Stefan introduced me to hot pot and seafood buffets. The hot pot bubbled, fragrant steam rising as I dipped marbled beef, tripe, and vegetables. Seafood buffets were even better: juicy abalone, garlic butter crawfish, giant crabs bursting with roe.
He would often rest his chin on his hand, watching me eat. I suspected he was monitoring my weight gain carefully, a diligent "bully" ensuring I grew plumper than Molly.
I tried to be discreet, but someone snapped photos. The forum buzzed:
"The Tender Bad Boy and His Food-Obsessed Girlfriend"
"Isn't she the one who fought Molly?"
"Did the school bully fall for her? I ship it!"
My roommates cornered me on my bed. "Are you dating Stefan?"
"We're not dating. He just wants me to gain weight," I protested.
"If he just wanted that, why fancy restaurants? That seafood buffet costs £50,000 per person!"
I panicked, blocked Stefan, and returned to my austerity diet. But then I ran into Molly in the cafeteria. She hesitated, then handed me her meal card.
"I'm sorry about last time," she said. "It's my treat."
I accepted it cautiously. Molly had changed. She was quieter, more thoughtful. Our unexpected truce hinted that perhaps my actions had made a difference.