(Un)Match Made in Heaven © (Wattys 2015)

Chapter 1: Reality Bites Back

Author's Note: Dedicated to @contryte for her valuable critique and support. If not for her this chapter would have not have been better than the very first draft. I love you!

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March 2014

A tall shadow stepped into a spacious ballroom slightly dimmed. One source of light were the many twinkling crystal chandeliers that hung from above. It looked like a few stars have been plucked from the sky. A wide array of roses in different colors were strategically placed for a maximum romantic effect. A straight pathway was lit with a long line of votive candles. At the end were red candles shaped to form a heart, scattered inside were petals of red roses.

That shadow belonged to 29-year-old James O'Neil. Half-Filipino, half-Irish. His hair was brushed over and had a tinged of blonde highlights. He's naturally blonde but chose to dye his hair black, including his eyebrows. He felt it's the only way for other architects to take him seriously.

As he walked down the lit pathway, his profile was caught by the lights emanating from the candles. He has a well sculpted face, sharp nose, thin red lips and hazel eyes. His jaws were so prominent it could sharpen a kitchen knife. Anyone who has seen him thought he was a model. In fact, he once was scouted to be a model.

He looked around the banquet hall that he reserved since three months ago. Ah...it's perfect! James thought with a smile. A dimple peeked out of his right cheek.

"For sure she'll say yes." He couldn't stop smiling despite his nervousness. He thought this is the perfect moment. It's their three years anniversary.

James reached inside the left pocket of his black suit pants and took out a red velvet box. He had kept that ring for quite a long time. Six months to be exact.

He heard his cellphone beeped, indicating a message had been received. He looked at it momentarily and smiled. Finally, she's here. This is it, the moment he had been waiting for. His excitement was palpable. He kissed the ring box for good luck and returned it inside his pocket.

The huge door opened with creak so deafening, but it was only bright lights that came through. It was so bright he couldn't see, he raised his right hand to block the lights and called out her name....

James jolted from his sleep. He opened his eyes with his right hand raised over his face. It was a dream...a recurring dream. Scratch that, to him it was a nightmare.

He sat up, sweating as usual. How long has it been since he's been having this nightmare? Days? Weeks? Months?

"Damn it!" James cursed under his breath. It's been five months and he still kept waking up in the middle of the night screaming her name.

He ran his fingers through his hair and got out of bed. He went straight to the kitchen, opened the fridge and grabbed a beer. It would be hard for him to go back to sleep after that anyway.

He went to his living room and sat on the couch, opened his beer and drank. When he raised his head his eyes became transfixed on her huge portrait - the source of his nightmares. She has light brown skin, perfectly trimmed eyebrows, cat-like brown eyes, thin pointed nose and red pouty lips. Her slender body was sitting elegantly on a huge branch of a tree surrounded by a colorful garden. She looked ethereal in white Grecian-inspired beaded one-shoulder strapped dress. Her hair loosely curled down her smooth exposed shoulder in half-up half-down do with fresh tiny white flowers. He kept staring at her smiling face that almost looked like she was taunting him. He furrowed his eyebrows and was later lost in thought.

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James woke up on a Saturday morning to a full lit living room. It's still early - 6:04 AM on his wall clock. His body clock was so used to waking up early in the morning despite the fact that he only sleeps a few blinks at night.