Chapter 5 Just thank you

Naya had taken the same seat at the back of the cafeteria the next morning, her eyes trailing Tan wherever he went. Apparently, she wasn't the only one with eyes for Tan, the girls surrounding him were increasing as the days passed by.

Between the few years she hasn't been with him had turned him to a ladies man. The Tan she knew would never glance at another girl that wasn't her. The thought of looking at someone else caused him pain, it was quite the opposite now.

She had to keep reminding herself why she was here in the first place. His safety was her priority, that was all she was here for. All she was at this point was his bodyguard and that simple truth hurt a lot because that is all she'll ever be to him.

"You seem pretty into your own thoughts".

Naya reluctantly removed her eyes from her favorite view. It was Alex. He had tied his white hair in a man bun, and it was hot, she gave him that. Seeing him instantly lit up Naya's face and she didn't know why.

"Good morning to you too" She said cheerfully, her cheeks beginning to hurt from smiling too much. He reached over and pinched said cheeks before shyly withdrawing his hand.

"You seem stuck up on Tan over there" He tilted his head slightly towards Tan.

"He's my roommate" she said, pulling her hands into her lap to avoid reaching for Alex's hair that had her full attention now.

"Ah...I see. How do you deal with all the girls?"

She just shrugged "Has it always been like this?" She asked, Alex raised his brow in confusion. "With the girls I mean" She elaborated.

"Last year it was James, seems like Bella marked her territory enough to keep the others at bay."

Naya turned to him "What about you? You're attractive but I don't see any girl fawning over you".

Alex let out a hearty laugh before answering "Honey, I swing the other way."

Naya immediately felt embarrassed for not picking it up, she would never have guessed. "I guess everyone but me knows."

He shrugged "It's fine, you're new here. Want me to show you around?"

Naya's phone beeped with a text, she stuffed her inside her pocket and smiled at him "Sure".

She wasn't in class. That was the first thing James noticed when he got to class. The seat Naya had taken the previous day was empty. Tan seemed to have noticed it too, the boy that had been following him all over the place was nowhere to be found and it gave him an unsettling feeling.

James leaned over in his seat toward Tan "Where did your bodyguard go?"

"I don't know man but good riddance" Tan turned back to his phone. He had downplayed it but deep down he was worried. Joe had never let him out his sight, but he was gone now. It felt like there was something wrong, but he killed the thought of calling his father.

Naya left the school grounds just as the security patrolling left his station after he was done with his shift. She had found the blind spot during her tour with Alex and she had never been more grateful. She pushed past the ground and made her way to the sleek black car that was waiting for her.

"You're late" Came the hoarse voice in front of the car. Naya said nothing. A carefully wrapped parcel was passed to her. She took it without a word. If there was anything father's transactions had in common was silence. Never say a word and never ask question were his only rules.

Naya came down from the car when they reached their destination. A tall dark building that looked abandoned. She made sure her gun was still strapped to her thigh were she hid it.

Walking into the dark alley she was scared. This was an everyday occurrence for her but, she had never delivered on this side of the city before.

"Stop there!" Someone said from behind her. "Who sent you?"

Naya stopped on her tracks before answering "Father".

"Turn around".

She turned and held the parcel in front of her, not looking up. Strong hands took the package from her roughly brushing her soft ones.

"Go."

She did not need to be told twice. She was close to the end of the alley when the voice spoke again. "Wait! You're too pretty or a boy".

Naya's face paled immediately, didn't father tell him how these transactions were held? Conversations were forbidden, statements like this even much more.

"Thank you" She said curtly.

"Just thank you?" He said roughly and drew her back.

"Sir?" She said, hoping the situation was not turning into an ugly one.

James was full on panicking mow. School was over and Joe was still nowhere to be found. It didn't necessarily mean that something was wrong but there was something in his gut that just didn't feel right.

He wanted to ask Tan for Joe's number, but he wasn't ready to answer questions that would come with the request. He then remembered that every student would have their personal information in their school file.

He walked as fast as he could to the principal's office. "I need you to do something for me" He said once he got in. The sixty-five-year-old man looked at him through thick rimmed glasses in disgust.

Everyone knew that Principal Hugh hated James, but no one knew exactly why. James wasn't the most likeable being on the surface of the earth, so no one really questioned it.

"Skipping pleasantries, are we?" The principal asked.

"I can't say I'm excited to see you Hugh" He flashed a smile at the old man knowing it would annoy the shit out of him.

"What do you want?"

"Cutting to the chase I see" James said. He sat in the chair in front of the principal's desk and swung his legs onto the table.

"Spit it out already".

"I need Joe's number."

Hugh was confused for a while "Who's Joe?"

James wondered if Hugh knew about Joe's real identity or not but decided to pursue it later. "He just enrolled...with Tan."

"Oh, what do you need it for?"

"I never question you when I'm returning favors do I?"

Hugh stood up in annoyance, he hated dealing with James, but the guy was damn good at helping him get his dirty job done.

"Here" he handed Joe's file to James and watched him copy out the number with his cell phone. He wandered what James wanted with the poor boy because nothing good happened when it concerned James, but he wasn't going to pry.

James hurriedly saved the number and thrust the file back into Hugh's hands. "You know those favors you owe me?" he asked Hugh "I'll be cashing them all out sooner than you think".

Down the alley Naya was backing into the wall as the man a hundred times bigger than her advanced menacingly.

"You don't want to play with me" The man asked.

"I would really love to, but I have somewhere to be" She said quietly so she wouldn't upset the big guy.

"So you're too fancy for me?" He was standing in front of her now.

"I didn't say that."

He grabbed her jaw roughly once the words left his mouth. Using the other hand he caressed her cheek, and she shrank back in disgust.

"Don't touch me" She tried to sound firm, but the strength already left her voice.

"I will do whatever I want with you" He yanked her hair back and was about to kiss her when she drew her leg back and hit him in the groin with her knee. His hand dropped form her jaw in pain as he doubled over.

She was about to run when he stood up, his legs still shaking but what had really stopped her was the weapon in his hand. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, but she made no move to retrieve it, all her focus was on getting past the man without sustaining an injury.

Just as she reached out for the gun that was strapped to her thigh her phone rang immediately distracting her. The man didn't hesitate as he lunged forward, knife in hand and sliced through before passing out on the floor.

Naya dropped to the floor in pain, wincing when her stomach met the floor. She didn't know how deep the wound was but the amount of blood escaping in between her fingers notified her it was serious.

She used the man's knife to cut a piece of his clothing and used it to wrap around her stomach, she bit her lip to stop the scream that threatened to leave her lips. She collapsed back onto the ground in pain, hoping that the man wouldn't regain consciousness.

She was about to pass out from the pain when cold hands embraced her as she welcomed the darkness with open arms.

There was blood, lots of it. James hit the wall beside him in anger, who would dare to hurt her like this! His heart hurt just from seeing her like this.

He touched her cheek lightly he didn't know why he felt protective of her. it was like something drew him to her and it scared him.

He carried her gently as headlights came up ahead. "Ill find out who did this to you and it won't be pretty".