53.

ASLEENA'S POV. "Asleena?" Asleena and Benny's attention simultaneously turned towards someone who suddenly arrived. Asleena immediately glared in surprise as she witnessed Robert's arrival. She had not invited Robert to come to this place at all. How could that man suddenly appear in the same place as her? "Wow, I didn't expect to see you here," Robert said as he looked at Asleena and Benny in turn. Asleena who felt panicked finally looked at Benny. Asleena couldn't say anything because she realized the look on Benny's face implied annoyance. Sensing that the situation between them was getting tense, Asleena stood up from her position. Asleena clearly looked at Robert through her eyes which showed a sense of disturbance. "Why are you here?" she asked in an exasperated tone. Robert looked surprised by Asleena's reaction. He frowned while smiling amusedly with a facial expression that did not believe that Asleena would behave like that. "I don't know why you greeted me so rudely, Asleena. You should have greeted me kindly," Robert replied without guilt. Asleena laughed sarcastically at Robert's answer and watched the man's expression. Asleena didn't believe that Robert had come to this place by accident. Because, just the look on Robert's face that seemed to be acting innocently made Asleena sick. "Why should I return your greeting in a friendly manner?" Asleena asked, she then slightly lifted her chin in annoyance. "Wait. Hey, Robert, you haven't answered Asleena's question yet. Why are you here?" Benny interrupted the conversation between Asleena and Robert. Robert turned his eyes to Benny. For whatever reason, Robert curved a lopsided smile at Benny. His expression implied mockery. "Do you and Asleena both think that I followed you to this place on purpose?" Robert asked a question back in a sarcastic tone. Hearing Robert's question made Benny instantly feel very irritated. Benny immediately snorted with a smirk while looking away. "You shouldn't say that, Robert. I'm not accusing you, but you thought of it. How come?" asked Benny sarcastically. Robert sighed heavily as he put both hands on his waist. "Gosh, I only greeted you nicely, but you greeted me like that." This situation was already unpleasant. In the middle of the conversation between Robert and Benny, Asleena cast her eyes around. Luckily, the people around them were not too crowded. At that moment Asleena suddenly remembered Roger's words that wanted to protect them from Robert's arrival. If Robert was supposed to come to where Asleena and Benny were, he would have to pass by Roger. But why did Roger not show his presence at all? Roger should have kept Robert from coming to where Asleena and Benny were. For some reason Asleena was feeling very uncomfortable right now. Asleena hoped Roger would come to this seat and take Robert away. "The problem is that we don't want to greet someone like you, Robert," Benny replied. He deliberately looked at Robert through a challenging gaze. "If you have nothing to do with the two of us, you'd better leave." Robert raised both eyebrows as he felt somewhat surprised by Benny's words. But his surprise was short-lived. As Robert could never feel guilty, he ended up chuckling. "Why should I leave? I haven't even talked to you two yet," Robert replied casually as he pulled up one of the chairs on the right side. Asleena and Benny widened their eyes in surprise. They both watched as Robert casually sat down on the chair. Joining the seats of Asleena and Benny. "I need to say hello and talk to you two. Talk casually," Robert continued later. Asleena briefly looked at Benny using a panicked look in her eyes. Asleena did not want to let Robert join the two of them. Because the problem was that Asleena remembered that Robert had given her a gift and she hadn't told Benny about it. "Robert. Don't you know any etiquette at all? You weren't invited, but you joined us," Asleena said with an exasperated expression. Robert let out a long sigh as he rolled his eyes in disgust. Robert actually didn't want to hear or care about Asleena's words. But for some reason, his feelings were disturbed by Asleena's attitude, which seemed very rude to him. "Asleena, am I a stranger to you? You've known me for so long. I should be able to join you," Robert retorted without feeling guilty for the umpteenth time. Asleena was dumbfounded to see Robert smirking at her. It was as if Robert was deliberately provoking her annoyance. On the other hand, Benny had already noticed Asleena's discomfort. While watching Asleena, Benny also felt disturbed and threatened. He did not want Asleena's comfort to be disturbed just because of the arrival of her ex-lover. In the end, Benny, who had deliberately remained silent for a while, stepped in front of Robert. The look on Benny's face showed that he was very embarrassed by Robert's attitude which seemed very powerful. "Robert. You're really being a nuisance. If you don't leave, I'll call security," Benny said with a threatening tone and facial expression. Hearing Benny's very serious words made Robert curl his grin even wider. Robert was still sitting, raising his face to look directly at Benny, then turned his gaze to Benny's outstretched palm. "I really did come with good intentions. But you guys just provoked my annoyance," Robert retorted as he let out a rough breath while shaking his head briefly. "I've been trying to restrain myself..." Then Robert slowly got up from his sitting position. Robert let out another harsh breath after standing in front of Benny. The two exchanged sharp glances with each other, showing anger. "But I think I have to say this. If you love Asleena so much, do you know that she just received a package from me?" Robert asked, continuing his interrupted speech. Asleena, who initially looked upset, immediately turned surprised after hearing Robert's question. Her body stiffened perfectly where she stood. Meanwhile, Robert and Benny who immediately looked at her in unison. Benny also looked surprised, more so than Asleena. Beside him, Robert looked satisfied that he had said the question. But both of them looked curious about something to Asleena. "Asleena, what about the package I sent you?" Robert asked Asleena a question. He deliberately curved a provoking smile. At that moment Asleena was still stiff. Her gaze was fixed on Benny who looked at her very sharply and seriously, as if asking for confirmation from her. Asleena felt her heartbeat racing. She was feeling extremely nervous. "Tell Benny. You just received a package from me today. You should know that if Benny loves you and you keep it a secret, you don't appreciate him," Robert said. Benny who heard Robert's words was actually half disbelieving. On the other hand, he felt uncomfortable because he realized that Asleena looked very nervous. "Asleena?" Benny called out to rouse Asleena from the silence. "Is what Robert said true?"