Imperfect Desires

279 Emotional Reunion

Meanwhile... historical

It was midday when a tall and beautiful young woman stepped on those sleek silvery tiles of the airport terminal. She slowly took off the big black sunglasses. She lifted her hand and looked at the silver watch on her wrist. Taking a moment to look around, she moved towards the arrival hall.

At the arrival hall, she stopped to check the plasma screens and seeing that flight was apparently late, she moved towards the lounge to sit comfortably on the low comfy chairs. Her chocolate brown eyes looked down at her cellphone as she busied herself with playing a crossword puzzle.

Around her, there could be heard echoes of jubilation as friends and families could be seen with a broad grin at the first sight of the returning individual. But the young woman clad in scoop neck chiffon green Bohemian dress was completely oblivious to the cheery atmosphere around her.

As much as she looked trendy and elegant, she was bored as well. Her game paused because of an incoming call and her brows knitted up. \"Hello, mother dearest!\"

\"Nora? You still didn't find my aunt Mel?\" came a slightly angry voice of her mother who in her anger chose to speak in Spanish without realizing it.

\"Mom, Mel's flight is an hour late. I'm at the arrival terminal. As soon as she comes out, I'll bring her to you,\" replied Nora in a rather calm tone than her own mother.

Earlier when she dropped Xiu at Darren's company, even she thought she'd be late. But only after getting here, she learned that the flight was late. Mel; Melissa Cartwright was in fact Nora's grandaunt and the only relative of her mother who was still alive. But to Nora, she was more like a second mother who raised her that's why she respected Mel even more than Clara.

\"Even if the flight is late, don't wander around and wait right there,\" instructed Clara in a stern voice.

Nora who had just stood up to get herself a cup of coffee halted but after shrugging her shoulders decided to just keep going. \"I won't go anywhere,\" was her reply to her mother as she came towards the coffee shop. The smell of coffee wafted around tempting her. Soon after, followed the aroma of different cuisines from the restaurants around the coffee shop. Nora's stomach growled in protest but she could only rub her hand over her stomach and keep walking to the coffee shop.

Both mother and daughter were silent but neither hung up. While Clara was busy giving instructions to someone related to her case, Nora was busy ordering herself a cup of cappuccino. While Nora waited for her order, she heard her mother's voice again, \"Oh, right. Nora, remind our Xiu to come home as well. I'd like her to meet aunt Mel as well.\"

Nora tapped her fingers on the countertop rhythmically as she replied, \"Will do. But I think she'd come on Friday night. You know her very well. It's quite difficult to get a hold of her on weekdays. Especially now. \"

\"Yes, I know. That's why I asked you to remind her to come over this weekend,\" retorted Clara before adding, \"Now, I'm gonna hang up. I still have to finish up some work. I'll see you at home.\"

\"Okay, mom. Bye!\" Nora hung up without hesitation and took her coffee cup from the worker behind the counter and turned to leave. She stared at her phone on the way and wondered out loud, \"I really wonder what Xiu'er is doing right now. But something tells me, I shouldn't be acting this curious.\"

With a sigh, as she looked up, her eyes widened while her whole body turned stiff in a minute. Seeing that person looking at the arriving individuals with impatience quite visible in his eyes, Nora's whole body felt a rush of emotions.

The person was none other than Xin Xiaosi who had left the Xin Villa in a hurry in the morning. As for why he was at the airport, it seemed like he was waiting for someone. He looked really worried and Nora could tell since he had been cracking his knuckles which he always did in stress.

Nora wanted to take a step towards him but just as she lifted one of her feet, a figure rushed to Ah-Si's side stopping Nora right where she was. Nora couldn't see who she was but the way she held Ah-Si's hands made her clench her hands into fists. She felt her heart breaking into pieces all over again as she watched him hugging that person close before guiding her away from Nora's sight.

Someone bumped into her and the coffee in her hand directly stained her beautiful dress. \"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry about this,\" said the stranger in her thick accent while she tried to clean Nora's dress and hands with her napkin.

Nora, however, wasn't paying any attention to her as she waved her off. She couldn't even feel the hot coffee that had spilled on her stomach. Apparently, the pain she felt within was stronger than the one she felt physically.

Before the stranger could say anything, Nora felt a gentle touch on her shoulder and tilted her head to look at that smiling face she had been waiting for.

\"Hey, my little Nora!\" Hearing that familiar voice filled with love and care, Nora couldn't hold back herself as tears slowly filled her eyes. Before she knew it, she was hugging the older woman. Her tears dripped from her cheeks to the older woman's white shirt. Her arms encircled around her shoulders to pat her back as she spoke in her soft elderly voice, \"I didn't think you missed me this much.\"

Nora pulled away from her a little and sniffled, \"Mel, I really missed you a lot.\"

Mel wiped Nora's tears and said, \"But why do I think that these tears are for someone else?\"

\"Are you doubting my love for you?\" asked Nora while hiding her real feeling well within her heart. She didn't want Mel to worry, so she could only cry with this pretense of missing her instead of showing her real heartache.

Mel rubbed her head with affection and shook her head. \"I can never doubt my honest, upright and adventurous Dora the explorer!\"

Nora rubbed her tears away to glare at Mel as she complained, \"You know how much I hate that name!\"

Mel laughed at her reaction but said nothing related to it. \"Are you planning on staying at the airport?\" Nora was suddenly reminded that they were standing in the middle of the arrival hall. So, she sheepishly shook her head and took the luggage bag from Mel's hands as she guided her towards her car.