The Playboy's Bodyguard

Chapter 8

No upcoming interview will happen soon, it was just a ploy for our enemy. That's what agent Kairo has explained on me yesterday about Zero's real schedule. If there is an activity, that's only the soon and most anticipated concert of The Xemical.

That brought us here at their studio, doing some rehearsals for their upcoming concert. They were preparing and working hard for the said event.

"Break!" their manager yield at them. "Talk to him, Axl! Or else we can not finish even one single song!" Miss Cindy said annoyed and walked out of the room. Couldn't blame her, we're here for about an hours and yet the boys couldn't make a good song.

The music has stopped and they were all approaching their seats. Near mine.

"What's up, Axl?" Abbas greeted.

"What does Cindy say?" Ethan.

"You have a poor performance." my replied.

"Tell that to Zero." Abbas tilted his head at Zero's direction. "Why does that man not in the mood?" he finally looked at Zero, who's now resting on his back while closing eyes.

"He maybe not feeling well." Kale told him.

"Or pressured? Perhaps he is pressured by the concert. He just came from a traumatic experience and not less than a month when he came back." Abbas concluded.

"We can't move the date of the concert." Ethan shrugged off.

It's only a matter of week and finally the concert day. Why Miss Cindy was so eager to make them work hard. But looking at Zero now, he looked like he doesn't give a damn.

"Give this to him." Abbas handed me a bottled water.

I stared at the bottled water before taking it with me and approached him.

"Water." I tapped his shoulder.

He didn't answer back nor move a bit. I looked at his face closely trying to figure out if he fell asleep or just totally being a jerk by ignoring me. He looked in serene at his state, unlike when he's awake throwing tantrums.

"What the f**k?" he almost fell from his seat as I pulled myself away. "What the f**k is your doing Axl?" the angry Zero was back.

"Water." I offered the bottled water again.

His mouth fell as he looked at the offered water. Then he stared at me again.

"Are you still not feeling well?" I remained on my feet, not too far away from where he was sitting.

"I'm fine." he said then took the water on his mouth.

"Then what's the problem?"

"Nothing." he told me as if it was really nothing. "Only not in a good mood."

"But your mood affecting the whole performance of the group." I paused. "Miss Cindy even said, we'll surely going to work until dawn because of the band's poor performance today." he quickly looked away. "Zero, if you are not feeling well, we can tell Miss Cindy. Don't force yourself." than wasting both of our time here.

"I'm alright. I even had my training."

"You want to unwind? Or want to play?" his eyes flew on mine.

He might be stressed. And base on what I've been read, he used to play to unwind. Like chilling to a bar and malling just to kill time. But mostly in an exclusive place only. They are famous and the places they are good to go are limited.

"I'm not a kid." his lips protuding.

"Who said that unwind like walking to a park, hitting malls are for kids only?"

"We need to rehearse, the concert is near." he blew a loud breath.

"But you can not concentrate with your today's performance. I think you need a short break." they could not even wrap up a single song, why working all day is really a bad idea for him.

"I don't-"

"Ocean park or Timezone?" I cut him off.

"Tss. You do so much research huh?" he arched his brows.

"In my nature of job, I have to." I just shrugged. "So let's go?"

"Give me a minute." he walked to his friends and they have a little conversation. Dismissing this long boring day.

Kale was only nodding at him all throughout their talk, while the two boys approached me.

"Nice job." Ethan smiled at me.

"You save our day Axl!" Abbas exclaimed. And the two leave us here making their exit.

"Let's go." Zero said. And we both headed out the studio together with Kale.

Ethan and Abbas still at the parking waiting.

"We're going now." I told the three boys and hopped into the driver's seat. But the door beside me opened and I looked at him surprised.

"Get out." here we go again as he opened the door widely.

"What's the prob-"

"I'll drive."

I see. I thought we were having a fight again over this driving thing. Instead of getting out I just move to the passenger's seat.

"Are you sure you're coming with me?" he asked again when he noticed my forehead creased.

"I offered." I shrugged.

We parked at a mall here in Ortigas, compare with other malls this one is more secluded or more exclusive than the average malls when people flocks like in a holidays.

"Come on." he wore a cap and dark glasses.

We eased out of his car together. And as I was staring at him, he looked like a normal guy wandering in a mall with both of his hands were in his pockets.

No one recognized him, maybe because of his disguise. We walked towards the department store.

"We need stuff for you." he finally spoke when he noticed my eyes lingered on him.

"I'm fine with myself. I don't need them." I said cooly.

"Yes, you need to cover up your identity too. If the enemies know you as my bodyguard. It's so easy for them to find out who's you're with now." he got a point there. He's being sensical now. "I'm not wearing disguise only for my fans. But for my safety too."

We stopped at the aviator's section, he chose a certain dark glasses and handed in me. "Wear this."

I tried the glasses and it fits just fine, I removed it and looked at him and he just looking at me back. The staff of this shop looked very warm and accomadating also, and judging how they treated Zero it looks like they were comfortable to each other. He gave the glasses to the male staff and walked to the next store.

"What's your favorite color?" he asked when we stopped in a sports wear section.

"Nothing, specifically." funny but I really have no thing for favourites and such.

"Girls should have favorite, at least." he whispered the words but I still heard him by my ears.

"I'm not into favorites and girls stuff." for me it's only a caprice for a girl. and I wasn't that feminine why I don't mind those things.

"I think white looks good on you. Just neutral." as he placed a white cap on my head.

"Really? Or it's your favorite color?" raising my brow at him.

He was wearing a white cap complementing his white shirt. Compared to other rock bands or boy bands. Zero was more neat with his physical appearance. No body piercing other than on his right ear and no tats at all. Abbas and Ethan had tattoos on their both arms. I'm not sure about Kale though, but I haven't seen any on him yet.

If there this one thing I didn't like about him, perhaps it's his long black hair. I don't know why but I think he's more good looking without his long hair.

"You are melting me by your stare." Zero smirked.

I knitted my forehead, did I stare that long?

"I am not." removing this white cap.

"I'm used to, don't be ashamed." he proudly said that made me almost rolled my eyes at him. Too boastful.

"Come on, before I change my mind." I'm beginning to dislike this hang out idea of mine.

He took the cap out of my hands and brought it back to my head. "Wear this too." he was holding the aviator and an another shopping bags.

"Thanks." I took the aviator and put it on mine along with the unknown bags.

Just only to wide eyed at him when I saw what's inside. It's a white shirt too.

"What is this?" I asked him stupidly.

"That thing is called shirt, and people do wear shirt. Or you want me to dress you up?" he said in an amuse tone.

"Why? When I'm wearing a decent one." I looked down myself. I am with my jacket with blouse as an inner clothes.

"Wearing a leather jacket at this humidity?" he was shaking his head.

"This jacket has wear on purpose." because I do have here my handgun. With this special concealer so no one in this building would be alarmed of my gun once they found out about it.

"Go change, Axl. You can put your jacket in that bag." he pointed at the paper bags.

"No." I put back the shirt inside the bag.

"I thought it's my day? Can you please wear the shirt?" he pleaded.

I was always doing his bid, and now he's acting like this is the only day. When in fact ever since I started to work for him I've been spoiling his ass.

"Wait me here." still I have no choice but to change. I looked for a changing room, I have my black inner blouse so it would not be going to all change.

I rubbed my face as I gazed at my own reflection, it looked like I skipped my physicial education class and hang out here. But I will never ever going out of this wash room without my jacket on. When I'm satisfied with my look I decided to face him.

"You'll be more look good without your jacket." I was halted from my step when suddenly Zero appeared in my way.

"Why not mind your business? Instead of being an ass?" my forehead knitted.

"You're rolling your eyes at me." he chuckled. "Cute."

"I never did." I frowned.

"Now you're frowning." he was grinning from ear to ear now.

"Are you mocking me?" I faced him without humour in me.

"Sorry. Can't help it." he was trying to supress his smile but he failed. "But that's a good idea."

"What?" I frowned at his weirdness.

"Nothing." he shook his head and walked away.

I followed him till we reached the men's section. Just a bit surprised on what he did next, he got a jacket with same color as mine.. maroon. He got the same color as my jacket! Jeez!

"I'll take this." he told the staff.

He walked to the cashier section and the girl staff has already plastered a smile on her face. He lent his card to her and I was busying myself paying attention at the entire place.

I watched him playing basketball. I've read from his file before that he loves playing 'Street Basketball'. Why I asked him to play.

"Come on Axl, you should try this!" Zero at his countless attempts on engaging me into his play.

"I don't know basketball." I refused his invitation as I don't really like playing it.

"I can teach you if you want." he stopped suddenly.

"No, I'm fine Zero." still refusing him.

"Tss. I thought you're tough." he raised a brow. "You don't know or you never have play?"

"I don't play basketball."

"Just try to shoot." he reached at me and offering a basket ball.

I stared at the ball he was holding for a second and sighed at his persistent. I was spoiling this kid at heart. Reluctantly I took the ball and he made way for me to the shooting ring.

"Aim the ring then throw the ball." he coached.

I glanced at the ring before I let go of the ball.

"Wow!" he shouted and amazed by my good shot.

I made it to the ring why I looked at him, he sounded like he's the one who shoot the ball. The way he shouted and cheered.

"It's a close range, too close to my place."

"You done well. Are you sure you're not playing basketball?" he took another ball. "Try again, it maybe shot by luck."

I raised him a brow. Lucky shot? Only a dumb or blind could not make a shot at this close range.

"Aim again and-crap!"

Coz without further ado I threw the ball, and bang! I made it again. It gone to the ring, smoothly.

"Jeez! You really are great!" he sounded like a kid, admiring his favorite basketball player the way he's looking at me back to the ring.

"I'll wait you there." I pointed at the side.

"Let's play?"

"No, thanks. I don't play basketball." I told him the same exact thing earlier.

He just shrugged and continued his play. Minutes have been passed he was still playing peacefully not until I heard some voices.

"Is that Zero?" someone behind whispered.

"Is that really Zero?" a girl whispered.

"OMG! Zero Abellioni is here!" then another girl screamed.

I peeked over my shoulder and few of the girls, mostly the youngs taking Zero Abellioni's photo. I started to walk towards him. It's just sixty minutes or less when we got here and now few of his fans have already recognized him.

"We have to go." I stopped him making his shot.

"Why?" he looked confused by my sudden action.

"Few of your fans have noticed you here." I pointed at the back.

"We're leaving now?"

"Yeah, before they multiply." glancing at the back.

"As always." he took his sunglasses and put them back.

"Shit." I cursed under my breath, too surprised by their numbers now. They really multiplied in just a blink of an eye.

"Ignore them and don't stop walking." he calmly said and walked throughout the sea of people.

I tried to cover him. But because of the crowd growing numbers I was lost on my track.

"Ouch!" I was forcefully stopped by someone, when my aviator pulled out of me.

"She's dating Zero.." few voices.

"Can't believe this!" followed by exaggerating voices from women's department. Before this hard thing hit my face.

"I told you not to make a stop." it was Zero's voice that made me looked up on his face.

"I told you girls!! Zero is dating her..!!"

"Why her, Zero?" coming from a sniff.

"Please be mine Zero Abellioni!!"

I didn't intend to stop. It's just that these girls are crazy, crazy enough for forcing and violating me.

"When I say run.. run Axl." he said while holding my hand. "Okay.. run.." his hold was tight, it felt like an iron steel holding me firmly to escape from this crazy people.

Last time we were running with bullets and knives chasing us. Now it feels the same, it's just that his fans are chasing us. And honestly this one was more harder than being chase by those Assassins.