Perfection Isn't Ours

Chapter Fourteen

After hanging out with some old friends and shopping for her and Jerome, Ciara got home at around 9pm to find Jerome sitting in the living room with anger written on his face. She just smiled at him and dropped the shopping bags.

"Stay where you are," he said and stood up.

Ciara shrugged and approached him with a daring look which he read easily.

"What makes you think you can disobey me, Ciara? Who gave you the go ahead to get a new phone and even see that man?" he asked, fists clenched.

She contorted her face into a confused one.

"How did you know?"

"Harry is his friend and Harry is my friend. We were together today when he showed me a picture he took of you in that bastard's office. What were you doing there? Is he that irresistible? Answer me?!" He barked, closing in on Ciara who just pushed him back with her hands.

"Listen, I owe you no explanation. Let me just tell you something; gone are the days when I'll listen to you spew rubbish. I am my own person and I will and can do what I want; whenever, however, and wherever. If your stupid ego can't accept it, then I'm afraid we have to just part ways," she said and blew him a kiss.

"Is that a threat?" Jerome demanded as Ciara began her way to the steps. "Ciara?!"

She stopped.

"Oh and baby? We're going to an event tomorrow at 7pm. I already got your suit. So, do this for me or-" She made a broken heart sign with her two hands.

Jerome growled as she left.

•••

Mason walked into his bedroom, towel wrapped around his waist and hair dripping wet. He sat on the king size bed and picked up his other towel by his side and began to wipe his body.

His phone beeped a notification, he picked up the phone and smiled when he saw it was a text from Ciara.

CiCi: I just got home from shopping and other activities. So, what're you doing?

He smiled wider and began to type back, that was when Fiona walked in. He rolled his eyes as she roamed the room aimlessly until she sat on the other end of the bed.

"I got to tell you something, Mason," she said and he locked the screen of his phone.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry if I overreacted earlier. I can't help it, that girl is hot and beautiful. And I'm a woman, we tend to rage out at this sort of thing. I won't question you again, okay?" She said and he nodded.

"It doesn't matter anymore. Why? Because I'd never cheat on you. Just forget about today, Fiona and go to sleep," he replied drily, rose up and began to wear his clothes, a white shirt and black sweatpants.

After dressing up, he went to the bed and lay down. He glanced at Fiona when she balled up then sighed and scooted close to her. He wrapped his arms around her and was about to kiss her cheek when he saw a hickey on her neck. He growled and sat up.

Not again! Not again, Fiona! You question me about my infidelity but you go right ahead to cheat on me. Ugh! I need to clear my head.

He rose up and ignored the fact that Fiona had turned to look at him as he fished for a jacket on the pile of laundered clothes on a chair in the corner.

"What is it?" She asked and he flinched.

"Go. To. Sleep, Fiona. I have something to look into," he replied when he found a sweat shirt, picked his phone and left the room.

•••

Mason: Can I talk to you right now?

Mason: If you're awake. Meet me outside your house.

Mason: I really need a friend to talk to.

Mason bit his bottom lip as he paced around the garage area of Ciara's house. He ran his fingers through his hair as thoughts of Fiona filled his mind.

Why would she cheat on me again? Here I was thinking when I thought I'd let everything slide. God I'm so-

"Mason?" Ciara called and he smiled ruefully when he saw sleep hovering her eyes. "What is it? You kept blowing my phone up."

Mason ran his fingers through his hair and walked closer to her. He stared at her for a moment before craning his head suggestively.

"Now?" She asked, he noted a note of fear in her question. "I mean, it's almost 10pm and well-"

"We won't go far, Ciara. I just need to talk, please?" He pleaded and she hesitantly nodded before brushing past him and began to walk along the street.

They walked to a house up for sale and sat by the stair way leading to the front doors. Mason placed his hands in his pockets while Ciara unlocked her phone to scroll through.

"I'm sorry for calling you out this late," he paused to stretch his long legs over the descending steps. "I found out that Fiona is cheating on me, twice in a few days." He chuckled drily.

Ciara dropped her phone beside her thigh and stared at him in sympathy. She licked her lips and scooted close to him when he bowed his head into his hands. She carefully placed her hand on his back, then he hugged her. She froze.

"What do I do, Ciara? I love her so much but she keeps doing these things to hurt me. I give her everything; Money, love, attention, care, s*x, everything. But why would she cheat on me?" He cried out on her shoulder, not caring if his tears soaked her clothes. He just had an odd sense of comfort with Ciara to cry out his heart.

Ciara caressed his back softly with her palms. She felt her eyes begin to prickle, a sign that her tears would let lose soon. She genuinely understood him, she had the same issue with Jerome after all.

"I understand, Mason. I understand. Just calm down," she whispered before he moved away to stare into her eyes. Ciara almost began to cry due to the hurt in his eyes. "I know what you're going through. But I've come to not care anymore."

He sniffed. "What'd you mean?"

"Well, Jerome cheated on me the day we first met under the rain. I never confronted him, I took everything in with good faith that he'll end up coming back to me. But, I'm beginning to let him know that I'm not some shitty girl he can manipulate anymore.

"Mason, all you have to do is talk to her about it. Crying and questioning yourself won't work. Hear her out and if she lies to your face, maybe you should break up with her," she said softly.

Mason stood up completely and exhaled. He put on the hood of his sweat shirt and backed Ciara.

"Fiona has always been there for me when I had nothing, despite the fact that she cheated on me, I still love her. But I can't trust her. What's a relationship without trust? How can lies and deceit be the foundation of a relationship?" He asked, turning to face Ciara who was lost in thought.

"Do you still love Jerome?" He asked and watched as the emotions shifted in her eyes.

"I-Ye-I don't know, Mason. Everything happening-I just don't know. I feel betrayed, hurt and insulted," she replied and stood up, joining Mason.

Mason walked closer to her and unconsciously took her right hand. He placed it on his chest above his heart. She looked up at him, confused.

"This heart can only love people in different ways. This same heart can break when one person hurts you. Ciara, I've seen what he can do. I'm not perfect but, I think you should leave Jerome while you still can or -"

"It's better you mind your own business," she interjected.

"Pardon?" He demanded, brows furrowed.

"You don't know Jerome. Just because he misbehaves with me doesn't mean I don't love him. He's my soul mate, I can't leave my soul mate," she replied more to herself than him.

"Soul mate?! Are you out of your mind?! Are you waiting till you're six feet under, before you realise that you're in a toxic relationship?! I'm just a friend that's worried about your wellbeing!"

Ciara slapped him across his cheek. The contact echoing around the area. She glared at him before marching away.

Mason held his stinging cheek while watching her run away. He stood straight and punched the for sale sign behind him in rage.

"It's all my fault! I shouldn't have called her out. I should've wallowed in my pain. She doesn't know what kind of man he is. I single handedly watched my father mistreat my mother in this same way!"

He punched the sign again, ignoring his skin bruising up. He sat on the ground and held his aching head.

•••

Why did you run? You know what he said was the truth. Nora and everyone has been telling you this.

"Shut up!" She barked as she walked home.

There are so many men ready to love you out there. How come you're still stuck with Jerome?

She stopped and growled before running away.

"He's my soul mate. Whether he hits me or not."

You're the one who said you'll make him suffer then break things up with him.

"I meant I'd make him suffer for what he did so he'll love me back. It's not easy finding love and I am not losing the one I have," she whispered and looked up at her house in the distant.

"I shouldn't have hit Mason. He was already hurt, he needed some comfort and I gave him hurt in return. I need to apo-"

She almost tripped when someone bumped into her. She looked up to see it was Mason.

"Mason?!" She called out but he didn't budge. She ran up to him, grabbed his arm and spun him around. "Mason, I-"

"I don't want it. Go back to Jerome," he said, and yanked his arm out of her grasp before walking away.