บท 4: 4. Dark Zones

"Me? Try to like that girl?"

For Jay, things related to girls are useless for him. Especially now that he is still young. Ever since childhood, he hadn't experienced having a crush on a girl, although when he was young, he was attracted to his older sister. As he grew up, he learned that it is not good.

"Well, forget what I just said. Seeing you very handsome, I think both of you is the best pair", Bren grinned. "Well, I'm joking. Hahaha". Jay actually is a very handsome person, but due to his constant silence, his presence is always ignored. And he likes wearing his hood, which always hides his face.

Both of them saw Crystal ignored Tyson after a bit of chatting with him, clearly not interested. Crystal belongs to the Scorpio section, and also a daughter of a successful businessman.

As Crystal walked away, Jay and Bren saw Tyson still eyeing her even when she walked away.

"Tsk. How disgusting", Bren murmured.

The bell rang, signaling for the next class. They entered their class, and like always, Bren talked and talked with their classmates while waiting for their teacher. Jay, in the other hand, is only seating, quiet and only gazing outside through the window.

"Hey, silent again?" the girl in front of him spoke. It was Natalie.

"Mmmm", Jay is actually lazy to talk.

"Haysss....." Natalie just ignored him and talked to Mark. The four of them, including Bren, formed a square with their sitting arrangements. Jay and Bren are both last in a column, with Natalie and Mark in front of them, respectively. On the first day of school, the four of them are very early because of one reason: to choose their seats. Bren at that time was not familiar with the other three.

One thing also is that, Natalie and Mark both liked each other. In other words, they are a young couple. It all started when Mark confessed to Natalie when they are still in the sixth grade. Natalie, who also has a crush on him, immediately accepted him. Jay at that time was surprised on how things happened quickly, since the three of them are close friends.

The school day ended with nothing much going on, only that Bren woke up Jay after their last period ended. For the first years, their dismissal time is 3:30-4:00 pm, while the higher years are 4 pm to 4:30 pm.

In the city of San Francisco, where Rubando is located, it is not always safe at night. In the whole city, there are places that are considered very dangerous to ordinary people. These are where gangsters and and street groups live. People termed these dangerous places as 'Dark Zones'.

Even the police dared not to just enter this places, in fear of having their lives instantly taken. Although not all of these people are evil and some are just groups formed from brotherhood, they are still considered dangerous because of their fighting abilities and other talents. They are the people of the Underworld, and they do not just expose their identities as part of it. Almost all of these gangs and groups are neutral about matters regarding the community, while only few dared to sometimes make troubles.

Among the ordinary people, who knows if some of them are part of some gangs or groups? Although some are famous in the public, like some leaders of gangs, majority of the members have their real identities hidden.

Thankfully, some of these groups knew how to behave. Although some groups and gangs sometimes clashed with each other, it will be in the dark zone, since they don't want to harm any innocent citizens in fear of having the full force of the police. Even if the police are afraid to enter the dark zones, it is different if they deployed their full force and secret agents.