Ripples

CHAPTER THREE

Perfect marriage

'Alright, I'll read the agreement once again for the benefit of everyone. According to the amount of rent previously agreed, the extra charges illegally incurred on Mrs Deborah Grey amount to two years of normal rent. So upon the agreement of both parties, Mrs Grey will not pay any rent to Mr Larry Grey for the next two years, equating the share of the money she already paid to him. But if Mrs Grey chooses to leave the house before the two years elapses, Mr Larry will pay the remaining rent back to her. Also, whether Mrs Grey chooses to leave before or after two years, Mrs Grey must give Mr Larry a month's notice.' Travis glanced up from the papers, his eyes briefly making contact with the three people before him before continuing.
'Accordingly, Mr John Grey will pay his share of the money to Mrs Grey. And if within these two years you and Mrs Grey should divorce, you would have to leave the house. Finally; Mr Larry, you have received a court warning. Any more nefarious action on your part will warrant a major penalty. That doesn't leave you on the clear, Mr Grey. The next time you try to swindle another person, you'd have to spend some time in the cell. Travis raised a brow at both men's disgruntled faces, trying his best not to let a smile break his pokerface. 'Now sign here, Mr Larry, and here...'.

Travis and Mrs Grey stood before the lift, watching the two men stepped inside. Travis smiled and pointed a hand at the two men. 'Don't let me see you here again'. The iron doors shut against their awkward smiles. 'I'm going to end it '. Deborah Grey took a deep breath, saying, glanced at Travis, and hurried to explain. 'I mean my husband. I'm going to divorce my husband.' Under Travis' kind smile, she continued. 'I'm leaving the house too, I won't wait till after two years. I don't want anything to do with that family anymore'.

*** *** *** ***

The next day pulled off the same way for Travis; the 6:30 alarm roused him out of sleep, and the 6:35 alarm got him out of bed. He sat by the kitchen table eating toast and listening to his wife talk about yet another of his favourite food she'd asked the cook to keep for him - as if she didn't know it was her own favourite food.
'I know, you're welcome'.

*** *** *** ***

"Another female high-schooler was reported missing at 8. p.m yesterday. On Wednesday, the 24th of July, 16 years old, Miley Stagg was reported missing, having never made it home after school. Now the numbers of missing teenagers, both male and female, have mounted up to 12. The parents of Miley Stagg say Miley was a sheltered, homely girl and was not one to skip cram school or sleep over at a friend's place without notice or permission.

The police investigation bureau issued a this morning that teams have been dispatched across Stamford. We still have hope that the number of staggering missing youths will be found -'
Travis switched off the radio, frowning. He stepped out of the car and peered into the alley, but there was no homeless man. With a sigh and a shrug, he threw the bag of food into the gabbage can and climbed back into his car.
Hope? And yet the reporter already used the word "was" for the missing girl.

When Travis walked into the lounge, he noticed some of his colleagues there, also on their break. They all smiled, chorusing greetings at him. A female prosecutor in training sidled up to him, sliding a cup of honey tea towards him. She pushed a dark curl behind her ear, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she smiled. ' Would you like a cup of tea?' She asked, then widened her eyes and waved her hands in front of her. 'Oh, I just made it. I haven't taken a sip. I promise'. Travis smiled slightly and lifted an eyebrow. 'No thanks. I already had coffee'. Just then, an arm slung itself across Travis shoulders and a man squeezed between them, addressing the woman. 'Really Tessa? I've been here with you all this while, and you never offered a cup of tea to me, even when you heard that I had a sore throat. It's so heartless. So can I take this then?' Tessa glared at him, then disappointedly at Travis before slowly walking away with her cup. The man, Greg - Travis, close friend, turned around, his brows raised in silent laughter, dropped his arm away from Travis' shoulders, and plopped lazily unto a chair. 'I guess she doesn't know yet that you're married... or who you're married to.' Geena Harper. The Geena Harper of The Circle. A famous model.

The sudden sound of a newsreporter filled the room. Her voice intonating the news of the hour. "One of the twelve missing youth reported dead this afternoon. Around 12:35 p.m. yesterday , on Sunday, the 18th of August, a body was found floating in a river in Springdale, Stamford. The body was found by a local elder couple. The body was identified to be one of the previously missing teenagers, Joseph Collins. More information on this matter is yet to be released." Everyone in the room gathered around the colleague whose phone the news was playing on. 'What's going on?' One of them asked. 'Wasn't it just last week that they arrested Ryan Bentley? Wasn't he the suspect?' 'Seriously, what are the local prosecutors doing?'. The news anchor continued, barring everyone's voice.

"The court proceedings for the alleged suspect of the kidnappings, Ryan Bentley, has been suspended due to this unforseen circumstance. The local prosecutors are on their hands and feet, trying to search for the missing clue of the now murder case. The police and criminal investigation bureau assures the public that matters will soon be handled, but still one question lingers in our minds; if Ryan Bentley isn't the suspected criminal... then who is?"

*** *** *** ***

Kelvin walked out from the kitchen into the living room, carrying a large bowl of buttery popcorn. A figure lay splayed out on the couch, watching the credits rolling down the screen. 'The episode is finished already?' The woman turned to smile at him. Her black hair cascades down the arm of the couch. Her black eyes slanted upwards, now creasesing as she smiled; Meekah. 'Yeah. Director Huo really knows how to leave a person on a cliffhanger.' Kelvin lifted her legs and sat down, placing them on his lap and the bowl of popcorn on her knees. Meekah struggled to lean up on her elbow and widened her eyes in a puppy eyed stare. 'So who's the killer? Won't you tell me?' He shook his head and placed a popcorn to her lips. 'You know you wouldn't like that. You never like spoilers. And anyway, even I don't really know the real ending. We shot different versions of it. The only person who knows the possible ending is Mr Huo himself.' Meekah pouted, then grabbed a handful of popcorn before flopping back down.

The station switched to the news channel. The lips of the male newscaster opening and closing with no sound. The two watched on as pictures of people in discomfort and videos of violence; caught embezzelers, diplomatic individuals, and the weather forecast, all passed in silent animation. The volume was muted, and the only sound in the room was their crunching and the sucking of their fingers.

Kelvin turned to look at his wife, the motions on the T.V. screen casting colours and shadows on both their faces. 'Hey baby?' His voice sounded solemn under the mellow tone of the evening setting. Meekah turned to look at him. Behind her, a group of people sitting around a round table in a panel session were laughing. 'Mmn?'
'What would you do if you ever entered into a movie?' Meekah scrunched her nose in contemplation. 'Hmm. Do you mean that there's a world inside that movie?' Upon his nod, she continued. 'Well, I guess it depends on the genre. Like if it's a fantasy movie, I can live as a princess and have a harem of pretty men.' Kelvin clenched his chest dramatically. 'Then what about me?' Meekah flipped her hair in dismissal. 'Oh, I would have forgotten about you.'
'Meekaaah'! Her lilting laughter filled the room.

What would you do if you ever entered into a movie?

□□□□□□□
Authors note:
Fun fact: so Meekah is actually the name of my dog ;D lol.
Don't forget to vote and comment.
See you on the funny pages!