Perfection Isn't Ours

Chapter Two

•••

Mason glared at the photograph in shock and confusion.

Where did I get this picture? He thought and heard footsteps which made him hide the picture in the flower pot by the door. Fiona approached him with a cup of tea and a frown.

"I thought I heard you say something?" She asked, her blue eyes piercing his.

"No- Yes! I forgot something at the office."

"Uh, Okay. Whatever. Here's a hot cup of tea!" She beamed.

Mason smiled at her lovely smile, her dimples showing on the sides of her cheeks. He didn't know if he could confront her about her infidelity or just avoid everything.

He simply nodded as a response. It still hurt him that the woman he was in love with, cheated on him. He took the large cup and left her presence from the hallway to their room. He instantly locked the door and slid down to the floor, holding his head and placed the cup beside him.

"I have the issue of her cheating but now a picture? Who are they? Who owns this picture and where did I get it from?" He muttered, lost in thought.

He sneezed. "God, I need a hot shower," he said and took a sip out of his tea cup then grimaced. "She never makes the best."

He stood up and took off his wet attire while his mind was filled with the thought of what reason his girlfriend could cheat on him with. He jerked when a knock came from the door. He walked to it and unlocked the door before opening it up.

"Why'd you lock the door? I came home and saw it locked. And what happened to the room?!" She brushed past him, her mouth open and hands gesturing at the broken items on the floor. Mason silently watched her and exhaled.

"I was deeply thinking and I've got a lot of work in my head. And about the room, something got me vexed at work so I took my anger out on our room," he replied and didn't miss the few seconds hard look on her face.

She never likes it when I talk about my work, he thought and mentally chuckled dispassionately.

"Anyways, I ordered us some food," she stated, placing her slender hands on her thin waist.

"I'm not hungry. The things that happened today are enough to fill my hunger," he said and crossed the room to the broken mirror. He stared at his broken reflection while waiting for Fiona to leave.

"What'd you mean?" Fiona asked.

"Uh, It doesn't matter anyways. Remember you don't really care about my work stuff?" Mason said and sat on the bed after forcing himself away from the mirror.

Fiona hissed and marched out of the room.

•••

Mason groaned when his alarm woke him up. He yawned and glanced at the body of Fiona and immediately, the memory of last night came to his mind. He pinched the bridge of his nose and held his face.

Tonight, Fiona and I will discuss about this, he thought and got out of bed.

Mason ruffled his brown locks as he walked out of the room. He paused and moved backwards and stared at the flower pot, eyes narrowed and lips pursed in concentration.

"Why do I feel I like-" he pulled out the picture from the pot and gazed at the unfamiliar couple. He had to admit, the woman was extremely beautiful and her green eyes, it held too many emotions for a still photo. The curve of her pink lips were tempting and her wavy black hair suited her small frame.

"I still can't fathom how I got this."

He shut his eyes tight, wracking his brain to spring up an idea. He gasped.

"The lady in the park!"

•••

"The man in the park!" Ciara stated with eyes wide in realisation. She felt Jerome shift beside her on the bed and she clamped her mouth shut with her free hand. She slowly got out of bed and rushed downstairs to the kitchen.

"Why would I have this picture with me when I'm supposed to have mine? I don't get it," she whispered as she paced around the wide kitchen, and then paused in thought when her eyes widened. "Wait, if I'm with his picture. Then mine should be with him!"

Ciara let out a deep sigh, pressed her fingers against her forehead and shut her eyes.

"How did this happen? I know it's just an ordinary picture and I should not be bothered, but, still," she snapped her eyes open and made her way towards the stairs.

•••

Mason got out of his car quickly and ran into the slightly busy park. He checked his wristwatch—6:09am. He silently hoped the cleaners had not swept the park for the day. He rushed through the large field, glancing around for the bench he sat on last night. After few seconds, he found it and raced faster.

The moment he got there, he bumped into someone who made him stagger backwards, so did the person. He stretched out his hand to catch the person, only to find a young woman sitting on the grass. The woman he instantly recognized to be the one in the picture, the one thing he admired was that she was much beautiful than the person in the picture. Her green eyes were like emeralds while her long black hair cascaded down her chest and back in waves. He let his eyes scan her slightly oval face, her small plump lips, he found himself getting uncomfortable at the feeling he felt in his chest as he took in the woman on the ground.

Mason shook his head and stretched out his right hand once again while he looked around for a moment then glanced at the fuming woman. Before he could speak, she kicked his hand and stood up. Her height was below his chin as she squared her shoulders to intimidate him. He almost laughed.

"Are you the man that took my picture?" She asked in a low tone, and crossed her arms under her breasts.

He swallowed. "Uh, What?! I don't even know what you're-Wait. Were you the one who sat with me last night on this bench? And owner of the picture?"

"Well, did you or did you not take a look at the picture?" The dark haired woman shot at him with an eyeroll.

What's her problem? He thought.

"Well, you must be the owner of this. Since you're the one in the picture and you're here. Why conclude?" he stated. Why did I feel nervous? He thought.

"You're so stupid," she said after eyeing him from his shoes to his face. "Can I have my picture now?"

Mason felt his lips tug in a smile. He frowned immediately when he realized what he was doing.

"Do you have mine?" He asked and glanced over her shoulder when he spotted people in the park.

"Yes."

He watched as she brought out the photo from her back pocket. She stretched it towards him with a raised brow.

"Where's mine?" She asked.

"Oh, sure," he brought hers out and stretched it out in the same manner.

"Here," she took his other hand and he felt a warm feeling shoot through his body at the softness of her cold hand.

He glanced up at her, she followed suit. But broke their eye contact a roll of her eyes and placed the picture in his larger hand. Mason smiled and took her small soft hand in his and placed her picture in her palm. She closed the palm and looked down.

"I'm sorry about the picture swapping and all. And for bumping into you," he said with a shrug of his broad shoulders.

Ciara mentally chastised herself for behaving so freely with a stranger. When she first saw him in the picture she felt a tiny feeling but seeing him standing in front of her, gave her feelings she was not expecting to feel. His dark blue eyes gazing intensively at her below his arched brows. His height was compared to Jerome's, six foot three. He had the vibe of those modelling glamor oozing off him. His brown hair was ruffled and a few thick locks shielded his forehead.

Ciara's eyes traced the curve of his sharp jawline to his Adam's apple. She swallowed when his tongue darted out and swiftly moved against his bottom lip. Her gaze moved from his lips to his straight nose then stopped at his deep gaze. She blinked.

"I have to go," she said. Her mind reminded her of her heartbroken revelation from a  few hours back. With a deep sigh, she turned around, ready to go.

"Wait!" Mason said. He didn't know why but he had to. "What's your name?"

She frowned. "Ciara. Ciara Pattinson."

He smirked. "I'm Mason Rivers."

"You sound American," She said. "I mean, not that it's a bad thing but your accent is quite different."

"Yes, I have dual citizenship in the US and United kingdom. My father's from here and my mom's an American. You're English, I guess," he said with a small smile.

She chuckled. You're supposed to be sulking , not having a happy moment with a stranger, her thoughts nagged.

"Yes. I grew up in Chicago, I moved back three years ago. Look, I really have to go. It was nice meeting you, Mr. Rivers." Formality dripped from her soft voice as she pushed her hand out for a handshake which he stared at for a few seconds before he clasped his larger hand in his.

"You too, Miss. Pattinson," he replied in the same manner and quickly took his hand out of the handshake when a similar feeling moved through his body once again.

"Bye." With that, Ciara sped off, her hair bouncing from her movement while Mason stared with a small smile on his face.

"Ciara Pattinson," he whispered and stared at his picture the sighed.

•••