Rhapsody High: The Tale of Super Zero

Chapter 4: The Little Secret

School Rule #4: Nobody needs to know your secret. Nobody.

Chapter 4: The Little Secret

Renata walked hurriedly to the school's clinic centre as soon as Nathaniel texted her. Behind her, Ashley and Gabriella followed. For some reason she didn't know what to say. "Ruben is not always like that. Really. He is nice most of the time." Renata tried to explain to the twins. She didn't know why she felt like she owed them an explanation.

"Really?" Gabriella's eyes widened, fill with curiosity. "Jaclyn told me he is the baddest gangster in the school." She added, challenging Renata for more answers.

Renata sighed. "Jaclyn is just exaggerating. I assured you."

As soon as they reach the clinic centre, Brenda was lying down, half-awake, while Nathaniel sitting on the chair beside the bed. He looked angry as Renata walked in.

The nurse was checking on Brenda when she noticed her now purple-color wrist. "Oh my, you twisted some muscles. What happened?" The nurse's facial expression looked worry.

"It's probably Ruben..." Renata's expression filled with discomfort, throwing nervous glances at Nathaniel.

"Oh. That nasty boy. I thought he stopped all the picking bones to fight game few months ago?"

"He just had bad days these days. I meant i think so." Renata exclaimed but hurriedly corrected. "I don't really talk to him."

Nathaniel gritted his teeth, seemingly wanted to make a comment but hesistated.

"Well, Nobody does." The nurse sighed. "He improved his attendance and his marks last semester... But his attitude never really change. Ms. Collins, is it? You have to be careful."

"Don't scare her, Nurse Eve. I will make sure she is doing fine. I will talk to Ruben about this." Nathaniel got up and walked out.

Not long after, Renata hurriedly got up as soon as her phone rang. "I'll meet you guys in the main hall before school ended" She really has to go now, because without Nathaniel telling her what Ruben will say, she knows.

She walked up the emergency stairs from the canteen's back door which lead to the rooftop. She sighed for awhile. Nobody was there. She checked on her message,

"Rooftop. Now."

Is he playing with her?

She was about to walk away when a pair of strong arms slipped onto her curvy waist from behind and a kiss planted perfectly onto her lips as she tilted her head to the side.

"You came." He breathed.

She turned around and admire his dark brown eyes and slipped her arms into his black leather jacket. "Ben..." she sighed.

"Yeah?" He kissed her forehead as he hold her tight.

"You are really making a huge problem, you know? Brenda is a new girl. She knows nothing about anything." Her sweet voice rang onto Ruben's ears.

"Not her again." He let her go abruptly, turning around to face the view of the highrise buildings. "First Nathaniel, then it was you. You two annoyed me now."

"I'm just trying to keep your anger under control." She sighed, and tried to slip her arms slowly around his muscular torso. She knew when she first dated Ruben that he was fragile, as if she was holding a time bomb. She had to make sure she was safe before turning it off, or it will blow up on her face. She waited for his reaction. He didn't push her away. Gently she put her head on his back arch.

"Nathaniel is controlling over my life!" His voice boomed out, Renata could hear his heart race. "Him and his nasty little father. The new elected governer. How nice. A happy newly-wed family."

"We don't have to talk about this, alright?" She knew how much Ruben hated Nathaniel and anything that has to do with Nathaniel. The only thing he never mention to her was how close Nathaniel and she are. Which question her sometimes, did he ever get jealous of them? To be honest, she didn't want to see him getting jealous. It's Ruben for heaven's sake. How bad could she expect it will be? Who knows all his fights initiation was because he was jealous that Nathaniel and her always as close as thieves?

"You are right." He turned around and kissed her lips once more, which heated up her whole body, boiling her blood and melting her completely. They were still kissing when his phone vibrated on his pockets. "If it was Nathaniel.. I'll...! Oh."

He stopped and sat down on the chairs near the Botanical's club little garden. Renata sat on his lap, trying to read his expression, once more anger glowed on his face. "North Kids are vandalizing Troy's Porché."

"Troy? As in Jaclyn's Troy?"

"Yeah, which other Troy? Troy Zolansky."

"Is this why you've been hanging out with Jaclyn?" Renata could heard a tint of jealousy in her own voice. It's true. Ruben has been following whatever Jaclyn's said the past few months and it annoyed her. It has been good enough for Renata that no girl ever dare to hit on his bad ass attitude, but Jaclyn wit her princess act has his superstar gangster boyfriend as an exception. "Troy the boss now?"

Ruben raised his eyebrow, "he's my best friend. Not 'ma boss'." He quoted. "Are you jealous?" Ruben raised his eyebrow before adding, "You see how this North Kids vandalized his Porché. He asked me to protect his girl."

"Will you ask anyone to protect me though?" Renata's voice sounded clear but sulky.

"You don't need to be protected." He said matter-of-fact-ly. "That's why we are backstreet."

Backstreet. Renata hated the sound of it. Although she had to admit that there's something hot about sneaking around with a bad boy. Not just any bad boy, her own bad boy. Ruben is someone who made her feel loved. But backstreet made her unable to bring him to her violin concert, gatherings and opening galas. She wanted to tell him that she wants to be on his graduation picture and prom, but he told her earlier that he wouldn't even think of attending.

"Alright. I got to go." He got up and kissed Renata on the cheek.

"You're not waiting for me?"

"I need to see Troy. I have to send Jaclyn there."

She missed the old time when he would take her out with his Harley, just the two of them. Nobody existed. That was few months ago. Renata sighed and fell into step next to Ruben as they went down the stairs. Before he left, he kissed her forehead. "I love you, alright?" He winked at her and walked away.

She turned to the opposite side, reminding herself that she got some new girls to take care of.