hi Dora,
maybe I share a bit of personal references.
In my previous job, we had a pretty big lunch group. I was very closed to one of the gal in the group. Kind of 'underground relationship'. Anyway, she is the very sensitive type. Pretty much like how you reacted in your incident. She was so conscience over the car she drove and to keep everything about her a secret. Numerous times, she silently bore grudges and anger with the group for the comments and jokes made over lunch. Always telling me how stressed she is. Trying so hard to avoid attention but people have big mouths and commenting about her etc. Sometimes, I helped to divert the attention of the group to other stuffs and she was like so thankful over that. And when I didn't, she would be so disappointed with me.
I went through numerous times trying to talk sense to her. That, people that love to talk will talk. She just happens to be part of the topic sometimes. They talk about anything interesting and juicy. Its just harmless casual remarks and suanings. In fact, we have 'common targets' in the group and it aren't her. This people continue to be great pals till this very day. She had distant herself from the group in her fear of gosships and that somehow I would talk about her in the group after we broke up.
Anyway, I broke the relationship with this gal as it was too emotionally tiring as she was always confrontal and sensitive. She took a lot of pride to be well liked in office and everything she does, seems to be so well-thought of, full with intentions and 'good will'. I was rebuked by her numerous times for being selfish and insensitive towards others feelings and that the only reason why I'm not affected by the comments is because I was too blur and naive.
In my opinion, its just the opposite. She is too engrossed over such minor stuffs and missing the plot completely. In a way, really naive and childish. And she thinks she is more mature than she really is.
We were a big group of wonderful colleagues and friends. We didn't let these little differences, comments and jokes come between the friendship. This is what mature adult friendships are like. Not like teens having childish grudges against one another over trivial stuffs. Just 3 weeks back, I was in KL to attend one of my buddy's wedding banquet and it was a mini gathering for those of us that attended still. Most of us left the company for several yrs now.
What is important in life isn't every minor detail spoken by everyone in your life. But rather, living it to the fullest. Touching lives with our influences, be it our friends, family, colleagues or even acquaintances, strangers and general mankind. Think about that, how to move on to greater and more important things in life if your focus is all on bearing so grudges over every single little thing?