Escaping Nowhere: Chapter 8
Zen Blossom Cabin, Takemizu Village
Back in the cabin, Mary-Sue and Jenny were upstairs, taking a break from all the activities. “I really missed doing this pottery thing. Hope this is enough for all the tea I’ll bring back home.”
“Speaking of tea, come here out back!” Jenny called, “Just made some.”
Mary-Sue sat down at the tea table without any hesitation.
When both of them were settled with their tea, Jenny started the conversation. “I’m kind of worried about Gon. She suddenly got a bit more aggressive with this whole ‘dating’ thing. What if this woman isn’t who she says she is?”
“Come on, Jenny, let her have fun. If you’d repressed yourself for as long as she had, you’d be bound to go wild. Besides, If she doesn’t put herself out there and make mistakes now, when will she?”
A worried look contorted on Jenny’s face. “What if she gets attached too fast, too soon? I’m not sure if she’s emotionally equipped to handle the heartbreak.”
“She’s tough, Jenny. She can handle it.” Mary-Sue assured her.
Jenny shook her head. “I don’t know, Mary. It’s usually the strong-looking ones who tend to not take endings very well.”
Before Mary-Sue had a chance to even open her mouth, they heard footsteps on the wooden floor.
“Hey, Gon,” Jenny greeted, “you’re just in time for tea.”
“So...how did your date go?” she asked as casually as she could, pouring out the tea.
Goneril rambled about her latest escapade. “Actually, the date with Linea went very well. She’s a charter pilot, basically a chauffeur on air, and has to practically everywhere. Though she’s based on Wanmami Island nowadays and is going back the day after tomorrow.”
“What are you planning to do next? If you know what I mean.”
Goneril’s face lit up. “Well, we’re heading to this nice hotel for dinner, then maybe we’ll check into a room for a day.”
She was about to divulge more information when she sensed which direction her line of questioning was headed towards. “Hmm, hold on, I wonder what’s this deep interest in my sex life all about?”
Jenny smiled. “Just curious, really.”
“Sorry, I just found it...unusual, you know.” Goneril said.
That edge in Jenny’s voice resurfaced once more, a sign of growing tension inside her. “So you’re not gonna say anything.”
Goneril simply got up and went downstairs. “I’ll be cleaning the kitchen if you need me.”
“Told you not to pry.” Mary-Sue reminded her as she sipped her tea.
Immediately, Jenny went downstairs to find Goneril cleaning the stove like she said she would be. “Gon, can I ask you something?”
“Leave me alone.” Goneril snapped, aggressively scrubbing the stovetop.
“Just one question.”
Goneril faced her, smoke practically coming out from her ears. “I said leave me alone.”
Jenny felt her eye twitch. “Just...let me have this. It won’t take long.”
“Fine, Jenny, have your way. Just make it quick.”
Not long after, Goneril sat down on the couch right beside Mary-Sue, who was trying to watch some television.
“Good, now can getting some civil conversation going.” Jenny said. “Just one question from a well-meaning friend.”
“Okay, okay. Just cough it out. I don’t have all day.”, Goneril snapped.
Jenny decided to cut to the chase. “You will probably not want to hear this, but, aren’t you moving a little bit too fast on this dating thing? You barely even know this girl.”
Unfortunately, that simply made Goneril even more agitated. “Since when did that become your business? My sex life is mine, and mine alone, Jenny. You’re not my mother!”
“Come on, you barely know each other, then now you’re planning to check into a hotel room?” Jenny argued. “You haven’t even divorced your husband yet! What about your kids?”
“Parenting is commitment, Gon. You can’t just walk out and tell them you’re done.” Jenny continued.
Goneril bolted up and stomped at Jenny’s direction. “I told you, they’re well-taken care of. Money’s not going to be an issue.”
Jenny shook her head and tut-tutted at her. “Giving them cash and sending them their merry way is not enough. You have to give them that emotional support too.”
“You don’t even know the entire story, Jenny. The last thing I need to hear is incessant nagging from someone who married her first love and called it a day.” Goneril said, brushing Jenny off.
While Jenny and Goneril duked it out, Mary-Sue squirmed uncomfortably on her seat. She wanted to say something, of course, but couldn’t get a word in edgeways.
During another round of their screaming match, Jenny suddenly took an about turn and walked away. “Okay, I’m putting you on cool down. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
“Don’t you dare walk out on me like that!” Goneril pointed at her.
Jenny faced Goneril with a bored expression. “Okay, I’ll just pretend you don’t hear me, like what you do every time I say something.”
Goneril waved her hands in front of Jenny’s face. “Hello? Do you even listen to yourself? Like...when you speak?”
Meanwhile, Goneril continued with her tirade. “Just one piece of advice: why not practice what you preach and practice that so-called compassion for once? Or maybe, just maybe, at least know the full picture first before you judge someone’s choices.”
Right after she said her final piece, Goneril stormed to her room.
Jenny sank into her chair and mindlessly stared at the credits of the movie playing on TV. This was the first time she snapped at someone like that, and admittedly, airing her grievances like that felt great.
But did it solve anything? Probably not.
She then hung her head and drew a long sigh. “I just wanted to help.”
Meanwhile, Mary-Sue bolted up her bed after yet another nightmare.