I used to think Mazmur came from a world I couldn't step in, but the night he drove me home was the night I knew I had. And I wouldn't miss the chance to let him know, so I told him it was refreshing to be able to talk casually with him like that. He only laughed and responded politely. I had no idea Mazmur could talk so much.
But something was amiss. Desiree almost didn't say anything. That chatterbox, quiet? The only thing she managed to say the whole time was "Aruna must be taken by somebody else, Mazmur" - based on what assumption, I didn't know. If I had been taken, I would know, wouldn't I?
I glanced at her sitting at the backseat from the corner of my eye. What was she doing?
"Are you okay, Desiree?" I asked her during our pause in conversation.
"Yes," she answered. Hm? I decided to let it go.
But then her present absence in our conversation made the air heavy; particularly because she was obviously sulking. Hate being outside the spotlight, lady? I couldn't help but suspected so. It wasn't her first. Even when she was around my friends - where, inevitably, there will be conversation about things that she wouldn't know of - she could appear pouty every time such conversation occurred.
"Do you remember, Desiree, about the night when Jeff brawled at the Cafe and almost got us persona non grata-ed?" Mazmur clearly invited her to our conversation. It's unfortunate. No matter how heavy the air was, I was enjoying how the conversation only occurred between the two of us. I had thought to myself, finally, a moment where Desiree wasn't the center of it. Truth be told, I was savoring it.
"Oh, my, it's impossible," I exclaimed. "You haven't told me, Desiree!" Well, politeness is a must.
"Yes," Desiree responded.
I bit my tongue. Don't. You haven't known her long enough, I told myself. Why were you being a monosyllabic bitch, Desiree? I couldn't understand. She kept looking out the window. If she didn't, she kept scrolling her mobile's screen. Oh, yeah, I'm DYING to know what's so interesting on her mobile. I rolled my eyes.
"Why don't you tell me, Mazmur. How was it?" I served the question back at him.
And while Mazmur was telling me all about it, I pondered. Has she always been irritating like this? Or was she just having a bad day? I knew for sure I wouldn't be ticked off if that night was the first time. Then, how long have I felt this way about her?
[M]
