"So, what's this meeting for, guys? I'm totally clueless," Sonya asked quite cheerfully. She might be thinking that Iqbal was going to announce some kind of good news. Jeff was as excited as her. I personally looked fine. Inside and outside.
The only persons among us who were concerned, with stern looks in their faces, were Iqbal and Mazmur. I didn't think Iqbal had mentioned to him what he was gonna discuss, but Mazmur may have sensed something wrong between him and Iqbal.
"Okay. Since I don't wanna waste our time, I'd talk to the point. It's about you, Mazmur." Iqbal, with no hesitation, raised up the subject matter. Everyone took turns glancing at Iqbal and Mazmur back and forth.
"Me?" Mazmur confirmed.
"Yes."
Jeff's eyes were nailed to the table. Sonya sat still. I was being a spectator with guilty pleasure in my heart. Oh, seriously. This was going to be so much fun.
"I know. It's Aruna, right? What's your problem? Jealousy?" Nobody was anticipating Mazmur's direct attack.
"You're being offensive," Iqbal snapped back. "Has she brainwashed you or made you crawl to her? You've changed, Mazmur. You should know it. And it's because of her."
"In what ways? It's all in your mind."
"See? This is not your style, Mamzur. We all know you so well. Better than her. We've been friends long before you're close to her. You have kept a distance with us. You're rarely around. Whenever we meet you, you're with her."
"Sorry, Iqbal, but I have been her friend since high school time."
Iqbal didn't say a word. Sonya's fingers crept out for her pancake on her plate. Jeff, unexpectedly, volunteered to break the ice. Or the ice berg.
"Guys, I actually don't get the point of what the two of you are talking about. But I think there's been miscommunication and misunderstanding among us. We've been so occupied with assignments and midterm tests, right? Perhaps, we just lack time to meet up and eat out like this." Wow. Jeff was so..... mature. A rare moment.
"Or perhaps," said Mazmur. "Desiree is just taking a revenge on Aruna by making me the scapegoat and Iqbal the spokesperson."
Shoot. An arrow went through my heart, pumping more blood to my brain. I lost words.
[D]
