Rhapsody High: The Tale of Super Zero

Chapter 27: Behind the Closed Doors

Ruben stormed off the room, leaving everybody else in the living room awkwardly staring at each other. Nathaniel sipped his cup of coffee as the night gets later. They all just eyeing each other, not knowing what to say to each other nor feel it was wrong on Ruben's behalf.

"Mum?" Suddenly Renata's voice is heard from her room.

"Oh thank god, i think she is awake. I will go check on her." Everybody's eyes widened. Nathaniel abruptly rushed towards the room before Silvana stopped him. "I think Rena needed one person at a time now if you don't mind?"

"Oh yes, I'm sure." Nathaniel moved back.

Renata's eyes fixated towards the lamp on her ceiling, everything felt so blurry. Her vision is filled with doppelganger of one things and another. Then her mother got closer and she felt safe.

"Mum. I'm sorry." Renata started crying in her mum's arms.

"It's okay, baby. I should teach you how to drink next time."Silvana laughed.

"I'm just... I don't know. I honestly don't know."

"Mija, everybody is here. Just letting you know that they all came here for you."

"everybody? who?" Rena's eyes widened.

"Nathaniel... the Collins Sibling? I don't remember their names, Brook and Bren or something?"

"Brenda." Renata giggled.

"Ah yes, quiet a nice girl. And someone else, probably someone you want to meet." Renata's mum waited to see the changed in her eyes. Hopeful. "Ruben. He's here."

"Do you want me to call them in? I don't say you have to, but it will be polite to do so."

"it's okay, mum. You can call them in."

Silvana walked out for a little while Renata tried to calm herself down.

The first one to rush in is Nathaniel. His eyes were watery, he looked panic and worry, the way he always had been since they were young. He put Renata's in a strong yet gentle embrace as if he would never let her go.

"Rena! I am so worry about you! Oh my god, I am so glad you are okay."

"I'm fine, Nate. I really am. It's just that if you shake me more, my vision will be spinning more than it already was."

Nathaniel gently put her down on the bed and apologized.

Suddenly on the door frame, there was a guy standing casually. Somebody Rena's never met before. Silvana walked in and tap on Nathaniel's shoulder, calling him out, although clearly he seemed reluctant to leave Renata's side.

Renata let her eyes fixated on the guy standing on the door frame. She didn't want to stare, but her eyes didn't seem to want to follow. As Nathaniel walked out of the room, Brook walked in.

"Sorry to startled you." He smiled. "Name's Brook. Bren's older brother. But Ben called me CJ."

"Ben?"

"Yes, your Ruben." He laughed. "I've heard so much about you, i'm so glad to finally meet you despite the circumstances."

"You knew Ruben?" Renata's eyes widened.

"Yeah. For a very long time now."

"You've heard so much about... me?"

"Oh yeah, he never stopped talking about you since forever. More than you have ever imagined." He laughed. "I believe Nathaniel is calling him now, so you don't have to worry."

Renata stayed quiet. So many questions in her head, but she didn't want to impose. She didn't even know if she wanted to see Ruben now, she didn't know what to do or say, for that matter.

"He will always love you. One way or another. In his own way. Even if you guys are not together, I assured you." Renata looked up to CJ, her heart stopped. Is this what she wanted to hear?

Brenda then rushed into the room. The blond girl is still in her beautiful dress and still looked as beautiful as ever. "Rena! Oh my, are you okay?! We are so worried about you."

CJ gave Renata a quick smile and walked out, before stopping on the doorframe, giving a tap on Ruben's shoulder. Ruben. Yes, Ruben was there.

Brenda's fast words are gone in silence. The whole world stopped, whatever anybody else said did not matter anymore. In Renata's eyes there was only Ruben. Renata wanted to cry, Ruben is here for her. When did the last time that happened? It felt such a long time ago.

Renata tried to be nice to Brenda, but honestly she didn't care what Brenda is saying.

Brenda stopped and looked behind her. "Sorry, I'll leave you two alone." She smiled and walked out, before giving a hug to Ruben. Renata felt a little anxiety from seeing the hug.

"Hey." Ruben closed the door behind him. There's only her and Ruben in the room now. "This is the first time I came to your room." Renata nodded. "So ... childish." He laughed.

"Oh." Renata looked disappointed.

"I'm joking." He smiled and kissed her on the forehead. "It's beautiful and serene. Like you."

He grabbed a chair and sat next to her. Renata can feel her cheeks getting hot. She wanted to cry, perhaps she already did, because he came closer to her and his hands slowly caressed her cheeks.

"I miss you." She can hear herself squeak.

"I miss you too, Rena." His breath is fanning her lips. She pulled him closer and let her lips touched his. He didn't fight back. He kissed her back. Slowly. Not the usual manipulating kiss he did. It was sincere. It was beautiful.

"CJ told me you talked a lot about me." For the first time, Renata saw Ruben's face blushing.

"What else did he said?"

"That he knew you for a very long time."

"Yeah, I did know him for a long time."

"So, what did you tell him about me?" Renata smiled wittily.

"What did you want to know, hmm?" Ruben placed one hand on Renata's hair, caressing it and another hand holding her hand.

"I don't know. Everything." Renata smirked. "I thought we are... were.. backstreet."

"CJ is my backstreet friend." He answered, laughing.

Silvana walked into the room an hour later, and saw Ruben falling asleep next to Renata's bed. His hands still in her hair and the other one holding her hand, Renata was curling into a ball, facing him.

Silvana closed the door gently and turned to everybody else. "So, anybody wants to finish off the cookies and stayed over? Or do you prefer to go home?"

The night went on as Brenda and Brook decided to go home, Ruben still sleeping close to Renata and Nathaniel decided to crash on the couch in the living room. He hated the idea that Ruben is around the girl he had always been in love with, even if Ruben is her rightful boyfriend.

As the sun shine from in-between her bedroom blinds, Renata woke up with nobody holding her hands. As usual, Ruben was gone. Instead Nathaniel slept on chair next to her bad. Seemingly watching her in his sleep.