the mysterious Morris family

006. Ruby

Mr. Morris handed the receipt for the apartment he had just purchased to Brian, a warm smile spreading across his weathered face. “You don't have to look for an apartment again. This is a gift from me to you,” he said, his eyes twinkling with pride.

Brian's heart swelled with gratitude. “Thank you, sir. I really appreciate it!” he exclaimed, overwhelmed by the generosity.

“Just one more thing,” Mr. Morris added, his voice taking on a serious tone. “I’ve transferred something for you. Just manage it for the week.”

“Thanks, sir, for your help,” Brian replied, still reeling from the unexpected kindness.

“Stop calling me ‘sir,’” Mr. Morris chuckled, shaking his head. “I’m your grandfather. You don’t have to address me like that!”

“Okay, Granddad. See you this weekend!” Brian said, his heart lighter as he stepped out of the room.

As he made his way to his old apartment, Brian’s mind raced with possibilities. He envisioned a cozy space where he could finally settle down. Upon arrival, he spotted Claire, his friend, anxiously waiting outside the hostel with his belongings strewn around her.

“Claire, don’t worry! We’re not going to sleep outside today,” he assured her, giving her shoulder a reassuring pat as he grabbed his few possessions—a couple of textbooks, two pairs of trousers, three T-shirts, and a mat.

“Is that all you have?” Claire asked, raising an eyebrow. “It looks like you’re moving to a new life.”

Brian chuckled. “Well, I’m an Uber driver, so I use my company car. It’s not much, but it’s enough.”

Upon reaching the gate of Mandela Estate, Brian was confronted by a security guard who blocked his entry. “You can’t come in without proof that you live here or until someone comes to pick you up,” the guard said sternly.

“Brian, just show them the property papers,” Claire suggested.

He realized she had a point. How did she know he had the documents with him? Maybe she guessed. He quickly brushed the thought aside and handed over the papers. To his relief, the guard let them through.

The drive to the apartment was filled with a comfortable silence. When they arrived, Claire’s jaw dropped, and her eyes widened in disbelief. The apartment was stunning—a world away from their previous living conditions.

“Claire, can you close your mouth before you swallow a fly?” Brian teased, a grin spreading across his face as he began unpacking.

“Brian, where did you get the money to purchase this place?” Claire asked, her suspicious gaze fixed on him.

“It was a gift from a friend,” he replied, trying to sound casual as he carried his belongings inside.

The six-bedroom apartment felt vast and empty, leaving Brian to wonder why his grandfather would gift him such a large space when he was the only one living there. Claire was only staying temporarily until she found a job and her own place.

“Brian, the kitchen is well-equipped! Your friend's family must have some serious money. You need to introduce me!” Claire joked, nudging him playfully.

Brian shot her a look that said, “Don’t be a gold digger.”

“So, when are you going job hunting?” he asked, trying to steer the conversation back to something more practical.

“That’s why I said you should introduce me to your friend. Maybe he has a free space for me as a chef!” Claire replied, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

Brian chuckled inwardly, realizing Claire had already assumed he’d introduce her to his mysterious benefactor. Before he could respond, she wrapped him in a tight hug, catching him off guard.

“Why are you hugging me?” he asked, confusion written all over his face.

“You just agreed to introduce me to him! Do you know how happy I am?” Claire beamed.

“And when did I agree to anything?” Brian questioned, still baffled.

“But you nodded when I asked!” Claire pouted, her expression shifting to one of disappointment.

“Claire, he’s out of the country! Even if he were here, it wouldn’t be right to ask him for that,” Brian explained gently.

“Okay, I’ll go look for a job myself then,” she said, her tone shifting to one of determination as she walked toward the parlor.

“Anyway, I have lectures now, and I don’t have time to chat. I’ll be back in the evening,” Brian informed her as he headed out.

---

### A Disrupted Lecture

When Brian arrived at the lecture hall, it was packed with students, leaving him no choice but to sit at the back. The professor’s voice was muffled in the distance, and soon the exhaustion from his busy day caught up with him. He drifted off to sleep.

Suddenly, he found himself walking on a muddy road riddled with potholes. The path was narrow, and as a car approached from behind, he stepped aside. Just as the vehicle passed, it splashed water all over him.

“Hey, what’s the meaning of this?” Brian shouted, anger flaring as the car screeched to a halt. To his dismay, Mabel stepped out, a look of feigned concern plastered on her face.

“I’m so sorry, Brian,” she said, pulling out a handkerchief. “Here, you can use this to clean your face. Since your house is nearby, I don’t have to give you my clothes.”

But before he could take it, she let go, and the handkerchief fell into a puddle.

“Pathetic,” she sneered, and Brian felt the familiar sting of her disdain.

Resigned, Brian turned to leave, but Mabel grabbed his arm. “Where do you think you’re going?” she asked, her voice dripping with contempt.

“Let go of me, Mabel,” he demanded, irritation boiling over.

As he pulled away, Mabel lost her balance and stumbled into one of the potholes, landing in the muddy water with a splash. A laugh escaped Brian’s lips before he could stop it.

“Need a hand?” he offered, half-amused as he helped her up. Just then, a voice boomed from behind him, and as he turned, a fist flew toward his face.

Brian barely had time to react before he found himself sprawled on the classroom floor. An angry Rayon glared down at him.

“Why don’t you watch where you’re going?” Rayon shouted, his temper flaring.

“Seriously?” Brian groaned, rubbing his face as he tried to get up.

Suddenly, a soft, melodious voice broke through the chaos. “I’m sorry if I startled you. I was just trying to wake you up. Please don’t be angry.”

Brian turned, instantly recognizing the voice. It was Ruby Rose, the girl he had shared a memorable conversation with three years ago.

“How can I be angry at you, pretty? It’s fine, Ruby,” he said, relief washing over him as he stood up.

‘Did he just call me pretty?’ Ruby wondered, her cheeks flushing with a mix of surprise and delight.