335 Sisters (1/2)

The bold but fleeting burning taste of the drink in Xiu's mouth was the only thing helping her stay awake. As much as she was fond of drinking, she really wasn't feeling the usual excitement. Perhaps because she wasn't feeling anything. Not even the drink in her hand could help her feel anything. And bloody hell! Why wasn't she feeling the surge of intoxication catching up to her senses yet?

”Hey, Cali! Here!”

Xiu was yawning in boredom when she saw Nora getting up from her seat to wave at someone. With a frown, she voiced out, ”What are you doing?”

”I'm calling for someone to join us,” answered Nora as if it was the most rational thing to do.

”Why?” retorted Xiu. It wasn't that she was being rude, it was just that whenever she and Nora went out drinking, nobody would be there except for these two. Besides, no matter how much Xiu liked drinking, she didn't like getting drunk before just anyone.

”Trust me, you'd love this guest,” winked Nora at Xiu playfully making Xiu raise her brow in confusion. But before Xiu could say anything, Cali had already come up to their table.

”Hi, Nora!” Cali greeted Nora but didn't notice Xiu who was supporting the side of her face on her knuckles while her elbow was propped on the table in her inconspicuous corner.

”I sent you the address, did you visit the place?” asked Nora excitedly while Xiu could only listen in without understanding the context of the conversation. Not like she wanted to anyway.

”Yes, I did,” replied Cali with a grateful smile. ”Thank you for your help!”

”Ay, that's alright. Your a friend's special guest, I could do this much.”

”Friend's guest I can handle but special guest? I don't think so,” was Cali's flat reply.

Nora sighed heavily, ”You just reminded me of what my best friend was saying.” Cali quirked up her brow while Nora continued, ”She said we should know our own worth and make it known to others as well. So, I suggest you stop with that hopeless outlook of yours as well.” Cali only smiled slightly in reply but stayed quiet. ”By the way, what did you get? Can I see?”

Cali looked conflicted before she scratched the back of her head and nodded. She turned around and slid her blazer off her shoulders slightly. What came into Nora's view was a butterfly tattoo at her right shoulderblade. It looked so lifelike.

Nora opened her mouth to say something when an impatiently excited someone cut her off, ”Wow! That's such a cool tattoo. It looks so real.” Without even realizing it herself, Xiu's fingers ended up brushing on Cali's tattoo making her flinch back. Seeing her reaction, Xiu rubbed the nape of her neck awkwardly, ”Sorry, I got carried away in my excitement.”

While Cali was staring at Xiu's smiling face, Nora chimed in, ”Oh, I forgot to introduce you. This is my best friend...”

”Bai Xiu,” Xiu added herself. ”Pleasure to meet you.”

”Novell?” Xiu repeated softly as her eyes widened considerably. Carina Novell. Destiny Novell. Calista Novell??! Is it what I think it is? Xiu shook her head at her own thoughts. No, it's not possible. There are so many people with the same last name in this world. I must be overthinking again. She ended up denying her own thoughts in conflict. Composing herself again, she added, ”I like that tattoo of yours. Man, I so wanted one as well.”

”Why don't you get one then?”

”Because Xiu'er is afraid of pain,” said Nora in place of Xiu. ”Oh, I forgot to say. Take a seat with us if you're not waiting for anyone.”

Cali nodded and took a seat beside Nora while Xiu mumbled more to herself, ”I'm not scared of pain. I'm scarred by it instead.” However, if she said it out loud, she won't be able to explain the meaning behind her words to them. So, she chose not to say it. As Cali took a seat and Xiu managed to see her face clearly, she yelled out, ”Oh! You're that tattoo girl!” She finally understood why Nora said she'd like this guest.

”Huh?”

”What is up with you now, Xiu?”

Xiu pulled Nora's collar as she hauled her towards herself and whispered, ”She's the girl. The one living in Dylan's phone!” Then she frowned to herself as she added, ”No, I should say that she's the one living in Dylan's heart as well. It's just that my idiot boss is too slow to realize it himself.”

Nora shoved Xiu's hand away as she sat back in her seat smiling apologetically at Cali who was looking at their interaction with amusement. ”Not just your boss, I just realized even you're very slow.”

Xiu grumbled incoherently after Nora insulted her like that. It wasn't her fault that she only saw Cali once and that was from afar as for when Dylan showed her Cali's photos, she was more interested in looking at the tattoos rather than the girl in the photos. Don't blame her, she was a girl. It would be even weirder if she paid attention to Cali's photos.