38
VINCENT'S POV.
"BELLA!"
My loud voice rang out suddenly, breaking the silence between Benny and Asleena. While on the other side, Bella immediately gasped with a panicked facial expression as she turned to Benny.
"Vincent?" Bella's voice sounded almost soft.
In front of Bella and Amber, who were both awkward and helpless at the same time, I walked over. My steps were both agile and emphasized. The gaze of his eyes was very narrowed at Bella, as if giving an indirect warning.
"What are you doing here?" i asked. My voice sounded low, oppressive, and did not like Bella's presence.
Bella remained silent for a few seconds as she digested Benny's sudden arrival. But after that, Bella immediately laughed sarcastically and quietly. Didn't expect that I would say that to her.
"Are you angry with me because I came to Amber?" Bella asked back. There was no guilt on her face, as if she didn't care about the warning from my eyes.
"Why don't you ever listen to what other people say, huh?" Me then leaned closer to whisper into Bella's ear. "I didn't ask you to come to the bride's room. But you were stubborn. You didn't even tell me you were coming."
After i stepped back and looked at Bella sharply, Bella just folded her hands in front of her chest. Bella immediately came forward and deliberately looked at me through a challenging gaze.
"Are you afraid that Amber will find out that the two of us have been close for a long time?" Bella quipped.
My gaze moved to Amber who was still silent listening to their interaction. Benny felt uncomfortable if Asleena witnessed Bella's arrival. During this time Benny never told her anything about Bella. Because his determination is strong to not care about Bella so that their marriage plans run smoothly.
But now Bella came without telling him. Bella did not come to Benny, instead she went straight to Asleena.
"Why are you hiding about me, Benny?" Bella deliberately wanted to provoke the situation between them all. "Besides, Asleena already knows who I am."
Benny, who was confused, asked Asleena for an explanation through his facial expressions.
Then, Asleena - who was trying to hide her nervousness so Benny wouldn't get suspicious - said, "Hearing her talk about you, Benny, I know that you two have been close for a long time. He came to see how the person who will accompany you looks like."
When Asleena paused, Benny and Bella did not speak either. Then Asleena continued her sentence, "Only someone who is very close would do that."
Bella lowered her shoulders and smiled proudly at Asleena's answer.
"Listen, right? I really care about you, Benny. We've been together since childhood, so I have to make sure that the woman you're with..." Bella stopped her words as she turned her gaze to Asleena.
The situation between them had tensed up again when Bella stepped closer to Asleena. But unfortunately Benny immediately spread one hand, restraining the movement of Bella's body.
Benny did not want Bella to cross the line.
"Don't do something I warned you not to do," Benny said firmly and sharply.
"Benny, she just wanted to say hi to me. There's no need to act like that," chimed in Asleena, gradually getting worried because Benny didn't stop pushing Bella.
Bella put on a smug expression, feeling proud to get a defense from Asleena. But unfortunately, the expression on Bella's face did not make Benny lose the firmness on his face.
"I don't care whether or not she only has good intentions towards you, Asleena. I didn't invite her over," Benny replied.
Asleena frowned. She was confused as to why Benny had to be so mean to Bella. Even though Benny's attitude had been harsh since their first meeting, shouldn't his attitude be warmer when he was with close friends?
Before Asleena could say anything, Benny suddenly pulled Bella's hand. His movements were so fast that Bella could not avoid.
"Benny, what are you doing-my hand hurts! Don't pull so hard!" Bella warned Benny.
As if he didn't care, Benny kept pulling Bella's hand away from Asleena. But his force on Bella's hand grip was reduced.
"I just don't want you to bother Asleena, Bella. Don't interfere with our marriage."
***
The wedding was successfully conducted smoothly.
Actually, throughout the wedding, Asleena was still imagining Bella and Benny's interaction. For some reason they looked like two people who were hostile to each other. More precisely, Benny who considered Bella as someone unwanted.
Asleena felt both worried and uncomfortable. Throughout the wedding ceremony, Asleena couldn't stop thinking about Bella. How did Bella feel after getting Benny's treatment like that?
"Since earlier, you haven't stopped looking like someone who's thinking about something," Benny said from Asleena's side.
Now they were in the hotel room used as a wedding reception venue. Benny had realized that something was bothering Asleena's mind since Bella's arrival. Throughout that time, Benny was at a loss as to how to talk to Asleena who was not calm.
Unfortunately this time Benny couldn't resist asking. His curiosity and discomfort at watching Asleena just stay silent made him have to approach Asleena.
"How can you treat Bella like that?" Asleena asked without looking at Benny.
Benny's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Benny looked at Asleena for a few seconds.
"What do you mean?" Benny asked. "What's wrong with my treatment of Bella?"
Asleena turned her gaze to Benny. Just then, Asleena showed her frustration openly to Benny through a scowl on her face.
"Don't you realize? You kicked Bella out when she just wanted to talk to me," Asleena replied in an annoyed tone.
Benny suddenly smiled with a grin, as if laughing at Asleena's words.
"Asleena, you don't understand anything," Benny retorted using an implicitly mocking voice. "Do you really think she just wants to talk nicely?"
Asleena was confused. Actually, Asleena didn't think that Bella had any bad intentions towards her. Although there was a sense of caution when meeting Bella, but Asleena still felt that Bella really just wanted to talk about something.
Something that Bella didn't want Benny to hear.
"What is she going to talk about?" Asleena looked at Benny curiously.
At that moment Benny was a little hesitant to say something. The hesitation in his eyes was well noticed by Asleena so she just waited with curiosity. Finally, uncomfortable with the urgency in Asleena's gaze, Benny let out a long sigh.
"I can't explain in detail to you. But... Bella didn't come to talk nicely," Benny explained hesitantly. After giving a brief pause to her sentence, Benny continued, "If I hadn't held back, she might have said something to you."
"Something like?" Asleena's eyes narrowed suspiciously as her curiosity also increased.
Again, Benny did not answer immediately. Benny made the atmosphere between the two of them awkward.
When Asleena was already very curious, Benny immediately flicked a finger in front of her face. Asleena blinked in surprise and astonishment at Benny who suddenly stood up.
"Why are you so curious? I don't know what Bella would say either."
Hearing that, Asleena suddenly glared.
"Hey! You said you knew!" said Asleena in a warning tone.
Innocently, Benny lowered his shoulders and walked away from Asleena.
"I just know he's not going to say anything really nice, but I don't know exactly what he's going to say."
Asleena growled with a scowl at Benny. At that moment, Asleena did not expect Benny to be teasing her again. When Benny had stepped further away, Asleena let out a long sigh with both shoulders slumped.
'Why is my curiosity growing now?' Asleena thought to herself.