Rhapsody High: The Tale of Super Zero

Chapter 14: Under Care

School Rule #14: Give that nerdy guy who always following you a try, with a little bit of makeover, we never know what is under those nerdy mask.

Chapter 14: Under Care

When the four-eyes super zero opened the door, Ruben almost thought that he went to the wrong house. Surprisingly enough, she is CJ's little sister. Their physical similarities did not do them any justice though, CJ has a straight bright auburn hair while Brenda's hair is pure blonde messy. There were too many surprises for Ruben in one day.

CJ's nickname actually an abbreviation for "Collins Junior", even Ruben didn't know that. All he knows is that he misses the feeling of having a complete family like CJ has. There are too many fights in Robinson's house, mostly because he started it, but it was never his fault. It's his mother's fault.

After dinner the whole family sat down in family room, watching TV. Ruben helped out Belinda cleaning up the plates along with Brenda. He had to admit, it is really weird to stay in the same room with Brenda. However he has no grudge against her despite the fact that she ruined his game today.

Ruben was carrying a bag of nachos with salsa to the living room when he felt a sudden pain in his head. He has been feeling quiet lightheaded, but he really wished it was just because he has been in anger and stress. As Ruben take a seat next to CJ, he tried to stay conscious. Brenda who sat at the other end of the sofa kept on eyeing him strangely. Can she stop doing that? He wondered. At times she could really freak him out.

"Ben, are you okay? You look pale." Jason Collins, their father stopped watching from a single sofa on the corner and followed Brenda's strange stare on Ruben.

"Yeah, Mr. Collins. I'm fine." Ruben tried to convince himself. He started to feel like he was losing his consciousness.

Brenda walked around the sofa and placed her palm on Ruben's forehead out of nowhere. Shocked, Ruben was just staring at her in horror. "Fever!" Ruben remembered her shouting, and his view suddenly blackened.

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He couldn't remember a thing, all he remembered was his mother's face, crying. He could hear her voice, sobbing, calling his name.

"Don't leave, Ben. You are the only thing i have left to live for. Don't. We only have each other."

Ruben woke up to an unfamiliar ceiling. Where is he? He tried to sit up and looked around. Red velvet satin bed sheet, warm blanket covering him and a piece of family photograph that still look blurry in his view.

A girl with wet straight blonde hair walked in with a tray of bowl in her hand. Ruben could smell the strong aroma of chicken from the bowl. She hurriedly placed the tray on the desk, and tucked him back into his blanket. "Don't sit." She said. "Just lie down."

Ruben still tried to realize who is she. She seems familiar, but there is something different about her. "Who are you?" Ruben asked absentmindedly.

The girl looked angry at his question, but she tried to calm down. "Hopefully your fever doesn't cause you any amnesia." She commented while taking the bowl of chicken soup and starting to feed Ruben.

"Open your mouth." She commanded. "You haven't eaten for the whole night."

Ruben was still reluctant to open his mouth and receive the blonde's girl kindness. It has been sometime since anybody took care of him when he got sick. This feels strange for him, especially coming from a stranger. "Are you... CJ's ... I meant Brook other sister or something?"

The blonde girl was confused by the question, but she patiently answered in the end. "Brook only has one sister. Me. I'm four-eyes, Ruben Tyler." She answered in cynic. "Now open your mouth."

This time, Ruben obeyed. Brenda looked different without her big glasses. Her wet straight hair now glistened under the light and strengthen her feature. She looks much more like CJ now, except she looks more fragile and much more attractive.

They stayed in that position for awhile. Brenda feeding him, and he was obeying. Silence filled the room.

"Everyone is worry about you." She suddenly said. "I'm sorry... For.. You know... Tricked you yesterday morning. You probably get fever because you were all wet the whole day." Her pale skin is now filled with pink color, either she was blushing or in anger. Ruben couldn't decide.

"It's okay" Ruben answered. There is nothing much for him to say.

"You have been bullying me after all."

Ruben didn't feel like commenting on that. He never bully her, but if it's Jaclyn, it wouldn't be fair for him to point a finger without evidence. He hesitated before saying, "No. I haven't."

"Then?" A surprised expression filled the blonde girl's pale face.

"I don't know." Ruben answered.

Brenda was still feeding him, while Ruben was just staring at the girl. She isn't as bad as he thinks she is. In fact she really looks like CJ, Ruben can't help but starting to think differently about this girl. After few minutes of silence, he realized a slight mark on Brenda's wrist as she spoon-fed him. The scene on the first day of school came across his mind. "I'm sorry." He found himself whispering without realizing.

"For?"

"The first day."

Again there was another silence filling the room. For some reason, Brenda started laughing. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't know ... I meant i didn't expect that you would apologize. I was so scared of you the whole time! When you came, and i found out you were Brook's friend. I was expecting the worse like you're going to prank me more or something! Here you are." Her laughter rang loud yet comforting in Ruben's ear that he can't help but to smile and laugh a little under his breath too. The girl's laughter was so infectious.

CJ suddenly walked into the room. "Hey! You! Don't laugh while spoon-feeding him! He could choke you know?"

"Shut up, Brook!" She shouted, while still laughing. "Go feed him if you blame me so much!"

"No way. I'm not gay." He shouted back, "no offense, man. Any gay would be very happy to be with you."

Belinda Collins, their mother, walked into the room. "Alright. Alright. Let's not disturb the patient shall we? Our family doctor checked up on you yesterday, Ben." She said, giving her attentive look on Ben. "You'll be fine. Just slight cold. Don't forget to take the medicine, okay?"

Ruben sat up and thanked Belinda properly. Belinda smiled in return as she said, "you're always welcome in this house. Now rest. You have school tomorrow."

The three family members walked out of the room, turn off the lights and closed the door. Ruben tucked himself into the blanket, dozing off, while trying to remember her mother's face and voice in his mind.