"I'm fine." She didn't know when she said it.
Lester's expression eased though it still held a hint of doubt but he didn't ask of it again.
He changed the topic. "Why did you come here? Those people bullied you before, you should had known they opt to do so again."
"What is it to you?" Her irritation flared.
He wasn't scolding her, his tone was soft and considerate but every of his words — his voice seemed to pull at her nerves.
"And how did you find me? I told you not to follow me again but you did!"
"Is that what angers you?"
"No. Your presence entirely is what repulses me."
"...."
He frowned slightly. "Rena, I brought you out. The least you could do is feign gratitude."
"Is that what you want? You want me to feel grateful, glad and return to you, isn't it?"
Back then in the past he had saved her from a group of bullies, hence the beginning of their relationship.
Then she had been too appreciative and in awe of him, even breaking her deep-rooted belief to date before maturity.
Now it was the same, the scene was the same.
He had again saved her from the same set of bullies but this time, that would be it.
No thanks was needed to be conveyed and they would never meet with each other again, that should be it!
With a regretful look, she murmured. "Besides, I wished it hadn't been you who came."
Lester's eyes dimmed at those words. He uttered. "Who did you want?"
"Herman."
Rena didn't care if he knows the person or not, she just blurted it.
Lester's frown deepened. His countenance turned cold. Even Rena could feel the displeasure radiating off him.
But he didn't show too much. He gestured.
"Get in the car, you must be tired. I would drop you home."
"I would leave on my own." Her tone was firm.
She glanced around and slowly spotted the scooter on a corner where she had parked it.
She heaved a sigh.
For a moment she worried Estella might had had it discarded.
She approached it, sat on it and turned it on.
But surprisingly it only moved a short distance before stopping.
Huh?
Rena was bewildered.
She tried again but the vehicle made no effort to resume moving.
After a few minutes, that was when she thought.
Was it the fuel?
She checked the tank and indeed it was empty.
Frowning, she remained confused.
Before the journey, she had examined the tank briefly. The fuel was there and much, enough to complete her errands.
How could it all be finished now?
Still wondering, she caught sight of the almost obscure smile on Lester's lips. That was when it struck her.
"Did you empty my tank?"
"...yes."
"...."
Infact it was Wallace who did so but he acted on his orders anyways. Lester closed his eyes and stifled a laugh.
He himself couldn't believe he could do something so unbecoming but if that could help stop Rena — if it could help give them more time together, then it would be all worth it.
Rena was speechless.
Staring at a man so dignified, it was hard to believe he could commit something so absurd but this man had once intruded into her home and forcefully assaulted her, what more couldn't he do?
She tried to restrain her anger.
She had always been so cold and reserved — at least since the last eight years but before him, she found it difficult to control her emotions. It was like he was the key to the door suppressing it all.
"Get in." He reminded but she paid him no mind.
She turned on her phone and made to the Uber application.
Lester spoke again. "This is an estate where no Uber can come in unless personally summoned by the residents. You are not one, so your effort might turn fruitless."
His words sounded sincere.
Reasonably, it might be true.
Rena bit her lips and glared at him. "You though it through, didn't you?"
"Yes."
Even his frankness was infuriating.
She almost wanted to curse, just to stop at someone's interruption.
"Boss, it's done."
"Let's go then."
"Yes."
The man she had seen earlier went into the car.
Rena had seen him twice. First at the restaurant and now here. He was someone who seemed to always be at Lester's side.
Rena felt a bit hazed.
A memory she had forgotten rewound itself in her mind.
The video Mildred had shown to her, the many bodyguards surrounding Lester.
Was he one of them?
She had even forgotten Lester's status. He was quite rich, as it seemed. Now thinking of it, it shouldn't have been surprising that he found her.
With his wealth, it must be easy to trace her, to know her every location, destination and movements.
It was not impossible to know where she was or where she could be.
Rena felt a shiver run through her at those thoughts. The feeling she currently was feeling wasn't pleasant.
"It's quite late. Allow me take you home, okay?" A voice cut off more of her thinking.
Rena hesitated, then gritted her teeth.
She had no choice.
It was 11pm now and no Uber might be allowed in here as he said.
Though she could leave by foot and call in one outside, what about her scooter then? She couldn't just leave it here, could she?
Of course she felt like, as revenge to Willis but she didn't want to risk being accused of misplacing private property.
She asked. "What about the bike?"
"I will handle it. Let's go."
He opened a car door for her, with a smile on his face.
Rena was reluctant but eventually went in.
Setting up her seat belt, she heard him question.
"Are you comfortable?"
"Don't ask."
A chuckle. "About the fuel, I'm sorry, it was indeed wrong of me."
Rena didn't hide her disdain. She muttered. "If you were sorry, you won't have done it in the first place."
He sighed. Seeing that breath depart and watching those dark pupils peer at her affectionately, it almost made her quiver.
She averted her gaze.
Lester was a good-looking man, even more breathtaking than he was eight years ago.
She might hate admitting it but it was true. Saying such spiced words to such a man who looked otherworldly was tough.
Perhaps it was the pain and detest in her heart that gave her the courage, or else she wouldn't have even had the boldness to face him.
"I wanted to talk to you more, Rena. Honestly, I missed you. I had only seen you thrice since nearly a decade, I want to see you more going forth."
His words pierced her brain. Her breath hitched.
'I missed you. I had only seen you thrice since nearly a decade'
His voice resounded in her head.
If he missed her so much, then why did he leave? Why did he drop that note? Why did he never return, especially when she needed him the most?
He had said such words last time they met at the restaurant but now it sounded even more irking.
She wanted to snap. To scream, to ask why but she said nothing.
All she could say was this.
"I told you to stay away from me but you didn't. You even kept monitoring me."
"I obeyed." He clarified. "I withdrew all surveillance on you, Rena. You didn't want to be watched, how could I not listen?"
'How could I not listen?'
She couldn't help but feel a pang at those words.
She asked. "If I tell you then not to meet with me from now henceforth, would you comply?"
He stared straight into her eyes. Rena felt her hands clench involuntary, her lashes trembled a little at his probing gaze.
He formed a smile but the seriousness in his expression was candor, noticeable and hard to ignore.
"You might ask many things from me Rena and I would give you all but staying away from you, unless I stop breathing and die, that I would never let happen."