[Chapter 195]
"Did anyone say you could sit here? This spot is reserved for my boyfriend! Goodness gracious… it's one thing to have been a loser back then, but after three years of university, you still haven't improved one bit! Go, scram, get lost!"
Gerald couldn't even remember her name anymore, and he couldn't be bothered to pick a fight with her at the moment.
That left the seat by the door, where all the food would be brought in.
Realizing that this had been everyone's intention all along, Gerald simply resigned himself to it.
Actually, there was an empty spot beside Sharon, too. However, she'd left her handbag on there, indicating that she was saving the seat for somebody. Certainly, she'd made no move to offer it to him.
Lilian grinned at Gerald, then turned and asked, "Sharon, when's Murphy gonna get here?"
"That guy… Hmph! Always wishy-washy about everything. Every time, he'll say he's almost there—but you're still gonna have to wait a while!"
Although she sounded upset, in truth her heart sang with pride.
"Yo, yo, yo! Is Sharon talking about Murphy, as in the Murphy who graduated and immediately became sales manager of an upmarket business along Mayberry Commercial Street? Are the two of you not getting along, then?"
"Right? Back when he was still a student, Sharon clung to him everywhere. Now that he's a Mayberry big shot, you're full of complaints? Actually, you just want us to be jealous of you, right?"
"Honestly speaking though, could you tell us how he landed that job? Gosh, sales manager at Mayberry Street… I wouldn't trade it for a dozen state appointments!"
No sooner had Sharon mentioned her boyfriend than the whole table was abuzz about him. The air was thick with the smell of envy.
"Hah, I wouldn't know about that!" Sharon laughed. "When he gets here, he can tell you himself!"
Right on cue, the doors opened, and two men walked in.
"Murphy, you're here!" Everyone greeted the tall, thin man with warm smiles.
So this was Murphy—Sharon's current boyfriend.
The other guy was that other girl's boyfriend, and he casually took the seat that Gerald had almost stolen.
"Speak of the devil… Murphy, we were just talking about you! Anyway, check out who's joining us today! Let me introduce you…
That guy over there? Meet Gerald!" Giggling, Lilian pointed out Gerald, who was sipping at his drink.
"Oh? So this is that penniless tramp, Gerald? Pleased to meet you!" Wearing a look of awe, Murphy came over to shake hands.
Frowning, Gerald remained in his seat and ignored him.
It was only at this point that he was really starting to get annoyed by all this.
He had been too naïve, expecting this to be a simple reunion between old friends he hadn't seen in years.
He craved the odd bit of socializing, too.
However, it was only after he'd arrived that he began to suspect that Lilian might have had other motives behind inviting him here. Gerald had been brought here to be the party clown, the evening's amusement.
No one here really cared about him, not even Sharon—Gerald didn't even know who she was anymore.
This whole thing had turned out to be a huge disappointment.
Gerald had no interest in this Murphy guy.
Murphy, on the other hand, was beaming at him. "Ahaha, what a character you are, Gerald! Sorry, I was only joking around. I heard from Sharon that the two of you used to be good friends."
"Hmph! Gerald, Murphy was offering to shake hands with you, just now! Where are your manners?"
"That's right! Murphy, you don't have to apologize to this guy at all! Just ask Sharon—he's a total deadbeat!"