Someone asked Jessica why she hadn't eaten yet.
Jessica said with a look of regret, "Well, I have gained weight recently. I am now 99 pounds. I need to go on a diet to lose weight."
Then Jessica turned her attention to me again. She pretended to be envious and said, "I really envy you, Emma. You eat so much and David doesn't despise you. When can I find a boyfriend like David?"
I put down my fork and readied to say something. But David reacted first.
David looked at me nervously and said, "Emma, don't try to lose weight anymore. I've learned cooking for you. Now you're just perfect. Someone like her really does need to lose weight."
David looked at Jessica. "Didn't your family teach you not to mess around with the food on the plate when you're eating with others?"
Jessica looked unconvinced and repeated loudly. "I am now 99 pounds."
Her voice was loud as if she was afraid people wouldn't hear that she weighed 99 pounds.
But David just nodded perfunctorily. "I know you weigh 99 pounds. If you want to lose weight quickly, stop talking. Talking won't help you lose weight."
"But I weigh 99 pounds." Jessica kept repeating it and insisted that she was not hungry.