Rena felt a sudden drop in her stomach, her fingers jiggled and goosebumps arose onto her skin.
She couldn't tell what she felt hearing those perhaps anger, antipathy or displeasure but she knew she felt a tightness in her chest which caused her voice to come out almost tremulous.
"You are crazy."
Lester laughed. Brief but fervent. His lips curved slightly as he asserted. "Yes I am."
He didn't deny it.
Rena bit her lips. The firmness in his eyes was too glaring, too direct. She didn't want to see such, it gave her a weird feel so she changed the topic instead.
Being quiet would only prolong it so she might as well interpose.
"You claim you did not keep a tag on me, so how did you find me?"
"You had asked me this more than once. Does it worry you?"
"Just answer." She glared at him surlily.
Lester stared silently.
Maybe he was just imagining it but her glaring even made her face more dainty.
Her eyes turned dank, her cheeks takes on a fairer hue and she seem overly charming in all.
Lester had never seen such expression on her face.
Eight years ago, she was just a timid cautious girl. She rarely ever got angry, if she does, she only does pout or cry not glare.
But now, she was changed.
If Lester didn't know her before, he wouldn't have been able to associate her with the word timid.
He could still remember when they were both leaving the premises. She had stopped and with no fear on her face smashed her bag out of that woman's hands.
Even when they both left the house, she walked with regained composure and seem to feel no fright or despondency.
Back then, such wouldn't have happened. She would had either collapsed or cried her eyes out.
Comparably, one could see the vast difference.
Lester didn't know what could had caused such transformation, perhaps it was for the best but sometimes he could faintly see some pain in her eyes, especially when she snaps at him.
He didn't mind the cutting words much but that pain, veiled always left him feeling ached and confounded.
"It was past eight so I visited at your apartment but you weren't in."
Rena didn't need to ask him how he got to know her work end, he had most likely known it formerly.
After all didn't he come to her at that weeks ago?
"I was puzzled, then thought you must had headed to other places, I could had waited but for reasons didn't."
The reason of course was Herman. He wondered if she could have headed to his place. With that thought, he couldn't stand still.
"I had some persons investigate and that was when led me here."
It was the truth.
Only that he didn't expect the scene he encountered as soon as he came in.
Rena almost being slammed onto a table. The memory of the act still gave him the chills. Of course the man called Joe haven't suffered enough.
Eight years ago he sent him to the hospital, now he would be soonest sent to somewhere worst.
Peering at her, he quietly asked. "Why did you come here? You are a waitress, right? Did you change jobs?"
He had observed the scooter. On it was a delivery label.
For all he knew Rena was a server, how could she be tasked on deliveries?
At that question Rena's mind wandered.
The answer was of course Willis. If not for his manipulation and deceit, how could she had come? It was all his doing.
But at the same time she realized — his words sounded truly ignorant.
Perhaps, he was being honest. She had held a doubt but now it seemed to be dissipating. He must had indeed withdrawn his surveillance on her.
But that didn't mean she would be any nice to him. She scoffed. "Mind your own business."
Lester wasn't surprised at her slight. He had expected she would not answer. Not that he was bothered, he could get the answer on his way anyways.
He cooly rejoined, the faintest shine in his eyes fading. "Then... Those people, how do you plan to make them pay? They harnessed you and almost caused an international injury. These are all crimes and you can sue them."
Not that he was someone who follows the law but if she wants the law to deal with them, he could help.
Rena didn't speak immediately. A smirk tugged at her lips as she remembered an incident. "It's okay, I already dealt with one."
"But..."
"It's nothing. This is my fight and I will solve it myself." She finalized.
She was ready to deal with their troubles. Earlier she was only flustered cause it was all unexpected but now, she wasn't anxious anymore.
Besides she didn't want to pegged on Lester any longer. She didn't want his concern, his help or his presence, she only wanted him to leave her as before, never to show up again.
Lester went silent.
Seeing the resolve in her eyes, he knew speaking further on it was useless.
She didn't want his help.
She didn't want him on her business, she made that clear.
But how could he stay away?
Her issues were his, she was his, how could he not care? How could he not exercise revenge after seeing the way those people treated her as something insignificant?
His jaw clenched at the thought.
He would surely punish them. They must all suffer cruelly.
The ride turned quiet.
After a few more minutes, it stopped Infront of a small apartment.
Rena stepped out and without saying a word went towards her house.
She didn't want any interactions between them. To her, this must be the last time they meet.
Well until she felt a solid presence behind her. The keys she was fondling on froze on her hands as she turned to stare at the intruder.
Somehow, she already knew who it was.
"Lester? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be leaving already?" Her tone was sharp.
Lester didn't show any form of retreat in his face. He didn't feel any.
"No. Didn't I tell you I want to see you more from now henceforth?"
Rena frowned. Her brows furrowed. "What do you mean? You want to follow me in?"
Her tone was full of implications.
She obviously remembered what happened when he appeared there.
Lester didn't bother to correct her assumptions. He only nodded with a calm smile. "Yes."
"You —" She gritted her teeth. She wanted to curse but it got stuck on her throat.
Although she might talk to Lester somewhat harshly, she made sure to keep a reminder of his status in her head.
She didn't want to provoke him too much but she didn't want to conform to him either.
"It's 11pm, I need to go to bed. Besides..." A deliberate pause.
She narrowed her eyes at him. She didn't want him anymore, perhaps it was time to make that more evident, more firmer to him.
Her voice went frosty. She announced. "You might not know but I'm no longer just a girlfriend now. I currently have someone — Herman as my fiance."
She revealed the ring placed on her finger, the silver color brightening faintly in the light.
But it couldn't outmatch the dangerous glint emitting from Lester's own eyes.
Rena continued however, unaware. "Morally it's wrong for us to be near each other closely, alone, in the dead of the night no less. It's even more wrong for you to resume pursuing me after this, so I beg you if you do have some dignity, do leave me alone. Let me be." She mouthed with an unmistakable urge in her voice.