TNN ONESHOTS

The bar - MK & RK & AFK

Reece watched Marjorie across the dinner table, the candlelight dancing in her eyes. He'd been turning the question over in his mind for weeks, a knot of insecurity tightening with each passing day. Finally, he set down his fork, the clatter echoing in the sudden silence. "Marjorie," he began, his voice a careful tremor, "can I ask you something?"

She looked up, a question in her own gaze. Reece took a breath. "When you look at Autumn," he started, then hesitated, searching for the right words. "I see... I see such want and love in your eyes. Is there something I should know?" The question came out sharper than expected. The words hung in the air, raw and vulnerable, exposing the fear that had been gnawing at him.

Marjorie slammed her hands down on the kitchen counter, the sound echoing in the sudden silence. "You're doing it again, Reece," she said, her voice dangerously low. "That insinuation, that look in your eye, like I'm doing something wrong just by existing in the same workspace as Autumn."

Reece opened his mouth to protest, but Marjorie cut him off. "We are colleagues, Reece. We work together, and that is the beginning and end of our relationship. Your jealousy is not only insulting to me but incredibly disrespectful to Autumn. She is your sister and married with children!" Each word was laced with icy resolve, a clear warning against further accusations. Even though deep down it was breaking her heart to say that about Autumn when in reality she idolise the woman.

Reece rolled his eyes before opening his mouth. "If you were being professional and acting like just colleagues,  i would have to question you but as always you have to make a scene. Its always about you and never anyone else. We are also married but the way you look at my sister makes the ring and piece of paper worthless." Without another word, Marjorie turned sharply and strode out of the house, the door clicking shut behind her with a finality that hung heavy in the air. The argument, though brief, left a lingering tension, a stark reminder of the fragile trust that jealousy could shatter.

*

Marjorie gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles white against the worn leather. The engine roared to life, a mechanical snarl that mirrored the turmoil inside her. She threw the car into reverse, tires crunching on the gravel as she backed out of the driveway. Her usual destination, Autumn's cosy apartment, felt miles away, a forbidden sanctuary. Reece's accusations had poisoned the well, casting a shadow over their friendship, a bond she cherished.

As the car sped down the familiar road, tears began to stream down her face, blurring the streetlights into hazy halos. Each drop was a testament to the injustice of Reece's jealousy, the pain of being misunderstood. She couldn't bring herself to face Autumn, not with the weight of Reece's suspicions hanging over her head. It felt like a betrayal, tainting their connection with unwarranted doubt.

So she drove, aimlessly wandering through the night, the hum of the engine a mournful soundtrack to her sorrow. The road ahead was a blank canvas, a metaphor for the uncertain path she now found herself on. All she knew was that she needed space, time to untangle the mess of emotions that threatened to consume her.

*

The phone buzzed on Autumn's coffee table, jolting her from a quiet evening with a book. "Reece," the caller ID read. She answered, "Hey big brother!"  She spoke in her usual but his voice was tight, laced with a barely-veiled annoyance that sent a shiver down her spine. "Autumn, listen," he said, skipping the usual pleasantries, "if Marjorie shows up, just... don't let her in, okay? I don't want her there with you. She needs to come home like an adult not hide at yours."

Autumn's brow furrowed. "What? Why? What's going on?" she asked, her mind racing. Reece's tone was clipped, dismissive. "It's a long story. Just trust me on this, okay? I gotta go." And with that, he hung up, leaving Autumn staring at the phone in disbelief. Questions swirled in her head like a tempest, but Reece's abruptness made it clear he wasn't in the mood to answer them.