WE are at the Arts canteen again — John's favourite luncheonette. John's oft cited reason for going all the way there is that he misses the popular beef char-kuey-teow^† there, but Pei Fu and I see through his glib cajolery. We know it is not just as simple and innocent as a mere gourmet's preference of taste.

As expected, John picks the spot that gives him the best view for his concurrent activity while feeding himself — what else but the seventh 'L' of U life (refer to episode one). Ogling, that is his hobby. Recently he has been going around telling people how SAD (Single, Available, and Desperate) he is, and laments that he is now the worst of the trio, for I have my Angel, and as for Pei Fu, both John and I think he is too obsessed with his books to have room for anything else, let alone the fairer sex. As to what happened to Annie, Sussie and Daisy, the only thing John would reveal is that he made a terrible mix-up one day and that cost him dearly.

We got the food, and as usual I am 'volunteered' to get the desserts. As I put the 3 bowls of chendol on the tray, I turn around to be greeted by a guy whom I would never choose to meet again in my life. David the BROWN EYES. His frivolously ostentious manner might have melted the hearts of many a young and impressionable lady, but the mere sight of him is enough to set fire of fury burning in me.

"Hey! You are Garf aren't you? Still remember me? Remember PandA...PanDa...?"

I want to be a gentleman. All my life I strive to be one. I try real hard to contract my froward facial muscles into some kind of a smile (if you still call that a smile), and choose not to utter a single word.

"Aei, you know Angel alright (oh boy, how on earth does he know Angel?) She is right over there (he stretches his arm and points his extremity at a certain corner of the canteen) .... with your classmate Turk. You should know him right? Both of you are in the same year."

I peer towards the guided direction. Angel is with another guy. Yes, that's Turk alright, one of the Vax Bullet-in-Board SysOps. I understand everything now. My heart sinks like a rock thrown into the toilet bowl, and then cracks like the toilet bowl after that, but I still pretend to be unruffled.

"Turk has the jump on, you know. They know each other long before you." Unsatisfied with the silence I use in my counteraction and bent on seeing me freak out, David tries to provoke me further.

"So what?!" I lose my composure, "I'm different. Durian mooncake is special. The rest are just lotus mooncakes."

"Oh, really?" that sinister grin I hate most makes its ugly appearance again, "Durian mooncake is yolkless, ya know, that's the lowest grade. The more yolks the better, and Turk could well be a 4-yolk lotus mooncake, ya know?"

David briskly walked off before I can retaliate (or can I?). John drags me back to the seat as I stood there dumbfounded. Angel and Turk are still chatting away, both unaware that they are being watched. Maybe they are talking about me. Maybe Angel is telling Turk all the clumpsy things about me. They must be giggling away now. Oh... they are leaving. Better not let them see us. Wait, they are shaking hands, and ... Turk is patting on Angel's shoulder! Oh my God, they actually have PHYSICAL contact! A sting of jealousy runs through my nerves.

"Garf, listen. He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep." Pei Fu must have seen what happened, but he sounds a little strange today.

"Oh shut up, wise old man, what's wrong with having lunch together? It's not a sin...". Suddenly, John refrains as he receives an acrimonious look from Pei Fu, so atypical of him. Our affable friend here is a well-known goody-goody who has never thrown his temper. He sure acts oddly today, but my mind isn't on him. I am thinking of what to do when I meet Angel later this evening. My mind is preoccupied with these words: I wanna change the score!!!