THE DARKNESS IN PERFECTION

CHAPTER 1: THE TOMLINSON

It was a normal Tuesday morning, or so she thought.

"Mom! Wheres my socks?!" Alex yelled from his room. Eve walked to his room with a basket of dirty laundries. "Sweetie, youre not even looking for it?" she questioned her son who is sitting on his bed still soaked, while playing with his Nintendo. Alex continues to play the Nintendo while ignoring his mother. Frustrated, she walked out of the room, "Look for it, or youll be late for school" she yells. "Honey, did you see my socks?" Adam asked this time. "For real?" she exclaimed a little too loud. Before Eve could give Adam 'the look', he walked back to their room, "I'll look for it". She let out a sigh then goes to the laundry room. "Eve, what in the world?!" Grandma Sandy yelled from the kitchen. Eve ran to check what the yelling was for. "Yes Mama Sandy?" she asked. "What is this?" Grandma Sandy points to the burned pancakes on the frying pan. "Those are pancakes", she replied. "They're burnt. And is my pan-did you scratch my pan?!" Grandma Sandy yelled louder while raising the pan up causing the pancakes to fall on the floor. "Mama no!" Eve let out a sigh as she sees the pan on the floor. Grandma Sandy then just left the kitchen demanding for a new frying pan. Eve took the pancake and threw it out. "I am so getting McDonalds" she said to herself.

"Off to work", honey Adam said rushing to his car.

"Alex! Where are you? Youre going to be late for school" she yelled. She sets out a bowl and milk on the kitchen counter. "Morning mom" Alex greeted as he hoped to his chair. "Morning sweetie, heres the cereal" she greeted back.

"Are these the only cereals left? I want fruit loops", Alex asked.

"Yep buddy", she replied.

"Are you sure mom? The last time u said-"

"-Just eat the goddamn cereal Alex" she said sternly.

"Jeez... Okay" Alex said while rolling his eyes.

"Now, where are my glasses?" said Grandpa Tom hugging Alex.

"Good Morning, Grandpa Tom" Alex greeted.

"It's on the coffee table" Eve answered.

"You better get that new pan, Eve" Grandma Sandy yelled from her room. "Yes Grandma Sandy. You can shut up now" she yelled back. Grandpa Tom walked to the counter laughing. "If I were you guys, I would move out he said".

"That's a great idea. Mom?" Alex said.

"I don't know dad. I've talked about this with Adam. He just doesnt want to leave", Eve explained.

"Why not mom?" Alex questioned.

"You know why? Cause your dad is a coward and he needs his mommy", Grandpa Tom joked.

Alex laughed, "Is that true mom?".

"It's not wrong", she laughed back.

"I think it's best that you guys just get a new place. Don't worry about us and uhm, I'll talk to Adam" said Grandpa Tom.

"Sure. Thanks dad. Alex, lets go" she said as she checks the time. Alex washed his dishes then followed his mom to the car. They drove for 30 minutes to Alexs school.

After dropping Alex to school, Eve went to a coffee shop to meet her friend Jasmine. "One vanilla latte please", she ordered. "That'll be 11.35" the worker said with no energy. She paid and took a seat by the window. Just as she sat down, Eve jumped at the scream from behind. "EVE!" Jasmine screamed. Eve was embarrassed so she stayed at her seat. Jasmine took a seat while laughing at the embarrassed Eve. "Hey babe" Jasmine greeted. "You need to stop embarrassing me" Eve joked. "Wheres the fun in that?" she replied.

"Vanilla... Latte..." the worker called out with no energy. "This place couldn't get any more depressing" Jasmine said. "...Eve...", the worker continued. "I stand corrected" Jasmine added then laughs. After getting her coffee, they talked about many things. Mostly about Jasmines new boyfriend. "Wait which guy is this again?" Eve asked, confused. "His name is Eric. He's working with those people volunteering and stuff" she answered. "Wow. That's a decent guy. Never knew you were into guys with morals" Eve said. "I mean, he is pretty hot too, so... Plus hes rich. I think he used to be a real estate agent", Jasmine added. Eve suddenly remembered her father in law's suggestion to move out of their house. "Hey. Can you help me?" Eve said cutting into whatever story Jasmine was about to tell. Jasmine just gave her a 'what is it' look. "So you know, Adam, Alex and I have been living with Adams parents. And lately, its been so stressing" Eve said. "And earlier just now, my father in law actually suggested that we should just get our own house instead of staying home with them. So I was wondering, if your boyfriend could help me look for a house?" she added. Jasmine took a moment to process because Eve spoke very fast that it was hardly easy for her to catch up. "So you want me to get Eric look for a house for you" Jasmine asked. Eve nods, "Just a simple house, decent price. If he can get a big house with decent price, that'll be fine too". "Sure. Let me just. I'll call him right now" Jasmine said. Eve was surprised. She didn't think that Jasmine would call him right now. "Hello?", the voice from the other side greeted. "Eric, hey, my friend is asking if you could help her look for a house" Jasmine said. She then puts it on speaker. "Sure. What does she wants?" he asked. Jasmine gave the phone to Eve, "Uhm I'll just need a simple house, not too expensive, or too big. I think that'll be fine" she said. "How many of you will be staying at this new house?" he then asked. "There would be the 3 of us" Eve answered. "Okay. I'll give you a call when I found a house with decent price. These days, the housing market price went up, so it'll take a while" he said. "Anything else Eve?", he then ask. "I think that's it" she responded. "Alright then I'll-", Eve interrupts. "-Wait how did you know my name?" Eve asked. There was a silent pause for a second before he laughs weirdly, "Jasmine talks about you a lot. So I'm just assuming. So I'll call you back, probably tomorrow" he said then hangs up.

"What was that about?" Jasmine asked, also confused. Eve just shrugged and they continued with their stories.

[The Next Day]

Eve and Adam are settling into bed, getting ready to sleep. "So, the other day, I talked with Jasmine. And she got a new boyfriend and-"

"-a new one?" he cuts in.

"Yeah. And hes a real estate agent. He showed me this house at Brighton Avenue. It looks good. And guess what? Its only 180,000 dollars", Eve explains excitedly. Adam lets out a sigh. Eve knew the sigh wasn't any sigh of relief. She turned to Adam who is lying face flat on the bed. "Didn't you had a talk with your dad already?" she asked while massaging his back. He sits up then nod. "So why not? Even your dad wants us out. Alex wants to move out too you know" Eve adds trying to persuade Adam. He let out another sigh before explaining, "You know. Back when we were dating. I was not as religious as I am now, with you. So instead of going to the church for consultations about marriages, I went to a voodoo. I was interested in those things and my friends and I like to play around. So I asked if everything will be fine. The voodoo warned me, that there are dark spirits waiting for us if we leave my parents. And he also said something about being perfect but I don't remember". Eve was quiet for a while. She didn't know what to say, mainly because she does not believe in things like so. "Honey, I love you. If you need help. We can go to the church tomorrow. But let me just remind you, you don't need to trust some old hag, who you don't even know personally, tell you what to do. Especially one you had to pay for, cause I believe you spent a few to get those predictions. So honey, all I ask, is your trust. We can move out of here, and really just live a happy life. And what was it? I'll make sure" she said holding his hands. "I'll make sure that our life will be perfect" she added. Adam nods. Adam took his time to think and finally he agrees. They kissed each other goodnight and went to bed.

[3 Days Later]

Eve and Jasmine are going to visit the new house that Eve and Adam had purchased. It wasn't that far from their parent's house but much closer to Alex's school. Eve thought it was nice that it was much closer. They pull up in a nice neighborhood. Their house is one block away from the park. On the right of their house was another house with the same design. They parked in the driveway. "Oh my god. This is actually so pretty" Jasmine exclaimed. It had trees at the back and the grass was bright green with roses everywhere. The house itself was a modern 2 storey house. "Damn... All this for 180,000", Eve herself too was astonished. The house seemed to be too good to be true. She turned to Jasmine. "Hey, whats wrong?" Jasmine asked, concerning to see Eve crying. "It's beautiful. These are tears of joy right here" she said while laughing and crying. "This... This is perfect" she said while looking at the house.