52.

VINCENT'S POV. "What were you just talking about?" asked Asleena with a surprised expression. Asleena really didn't understand why Benny suddenly said he wanted to cancel their marriage contract. Her uncomfortable premonition a moment ago had actually materialized. Asleena now felt her sitting position becoming uneasy. "Why did your facial expression suddenly turn so unpleasant?" Benny asked with an amused smile curving his face. Asleena chuckled in annoyance after hearing Benny's words. She didn't expect that Benny would still have time to tease her when she was upset. Asleena did know that Benny often and liked to throw jokes at her. Unfortunately Asleena was in a very bad mood today, especially after hearing what Benny had just said. "I don't see how you can say something like that. I mean it, Benny, why do you sound like you're making fun of me right now?" protested Asleena who didn't hesitate to show her annoyance to Benny. Benny chuckled as he witnessed Asleena's irritated reaction. Benny had actually expected that Asleena would feel that his sentence just now sounded ambiguous. That's why Benny deliberately dangled his sentence and let Asleena feel annoyed. "What were you thinking when you heard what I said?" Benny asked, then looked up with a mocking expression on his face. "Huh? You think canceling our contract means I want our relationship to end?" Asleena still wore a sullen expression, then she answered Benny's question with a nod of her head. Asleena looked at Benny with some concern as she thought of the worst possible outcome of their relationship. "Do you think I'll just let you go when I find out your ex-boyfriend is coming on to you again?" Benny asked later. "I don't know. You said that to me," Asleena said. Her tone still sounded annoyed with Benny. Benny had no idea that Asleena would take his words so seriously. Benny only intended to provoke Asleena a little to see how she would react if their relationship was at risk of ending. "Apparently you're worried about our relationship ending," Benny replied casually. "That means you don't want our relationship to end. I'm not the only one who doesn't want it to." Asleena's eyebrows furrowed in confusion at Benny's words. Asleena immediately thought about what Benny's words meant. On the other hand, Asleena felt that Benny would not just cancel their marriage contract. "I don't know why you're acting ambiguously like this," Asleena said. "But tell me more clearly, what exactly do you want?" Asleena's question immediately made Benny laugh. Benny held up his palm to indicate that he didn't mean to make Asleena think anything bad. "Alright, you need to calm down first. Why do you look upset like that?" Benny asked jokingly. "So what I'm saying is that I want no more contracts between us. It's not that our relationship is going to end, but we're going to carry out the relationship more sincerely." Asleena raised her eyebrows in confusion and surprise, not expecting Benny to think of something like that. He froze for a moment with an expression that was thinking about something very seriously. During that silence, Asleena also watched Benny to try to figure out whether Benny was serious or not. "Don't joke around," Asleena warned, at the same time trying to figure out whether Benny was really serious or not. "I don't want to see you laughing at me like that again." Benny immediately nodded his head, this time his facial expression looked so serious. "I'm not joking, Asleena," Benny replied firmly. His tone also sounded as if he didn't want Asleena to think he was joking. "What I said just now doesn't mean that I lied at all." Asleena was still scrunching her forehead, both confused as to why Benny was suddenly acting this way and trying to calm her own heartbeat. Asleena had been feeling nervous ever since Benny had said that he really wished that the two of them could have a more genuine relationship. "Why did you suddenly think of that?" Asleena asked with an amused laugh, trying to cover herself from looking nervous. Benny shrugged his shoulders with a relaxed expression. But from his expression, Benny seemed to want to reassure Asleena. "Because I..." Benny hung his sentence again, then looked at Asleena very seriously. Benny moved his face forward to look at Asleena more closely. "...started to like you. Ah, no. It's not just liking. I already love you." Asleena was somewhat taken aback after hearing Benny's words just now. For a few seconds, Asleena was stunned into silence. She didn't know how to react or what to say because it was too sudden to tell him. "Wait, one second. I need to digest your words, Benny. This is too sudden," Asleena said, trying to neutralize the atmosphere between them. Benny just nodded his head while holding out his palm, signaling that he would let Asleena calm herself down. Benny, who knew that Asleena wouldn't take his words easily, didn't mind. "I didn't expect you to say that. Since when? I mean, we've been together all this time and you've been acting like a normal person. You don't show any-" "It's precisely because we've always been together, Asleena. We faced a lot of problems together. I know this might sound silly and very sudden..." Benny then stopped talking as she tried to neutralize her nervousness. Unbeknownst to Asleena, Benny was actually feeling nervous too. He had even prepared himself since last night to say this to Asleena. Even though Benny was annoyed by Robert's arrival last night - which in turn resulted in him becoming annoyed with Asleena, Benny wanted to immediately express what he felt. Somehow Robert's arrival last night had spurred Benny's adrenaline to keep Asleena by his side. Benny didn't want it to happen that at any time Robert had managed to melt and get Asleena. Benny and Asleena's marriage was only a contractual agreement. "... but I can't avoid this feeling. Actually, I have repeatedly tried to get rid of this feeling because it might be a trick for me," said Benny, his tone sounded calm but he also implied a little panic. Asleena watched Benny trying not to look nervous. Asleena let Benny explain to calm down. "I just feel that we don't need to use that contract agreement. I did go back on my word not to fall in love with you. I honestly wish you hadn't rejected me, but I now want to let you make your own choices." That was the end of Benny's words. Asleena still stood still without taking her eyes off Benny. In her heart, a ridiculous flowery feeling suddenly came out of nowhere. Asleena knew that Benny didn't need to explain in such length. In the end, Asleena couldn't help but curve her smile. Asleena finally curved the smile she was holding back, then burst out laughing. "I don't understand why you have to explain so long like that," Asleena replied, in between giggles as she shook her head. "Hey, Benny, you don't have to feel guilty for loving someone." Benny, who initially felt guilty, then frowned. Benny was confused why Asleena was suddenly relaxed after looking rather tense and serious earlier. "I'm actually very grateful that you're willing to love me. I thought you were just a man who couldn't have feelings for a woman," Asleena joked back. Benny was increasingly unable to understand why Asleena was acting like that. He was still frowning. "Why are you still being so casual?" Benny asked later. Asleena began to fade away her laughter, eventually giving way to a quiet smile. She folded her hands on the table and watched Benny through very calm eyes. Asleena began to fade away her laughter, eventually giving way to a quiet smile. She folded her hands on the table and watched Benny through very calm eyes. "How am I supposed to behave? After all, you feel what it's like to be me, right? Watching you be serious, but in the end you laugh and relax." Benny felt so awkward that he rubbed the back of his neck. "How does it feel to deal with someone who acts like that?" Asleena asked, pitched in a somewhat sarcastic tone. Benny laughed awkwardly after being asked such a question. Now, Benny straightened his seat and folded his hands on the table. Exactly the same position as Asleena. "So what do we do?" she asked.