xiu looked down at his concerned face and kissed the tip of his nose saying, "Because I love my baby brother so much that it hurts."

Jackie looked at her thoughtfully and said, "If it hurts, Xiu doesn't have to love Jackie." Xiu's brows arched up as he continued, "I'll do the loving part. Even if it'll hurt, Jackie will continue to love his sisters."

"Little master, did you even understand what she just said?" asked Nora as she stepped closer to them and looked at Xiu, "Why are you even telling him this? He is very young for this stuff."

"I'm smarter than you," retorted Jackie. "Xiu just said, it's okay to be hurt when you love. But it's not okay to let pain dictate your life or love." 

"You really got it?" Nora was shocked. 

Jackie gave her a disdainful gaze saying, "Of course, I understood. I'm not dumb like you who would choose to run from love instead of facing it."

"Bro, you really have something against me?"

Jackie shook his head and replied, "No. I don't have anything against you. I love you very much. It's just that I feel bad for your daughter who had to grow up without you just because you had no courage to face your feelings."

Xiu pressed her lips and looked at Nora who was still standing stunned. This little brother really knew how to talk. Suddenly, Nora's face softened and she hugged both Xiu and Jackie saying, "You both are the devil siblings but I still won't have it any other way. I love you both so much!"

"Xiuxiu, Nora cried today," said Jackie.

Nora rubbed his head in a way to silence him, "It's not necessary to tell your sister Xiu everything." And seeing Xiu's quirked up brows, she added, "It's nothing. I just got a little emotional seeing Darren's love for you. This jerk jumped right before you without even thinking, it made me equally happy and equally mad at him!"

Xiu hugged these two with a content smile and said, "I know you're worried about me. Don't try to skirt around this topic. I know you. Don't ever forget that!"

Nora kissed Xiu's forehead and said, "Sweet sister, I wish I knew you as well as you know me. If only you'd let me in once in a while. It's not okay to carry so much on your own."

"I promise I won't do it ever again. I'll share with you everything."

"Promise?" Nora offered her pinky finger.

Xiu hooked her pinky finger with hers and smiled, "Promise!"

"Eww! How childish!" 

Both of them stared at Jackie's reaction and burst out laughing, keeping their voice low so as not to disturb Darren's rest. They both teased this little master who found everything childish. 

"Stop kissing me! It's enough already!"

Neither Xiu nor Nora let him escape though. The more he resisted, the more these two sisters squished him between them. Finally, he had to stop resisting in defeat, or else these two won't let him be. 

Anyone who looked at them like this would feel their heart warming up. This trio really gave the feeling of the siblings who loved and cared about each other. And they had such a beautiful relationship that one would feel envious of them.