Chapter 4 The Unwanted Guardian

"Goodbye class. See you again

tomorrow!" Penny said with a smile to her students. Another day at school

had come to an end for her. She quickly exited the classroom and locked the

door. Outside, she saw her arrogant bodyguard still munching on a sandwich.

"Are we going home?" he asked as he

saw her emerge from the classroom. She was surprised when he took her shoulder

bag and slung it over his shoulder.

"What are you doing?" she asked in

confusion.

"I'm your bodyguard, remember?" he

replied.

She sighed. She didn't have the energy to argue

with this guy.

She just rolled her eyes and didn't respond. He

walked ahead, carrying her bag, after locking the classroom door. She followed

him, noticing that many people were staring at them along the way.

She was really annoyed. She didn't need a

bodyguard, so why did her dad suddenly think of it?

She stopped walking and turned to look at the

guy with her. He was still eating his sandwich when he stopped abruptly.

"Want some?" he offered.

"I have a question. Can you just answer me,

dude?

"Answer right away? We're not even dating

yet!" he interrupted with a smirk.

What? This guy had some nerve. He was such a showoff!

What was he even talking about? She cleared her

throat and continued with her question.

"Why did my dad suddenly get me a

bodyguard? Do you know why?" she asked him directly. He furrowed his brow

and continued chewing. He even licked his finger with mayonnaise on it.

Disgusting!

"Didn't your Dad already answer that? He

doesn't want you to get into trouble. As if you could get into trouble; you're

big enough to fight for yourself. Hahaha!"

She gave him an annoyed look for his comment and

insulting laughter.

"What did you say? Are you mocking

me?"

"You've been fighting on me all day. Aren't

you tired yet? That's why I don't want a girlfriend; it's just a headache, but

now I'm stuck babysitting you. It's worse than having a girlfriend," he

said.

"Come on."

He took some of her books again after disposing

of the plastic from his sandwich earlier.

"Hey, you're not supposed to litter just

anywhere. Don't you have eyes? Use the trash can!" she scolded him, but he

just continued walking and headed towards their parked car. It was as if he

didn't hear her.

"Are you even listening to me?" she

called after him.

"We have janitors for that. It's their job,

right? I should've just become a janitor instead of a bodyguard."

She felt like she was aging quickly because of

this guy. He was really testing her patience. Besides being arrogant, he was

also quite philosophical.

He opened the door for her on the driver's side.

They waited for her dad.

A few moments later, her dad arrived with his

belongings.

"Sir!"

The cocky guy even saluted her dad after he got

into the car.

"How was your day, both of you?" her

dad asked with a smile.

Based on what she saw in his eyes, he was very

comfortable with the guy.

"Dad, I don't want a bodyguard. Please, I

don't need one."

She looked at the guy, and he looked back with a

grin. A grin that seemed to say that she couldn't win and there was nothing she

could do about it.

She just rolled her eyes.

Her bodyguard started the car, and she nearly

fell forward since she hadn't fastened her seatbelt yet.

"Oh, sorry!" he said, stopping the

car. She felt like he did it on purpose.

"Are you doing this on purpose?" she

asked in annoyance.

"No, of course not! Sorry. Just put on your

seatbelt. I'll do it..."

She was surprised when he suddenly leaned over

and fastened her seatbelt for her. She felt like a statue.

"There, all set," he said with a grin

afterward.

"Hija, Rocky is a good guy, and I owe him a

lot. I didn't tell you, but he defended me against some thugs who tried to rob

me yesterday. Plus, he needs a job. It's better to have protection for you,

especially since our family's safety is being threatened again," her dad

explained.

So, the reason her dad hired Rocky was because

there was an attempted robbery yesterday?

"Why didn't you tell me about this? Does

Mommy know what happened to you?"

"Yes, your mommy knows, which is why she

quickly agreed to have a bodyguard for you. Hija, you're all we have. Let us

protect you. We're doing this because we love you."

She sighed. Did she hear that correctly? Rocky

defended her dad.

There were always threats to her family's

safety. Most of the time, it was due to attempted robberies because they were

well-off and her dad was a well-known figure.

But she knew her dad was worried like this

because of what happened to her brother, Rust.

Her brother, Rust, had died three years ago due

to a fraternity-related incident.

Her dad believed that money was the reason Rust

had died. They wanted to rob him, so they killed him. But according to some

people they had asked, her brother had just gotten into a fight because he had

joined a fraternity. She still carried the pain of missing her brother.

When they got home, she brought her things

inside.

"Rocky, you'll stay in the neighboring

house since it's vacant. You can live there for now. It's better to have

someone staying there to keep the ghosts away," her dad said.

Their house had a neighboring one that was

originally meant for Rust when he started his family. But Rust had left early.

"Hey, do you really believe in ghosts at

your age?" the cocky guy said to her dad.

She gave him a glare for his tone with her dad.

Her dad just laughed. It was strange that he

didn't seem bothered.

"Yes, hijo that's why you'll stay there for

now."

"Okay, sir, I'll stay there? Wow, lucky

me!"

Her dad nodded and handed him the keys. She

couldn't help but roll her eyes and march inside the house. But the guy

suddenly yelled as she was walking away.

"See you again tomorrow, Ma'am!"

He waved with a grin, and then he moved to the

adjacent house.

"Dad, I think there's something wrong with

that bodyguard you hired!" she said with a shake of her head, feeling

tired as she slumped on the sofa.

"You always say that, dear. Rocky is a good

guy. He may be mischievous, but you'll get used to him," her dad replied.

"He should be grateful that you said he

defended you yesterday. That's the only reason I can tolerate having him

around," she said. He just nodded and smiled, kissing her forehead.

"Thanks, dear. Go change, and we'll have

dinner."

She went upstairs to change. It was still early,

around 5:30 p.m., and she could smell her mom cooking adobo. She was sure it

was adobo because it was her favorite. Her mom often cooked because she wanted

to, while their nanny usually did the housework, such as cleaning the house and

doing the dishes.

After changing, she went downstairs to read a

book for her class tomorrow.