Rhapsody High: The Tale of Super Zero

Chapter 11: Guilty Pleasure

School Rule #11: when it was your mistake and nobody knows it, just stay quiet. There's no harm in it.

Chapter 11: Guilty Pleasure

Cecilia Robinson had been walking around the house in distress. Her Samsung Note clutched on her palm. She dialed a number, hang up. Dialed a number again and hang up. She finally gave up and sat down on a massage chair in the family room.

Nathaniel sat down next to her and poured a cup of jasmine tea. "Mom? Tea?"

"Ah... Nathaniel, thank you." She took the cup of tea and slowly drank the tea until not even a sip left. She sighed, "I wish Ben was more gentle like you. Is your right arm okay now?"

"The gips helped," He thanked her before adding, "Ben is just losing himself. He was a good kid."

"You two went to the same primary, weren't you?"

"Yeah." Nathaniel nodded. They were never in the same class, but Nathaniel used to envy Ruben and Troy. The two were as thick as thieves and they were the best basketball players in the whole school back in Primary. Come to think of it, so much had changed. "Have you tried calling Troy?"

"Yeah. He's not there. He's not with his father either. His father doesn't even care where he is." Tears falling from Cecilia's eyes. "I shouldn't have told him that i wish his father took care of him instead."

Nathaniel hugged Cecilia with his left arm for awhile. He knew Ruben didn't just leave because of what his mother said. It was because what Nathaniel had said right before he left.

"Where were you?" Nathaniel stopped Ruben before the black hair guy able to reach into his room.

"What does it matter?" Ruben sighed.

"I broke my hand for you."

Ruben grunted. "No, you're not." After hesitating he added, "i'm sorry... I hope your arm get well... Soon." Nathaniel knew it was hard for Ruben to apologize to him, but some part of Nathaniel just didn't want to drop their argument. He had so many things to say.

"Renata was worried about you." Nathaniel added.

"What does Renata got to do with this?" Ruben raised an eyebrow.

"Stop being stupid. I saw you two the other day."

"So you're jealous now?" Ruben chuckled. "I don't feel like fighting today. Just slap me or whatever as long as we can end this conversation."

"No. You took her to skip school. You worried her to death. She was crying when you are busy flirting with your best friend's girlfriend, and break your mother's heart. You should be ashamed of yourself for not taking care of your girlfriend and your own mother."

"Don't tell me what i did, Robinson. You could have choose to stay with your poor mother and dying sister if you want to. But no. You follow your rich daddy who married his secret affair." Ruben never talked much, but for some reason he wanted to get those things out of his chest.

The two step brothers were just standing there on the hallway, emptiness and silent engulf their existent.

"I'm not perfect, alright?" Nathaniel finally broke their silence. His voice were heavy. "You made Renata cried. Over and over again. You might have never seen it. But i did. You made Mom cried."

"MY mom, Robinson."

"YOUR mom is my Mother now, Tyler. Live with it. I care about Cecilia and Renata. You didn't deserve to be loved by any of them. You destroy everything you touch. Including this house."

Ruben passed through Nathaniel, purposely knocking over his arm to hurt Nathaniel. "Don't worry, Robinson. I'm leaving."

Nathaniel thought that Ruben would have come back but as the clock on the first floor tolling for 12 times and midnight passed. He knew Ruben was serious. He was nowhere to be found. Renata texted Nathaniel an hour ago, asking how his arm was and despite she didn't want to make it obvious, her asking whether Ruben was home showed that he wasn't with her too.

Troy and Jaclyn both had stated that he was not there too. As the last person who messed things up, Nathaniel felt guilty, but he felt relieved that his step-brother was out of the house. After tired of thinking, he dozed off.

Waking up to the sound of Renata's laughter, Nathaniel thought he was dreaming. He got up and changed his clothes, as he walked down the stair, Renata was there, laughing with Cecilia.

Renata's curly long hair is now held back by a ribbon band. She was wearing an orange flowery sleeveless dress with short heels sandal. Her face drew a smiled when she turned to look at him in his home clothes.

"Nathaniel is here." Cecilia smiled, gesturing to him walking down the stair. "Good morning, Nathan. Breakfast is on the table." She smiled, kissing him on the cheek. Cecilia's morning routine. It was awkward for Nathaniel at first because his own mother was not often waking up early or kiss his cheek daily, but Cecilia had to kiss his cheek and Ruben's daily. It was a routine she never break. "You two have fun today." She winked at Renata which caused her to giggle.

"Morning, sleepyhead." She smiled.

"What time is it?" Nathaniel yawned.

"11.15" she replied. "Cecilia said your dad hasn't come back?"

"Yeah." Nathaniel replied before adding, "The same goes for Ruben." Nathaniel knew she was looking for Ruben and worried about him. He felt a sharp needle thrusted into his chest knowing that his dream girl is taken by a guy who didn't even care about her, his own step brother.

"Yeah. So I heard." Her head looked down, her disappointment was obvious. "Anyway, I'm starving!" Her smile came back a minute later. "I love Cecilia's morning Apple Pie!" She claimed excitedly.

Nathaniel shook his head; he was lucky that Renata still pretend to be happy and excited in front of him. The girl really mean a lot for him.

"By the way," she glanced at him while grabbing a piece of an apple pie. "I'll drove you to your mum's place."

"You don't have to." Nathaniel exclaimed. "I'll get one of the chauffeur to send me there."

"No." Her voice was stern. "I need the day off to just... Forget about everything." She sighed before adding, "beside i want to make sure you are alright."

Nathaniel smiled and gave her a meaningful stare. He gave her a thumbs up. "Alright." He gave a glance at the house head maid, "Jen, please tell Julio to prepare the Volvo. Rena is driving me to mum's place."

The maid excused herself and while the Volvo warmed up, Renata and Nathaniel enjoyed their brunch in the dining room.