Chapter 2: Second Thoughts
CHAPTER 2: Second Thoughts
Jazmine busied herself in the kitchen, preparing dinner while her mother slept in the living room of their shabby little two-bedroom apartment. It wasn't big, and it sure did not have all the things she or her mother would want, but it was home: warm and cozy, with lots of love.
Even though she stood before the cooker, Jazmine did not smell the burning of the pasta she was cooking. A lot spiraled through her mind.
"Do I really have to sign this contract? If I sign it, Mum would get her treatment, but I will be scarring someone in the process. A scar that could last for a lifetime. But if I don't, Mother might die—God forbid..."
Jazmine continued to think of possible answers to the questions on her mind, unaware of the smoke that was quickly filling the house. What she was being asked to do, according to Watson and the contract description, stood against everything she stood for. How she had been raised to never lie against others, how she had been raised to love all equally, and even how she lived by the motto that secrets are meant to remain secret.
Thinking of all these things made Jazmine's head ache badly. She had found herself in a tough spot with only one way out. Was she going to take it?
While she was still searching for answers in her sea of thoughts, a shrill cry echoed into her ears, causing her to break out of her trance with a jolt and a small yelp.
"IDIOT! What's wrong with you?" Rhea cried, rushing into the kitchen to turn off the cooker. "Are you out of your frigging mind!?"
Jazmine scrunched up her nose, coughing as she ran out of the kitchen. She rushed to open the windows and door, hoping that her mother had not inhaled too much of the smoke.
She could have sworn she didn't perceive any foul smell when she was standing before the cooker. She had only put the pasta in the pot of boiling water, so how did it burn so fast?
Rhea came out a few moments later looking pissed. She cocked her hips to the side and folded her arms across her chest, demanding an explanation.
"Jazmine, what the heck just happened in there?"
Jazmine shrugged with a faint smile. "I don't know, Rhea. I swear."
Rhea sighed heavily. She peeked at the old woman who was still sleeping before dragging Jazmine to the bedroom, closing the door behind them.
"Talk to me, Jazmine. You haven't been yourself since you came out of Watson's office," Rhea looked at Jazmine, worriedly checking if she could see what was wrong. When she could not find any external injuries, she sighed and tilted her head to the side. "Did Watson do something to you?"
Jazmine's smile fell. She tried to smile, but she knew it would come out awkward. After all, Rhea could see through her lies.
She didn't even know where to start from. Rhea needed to know. Rhea was her only friend and colleague. They had been friends since they were barely teenagers. She was a sister who loved and cared for Jazmine like a mother hen.
Rhea hissed, starting to get frustrated by Jazmine's silence and constant spacing out. She grabbed Jazmine's shoulders, shaking her violently.
"Would you talk to me, you idiot!?" She yelled. "Don't keep me quiet for heaven's sake, I'm worried about you! Do you want me to run mad?"
Seeing that Jazmine did not budge, Rhea sighed and stopped shaking her.
"You know you can tell me anything, right?" Rhea's voice had softened and was laced with a mix of warmth and comfort.
Jazmine nodded.
"Good! So, start talking!" Rhea snapped once again.
Jazmine had no choice. She spilled everything in her heart out to Rhea who listened attentively, never interrupting her for once until she was done.
When Jazmine had finished narrating everything to her, Rhea nodded. She was quiet for a while before turning to look at Jazmine.
"Have you told Mum?"
*****
"Do you have to go?"
Jazmine smiled softly. She took her mother's palms in hers and squeezed them lightly. Her eyes closed for a while to push back the tears that were brimming but that didn't help; they still fell.
"Yes, Mum," Jazmine answered, lightly brushing her thumbs against her mother's skin.
"When will you return?" Vanessa asked in a weak voice. When she spoke, it was as if she was using the last of her strength to speak. She would have to take a break after every word, making her phrases even longer, but Jazmine did not mind waiting.
"It won't be long, but by the time I return, you'll be fine and all better."
Vanessa smiled. She stretched a shaky hand and placed her palm under Jazmine's cheek.
"You do not have to go, Jazmine," she said, a tear trickling down her face. "I will be fine all the same."
"No, Mum. Don't say that," Jazmine broke down in tears. She placed her palm on her mother's own, enjoying the warmth it brought to her. "I will do whatever it takes to see you chase me in the snow, okay?"
There was pain in her voice when she spoke, causing her mother to smile through her tears. She knew Jazmine was hurting inside; she was only trying to keep a strong face. Knowing this, how could she bring herself to sell her out? If she did, she would be the worse mother ever.
Instead, Vanessa smiled and nodded.
"Thank you, child. I love you."
"I love you too, Mum," Jazmine replied, meaning every single word she spoke.
"Damn the rules, damn the motto, only my mother mattered now," she reminded herself once more.
Just then, the door opened and Rhea entered with a few bags of takeout. Since Jazmine decided to ruin dinner, they had no choice but to have takeouts.
Rhea placed the food on the table, yelling, "it's time for dinner, people!"
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone