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Rachel thought that her bed being covered with fish guts with “catch this you gold digging bitch” written in ominous red text would be the most surprising thing to happen to her today.
Well, that doesn’t compare to shouting at the moon with Astrid Leong on the beach a few feet beside the fish they buried together.
How do these events connect?
Well, it started after Rachel and Astrid discovered the crime scene that was her bedroom (if being a petty jealous bitch was a crime, which in her opinion, it should be).
“God, I’m so sick of people thinking I’m dating Nick,” Rachel groans.
“In their defense, you’re quite physically affectionate.”
“Yeah, because that man is the most touch starved person I’ve ever met in my entire life. It’s like when you see a sad starving dog living in the garbage.”
“Oh, I’m sure he’d love to hear that comparison.” Astrid’s perfectly painted lips curve into an amused smile.
Rachel rolls her eyes. “He deserves it. He goes to that sweaty YMCA and makes me pay for half of the check when he’s literally a bajillionaire. ‘Meh meh meh, I wanted you to know me for me.’ Okay? I know you. Now pay my student loans.”
Astrid laughs. “He’s lucky to have you.” At Rachel’s glowering, she adds, “as a friend.”
“Nick’s a great guy. He’s also a guy who does not make friends easily which I’m starting to learn why. So, when he asked me to be the plus one for his best friend’s wedding, I was like ‘Hey! Free trip. I get to visit Peik Lin, see the sights, eat good food, and get drunk at an open bar.’ What else could I ask for? So, when I show up and everyone thinks I’m dating Nick? And no matter how many times we deny it, they don’t believe it, and then I’m wrapped up in all this generational posturing bullshit when all I wanted was hors d'oeuvres and to see the Singapore Airport, which can I just say is literally insane, it’s a fucking amusement park in there.” She takes a deep breath after her rant and shoots Astrid a frazzled look.
“It is quite a spectacle,” Astrid says.
“Oh, I’m sure it’s nothing to you. You probably see stuff like that everyday.”
“Not particularly,” Astrid says. “Most of my days are spent at work or in my flat with Michael and the kids.” Her face falls. “Michael is having an affair.”
“Oh,” Rachel says. “Well, I don’t know this Michael guy, but if he cheats on someone like you, then I know he’s a dick.”
“He’s not a… a dick. He’s conflicted.”
“I get conflicted about a lot of things but I don’t cheat on my wife because of it.” She pauses. “I don’t have a wife. But if I did, and that wife was you, I would never cheat on you, no matter how conflicted I am.”
Astrid sighs. “I think he feels… inferior. Which is an awful thing to say, to even imply about a person, but sometimes I feel as though he feels he isn’t enough in comparison to my wealth and career.”
“Okay? So he’s an insecure little man who can’t handle his beautiful, hard-working, smoking hot, successful, intelligent, did I mention drop dead gorgeous wife?”
“It’s not his fault. It’s understandable that he feels insecure—”
“Yeah, it is, but that doesn’t give him the right to cheat on you.”
Astrid goes quiet. “And what would you have suggested he do instead?”
“Talk to you? Strive more in his own career? Not cheat on you?”
“I’m sensing a theme here.”
“Because it’s the only right thing to do in this situation. Or any situation. There isn’t any reason that makes it okay for someone to cheat on their wife. Or… okay there are some. Like if you’re separated or they’re dead. But those are far outliers and not applicable here.”
Astrid chuckles softly which devolves into a laugh and then into a hiccuped sob.
Alarmed, Rachel wraps an arm around Astrid and pulls her into her embrace.
“I’m sorry—”
“No,” Rachel cuts her off. “You have no reason to apologize and every reason to be upset and you should let it out.”
To her surprise, Astrid pulls away and looks up at the sky and screams, “I am upset! And he is a dick!”
“O… kay. No, yeah. Yeah. Let it out, girl, let it out! He doesn’t know what he’s got!”
“He’s always taken me for granted!”
“You’re beautiful and smart!”
“I am. And I’m accomplished and kind and he doesn’t deserve me!”
“No he doesn’t!”
“He’s an insecure little man who can’t handle feeling inferior to a successful woman!”
“Yeah! Yeah!”
“I deserve better!” A gasp escapes her lips and her eyes meet Rachel’s. “I deserve better. I deserve better than him.”
Rachel smiles. “Yeah. Yeah you do.”
The wail that leaves Astrid’s throat is guttural and freeing and a well needed release from years of pent of frustration.
“Let it out, Astrid. Let it out.”