Thirty Six

Ruby

Not in a thousand years would I have imagined that Jake would say something like that.

Or maybe I heard him wrong.

I should probably clean my ears.

While my eyes narrowed in confusion, I made sure I wasn’t making eye contact with Mr. Klaus who I was certain would either be looking amused or wearing a blank expression.

“What are you saying, Jake?” I carefully asked.

“You heard me, Ruby. I do not have any other reason. I am being so persistent because I love you. And I don’t sit well with you being cozy with someone like him.” Jake pointed at the man behind us. “I won’t allow it.”

“But I can’t return your love. Do you still wish to ruin my chance of being with someone I like?”

Jake wasn't ready to give up. “What if you don’t actually like him? What if it is an infatuation? That is highly possible since he is quite good-looking. I-”

Jake was starting to sound more disappointing than reasonable and that caused me to sigh. After, I raised my right hand and urged him to stop talking.

“Jake, you are my friend. I like you as my friend. But not once have I romantically seen you. I-"

“Do you have to be so cruel?” he asked soberly. “You could have just said a simple no.”

“I told you that I like Adonis. That is enough to tell you what my response will be. But you are deciding to be stubborn."

“You might also be in danger Ruby.” Jake tried to reach for my hand but I took a step back. “I don’t want to see you drowning in trouble because of him.”

My eyes focused on the cemented floor.

“I know," came my mumbled response.

“Uh?”

I titled my head and looked him in the eyes. “I know that I am in danger.”

He wore a deep frown. “Yet you wish to be with him?”

“He will protect me.”

“How?” Huge hands gripped my shoulders firmly and our eye contact became more prolonged than I wished.  “Tell me how he will protect you.”

“Jake, let go of me,” I calmly said when I saw that his eyes were beginning to burn with a different emotion. “You can’t do anything about the situation on ground. But, Adonis can. He will protect me. And yeah I like him and there's nothing you can do about that. ”

“What do you mean by that?” After a deep sigh, I closed my eyes and wished that he would stop and take a step back. But Jake was not ready to do that. With eagerness in his voice, he claimed, "I can also protect you.”

“How?” The weakness in my voice showed how much tiredness has seeped into my soul. At that point, I was so tired that I would give up almost anything to get a bed to sleep in. But first, I needed to get Jake to stop acting as though I had chosen death. “How do you intend to protect me?” I asked him further.

“Does protecting me have to do with the fact that you are doing something shady?”

“What?”

“I heard everything you guys said. I had my doubts but I am certain you are hiding something.”

Jake's hold relaxed and he stood straighter. “Don’t listen to everything he says. I am not up to anything.”

I nodded slowly as my arms crossed. “I hear you.”

“Stop dating him, Ruby.”

“I like him.”

“He is trouble.”

The side of my lips pulled into a slight smile as I managed a small shrug. “Well, I guess I like trouble. Isn’t that fantastic?”

“I hope you don’t regret this,” Jake said with defeat hidden in his voice. “You should take care of yourself too and do not let him walk over you, he is still suspicious to me.”

“Thank you and I am sorry.” I would have never thought that a day like this would come. And I felt sorry for Jake. Because Abby's image came to mind and I got a hint of how devastating it would be to like someone who doesn’t like you back. Speaking of Abby...

My eyes found Jake's again and I asked, “Does Abby know that I am the one you like?”

“No. I didn’t tell her, it would have caused a rift.” He eyed me carefully before he asked, “Have you told her you are dating a teacher?”

“Now you are making it sound terrible,” I protested.

“It is terrible. Oh sorry, should I have added the word substitute? “

“Okay….” I rolled my eyes. “Now you are being a bitch.”

He let out a small chuckle. "I can't help it. The girl I like doesn't feel the same way."

I don't know if he was expecting a certain reaction from me but I ended up throwing him a short smile.

"You'll be fine right?" I asked.

"Yes." Jake sighed deeply and his hands went into his pockets. "I'll take this rejection as payback from the universe for also rejecting someone. But Ruby, I won't stop reminding you that this man is a danger because he is."

"Prove it and I'll listen to you." My voice showed how irritating I found his reminder. It wouldn't be terrible of him to support my decision but he keeps telling me that Adonis is dangerous. Well, guess what? Even the world is dangerous. Why don't you tell me to leave the world?

Resisting the urge to scoff, I said to Jake, "You can leave now. Let's all meet before the week runs out."

Jake scoffed. "You have made up your mind. See you later."

As soon as Jake walked out of that space, I released a long exhale. It was so lengthy that I had to close my eyes to feel the effect of the relief. By the time I opened my eyes, Mr. Klaus was in front of me, arms crossed, his eyes watching me with care.

"Mr. Klaus..."

"Adonis," his voice instructed and for once I found myself complying. I have been calling him by his name anyway, it wouldn't hurt to say it to his face no matter how weird it seemed.

So, I swallowed the weirdness and said as gently as possible, "Adonis. "

He didn't smirk as I expected him to.

"You know your friend is not wrong, right?" he asked.

" About what? " My eyes levelled with his chest which my head wished to be leaning against at that moment.

" How dangerous it is to be around me. You can't-"

" Can you guys please stop? Why do you keep trying to make me regret making a decision?" My forehead knitted firmly. " You of all people should be in support of my decision. I have decided to be with you despite the craziness around the idea. I decided not to tell my parents because you could go to jail and-"

" You didn't know me that well when you decided not to tell your parents. So, why did you decide to let me be at that moment? "

What was he driving at?

Something inside my head whispered that he was probably trying to break things off.

I shook that thought away instantly.

"I don't know, Adonis. Before that time, you kept talking g about kissing me and all that. I guess you found a place in my head and I couldn't get rid of you. And when the situation of things became clear, I couldn't get rid of you either."

" Ruby..." I almost groaned at how persistent he was trying to be. " I need to make sure nothing is amiss here. I like you. But I need to be certain you feel the same way because you do. And not because I might have manipulated you."

" Wait? Are you worried about being caught? Do you think I would tell people you forced me to be with you if we are caught?"

Adonis shook his head. "That's not what I mean. Don't try to bring strangers into this."

" What do you mean? What on Earth could you possibly mean?" There was something in the air. I was beginning to feel so worked up and I knew it was only a matter of time before I lashed out at him. "You know what... I need to leave."

"We are not done talking, Ruby," he said, his hand quick to grab mine.

"Well, Mr. Klaus..." Our eyes met and he seemed to understand that there was incoming chaos cooking in my head.  "I think I am done with you for today."

I pulled my hand out of his hold and made for the exit but his huge arms wrapped me from behind and my steps were halted.

"Listen carefully to me, Ruby. I am not doubting you, I don't think I'll ever doubt the person who has decided to be with me despite the dangers around. But I need to make sure you feel safe. I need to make sure you are not regretting choosing me. I need to be certain you-"

I turned abruptly to face him, and the anger in me quenched a bit.

"I am not a fool Mr. Klaus. I was fully aware of what I was walking into when I said yes to you protecting me. And now that I feel something, I..." I paused to search for the right word to express myself. " I... I really can't be disappointed in my decisions. I just can't."

" Really?" I nodded and my arms went around his waist to get that hug I had been yearning for.

" I like you, Adonis. I can't help it," I said and I realised that I sounded so... unlike me. I sounded reckless and stupid. I am certain the version of me from a month ago wouldn't hesitate to slap sense into me. I barely know this man yet I am saying stuff like that.

But it wasn't a lie, it was how I felt.

"Listen, Ruby..." The solemnity in his voice made me worried that he was about to call things off. But when our eyes met again, instead of saddening words flying out of his lips, our lips connected and I forgot the speculations in my head.

The kiss this time was slower than usual. It was gentle. It was assuring. And, I couldn't help but guess that was his way of giving me a response.

So I gave him my response in return. My body shifted so that my lips could have proper access to his sweet torture and my hands pulled him closer as much as I could.

"Let's meet here later," Adonis said against my lips when he put a pause to the kiss.

"Why here?" I couldn't take my eyes off his lush lips which I needed against mine in soonest.

"We seem to have a greater connection here." He smiled. "It has a great view in the evening too."

"Evening? What do I tell my parents? I need a solid reason to be out of the house so late."

"You can tell them that you are meeting your boyfriend."

Boyfriend.

Is it weird that that word made me smile?

" Don't worry, Adonis. I will make sure to tell them that you are a gang member and my English teacher who is going to protect me at all costs."

He chuckled before his face wore a pondering look. "How about I call them and tell them I gave you detention?"

My eyes bulged instantly. "That's like inviting my parent's trouble. They know I don't like the idea of detention."

"Well Ruby, you had better think of an excuse, or else I will actually call them."

My eyes squinted dramatically. " Don't you dare, sir. "

" Or what?" He dared my words. "What would you do little, Peanut?"

Peanut?

I found myself cackling hard at his supposed word of endearment.

"Little peanut? Why would you call me that?"

" Because..." His arms hugged me even closer and he wore a smile that made him look more handsome. "You are so small in my arms. As small as a peanut. I-" His lighted face became dim instantly.

" What is it?" I searched the surroundings and found nothing notable. But, by the time my eyes landed on him, a small thud came from behind us.

It was unclear what happened but when Adonis turned, I followed his line of sight and I saw that someone had shot a bullet into the wall.