"What did you say? Irene, don't think I won't slap you!" Malinda was all fired up, seemingly bothered by me calling her Bonnie's lapdog.
My friends, hearing Malinda's outburst, gathered around.
"You think we wouldn't slap you too?" Barbara rolled up her sleeves.
Louis looked helpless. As a guy, he shouldn't get involved in a catfight, but Malinda was his girlfriend, and we were all acquainted with him.
He pulled Malinda behind him, "Enough, enough. We're all friends here. Can we stop this hostility?"
"Louis, are you blind? Why would you pick her as your girlfriend? She has no conscience; do you have one?" Stella bluntly asked.
Louis's face changed slightly. He awkwardly chuckled, not responding.
Malinda was at her breaking point. She was the one who persistently went after Louis, and now Stella was saying she didn't deserve him?
"Say that again?!" Malinda pointed at Stella, her eyes blazing.
Tension was in the air. Some staff had come over to try to defuse the situation.
"Malinda, what's wrong?" Suddenly, Bonnie's voice chimed in. Her eyes were red and swollen as if she'd just been crying. She looked at us, puzzled.
Kate Aaron was in the same state. They probably just got back from the cemetery.
I had to admire Bonnie. She really considered herself Karina.
"Bonnie, Kate, are you okay?" Malinda immediately asked with concern as soon as she saw them.
Kate shook her head, "We're fine, just a little upset. What's going on between you and them…"
She glanced at me, her distaste for me apparent in her eyes.
Malinda immediately felt bolstered, "Louis and I came here to wait for you guys, but we ran into Irene. They have no manners, even openly insulted me, calling me a bitch!"
At that moment, a woman nearby spoke up, "It was you who started it all with your ranting, disturbing them. Isn't that why they said those things about you?"
I turned to look at the woman. She had short hair with red highlights, silver earrings, and a nose ring, giving her a rebellious look.
Seeing me look at her, she gave me a smile.
I inexplicably liked her appearance, so I returned her smile with a grateful one.
"I…" Malinda was at a loss for words after being exposed by the short-haired woman.
"Malinda, it's fine. Let's just drop it!" Bonnie wiped her eyes and put on a magnanimous face.
Kate checked the time and urged, "Bonnie, let's go. My mom and Neil are waiting for us."
She emphasized Neil's name as if afraid I wouldn't hear it clearly.
Bonnie nodded and took Malinda's hand, "Malinda, why don't you and Louis come with us? We can all have dinner together."
"Sure!" Malinda cheered up immediately, "After all, Louis and Neil are good friends. It's just like a friends' get-together!"
Louis gave me an apologetic look, seemingly helpless.
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