The Brat and his Bodyguard (BxB)

Chapter 4

Zachary pulled the duvet to cover his face as the sunlight drifted and ignited the color in his room and its glaring lights blinding him not able to open his eyes as he just woke up. He is wondering who is the stranger who invaded his room and pulled the curtains out from his windows.

“Mmm...” he moans and stretched to get his watch on the bedside table.

“It’s fifteen past ten in the morning, Zach!” he got up abruptly as he heard Marcus’s voice inside his room. He squeezed his eyes to see him clearly because he thought he was just dreaming as it is unusual for Marcus to get into his room when he comes to their house. “You're not dreaming, silly,” Marcus said.

“Is there any problem?” he asked while he got down from his bed. “Luckily, I decided to wear my underpants to sleep as I used to sleep naked.” He thought.

“Why? Do you think I only come here when there is a problem?” Marcus followed him but stayed at the washroom door, leaning against the door jamb.

“I just find it unusual to see you in my room,” Zachary responded to his cousin while washing his face.

“I just can’t stop thinking about you. About last night. You’re some kind of weird, you know?” Marcus said made Zachary looked at him intensely.

“Weird? When?” Though he has an idea of what his cousin is talking about, he has no plan to tell him.

“When that Ethan Lester Rodriguez came to challenge you.”

Zachary just continues his stuff as Marcus keeps talking about what he said in his observation from the last night's event.

“Zachary, don’t tell me, you are attracted to him?” Marcus asked while keep raising his brows to tease him. Zachary throws the towel on his cousin's face after he dried his face and hands.

“Crazy! And that’s what makes you cannot sleep?” he went out of his bathroom passing by Marcus by the door and went straight to his wardrobe to get change.

“He is downstairs!” Zachary stopped from pulling out his clothes and turned to Marcus.

“Who?” he asked.

“Ethan Lester Rodriguez!” Marcus replied in a serious tone.

“What?!” he was surprised. It’s just last night when we met him and even race against him. Zachary's mind suddenly in chaos as questions racing like waves trying to reach the shore. He heaves a sigh, runs his fingers on his hair.

“Yes! Uncle is talking to him. Waiting for you to wake up.”

“How come?” he asked as he put on his clothes. A pair of navy blue t-shirt and casual short pants in black.

“I also don’t know so you better hurry up and go down and know it for yourself.” Marcus sat down on his bed and took a book and started reading.

“You don’t want to go down with me? Have you had your breakfast?”

“I had it before coming here. I'll just wait for you here in your room.”

“Okay! It’s up to you!” he then went out of his room. As soon as he stepped out of his room, he could hear his Dad talking to someone in the living room.

“That's great. Hope you two will get along as you already met him.” he heard his Dad said. “So Marcus isn't joking when he said that Ethan is here.” he thought while continue walking to the stairs slowly but halfway when he stops as his Dad called him.

“Zach, come over here, son,” Raphael called him.

Zachary quickened his steps downstairs while looking at the person in front of his Dad. He is facing back at him, didn’t even dare to turn to look at him coming.

“Hmph!” he frowned as he doesn’t like the idea of anyone ignoring his presence.

“Good morning, Dad.” he greeted his Dad and sit on the single couch on the side.

“Good morning too, son,” Raphael responded. “by the way, he is Ethan, I think you know him already.” Raphael introduced Ethan to him.

“Yeah!” he replied lazily. The idea that Ethan came to the race track to challenge and met him, made Zachary frowned. “Is he spying on me last night?”

”Son! Are you with us?” he was startled when his Dad interrupts his thoughts.

“Ah, eh..did you say something, Dad?” he asked as he scratches embarrassment.

“I am saying, from today, Ethan will serve as your bodyguard,” Raphael said that brought him in a great surprise though he is already expecting it.

“What?!” he exclaimed. “But I told you I don’t like a bodyguard right, Dad?” he heaves a sigh and looks at the person in front. He remained seated with his impassive expression, totally different from the person he met last night.

“As I’ve said, whether you like it or not, you will have a bodyguard and that is final,” Raphael said with authority. He knows he can't disagree with his Dad's firm decision. He leaned against the back of the couch, pouting. “he will be your driver, too.”

Upon hearing him again, he got up from his seat abruptly. “What?!” he asked in shock, raising his voice. “Dad, this is too much. I am not a kindergarten pupil that needs to have a driver. I can drive on my own. My goodness.” he felt stress to imagine having a bodyguard and driver at the same time.

“Ahm, Mr. Del Fierro, I think you need to discuss it again with your son.” he turned to Ethan Rodriguez as he speaks. Zachary glared at him as he is aggravated not with his presence but thinking that Ethan will be tailing him until Raphael needs him to work with him. He smirked as Ethan seems not affected by his behavior in front of him. “What the...” he almost curse in his mind.

“No, Mr. Rodriguez. You have to stay. He must follow my words. Whether he likes it or not, you must work with him. You will be his bodyguard and driver and that is final.” Raphael said it right in front of Zachary’s face, in front of Ethan Rodriguez, then stopped him from leaving as he stands up. “Zach, try to understand, and please be nice to Mr. Rodriguez.” He said and stand up. “It's late for your breakfast so I asked Zandro to prepare an early lunch for us,” Raphael said and nodded to Ethan.

“Yes, Dad!” he responded as he gave up. Zachary knows his refusals are just a waste as he knows his Dad. Once he made up his mind as long as it’s for his good he can't do anything to change it. He stands up to go to the kitchen as his stomach is already grumbling for food when an idea flashed in his mind. “Ah, Dad,” Zachary called his Dad who he just turned to the kitchen with Ethan is quietly following him.

“Yes, Zach?” Raphael turned and respond to him.

“I am okay now with bodyguard but...,”

“But what?” Raphael's brows raised. Zachary knew him, he can read what’s in his mind sometimes. He knows when he is thinking mischievous things. Zachary smiled at him. “Can he just drive his car? It’s awkward Dad, to have a driver at my age now.” He walked closer to catch up with his Dad. “Imagine your son is a candidate for summa c*m laude but people will laugh at him because his Dad is treating him like a baby, giving him a driver?”

“Silly!” Raphael ruffled my hair. “Okay, no problem with that. Ethan will convoy you to the University or anywhere you wanted to go but make sure that you won’t do anything silly or let us say, don’t drive fast and lost him. Hmm..”

“I can’t promise, Dad.” he laughed.

“Zach!” Raphael gave him a threatening look.

Zachary raised his hand and formed a peace sign. “I’m just kidding!” And embrace him from behind.

That’s how their relationship as a father and son. They may have a misunderstanding which most of the time because of Zachary being stubborn, but they have a very good relationship as a family.

“Where is Marcus?” Raphael remembers Marcus.

“He is upstairs, in my room,” he replied while he put some food on his plate.

“Zandro, can you ask someone to call Marcus, please,” Raphael called the butler, Zandro.

“Yes, Raphael,” Zandro responded and asked one of the helpers to call Marcus.

Zachary looked at Ethan who is quietly eating his food. There is something in him that caught his interest. He doesn’t know what it is, but his presence is quite disturbing for him.

“Mr. Rodriguez, after our lunch you can follow Zandro, he will take you to your room. You can start your work now. “ Zachary averted his gaze to Raphael when he speaks.

“He will stay here, Dad?” Zachary asked with brows creased. Having him as his bodyguard is already a surprise and now, he will be staying in their house is too much for him? He straightened his back against his chair.

“Yes! Tomorrow, I will be leaving for a business trip overseas so I want you to behave. I know what you’re doing when I’m not home.” Raphael replied but he continues eating.

He heaves a sigh and continues having his food. He tried to brush away the thinking that he is going to live with Ethan Rodriguez in one roof. He won’t let him manipulate his time for thinking about him.

Weekends had past and it’s the first day of him going to the University with a bodyguard tailing my car. He drive through the car park when he arrived at school. Ethan Rodriguez followed him. Zachary quickly got out of his red convertible sports car and lean against it waiting for Ethan to park his car. The car park is always full and quite difficult to find a space in the morning but for him, it’s no problem as there is this same spot always reserve for his car. After a few minutes of looking for a spot, Ethan found one and manage to park his car not that far from Zachary. Zachary motioned him to come faster when he saw him got out of his car and look for him.

“Please get my stuff from the back seat and follow me,” Zachary told Ethan as soon as he is in front of him.

“Mr. Del Fierro, Sir! I am your bodyguard and I am not your nanny.” Zachary halt from leaving when he heard his response.

He turned to face him and replied. “So, you’re not going to follow what I said?”

“Mr. Del Fierro hired me as your bodyguard. To protect you from anyone who wanted to hurt you not to carry your stuff.” Ethan said with a mischievous smile.

“Whatever! Carry my stuff or I will tell my Dad to fire you or maybe you like me to do something you don’t like, Mr. Rodriguez?” Zachary smirked.

“Don’t provoke me, Mr. Zachary del Fierro.” Zachary was baffled as Ethan looked at him intensely. With his reflex, he quickly took his stuff from the backseat and slammed the car door, and left stomping his feet in annoyance.

He hasn’t walked that far yet when he heard Ethan chuckles. He knows he intentionally annoyed him. Zachary growled as he steps faster away from the car park.