406 Mrs. Salvay (1/2)

Sensing how Darren just went silent after hearing her question, Xiu felt like she must have said something she shouldn't have. She knew his real mother's topic must be a very sensitive and painful one but she couldn't hold back her words. Her curiosity was gonna kill her otherwise. She just wanted to know whether he felt like he needed to know his real mother or not?

”I'm sorry for bringing this up,” she hurriedly tried to fix the mood. ”If you don't want to answer, that's alright. I know it must be very hard.” She was hesitatingly gonna compromise now.

Darren placed his hand on her head gently and yet not so very gently as he shook her head saying, ”Why would it be painful? I never even thought about her. Florence is mama's sister, and if she doesn't care where she is, I don't either.”

”Did you never feel like trying to find her? Really?” Xiu was truly intrigued to know his reply. Was this his way of running from heartbreak? Because he didn't want to know why she left him, he never bothered looking for her?

”We find people who are lost, not the ones who leave by their own choice!” said Darren firmly. Xiu tilted her head to look up at him. ”Sweets, people who are meant to leave eventually leave. Even if you cage a bird, it eventually finds a way to fly away. That's life. Neither can we stop water from flowing nor can we hold sand in our hands.”

His words reminded Xiu of her own life. You can't cage a bird forever. It eventually will find a way to fly away. She also found that way. It's a pity her way of flying away was... Death! Argh! She was really recalling the wrong part of her life.

”She chose to leave on her own. It was her choice to leave me behind. Now, it's my choice to not care where or how she is. She had never been a part of my life and I'd like to keep it that way.” He looked into her eyes as he questioned, ”Got it?”

Xiu nodded her head in reply. ”What about your father?”

Darren's expressions turned complicated at that. He seemed indifferent when she mentioned his real mother but why did he suddenly seem restless?

”You know your father, right?” she questioned strangely.

”Of course, I do,” Darren replied in a low voice. ”But I prefer not talking about him.”

”Did he also leave you by choice?”

Darren smiled a bit sadly as he shook his head, ”It's more complicated than that.” Just as Xiu was about to open her mouth, he went on, ”Sweets, I'd love to share my everything with you. But talking about my dad is a bit difficult. I'm not able to bring myself to either love him or hate him. So, I really don't know what to say about him.”

”So, he didn't leave you, right?” Xiu didn't know why but she was feeling anxious to know his reply.

”What cute? I'm trying to be angry here!”