Lena has always been annoyed by people who chew with their mouths open. It's a pet peeve of hers that drives her crazy, and she can't stand being around people who do it. Lena can't pinpoint exactly why it bothers her so much, but the sound of smacking and slurping noises makes her skin crawl.
One of Lena's worst experiences with this pet peeve happened during a dinner party at a friend's house. One of the guests, a man named Jack, chewed his food so loudly that Lena couldn't concentrate on anything else. Every time Jack took a bite, Lena felt her irritation rise. She tried to ignore it, but it was too much to handle.
Another time, Lena went on a date with a guy who chewed with his mouth open throughout the entire meal. She couldn't wait for the date to end so she could get away from the noise. Lena tried to politely suggest that he close his mouth while chewing, but he didn't seem to understand why it bothered her so much.
Lena's pet peeve even extends to her own family. Her brother, who lives with her, is a loud chewer as well. Lena has tried to talk to him about it, but he just brushes it off and continues to chew with his mouth open.
Despite her annoyance with the pet peeve, Lena tries to control her reactions to it. She knows that it's a small thing in the grand scheme of things, but it's hard to ignore. Lena continues to work on her patience and understanding, hoping that one day she'll be able to overlook the sound of open-mouth chewing.