To the eyes of GPLAy employees, Jen and Gunn are doing well, they have no flaw showing otherwise. But, they are actually a wreck. They hardly see eye to eye.
Jen's betrayal added with the PI's finding gave Gunn a beating – their relationship as well. A tight grip on him only calmed him down for a few minutes. It was not like he would forgive her that easily.
He is nothing if not true to his word. He hates being taken for a fool which she undoubtedly did. She believes in their friendship, she knows time will work it's miracles.
Since the pictures, Gunn had been going out more and living his life carelessly. Jen has the responsibility of the whole firm on her shoulders. Knowing his whereabouts and making sure that he was home safe was her job as well, she did it thorough some mutual friends. She literally paid for his security and safety through her own pocket, he never knew that- never known from the start. Those are justified secrets, not like she needs the money anyway. Nor does he.
Gunn was the one who called for the investigation, he wanted to know what his mother was up to and where she was at. The PI didn't get that kind of information, was given her old photo and asked to track her down and take some more.
He now knows where she is. If he ever wants to meet with her he can safely do that. But, can he?
Seeing her doing fine and with another child – his supposed sister – did a number on him. The fact that she was happy made his guts boil.
Why was she that selfish? Could she have prevented what happened to Gunn? Did she have valid explanation for running away from him when he needed her the most? Did she even think of him? He never knew the answer.
Jen knows about that part of Gunn's life, she saw him with a mother- no, a perfect family. His mother was living with him and his father before they met. She actually introduced them to each other, when Gunn joined kindergarten a year late.
He showed up to kindergarten a year late. When little he had health problems, they are long gone now. She was ahead of him by a year but his equal intellectually. That's why they ended up in the same class.
She knows how things ended between her and Gunn's father, she wouldn't be good friend if she didn't . She was his pillar back then- and supposed to be still.
When little, she asked him to be her twin brother. She would play with him in the rain and he would show her how to play videogames. She was the reason he woke up by six in the morning to go to school. They both tend to forget about those beautiful days, the pillars of theirs friendship.
She has created the wall between them again. She did it before for the same Jordan. Makes Gunn wanna lick his ass again until his fists bleed. He has to protect her no matter what. Even when they are not talking.
If they were on terms maybe he would have listened to her, not like she can face him anymore. She makes him feel better. They had been through a lot together.
His family was firm as they get. His mother was charismatic and one of the prettiest faces he can remember. When he thinks about her he still sees her younger face, she was so pretty. He never knew what was about to fall on them. The danger always walking around the house and eating macarons smiling. He was the danger.
Back then, his father found out that the mother cheated on him years ago, that Gunn was not his son but a bastard. That was start of the end of Gunn's life, when it all was flashed down the toilet.
According to what Gunn shared, his mother ran away leaving him there, because she had nowhere to go to with a young boy and means to prove for him. She promised to fight for his custody in court, after she had found a place for them. She failed him. Never came back as she had promised.
His father had no problem with that, he was fine with keeping the bastard, the treacherous wife was the problem- so they thought.
Although young, Gunn understood what his mother had done and resented her for that. That's why he stuck with his old man, because he didn't do anything wrong. But, time would change all that.
As soon as his mother walked out, Gunn was locked inside a room like a dog. He didn't go to school for a week , that made his friend Jen worried. He was left home alone all day and threatened to say.
That part of his life is too much to replay. He shut it off his mind for ever and never thinks of it. But Jen does remember. She cries each time when she recalls it before smiling again, she now can see how far Gunn had come. That was a reason to smile, for both of them.
From there he started drinking and beating him up. He would get back home drunk and go on about how he was raising a bastard, that Gunn would inherit sh!t from him. That was accompanied with a beating Gunn only knows the magnitude.
How he managed to escape was a miracle,. It was crafted for days, he had to be smart about it.
One of the days he found a toolbox in the attic, he decided to break free the next morning. With his seven or so years old body breaking that was a nightmare , he had to find another way out- maybe sneak out during the nights.
He was waiting for that perfect opportunity to escape from that hellhole, which was long overdue. Anywhere but there would be fine.
If he didn't escape from there, he never can imagine what would have happened. His mother saw the danger and ran for her life, she left him in there to suffer under his wrath. Why else would she walk out that fast and never show up ever again?
Was she happy by now? With her new family and a child? Did she replace his place with the youngster?
He never wanted to imagine it. That his mother did the same thing and the little girl would only get the share of misery as he had. Would that be enough to change his mind about his mother? To make him wanna know her and his sibling? He never would want for her to go through what he did. Because not many children can handle that.
×××××××××
Jen had her body collapsed on the comfy mattress, she was tired of today's work. But, not as concerned as she was for Gunn, she kept checking her phone for message or anything about him.
The long scented bath she had didn't reduce her anxiety as the advert online pled, maybe she was lied to. At least her body wasn't as lost as her mind, running millions of questions she didn't have answers to or even want to think about. All of which was about Gunn.
Before Jen could finish rewinding her recollection of the escape and what lead them where they are now, her cell rung.
She jumped on it, probably what she had been waiting for, a friend of theirs. She answered, nothing the time, 23: 36.
" Hello Madam.
I've got him, actually he has some chicks carrying him back home, they kinda knows his residence.
Should I follow them up? I have seen them with him before.
", the voice said.
"No!
Thanks again Polo. He will find his way home, I'm sure of that. I'll wire you something in a sec
Glad you were there", she said.
"Always, have a good night. Thanks"
"Same, thanks again for your support, really appreciated", she said hanging up. It was time to do her checkup routine in person. If he was with his usual whores then he might be in bad shape. Hardly takes his exes out again. He never does rebounds.
She transferred five hundred dollars to his account, that was a business well done. He is one of her eyes and ears on him and his 'friends'. She likes to know of his whereabouts in times like this.
She grabbed a random coat from her closet before running outside, she had to make sure he was home. That the girls didn't take him somewhere else with more beer to drawn himself.
She had to make amends, if she was in better terms with him maybe she would convince him to let go of the past. To move on from his undeserving family and cut ties with them for eternity. Or maybe meet them up and hear what his mother had to say about her betrayal.
At least, he needed to know who his father was. If he was there or not.
Better, reach out to his mother. She might not have known what would happen to him if she left him with his father, she might be innocent after all
But, for that to happen, she had to come clean to him. Tell the truth about what happened with her and the Moron guy , even if it would crash his heart before doing any good. It was necessary.
She will cut ties with Jordan. Once and for all. That will solidify their relationship and even make her feel better. She doesn't want to be associated with him anymore. He showed his true colors. But somehow, she still was texting him .
She thought about quitting Jordan and his bullshit while driving through her quiet neighborhood, she was afraid. Of the dark, him and telling the truth . But, for Gunn she would die trying to get to him. She knows it is the same with him too.
They might have ended up as twins , just the way they wanted back then.
But, does they want that anymore? Is kin-like relationship their goal even after growing up? She still thinks it is.