The Brat and his Bodyguard (BxB)

Chapter 3

“Me!”

The world seems to stop when a guy in a fitted black shirt paired with ripped black denim jeans came out from the crowd. Everyone turned to look at him in unison. Zachary's mouth is agape when he saw the guy who caught his attention earlier. He is tall with a stoic expression. His eyes are captivating that anyone couldn't stand to stare at him longer as his stares seem penetrating in someone’s soul. Zachary seems bewitched by the looks of the guy, who is now approaching them with James Wong, one of the regular guys who race during weekends.

“Hey, Zach!” Marcus who recovered from a surprise nudge him. “Close your mouth.” He is teasing him, raising his brows playfully towards him.

Zachary shakes his head to get back to his senses. He is about to go back into his car when James Wong called him. James is coming to their spot with the guy who introduced himself as a challenger.

“Zach, sorry but my friend watched the match between you and Ashton and he finds it interesting to challenge you. Will you accept his challenge?”

Marcus winked as he look at him.

“I will!” he said, doubtlessly as he looked at the guy beside James but he averted his gaze quickly as the guy staring at him intently like a predator who found his prey and wanted to devour him, made him uncomfortable.

“By the way, he is my friend, Ethan. Ethan Lester Rodriguez.” James Wong introduces Ethan to him.

Ethan extended his hand to Zachary. “Nice to meet you!”

Zachary receives his hand. “Zachary del Fierro. Glad to meet you, too.” And he turned to Marcus. “He is my cousin, Marcus.” And the two guys shake hands as well.

“Wooohhh!” The crowd started yelling and shouting as they are excited to witness the challenge. “Start the race now!” They demanded.

“Zach?” Marcus called him as he was in a daze. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah! I’m okay!” he said as he looked around. He didn’t notice James and Ethan left to get the latter’s car.

“They went to get that challenger's car.” Marcus finds it strange as he notices Zachary is spacing out. He can’t believe he didn’t notice the two guys left. He knows his cousin, he didn’t know that he got intimidated by anyone.

“I hope I am wrong for what I am thinking.” He thought as he looks at Zachary.

“Oh okay!” he nodded.

A few minutes later, Ethan came back in his car as the crowd gave him the way to position on the track. After he park his car on the spot, he came out of his car and came to Zach.

“Good luck to us,” he said. “just for fun.”

“Yes! Just for fun.” Zachary replied but he couldn't understand his feelings. Ethan's stares send butterflies to his stomach making him uncomfortable.

“Del Fierro, Rodriguez, are you ready?” The announcer asked them on his microphone. They both turned to face him and bowed their heads lightly to show they are ready.

“Let’s go!” Ethan said to Zachary.

“Hmm...”

They then both get in their cars.

“Zachary, relax! This is not the first challenge you’re going to face.” Zachary mumbled to himself as he gripped the steering wheel after putting on his safety belt. He ignited the engine and rev up to tell them he is ready. He turned his gaze to his opponent. Their eyes met. Ethan smiled at him. He smiled back but he quickly averted his gaze to the track and heaves a deep sigh to clear his mind and relax as he gets ready to start. The lady who carried the checkered flag came to her spot between the two cars for the race.

The crowd got more excited as they heard the loud vroomed from their cars. Some are trodden others as everyone wanted to be in front to witness the race.

“Everyone get ready as I count to three, the race begins.” The announcer’s voice echoed in the middle of other cars roaring sounds as they express their support for the two guys in the race.

“Whooohhh! Zach, don’t let us down.” Cheers from his supporters made Zachary feel pressured. He still couldn't understand the feeling and he started asking himself why the presence of his opponent affects him so much. He hit the steering wheel to release the tension from himself.

Marcus who is standing not far from his car noticed him. “What is happening to him?” he even wondered why his cousin acting differently.

“3, 2....” the announcer started counting and as he count 1, the lady puts down the flag for the race to start.

Their cars create a series of screeches as soon as they step on their accelerators leaving an amount of smoke as they roared to track.

Zachary saw in his peripheral vision that Ethan is just catching up with his speed and seems no plan to overtake him. He knows the other guy can do it if he wants it.

“He is just really having fun. It's a boring challenge.” He smiled mischievously as he thought to play with him. He drifted his car closer to him but has no plan to jerk the other guy’s car. He just wanted him to give him a real challenge and that would be more fun. Ethan seems to read what he wants and speed up his car trying to overtake him. As they maximize their speed the crowd started to yell and shout, cheering for both of them.

“Ethan Rodriguez, let’s make it a real challenge. Stop playing with me.” Zachary minimizes his speed for Ethan to catch up and he shouts to him. Ethan smirked.

“As you wish, Zachary del Fierro!” And he winked at him made Zachary taken aback. The night was dark but the lights are enough for him to see what Ethan did.

“Zachary, watch out!” Ethan shouts.

“Holy! Sh*t!” He cursed as he almost collide with the barriers he lost his senses for a moment. He then get back on his focus as Ethan was already ahead of him.

He gripped the clutch and stepped on the accelerator to catch up with Ethan as they are approaching the finish line. He drifted his car as he sweep to end the race.

“Woooohhh! What an amazing race?” The announcer shouted on his microphone. “We have a draw!” He announces the result.

Zachary on the other hand hits his hands on the steering wheel as he gritted his teeth. He is so disappointed with the result but he is disappointed in himself as he is out of focus.

Knock! Knock!

He lifted his head as he heard the knocking on his car window. He saw Marcus outside. He rolled down the window.

“What?!” he asked.

“It’s over!”

“I know!” He said and he moves to the next seat to let his cousin drive the car back.

“What happened just now? Why do you seem out of focus? We saw that you almost collide against the barriers but those who witnessed it said Ethan Rodriguez call on your attention.” Marcus asked as he drives back.

He leaned against the car seat and closes his eyes, shaking his head to let the feelings go.

“I'm just tired,” he replied.

When they reached the starting line Zachary instructed the men from the car transport company to take his car back to the garage to check its condition and fix whatever needs to fix for his next race.

“Zach, congratulations! You gave us an amazing race tonight.” James Wong came and greeted him. Ethan was behind him. “Anyways, Ethan wanted to say something.” James moves to the side to give way to Ethan.

“Thank you for the opportunity to race with you. I think next time you have to maintain your focus to avoid any accidents during the race.” Ethan said staring at him intently.

“Thanks to you too.” He shortly respond and turned to Marcus. “Shall we go?”

“Sure!” Marcus replied and looked at James and Ethan. “Nice meeting you guys. We'll go ahead.”

Zachary quickly left the spot followed by Marcus. “Hey! Why in a hurry?” he catches up with Zachary as he walks so fast to where he parks his car.

“I wanted to rest.” But deep inside of him, he still couldn't understand. He can’t stay with the intense gaze of Ethan Rodriguez that is being thrown at him. He felt something burning inside the way he looks at him.

When they reached their cars, they quickly drive off the area. Zachary doesn’t feel like going home but it’s past midnight and he needs to rest. He thought that his Dad is already resting when he gets home so it was fine. He is still upset and disappointed with his decision to get a bodyguard for him.