the mysterious Morris family

008. dirty minded

“Welcome, Brian! Your food is in the kitchen, but it might be cold by now. You know what to do,” Claire said, dropping the book she had been engrossed in, her eyes momentarily sparking with curiosity.

“What are you reading, Claire?” Brian asked, his interest piqued as he shuffled into the kitchen, the delicious aroma of leftover pasta tickling his senses.

“Biochemistry,” she replied, glancing back at her phone. Claire had always been a mystery to Brian—bright, ambitious, and ever-absorbed in her studies, he always sees her reading during her free time back then when they still have their jobs.

“What are you using chemistry for?” he asked, leaning against the counter, intrigued.

“I’m a student too, what do you think?” Claire said with a playful smirk, her attention still divided between him and her phone.

“So, what field?” Brian pressed, genuinely curious.

“Pharmacy,” she said, finally looking up at him with a smile that lit up her face.

“Okay,” he nodded, feeling a sense of camaraderie with her.

Brian walked into his room, a wave of happiness washing over him. He had just enjoyed a delightful lunch with Ruby and her sister, and the warmth of their laughter lingered in his mind. As he lay back on his bed, he couldn’t shake the blissful memories of the day—his grandfather’s stories, the joyful banter with Ruby, and even a stray thought of Mabel, which brought a smile to his face.

Lost in his reverie, he was jolted back to reality by the clicking sound of his phone. He opened it, and his heart skipped a beat at the sight of a photo: him and Mabel, beaming with joy. Memories flooded in, vivid and bittersweet. He recalled the rain-soaked day they danced under the downpour, and how he had brewed tea for her when she caught a cold afterward. He had stayed awake all night, worried for her health, a protective instinct that seemed so distant now.

But as quickly as the warmth enveloped him, the memory of Krayon surfaced, tainting his thoughts with doubt. Would Mabel take him back if she knew he had money? Or would she still choose Krayon, the wealthy boyfriend she had proudly paraded in front of him? Her words echoed painfully in his mind:

“I’ve been dating Krayon for over two years, and no matter how hardworking you are, your money can never match his.”

With each replay of her statement, a headache began to throb at his temples. Just then, a new message popped up on his screen, breaking the spiral of his thoughts.

“Hey, are you free tonight?” the text read.

“Who are you?” Brian responded, suspicion creeping in.

“Wow, the number is still working. Great!” came the reply, instantly lifting his apprehension.

“Who are you? I don’t want to repeat myself,” he typed back, irritation creeping into his words.

“Guy, relax. It’s me, Ruby! I just wanted to try the number you gave me three years ago on September 6th,” she explained.

“Oh, it’s you! I thought it was some scammer,” Brian chuckled, a sense of relief washing over him.

“So why did you text me tonight?” he inquired, a playful tone lacing his words.

“I’m wondering if you are free tonight,” Ruby replied, her intent shrouded in mystery.

“Are you trying to hook me up tonight? How much are you going to pay? I’m an expensive pr*ck, and I haven’t slept with anyone before,” he teased, a grin spreading across his face.

“Wait, what? When did I say I’m hooking you up? And what does that have to do with you?” Ruby shot back, the surprise evident in her tone.

Brian laughed, enjoying her reaction. “I know you’re shy, but don’t worry; nobody will know if we do it. Besides, as a girl, you need it for proper development,” he replied, humor dancing in his words.

“Brian, stop typing nonsense. I’m only inviting you to a concert. I didn’t know you were so dirty-minded,” she countered, her irritation palpable.

“If you don’t want to come, just say so. Or if you don’t want me to talk to you, just tell me, and I will avoid you honestly,” she sent, her frustration unmistakable.

Realizing he had pushed her too far, Brian felt a pang of guilt. “Ruby, it was just a joke. If you’d told me earlier, I would have canceled my plans. But someone has already booked me up tonight,” he messaged back, attempting to smooth over the tension.

“Who booked you up? Why can’t you just cancel and come with me?” her message arrived, probing and persistent.

“I can’t cancel; it’s my source of income. Besides, I don’t have another job at the moment. The best I can do is have Stella video your performance and send it to me,” Brian replied, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders.

“Okay, don’t worry. Good night,” Ruby texted back, the warmth of their conversation eclipsed by her disappointment.

“Good night,” he sent, but the silence that followed felt heavy.

Brian’s thoughts wandered back to the first notification he had received. It was an alert for $50 million. He rubbed his eyes, thinking he must be dreaming. Yet, the number persisted. Who could have sent such an outrageous sum?

He hesitated before checking the sender’s details. Mr. Graham Morris.

“Wait a minute,” he whispered to himself. “Is this the monthly allowance Mr. Graham promised? Fifty million? That’s an unimaginable sum! What would Mabel say if she found out? Should I tell my mom? It feels like she’s hiding things from me.”

Suddenly, a name echoed in his mind—Arden. Where had he heard that before? The memory danced just out of reach, but it gnawed at him, stirring a sense of urgency.

His mother’s voice invaded his thoughts, laced with anger: “You haven’t gathered enough information about Arden! How can you say you don’t know what she’s doing?”

And then, the trembling voice of a man surfaced, a chilling reminder. “From what I know, Arden is also looking for Brian and you, but her motive is unknown. I know she’ll find you both. Cover everything that can lead the Morris to Arden. We must ensure we are the first to find her. If the Morris get their hands on her, they could ruin everything.”