Chapter 31 - A Morning Clash

Bright and early in the next morning, Nora entered the apartment after her morning run in the nearby park. Clad in grey sweatpants and a matching trendy tank top, she pulled out her ear pods and took a towel to wipe off the beads of perspiration.

Stretching her body, she strode towards the open kitchen to get herself a water bottle. But while passing through the sitting area, she thought she saw something in the open balcony from her peripheral vision. She thought she was hallucinating and for that, she took a couple of steps back to take another look and was stunned still.

The cool morning air was flooding through the balcony's French doors making the white sheer curtains to dance at its soft rhythm. The dazzling sunlight was slowly about to rise in the horizon to shine upon this glorious world.

However, what stunned Nora rooted to her place was something else entirely. Or we should say, it was rather a someone.

On the balcony, Xiu looked to be in great concentration as she was trying to keep her balance in doing planks on the yoga mat. Her face was red from trying to hard to hold her position while beads of sweat were palpable on her face. She was wearing high-waist leggings with trendy mesh details along with a cropped seamless tank top.

Nora almost lost her balance at this sight. While Nora was a morning person, Xiu was not one to put it lightly. Seeing Xiu out of her bed before her alarm buzzed was almost impossible.

Perhaps that's why Nora got a shock when she saw Xiu working out.

With a grunt, Xiu laid down on the yoga mat with her face down while panting, like a bird that had often flapped his wings against his cage. She looked beat but seeing her like that, Nora was certainly amused.

"Baby Xiu'er, are you alright?" Hearing Nora's concerned voice, Xiu turned her face sideways and looked at her.

"I'm good." Xiu even gave her a thumbs up to say she was just peachy. Pushing her body off of the floor, Xiu managed to sit up and said, "I took the liberty of rummaging through your closet. Hope you don't mind me using these." She was talking about the clothes she wore which weren't hers. If she wasn't even a fitness conscious person, there was no need to have tons of fitness wears as well.

It would be waste of money and a stingy person like her would never allow herself to do that.

"I don't mind at all," Nora replied in a daze and went to bring two bottles of sparkling water. She passed one to Xiu who thanked her in return and took a sip of refreshing water from her own.

Sitting in the balcony, they both stayed silent. Not daring to break the tranquility in the air. That fresh morning air was calming and relaxing. Finally feeling the discomfort because of the stickiness caused by sweat, Nora went to take a shower.

Xiu was left contemplating whether to take the shower first or make the breakfast. In the end, she chose the shower and went about doing her business.

About an hour or so later, both of them sat at their small glass dining table having their simple breakfast which consisted of Hash Brown Egg Nests with Avocado and their respective coffees.

"When are Uncle and Auntie coming?" Xiu started the conversation as she inquired about Nora's parents.

"There flight is on Friday," Nora answered and took a sip of her Cappucino. "And we're having a brunch on Saturday together. You are also invited."

"I don't know. It's your family reunion. I shouldn't interfere." Xiu replied a bit hesitantly. She was already indebted to Nora's parents for providing her with a roof when she needed it. They didn't just offer her a warm home, they offered her a warm family as well. But she still felt like she was intruding. After all, she was still an outsider.

She didn't want to act like those people who are given an inch and they try to take a mile. She couldn't repay their kindness but she didn't want to be a burden as well.

"Oi! Where is all this bullshit coming from? My parents are your parents. My family is your family. Why are you still trying to push us away?" Nora was scowling unhappily at Xiu's words.

"Nora darling, try to understand. I'm not a thankless person but I can't always intrude in you-"

Nora raised her hand to cut her off as she said, "What intruding? Are you trying to indirectly tell me that my love, friendship and sincerity for you are a burden? Or is it that you owe my family a lot of favors?"

"That's not what I really mean to say..." Xiu tried to speak but Nora wasn't keen on listening anymore.

"You have really hurt my feelings with those words, Bai Xiu. I always treated you as my sister and so did my parents. But in the end, you don't even want to share a meal with us because you think you'll be a burden for us. How ironic!" When she finished, Xiu was left speechless and Nora took this time to leave the apartment with reddened eyes.

Xiu was stumped for words because it might have been the very first time Nora called her Bai Xiu. She never used her full name. And the name felt like a jab to her ego since Xiu was reminded how Nora's sincerity and love were for the real Bai Xiu and not a counterfeit like herself. She was reminded of how she had taken everything Nora had to offer as granted.

Most of all, Xiu was reminded of how she had no right to hurt Nora. Her jaw clenched while her fists tightened. She shouldn't have hurt Nora. Not at all. But where was she to put her pride?