My Kind of Perfect Read online

  My Kind of Perfect

  By Freesia Lockheart

  Copyright © 2012 Freesia Lockheart

  All Rights Reserved

  All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  For John and all vain heroines who deserves a chance

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 1

  All our lives, we had this one little dirty secret we’d been keeping enclosed in our hearts. In moments of self-realization, we came to know that we were suffering from it. The TV ads. Magazines. Everywhere we looked, it was there. And with that, it was only rational to spread our wings and reach. Never look down. No room for second best. There was only one way we should live our lives.

  And that was it.

  In our subconscious mind, we did it all the time. We tend to achieve every essence of it, doing everything we could and relentlessly striving towards that coveted ultimatum. It was a provocation that in itself was hard to attain. But we had a way. We found a way. Our instinct had dictated us that it was that, only that and nothing else. Each day, we’d repeatedly want to get closer and closer to it.

  And so we did.

  Others had different advances, but everyone used a way. One or the other, we did it before, was doing it now, and even in our unconsciousness, we’d to it again. It was imminent. A thing that everyone was entitled to fear.

  Some had chosen to hide it, going behind the curtains while carrying on the quest, amidst other people’s knowing and ashamed to be judged for the so-called meaningless vanity. For others, they were running away from it, in denial that they, too, had been grasped by its claws. But like a voice in the back of their head, they knew that they could only run but never escape.

  Although for a few of us, a tiny portion of this universe’s entirety, we were the ones who embraced it with open arms. It came to us naturally. There was no resistance, no futile struggle.

  After all, it was our destiny.

  It was a sin to be beautiful, a curse to be adored by every eye, and a sure lot of pain to be the center of the talks. But this was inevitable. Not everyone was given the gift, had reached the coveted ultimatum, and was living it like it was something as easy as breathing. I had it—the thing that everyone coveted—perfection. I was living every moment of my life for the last ten years in this manner and was one of the few who were entitled to stand in this envied rightful place.

  There it was!

  Nope, I wasn’t thinking about perfection again because right in front of my eyes, walking underneath the lamppost, which someone should have had switched off by now, I finally saw the black cat lurking around the neighborhood. Without second thoughts, I perked up and started to run. The cool winds of the morning were starting to be clashed by the warmth of the sun as they trickled on my face. Looking straight ahead, my eyes were still fixated on the moving cat.

  Yes, it was a cat. Its jet black fur and dull form shined in my eyes like diamonds exquisitely placed around the perfect ring. At the end of the day, I knew that it was nothing but a meaningless cat. However, for now, it was all I needed.

  Perfection was one thing. But having all the stars lined up in your favor was another. True, I had what every girl, younger or older alike, wanted—physically, situational, and mentally wise. But fate was another concern and luck was never constant. It was a matter of chance given to a few fortunate ones at specific points in time. And in this moment, I had to be one of them. Either that or I’d find my way to be so.

  A good example would be this cat.

  And so my heart thumped wildly in my chest as I realized that the one that could boost my luck for this day was only a few steps away from me. Moving forward, I only left a reasonable distance and stopped in front of it. Bending my knees and sitting on the back on my heels, I called it, “Here little kitty, come to mama.”

  The cat looked up to me, appearing to be baffled at what I was doing. If it could read, I would show it the importance of this matter. Last night, I read this article in a magazine entitled How to Push Your Luck to the Limit. They said that when a black cat walked towards you, it would bring you good fortune. And it could also go the other way around. For if it walked away from you, it would take all your fortune and then you would have the uttermost bad luck for the rest of the day. Or worse, for your entire life.

  That much I never wanted to happen, ever.

  I smiled wildly and extended my right hand to the cat. Affectionately calling it, I said again, “Come here, kitty. Let me give you a pat on the head, okay?”

  The cat stared at me. “Meow?”

  “Meow? Want to talk to me in your language? I can do that. Meow. Meow,” I ardently said to it. A few more cat talk but still, she didn’t seem to get me though.

  What a cat!

  Rather, it appeared very oblivious at what I was doing. Then after a while, careful steps following another, it turned its back to me and started walking away. My eyes widened and my mouth hanged wide-open in shock as I stared at its departing figure.

  “Come back here! Don’t go, little cat!” I exclaimed as I lifted my face and watched it climb up the backstairs of the apartment building at my left. It shouldn’t. That thing wasn’t supposed to do that.

  Or else... or else... he would take away all of my fortunes!

  I followed it and climbed upstairs as well. My heels clacked loudly at each step but I couldn’t care less. Right now what was utterly important was that I should get my fortune back.

  “Hey, stop running around with those heels. We’re still sleeping out here!” said one grandma from an open window.

  “I’ll be through in a minute,” I shouted back without turning to where the voice came from. ‘Bad cat! Why are you still climbing? I’m getting tired out here,’ I wanted to say to the thing that blissfully stepped up the stairs. However, I held my words back. It wasn’t really that acceptable that one should be talking to a cat. A cat I didn’t even know and wasn’t even my pet.

  But after a little more climbing, it stopped. The cat had stopped. I took a deep breath and was about to jump in joy. However, instead of going down like a good old kitty, it turned its head back to me, ever so slowly, and said with a taunting voice, “Meow?”

  I narrowed my eyes in utmost dismay. Vicious. That thing was plain vicious.

  “Come here, kitty,” I called it in the most delicate way possible with cherries on top, holding all of my dwindling resentments back. “I’ll give you a treat if you will go down this minute.”

  But to my horror, not even heeding a word I said, it continued to go up. I grunted and followed along. After a few more steps, I started to wonder how much higher it would go. My feet and legs were already numb with all the running and climbing in heels. I declared that I was officially annoyed at that black cat. If it wasn’t for my lost fortune, I wouldn’t even be here and bothering to call it back.

  “Kitty!” I shouted at the top of my lungs, no hint of endearment whatsoever. It wasn’t my fau
lt that my patience had run out.

  The cat stopped moving and stood still on its track. Then it turned its head back to me, still with that insensible stare. And then, it licked its fur as if mocking me some more.

  “Bad cat!” I shouted.

  “Shut up!” said one angry voice from another floor.

  “Oh, sorry,” I replied back to the direction where the annoyed voice came from. “I’m just doing something important. You should understand.”

  I took off one of my shoes and tapped the heel to my open hand. I lowered my voice down and warned the cat, “Come down here this minute and no one will get hurt.”

  “Meow?” it answered.

  I raised an eyebrow in disgust to which the vile thing replied with another sway of its head to the right. In the next few moments, we just stood there staring at each other, with me tapping my heel furiously at one hand, and it, swaying its head side by side.

  It took a long while before the ferocious thing had regained its senses and started to go down. Ugh. Finally, it had decided to go down. The threatening did its job alright. I placed myself in the perfect position so that it would be coming straight to me. Pulling my pencil skirt a little higher, I bent down as the wild thing gladly moved towards where I was.

  In a moment, I was already patting it on the head. I felt my good fortune came back with my every stroke, like I had exhausted all the good fortunes of this world that surely made me the luckiest person on earth. Starting from today, I should be known as the lucky Kayla Wilson.

  “Okay little kitty, I’m coming down now. Don’t move until I’m downstairs. You understand that, right?” I told the cat as I put back my shoe. I had this feeling that we now had this awesome connection.

  “Meow,” the cat replied back and stood still on its track.

  Okay, now we were talking.

  “I’m sorry for the disturbance. Just getting back my fortune,” I told everyone as I clacked my heels some more against the stairs. Either that or I had to jump. No one would want that to happen. In this sunny day, having an unintentional and for good deed accident wasn’t the thing anyone would have wanted to happen.

  “Go away!” they all said in unison. I was stunned at their fierce reaction. Did they practice that? They were good. And not to mention on the same pitch.

  “Okay, okay, I’m going. Enjoy your sleep or breakfast... err... I don’t know, your day I guess,” I stuttered. “Whatever you’re planning to do.”

  As I went down, I reasoned out with myself that they didn’t have to be that angry. Who wouldn’t want to get their fortune back? What I did was totally understandable. Definitely.

  I already smelled my perfect day as I inhaled the fresh air of New Waulds. Oh yes, if you would look closely, there were sparks flying everywhere. Oh well, maybe I was just used on seeing things differently since I was pretty much above average anyway. And because so, I was the one who should understand.

  I flattened my skirt as soon as soon as I got down. Shrugging off my shoulders and straightening my blouse, I grabbed my phone from my bag and dialed my boyfriend’s number. The usual morning call before starting my day.

  “Hi babe, Are you getting ready for work?” I asked as soon as he picked up on the other line.

  “Yes, I’m about to head off to the shower,” he replied.

  “So when are we going to meet again?” I asked him. I hadn’t seen him for weeks now. He said that he was caught up with his work nowadays. I loved how he was being a hardworking man.

  “Uhmm... about that... how about we meet really quick tonight,” he suggested.

  Oh good. Surprise visits always worked best. And I remembered that I didn’t have anything scheduled for the night. I also secretly laughed to myself as I thought about my upcoming promotion in a few, thinking that this was just the perfect way to celebrate things.

  “Okay, sure. Where are we going to meet?” I asked him, feeling enthusiastic.

  “At the coffee shop near your apartment at about... uhmm... yes, I’ll be free around 7,” he said.

  “Okay then, see you tonight. Take care, okay? I love you,” I told him sweetly.

  If anyone would ask, I was always proud to say that I was head over heels for this guy. I mean, who wouldn’t? He was hot, charming, and undeniably perfect. Just like me. It was as if I had found the long-lost match that Heaven made just for me. We were the star-crossed lovers who found their way back into each other’s arms after years of hopeless existence.

  “See yah,” he quickly added before hanging up.

  I was quite annoyed that he didn’t say the magic words ‘I love you too’. Tsk. He had been so mean nowadays. He always forgot to tell me how much he loved me. It was a good thing that I knew. Deep in my heart I was convinced. I assured myself that he was just tired that was why he forgot. There was no need for me to over-think the situation.

  We had been together for about two years by now. He was my fifth boyfriend and the moment that I saw him, I knew that he was the one. I was just waiting for the proposal that I was certain would happen anytime soon.

  Oh my gosh! I needed to start practice saying yes starting tonight.

  Valentine’s Day was just around the corner so maybe he would do it on that day. He was such the romantic guy after all. So before the year would end, I’d be walking down that aisle as the most beautiful bride in history. And we would live happily ever after.

  My life was a-ok. This was the endpoint of my self-discovery that I was such a natural when it comes to being perfect. Even my life was living up the word.

  Tell me what I didn’t have. I examined myself carefully and in the most unbiased way. Looks? Check. Hotness? Check. Charms? Of course, a big check. Brains? I should check that two times. I was certain that I was the most beautiful brainiac in history, ever. An upcoming promotion? Yes, check that also. And an awesome boyfriend? Check. Check. Check.

  I was officially and undoubtedly the most perfect specimen on earth. Others who attained this level of perfection, or maybe close to it, would succumb if they knew me. I flipped my hair to the other side and that guy across street dropped his favorite cup of coffee.

  See? That was what I was talking about.

  With this satisfied grin on my face, I happily walked around the corner to my favorite coffee shop in this city. I actually met Aaron here so the place was quite special. It was that cold December night when I was hurrying to get a cup of coffee to prevent myself from freezing. And as I was looking at the long line, I saw him. I stared at him for a moment because he looked so handsome in that brown coat and his hair fell perfectly in place as he was talking to his friend. He was such a gentleman and let me cut the line. And after that, he asked for my number. And I knew, at that moment, we were just meant to be together.

  Of course, I was right again.

  I opened the double door of the coffee shop and found my way to the counter. 7:00 in the morning. Yup, I was right on time. I was a regular here so everyone around knew me by now. The lady behind the counter, Lily, smiled as soon as she saw me approaching.

  “One caramel macchiato?” she asked as I stood in front of the counter.

  “Yes. That’s exactly what I need,” I said as I handed her the bill.

  After ordering, I sat in my favorite spot, the one near the window and overlooking the busy streets of New Waulds. I grabbed my laptop and browsed my favorite site. I always read my horoscope for the day during my free time. I bookmarked every single site in my browser.

  And for the first one today:

  You need to slow down as much as you can today because you’re at risk of burnout. Today might not be your most lucky day but a few days of relaxation should help to get you back on track. Don’t push yourself too hard. An unexpected turn of events might happen. But always remember that things happen for a reason.

  There were times that you got a good prediction and there were times when you didn't. It was a relief that I ran after that black cat this morning. At least I got a portion of my
luck back. Today wouldn’t be that bad, I reassured myself. I was such a genius for knowing things beforehand.

  Then in a while, Simon, one of the part-timers, served my coffee. I said to him an adorable, “You’re quick as ever.”

  He smiled back, a little too forced, at me before walking away. I took a sip and looked at my watch. I quickly drank the rest of it as I noticed the time. I must have had looked at my not-so-good fortune that I didn’t realize I was getting a little bit late for work. Not a good habit for the perfect employee. After I finished the cup, I promptly headed out of the shop.

  Pulling up my skirt a little to run a bit fast, I hailed a cab. I was supposed to do a presentation today for our VIP clients. I worked hard for this presentation for a long time. And today was the big day. After this day, I would surely make it big in this industry. Everyone would know my name. Fame and success would be coming my way. After all, this was the type of presentation that would either get you up or bring you down. Which of course, in my case, I would definitely get the up part for no one could ever bring me down.

  Except for bad luck. Super bad luck. Those falling into the category of catastrophic. But gladly, that didn’t happen to me yet. And I’d like for it to stay that way, even if I had to randomly run after black cats.

  It was a short trip down to our office so I knew that I was still early for today. Greeting everyone on my way up to the twelfth floor, I enjoyed my last moments as one Bridget Woods’ assistants. Tomorrow would be another story.

  “Good morning, Claire,” I happily greeted my coworker as I put my things down on my table. I arrived just in time, but she was rather surprised than happy to see me. I wondered why that was so.

  “You’re late. Why is your phone off? The meeting is already starting,” she said, panic eminent in her screeching voice. Claire already got that squeaky, little voice and the anxiety in her tone added just a little bit more dramatic effect to it. Sometimes, I even wanted to suggest to her to audition for cartoon shows. She could definitely fit in the voice acting or something part.