Chapter 5
1821 Words
Ethan decided to stay at the car park for a while. He dialed his phone to contact his brothers.
“Bro, what’s up!” Michael answered his call. Jason is not picking up his calls so he decided to reach Michael
“Is there any development?” he asked.
“Where are you?” Michael didn’t respond to what he asked and ask his location instead.
“I'm at Ardmore University. My first day being a bodyguard, remember?” he replied.
“Oh! So how’s the first day?” Michael asked him and chuckles.
“Well, what do you expect from a brat like Zachary del Fierro? But you know me, I won’t tolerate such attitude.”
“What he did?” Michael laughs from the other line.
“He asked me to carry his stuff to his classroom,” he responds lazily.
“Hahaha!” Michael continues laughing.
“Hey, I called you not for you to laugh at me. I wanted to know if you’re all started the investigation about the group that pursuing this brat here.” He said as he started getting annoyed. He knows his brother, Michael. He loves to tease him.
“Well, just be careful and be vigilant. You know the mafia-style to infiltrate your surroundings. Be aware of those people around Zachary. We don’t know if some of them are spies.” Michael seriously responded.
“I'm aware of that. Any news?”
“Our informants and assets are doubling their effort so far. We also communicated with the Crime Bureau of Investigation and uncle Ferdie told us to keep our communication with them. They will inform us also if there is any news. This group is big and this case is not as easy as the cases we handle previously. We are going to deal with the biggest Mafia group: the Golden Dragons. This group is not just operating in this city but the whole country and in other countries too.” Michael responds. They just received a report about the group that pursuing Zachary del Fierro and it worries them to know that the group is big and operating for many decades now and no one knows who is their leader.
Ethan is a little worried when he thinks of Zachary. He is innocent but now his life is in danger because of some people's greediness. Greed! That’s the only reason he knows why they are pursuing him. It’s because of that treasure that even Zachary is not aware of.
“Bro, are you still there?” Ethan gets back from his thoughts.
“Yes! I’m still here. So what’s the plan?”
“Jason said we need to talk about it. We will inform you if we have a definite plan for when to discuss this matter. Besides, you cannot leave Zachary, right?”
“The other bodyguards are from our agency. I will choose one that I can trust to look after him while I'm away. Just let me know when and I will arrange everything before leaving.” Ethan responds to his brother.
“Sure! No problem. Any problem, do let us know right away.” Michael said before they hang up their calls.
Ethan decided to stay at the cafe inside the University campus where he can cast Zachary’s classroom building from afar.
Meanwhile, Zachary's nose breaths fire in annoyance as he heads towards their classroom. Everyone was startled when he arrived as he slammed his books on his desk.
“Hey! Why is that there is slamming of books?” Marcus who is chatting with the other students in the class came and asked him.
“Leave me alone!” Zachary replied clenching his fists and gritting his teeth.
“Okay! As you say so.” Marcus pouted and go back to his seat.
The rest in their class are exchanging stares as it is very unusual for someone like Zachary del Fierro to come into the institution with such an angry face. Marcus Jiang just shrugged his shoulder when all of them throw him a questioning stare as he doesn’t have any idea what had happened to his cousin.
Their professor came but Zachary is in no mood for their class.
“Mr. Del Fierro, are you with us?” the professor asked as he caught him not paying attention to their class.
“Yes! Yes, Sir. Sorry!” he replied.
The professor shakes his head. Even he noticed the unusual behavior of Zachary.
Their class finished and everyone leaves the room. Marcus stays as he is waiting for Zachary who is still sitting in his seat.
“Zachary, what’s happening to you?” he asked.
“That annoying bodyguard. I am thinking about how to get rid of him.” He hissed showing his bunny teeth.
“Oh! Ethan Lester Rodriguez?”
“Who else? He is so annoying!”
“Just relax. Let’s go to the cafeteria and have some refreshments to refresh your mind.” Marcus patted his shoulder. “Remember, you are Zachary del Fierro, the coolest guy in town.” His cousin laughed.
“Crazy!” he responds and picks up his stuff and goes with Marcus.
Ardmore University is the most popular and prestigious university in the city and it can accommodate about ten thousand students including secondary and primary levels. The lower two levels have separate buildings but it’s in the same compound. It is known as one of the known universities in many countries, the reason why there are a lot of foreign students studying in the institution.
The cafeteria is located between the building where Zachary's class happened a while ago and the engineering department building.
“What do you want to have?” Marcus asked while they are walking to the cafeteria.
“As usual.” He replied talking about his favorite fruit cake.
“Okay! You go find our seat and I will order our food.” Marcus said as they are entering the place.
“Haist! It’s full.” Zachary mumbled as they are welcomed by a lot of students during that hour.
“Why seems unusual today? This is always full but today seems there are extra people?” Marcus said when they stand to look for a seat. Then a group of students at a far corner caught their attention.
“You go ahead, order our food and I will find a seat,” Zachary told Marcus but his eyes are locked to that cluster of students from one corner. His curiosity strikes him. After Marcus left to order their food, he walked towards that group.
He is few meters away when he hears Ethan's voice. His brows furrowed and he quickened his steps.
“Excuse me!” he said as soon as he reached the group.
“Oh hi, Zach!” the lady student bit her lip when she recognized him. She is flirting with him but he just ignored her.
Everyone in the group mostly ladies turned to see him.
“You all stop staring at me like that. Let me come and see that guy who is sitting there.” He said firmly that made everyone startled.
“Mr. Rodriguez, you are not hired by my Dad to entertain them!” Everyone inside the cafeteria was startled when Zachary slammed his hands against the table right in front of Ethan leaning forward and growl like a hungry predator ready to grab his prey. Ethan on the other hand remained seated like he expected it to happen. “You are supposed to stay close to my location and not anywhere entertaining those girls squeaking like rats.”
Ethan stands up and leaned forward to meet Zachary’s intense glare. “I thought you don’t like bodyguards? How come you’re like a jealous wife who caught his husband with another woman?”
Zachary averted his gaze, avoiding Ethan's intent stares. “Whatever! Still, you have to do your job since you agreed to my Dad.” Zachary sits down opposite Ethan, crossing his arms on his chest. Ethan smiled mischievously.
“Oh hi! Mr. Rodriguez, hello!” Marcus who just came greeted Ethan while gently putting down the tray with their ordered food on the table.
“Just call me Ethan, Mr. Jiang,” Ethan responded.
“Call me Marcus then. No need for formalities, we’re not doing business.” Marcus chuckled. He then turned to his cousin.
“How about you my dear cousin? Why you look sulking? Look at that mouth, stop pouting like a kid. Munch this foods I ordered. Don't waste it otherwise I will charge you for the whole week of my meals.”
“I lost my appetite!” Zachary replied while glaring at Ethan who just shrugged his shoulders.
“When did you lost your appetite? That’s strange? All I know is that.....”
“Enough!” Zachary said.
Marcus laughed. He loves teasing his cousin. When it comes to eating, it’s Zachary who still eats even he just finish his meal. He is a foodie.
“I’ll give your order to Ethan, then.” Marcus then winked to Ethan who is just smiling thinly while looking at both of them.
“Did I say I won’t eat?”
“You said, you don’t have an appetite so that means you don’t want to eat.”
“I’ll eat!” Zachary then takes the food that he asked Marcus to order for him.
“How about you, Ethan? Have you had your snacks?” Marcus asked Ethan.
“Don't worry about me, Marcus. One of those girls bought me a coffee and a piece of cake earlier.” Ethan replied touching the edge of the empty plate which is still on the table.
“Oh!” Marcus said and smile as he saw Ethan winked and he got what the other guy wanted to say. “Advantage of being good-looking. Girls will treat you for free. Am I right, Zach?”
“Yeah! Next time they will offer their flower to him, too. In p*****t for his service to entertain them.” Zachary said while he is slicing the cake as if he is slicing a lump of meat that wanted to break the plate also.
“Hey! Watch your language?” Marcus tapped his shoulder.
“I think Mr. Del Fierro is in no mood Marcus,” Ethan said. He straightened his back against the back of the seat.
“Good you know.”
Marcus just shakes his head as he doesn’t understand why his cousin is in no mood and his behavior is very unusual.
Five in the afternoon and the day is over for Zachary. Marcus went back home an hour earlier than him as they are not in the same class for their last subject that day.
He sluggishly walked to the car park massaging his nape.
“Ahem!”
- Writer
