The Brat and his Bodyguard (BxB)

Chapter 2

Eight in the evening.

At a place outside the city of Ardmore, a group of young adults from rich and famous families are gathered to enjoy their weekend and witness a popular sport; drag racing. A non-official sport played by youngsters, male or female during the weekend. Zachary del Fierro is one of them. He is popular amongst the rest, as aside from being a rookie in a professional drag racing team, he also joins the sport during weekends. The place is owned by their family, a large lot away from the residential area. His Dad, Raphael, had planned to develop the area for one of their projects but Zachary asked him to spare it for their sports, which he had no choice but to give to him. That is how Raphael gives everything that gives happiness to Zachary. Sports are his part-time work with his friends other than soaking themselves in the pub houses after a week of stress from school daily activities.

“I wonder who will challenge you this time, Zach.” A guy of Zachary's age came to speak to him as he was away from others, leaning against his car. He chooses to stay away from others who are busy watching as the first few races are about to start and that creates a zooming sound from the mufflers as the drivers rev up their engines, getting ready for the race.

“Marc, I'm in the mood to race now, so whoever will challenge me must make sure to give me a satisfactory game.” He responds in almost a shout as he drinks the beer in the can.

Marcus Jiang, his cousin, and a friend nodded. His Dad and Marcus' Dad are cousins. “Argument with uncle?” Marcus knows he is not in a mood.

“You got it!” he punched the top of his car, making his friend startled. “He insisted on giving me a personal bodyguard.”

“Again? Reason?”

“What else? He always said it’s for my safety. As if I'm going for a battle.”

“Well, maybe uncle thinks, as you know, you are popular. The whole Ardmore City knows you, that you are the sole heir of Del Fierro Group of Companies. He is maybe just taking extra care, as we don’t know who is a friend or an enemy. The business world is not the safest. Lots of cruelty is happening for a company to be on top. You get what I mean?” Marcus said.

“I got it! But he has already assigned people to watch me.”

“Well, the personal bodyguard is different. He can attend to your needs quickly as he is just close to you compared to those who are just watching you from afar.”

“Oh come on, Marc. Imagine how it is to have a personal bodyguard? Just imagine coming to school with someone tailing me from behind. It’s like I am a pre-schooler being sent by my nanny to school.”

Marcus laughed. He glared at him.

“Well, that’s funny. A twenty-one year old and a candidate for summa cum laude sent by his nanny at Ardmore University.” Marcus teased him. “I can imagine the reaction of those girls who have got a big crush on you. They will like, “OMG!” Marcus imitates those girls' gestures when they are squealing whenever they see Zachary getting out of his car every time he arrives in the university car park.

“Stop it, bro!”

From afar, a pair of eyes are watching them. The owner was leaning against his sports car quite a distance from the large group of other youngsters when another guy came to him.

“Hey Ethan, bro. What made you come here?”

“James, hi!” he greeted him in response.

“I’m bored. Just came back from abroad.” James Wong has been Ethan's best friend since they were young.

“Have some drink?” A guy gave him a bottle of beer. That is normal during the race. The atmosphere is like an open bar where drinks and foods are offered for free. “Anyway, how did you know I was here?”

“You can't hide from me. Remember?” he smirked.

Ethan accepted the drink while shifting his eyes to where Zach and Marcus are still talking, leaning against the former's car.

“He is Zachary and beside him is Marcus. They are cousins and close to each other. Zachary is the star here. No one beats him from the top of all the racers. He is so awesome at this sport that even I didn’t even beat him,” James said as he noticed that Ethan was looking at the two guys from afar.

Ethan slightly nodded.

“Why?” James asked.

Ethan raised his eyebrows, asking James what he was asking for.

“I mean, why am I thinking that you seem interested in those guys?” James laughed at himself. He finds it weird to ask such a question.

“It’s nothing, bro.” Ethan patted his shoulders. “So, how many races do you have online tonight?”

“Quite a few. At the moment, it’s the second pair. We have five races tonight, then losers versus losers, winner versus winner. The last man standing will challenge you, Zachary del Fierro.”

“Do you accept guest challengers?” Ethan asked.

“Well, if Zachary is up to it. Yes, we do! But no one has dared to challenge him since we started this race.”

“Sounds interesting!” Ethan then drank his beer up to the last drop.

“James!”

They both turned towards the group behind them when they heard someone calling James. They saw another guy waving his hand to James, asking him to come.

“I’ll see you again later, bro. I have to attend the race.”

“Sure! No problem. I may watch later.”

Back to Zachary and Marcus. They’re still leaning against Zach’s car as they continue talking when Zach notices Ethan from their direction.

“Who is that?” Zachary pointed to Ethan.

Marcus shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know. I saw James talking to him a while ago. He must be his friend.”

Zachary tried to tilt his head but they were quite far away, not able for him to see Ethan.

“Don't you want to watch the other racing?” Marcus distanced himself from leaning the car and stand facing Zachary.

“Nope! I'll stay here. I want to be alone for a moment.” He responds and opened his car door and gets in. Before he closed the door, Marcus held it and bent down to speak to him.

“Don’t stress yourself. Speak to uncle again and try to understand him, his purpose of getting a bodyguard for you. You said it’s for your safety, which means he cares about you. You’re his only son and sole heir of all he has. You are the family that he cares for,” Marcus said and patted his shoulders. “I have to go. We will call you if it’s your turn to race.” And he left.

Zachary heaved a sigh and straightened his back against the car seat. He closes his eyes. “I wish mom and uncle Wei were here. I have someone to lean on in times like this.” He thought as he remembered his godfather. His mother died when he was still young. He can't even remember what she looks like until his Dad shows him her photos.

He decided to take a rest inside his car despite the thundering sounds that engulfed the area from the raging cars during the race.

The race had come to an end and a guy named Ashton Walters won the race and would challenge Zachary. Ashton is one of those regular racers who wish to challenge Zachary. He also comes from Ardmore University and is always bitter about Zachary's popularity among girls and in the whole university.

Marcus called Zachary to get ready. Zachary, in his leather pants tops with a white fitted body shirt and boots, came out with his convertible sports car and walked towards the race track with his stoic expression ignoring the cheers for him and the girls who wanted to touch him. He smirked as he passed them to his red racing car. He brought two cars, one for his personal use and one for racing that was sent by a car transporter company at his request.

“Goodluck! Be careful with Ashton. He is known for playing dirty and you know him, right?” Marcus told him as he put on his safety belt.

“No worries. I will teach that guy a lesson.” He responds.

“Zach, you had better say goodbye to being the top racer now.” Marcus turned to his back, clearing the way for Zach to see who the guy was. They saw Ashton smirking as he popped his head out of his car window. “I am grateful to those losers earlier as I made it to challenge you tonight.” He said full of himself mocking the other racers. Zachary clenches his fist in annoyance. He doesn’t like the shit that Ashton spilled out.

“Relax! Ignore him. Show him what you've got that he can't have.” Marcus held his wrist as he was about to remove his safety belt and wanted to get down from his car.

In the background, the audience starts betting on Zachary against Ashton. Mostly, their bet is Zachary. As for the record, no one beats him and they believe he will win against Ashton.

“Hey handsome, you want to bet?” A lady in a body-hugging red mini dress came to Ethan, who joined the crowd to watch the final race.

“I just came here to watch.” He responds expressionless, not even take a single stare at the lady.

“Hmph! What a cold guy.” The lady rolled her eyes and was about to leave when she snapped and turned to face Ethan. “Wait! You look familiar.” She said while putting her forefinger on her temple, trying to remember him.

“Miss, you’re blocking me. Can you please step aside?”. Ethan said, trying to hide his annoyance not to sound disrespectful to the lady.

“Oh yes! Ethan Lester Rodriguez. It’s you!” the lady exclaimed as he remembered him.

Ethan was amused with the lady but he didn’t let his interest in the race be robbed by her. He stepped on the side to avoid her and tried to look for his friend, James.

“Zachary, if I win this race you will give me that car. If I lose, I will give my car to you. Deal?” Ashton continues to annoy Zachary by trying to deal a bet against him.

“I am not interested in your car,” Zachary responds with an eye roll.

Zachary just wanted to play and he hated betting. When he decided to join the race about three years ago, he had already told the organizers that he doesn’t like betting that involves money. They are mostly students who are dependent on their parents for their allowances and he doesn’t want those other youngsters to waste their money on gambling, though he knows they are doing it secretly. Street racing is banned because of gambling and several mishaps that cause harm to the public. Raphael, with Zachary’s plea, uses his connections to help them get the permit to operate and he lends them the area for them as a race track. Gave them a budget for all that they need for the area to look like a small race track. Since they are given a permit, Zachary doesn’t want gambling to be the reason for them to be disbanded when caught.

“Oh yeah! An heir of the largest company in Ardmore can afford to buy expensive cars. Poor me. Hahaha!” Ashton continued to annoy him but he just ignored him as he saw the ladies who were carrying the checkered flag walking to their spot as the race was about to start.

The place was filled with satisfying roars of the engines and the people's clamor as the final race was about to begin. Zachary’s hand balled into a fist upon seeing his opponent with a smug look on his face. He was challenged into a race and he immediately accepted it as it is a rule to race with the reigning champion and it was a great opportunity to teach this envious person a lesson.

They finished checking their cars and the number girl who usually stands in front, holding a revolver stood in her seat and went in between their vehicles.

“Okay, let's get this party started!”

She waved her hands over her head, urging the people to make some noise.

“Wooh! Go, Zach! Take it home!”

Zachary averted his gaze from Ashton and focused on the road where they would take it on.

“I'll win this one, I won’t let that guy full of himself win this race,” he told himself confidently.

The left hand on the wheel while the other is resting on the clutch– he pushed the pedal making his car roar like a cheetah ready to dominate his prey.

"Woooh! Let's get it on!

In 3...”

His grip tightened around the clutch and his fierce-looking face locked onto the road. His opponent did the same– both of them looked so pumped up and wouldn't want to lose.

“2... 1!”

The revolver fired, leaving a smoke-like trail in the air and it was the cue to finally race till victory.

Their tires screeched, leaving a black trail on the pavement as they maneuvered along the wide road.

Zachary was on the upper hand, but Ashton was so incompetent he nearly sent his vehicle jerking into a barrier by colliding his car against him. But luckily, he managed to compose himself and wheeled the car straight up ahead, leaving the pissed-off guy behind.

Ashton's dirty play wouldn't make him slow down even for a bit.

There was a U-turn (right) 100 meters up ahead and Ashton could catch up with him. Surely this dirty monkey would do anything to slow him down.

He looked into his side mirror and saw that the opponent used his nitro to boost his speed, trying to catch up. He decided not to use it and reserve it until the right time comes.

Now, Zachary gripped the clutch and wheel tightly, planning to create a drift just so he could curve nicely without slowing down too much or his opponent could catch up, but this drift was risky. His enemy could almost reach him–

But he maneuvered the vehicle expertly and left an exhaust on his enemy's face. It's from his tires that created friction because of the strength it could apply.

“Ha! Think you could defeat me... never– holy shit!” He exclaimed out of fear that he would almost fall into a barrier while he was busy looking at his side mirror, causing him to slow down and make his opponent speed up ahead of him and the finish line was almost near.

“Sucker, I'll win this one!” Ashton yelled and raised his middle finger while roaring into laughter.

Zachary cursed under his breath and began to push the pedal to catch up, then he remembered that he hadn't used his nitro and this was the right moment.

As he made full speed, he gritted his teeth and activated his nitro, making him lean on his seat while he controlled the wheel and hoping he could catch up to the speeding opponent.

“You can do this, Jianguo ” he cheered his car, namely Jianguo. His eyes focused on his opponent and it felt like a slow-motion when he reached the finish line just before his enemy could.

“Boo yeah! We have a winner! Still the undefeated, Zachary del Fierro.”

The announcer yelled through the microphone and his opponent walked out of the car, his face looked so annoyed. He threw the keys to his car on the ground and left the place.

While on the other hand, Zachary made a drift as his final outplay to piss off Ashton, more.

“Whoah! You did it, Zach! Congratulations!” Marcus came quickly as he got out of his car. Embraced him as they patted each other's back.

“Attention! Attention!”

The announcer yelled at the microphone to get everyone's attention. Everyone looked up at him and waited for his announcement. James Wong was standing beside him.

“Tonight, we will be having a special race.”

Upon hearing the announcement, people started buzzing like a bee saying speculations and assumptions about the special race.

“Wait! I haven’t finished yet,” the announcer continued. “Tonight, we have a special race as we have a guest who wanted to challenge Zach del Fierro. If Zach accepts the challenge, he will still maintain his spot whether he will win or lose. It was the guest's first time to witness the race tonight and he got interested in witnessing our champion. He said, “it's just for fun,” the announcer said.

“Woohh! Zach, the night is long. Accept the challenge. Accept it!” one of the audience shouted, and followed by the others.

Marcus turned to him. “Will you accept the challenge?”

“Who is the challenger?”

Before Marcus could say anything, the audience demanded the announcer to reveal the challenger.

“I also don't know who the challenger is,” the announcer responded. “May I know who the challenger is? Please look forward to introducing yourself to us.”

“Me!”