To Be His Bodyguard

"It is done."

That was the only thing the president wanted to hear. He stopped pacing and released the breath he didn't know he was holding. The voice on the other end hung up after delivering the much-anticipated words. Loosening his tie, the president gulped down the glass of water on his table. This was the first time in months that he felt safe, that his little son would be safe. His most ruthless enemy was dead and that was all that mattered.

The president's phone rang. It was Luke, his personal bodyguard and right-hand man. He adjusted his tie. It was time to take his son to school but first, he must make a quick stop. He walked out of his office the two guards positioned outside the door closed it after him.

The cars were ready and waiting for the president, but he didn't go towards the open car door. He looked at Luke who nodded and brought the private car around. He needed to go alone.

Little Tan saw his father and squealed with joy. He always looked forward to the mornings he had school, they were the only times he would see his father. He ran as fast as his little legs could carry him and wrapped his little hands around his father's led.

The president lifted his son, the love he had for the little creature could be seen in his eyes. He adored his son.

"Are you ready for school?" The president asked, caressing Tan's soft cheeks.

"Yes daddy!" Tan clapped his hands and bounced about in his father's arms.

"The car is ready sir" Luke said. He came from behind them, watching father and son with pursed lips.

It was a sleek limousine. Nothing short for a president. The president carried Tan to the car and strapping him to the seat. Tan ignored his father the moment he saw his stuffed toy whale.

"Drive" The president told Luke before pulling sunshades over his eyes. This was going to take a while.

∞

Somewhere on the other side of the city there was murder going on. Bullets were swimming through the air and screams could be heard in the vast space.

Amid this chaos was a little girl whose life was about to be shattered. Her father had told her to hide under his table until he came back for her.

She had counted sheep to distract herself from the noise going on outside, going further to count a thousand trees and her father was still not back. She heard footsteps coming towards her and she pushed herself further under the table and away from the black shiny shoes she could see from her hiding place. She held her breath and waited.

A few seconds and the table wasn't covering her anymore. She was frightened to her bone as she screamed.

"I won't hurt you" Came a soft voice. she slowly turned to look at the intruder, tears running down her face.

"Who are you?" She asked in her tiny voice, her lips quivering.

"I'm here to take you home" He held his hand out for her to take. His heart broke for her. The little girl who would now be alone in this world just like he had been years ago.

"Where is Papa?" She asked, cleaning the tears on her cheek with the back of her palm.

"Come with me and you'll see him" He held out his hand for her. She put her little hand in his very large ones and let him lead her of her hiding place, trusting the man because he knew who her father was.

"We're here."

Naya looked outside the window to see the huge house she had once called home. She took a deep breath before pushing open the car door. She was finally back after been gone for ten long years.

A guard led her upstairs and down the corridor where the president's office was. She closed her eyes and counted to three before stepping through the open door.

"Father" Naya said as she looked at the man that forever changed her life. She wasn't sure if she was to hug him or just stand there. At the end she didn't have to make a decision.

"Come here child" The president told her, the smile on his face creasing the corners of his eyes. Naya walked to him and let herself into his open arms. She had missed him dearly. They were like that for a while before the drew apart.

"Welcome home" He said. He caressed her cheek like he used to do when she was little. The president looked at the grown girl little Naya had turned into. She was almost as tall as he was now.

He motioned for her to sit down. It was hard to get to the real reason he had asked her to return to the last she wanted to be. Naya noticed how nervous the President was which was a rare occurrence. She knew then that something had happened or was about to.

"Tan is leaving for the Royal High today" He started. Naya was confused on how that had anything with her coming back but said nothing.

She watched him scratch his temple suddenly looking like he had aged more than the 10 years she had been gone.

"Tan has been getting death threats" He said making Naya's eyebrows spring up. "I don't trust anyone enough to keep him safe for me. I know you've not completed your military training, but I have great confidence in you. He's a brother to you, I know you wouldn't want harm to come his way".

The last few words made Naya uneasy. Tan was anything but a brother to her. He was her first love. She had spent the last years at military school thinking about the light brown eyed boy she had first seen in the car when she was just five. He was the one that kept her going on days she wanted to give up.

"I'll do it" She said, without thinking clearly about the situation. She didn't know how she was going to feel seeing him again. She only had to keep him out of danger, there was no need to be close to him.

"There's one problem" The president said, scratching his almost white beard this time. He wasn't sure she was going to agree to what he was about to say. It was absurd.

"What is it?" Naya asked, slowly growing impatient with the president's growing silence.

"You'll have to stay in his dorm room."

"But a girl can't stay in the boys' dorm."

"Exactly" the president said.

Naya thought for a while what the problem could possibly be. "What!" She said when it finally dawned on her. She was furious. He was asking her to pretend to be a boy.

It was laughable really. She knew she didn't look so feminine. Her his were yet to grow out wide, her boobs were almost as flat as the day she'd been born.

"What's in it for me?" She finally asked.

"Freedom" The president answered. He knew how to make a deal. He was offering her something he knew she has always wanted. The president had been nice to Naya, offering her a place to stay after her father died and she was grateful to him.

But deep down, she wanted to of on her own, to find the people that murdered her father. To avenge his death, she couldn't do it her, where everyone was watching her.

"Deal" Naya said.

"No one must know your secret Naya, not even Tan. This is just between us." He said.

Naya nodded.

"I have your clothes all packed for you. Here's your ID" he slid it across his table towards her. Naya looked at the identity card. Her new name was Joe. Her eyes widened when she saw the picture attached to it.

"I'm not cutting my hair" She blurted out.

The president eyed her wearily but nodded. That was the only thing that he wouldn't take away from her. It was the only connection she had left of her father. It was braided all back like she always wore it.

"Just don't let it out" The president said. It was fine with her.

"You should get going, change and meet Luke downstairs he'll drive you to the school."

"Okay"

She left the office and went straight to her childhood room. Fingers running across the walls she looks around the room. Her toys were still stuffed in the same corner she had left them.

Part of her felt sad that nobody had been here but at the same time grateful that the President cared enough not to clean out the room after she was gone.

She shut her eyes tight to prevent the memories from slipping into her head. All the times she had spent here with Tan, her first memories she couldn't deal with at the moment.

With determination she opened her eyes and walked to the bed where a suitcase sat. she opened it eyeing the clothing inside. She stripped out of her cloth and her underwear.

Using the white bandage laid in front of her she covered her boobs by wrapping it around her chest a couple times. There was not much to hide. She threw on a black shirt with a trouser that was slightly big for her. The only thing she keeps are her boots, she always wore boots.

A knock on the door had her closing the suitcase. It was Luke, he had come to get her. her bags in one hand they both walked to the car.

Tan was already seated in the black limo his eyes fixed on his phone. He only looked up when the door was slammed to see Naya sitting opposite him.

"Who are you?" He asked coldly, more annoyed than concerned.

Naya cleared her throat before answering, a certain coldness slipping into her tone when she realized tan didn't even recognize her. "Your personal guard".

"What?" Tan asked, anger taking over his features.

"Did father..." Naya cleared her throat and continued "Did the President not inform you?" She asked instead.

No, his father had told him nothing. This made Tan angry, why he couldn't he just have a normal life. Now he was in his last year of high school and instead of having a life filled with girls and parties he'd have a bodyguard following him everywhere. He had to make him go away by all means necessary.

Tan did not talk to Naya for the rest of the drive and she was thankful. If she talked too much her tiny voice was surely going to give her away.

The sun was setting when the wheels of their car rolled onto the school grounds. Tan was exhausted, he looked over at the tiny body of his guard who was still in a rigid position. He didn't look tired one bit.

Luke helped Naya carry her bag as Tan's had been sent to his dorm room days before. Luke walked through security and the admissions office before going to the dorm. He gave them both a key before leaving.

Tan watched Naya carry in her bags before concluding the guard was too small and wondered why her father hired him. If a fight ever broke out, Tan was sure he would be the one protecting the guard instead.

Naya went to her side of the room which was demarcated by a tin white curtain. She sat on the bed with a thud. She was alone in the same room with Tan. She wanted to run to him and tell him everything and that she came back partly because of him. she couldn't.

She remembered their last night together. The night she had confessed her feelings to him. She quickly went to the bathroom and changed into a clean shirt with big shorts, she left the boots on.

When she came out, stepping into Tan's side of the bed there was a red head sitting on the bed with him. They were talking and had not noticed her yet.

The red head had more muscles than Tan. His shirt showed her that much. He looked up when he felt someone with them. It gave Naya a close look at his face. It was well defined and had lost all the baby fat that was still in Tan's. He could easily look dangerous if he wanted to and Naya knew to stay away from this one.

"I didn't know you had a roommate" Red head said.

Tan looked at Naya before turning back to what he was doing. "That's my personal guard."

"You have a guard in the dorms? That's cool man!" He punched Tan lightly on the shoulder "At least he's cute".

Tan finally shifted his attention to Naya "What is your name?" he asked her.

"Joe" The name was strange on her mouth as she said it. She almost cringed.

"James can we get out of here now?" Tan asked said red head who was still looking at Naya.

"The ladies are going to love this one" he said instead of answering Tan.

Tan stood from the bed annoyed that James was beginning to pay attention to Naya instead "He's short, all the girls will be taller than him" Tan scoffed, eyeing his guard wearily.

"True but that will be his charm. The hair too, damn even his skin!" James said.

"Are you gay now?" Tan asked in horror, looking at James in disbelief.

"Oh please" James said and rolled his eyes "I love boobs way too much". He got up rom the bed "Let's go. I'm sure the girls are dying to see you". He looked at Naya one last time before following Tan out.

James knew immediately that the guard was hiding something, and he was going to find out. He always had dirt on everyone, that was how he worked. The president must have a reason for sending a petite guard instead of his usual hefty ones and he was going to find out why.

Naya waited for the soft bang of the door before following them. They didn't even notice her walk behind them. They were going for a party from what she heard Tan say.

She had never been to a party before, she wondered if all the boys there would be as handsome as James and that brought a smile to her face. It might not be bad after all she thought to herself until she remembered she was a boy here. She was one of them and that wiped all the smile from her face.

Naya waited a couple minutes before entering the black door Tan and James had gone through. All her years of training did not prepare her for the scene she was faced with.

Bright colorful lights bounced around the room making her feel like she had been transported into another world. She walked slowly through the crowd of dancing teenagers.

She was walking to the middle of the room where there was a large table of drinks when she bumped into someone.

"Joe?"

Naya looked up after making sure no drink spilled on her and saw Tan's annoyed face peering into hers. They looked at each other for a while, not moving.

"You followed me here?" Tan asked.

"That's my job?" Naya asked with a raised brow.

The smug look on Naya's face annoyed Tan even more. He needed to get rid of her if he wanted to have fun tonight.

"Why don't you enjoy the party since you're here already. Let me get you a drink". Tan walked to the large table and back with a red cup in his hand "Here".

He gave Naya the cup. It had all the alcohol he could get his hands on at the table. If he was going to get her off his back, then he needed to get her drunk. That way, she wouldn't be able to follow him everywhere he went.

"Go on, drink and have fun" He said after Naya made no move to drink from the cup. He watched her take a sip and squeeze her face in distaste.

"Never had a drink before?" Tan asked, a small smile working its way to his face. Naya, one to never back down took a large gulp, then another one.

"I'll leave you to it then" Tan said, he patted her lightly on the head before leaving.

Naya watched him go. She swirled the contents of her cup wondering what Tan had put in it. She trusted him anyway, he wouldn't dare to hurt her.

She kept drinking even though she knew she should stop. It was her first time drinking and she had to protect Tan. She couldn't, each gulp bringing its own relief to her burdened heart.

She spotted Tan walking towards her but there was three of him if not four. She rubbed her eyes and looked again he was gone.

James watched quietly from his corner as Naya stumbled around. He knew what Tan had done and it was clear she couldn't handle her drink. He wasn't about to watch her make a fool of herself plus, he wanted to find out what it was about Naya that didn't fit.

He walked over to where Naya stood by the drink table.

"Let's go" He said.

Naya whipped her head to him when she heard his voice. "You're cute" She said, smiling.

James was confused for a while. Joe had called him cute and his voice was tiny and adorable. He shook his head he was not going to think of Tan's bodyguard as adorable.

He held Joe's shoulders and led him out of the party. He was going to take him back to their dorm then go and look for his red head. Joe fell just as the got to the door making James wonder just how much alcohol Tan had given him.

Naya wasn't heavy which made their journey back easy. He laid her on her bed and was about to leave when she mumbled something before proceeding to throw up the entire contents of her stomach.

James cussed when he saw the mess but didn't have the mind to leave Naya in that state. He went back and turned her to her side so she wouldn't choke on her own puke.

He cleaned her up with a scowl on his face the entire time. He unbuttoned Naya's shirt and stopped midway when he saw the bandage carefully wrapped around her chest.

He pulled the sticky shirt away from her then started unwrapping the bandage so he could clean what he thought was an injury.

When he was done, he froze. He was not staring at an injury but a pair of boobs. They were not as big as the ones he was used to, but they were boobs nonetheless. This wasn't the type of secret he had hoped to find but it was still one that could work to his advantage.

He looked at Naya in a new light. The tiny voice, small body, and delicate face? It all made sense to him now. Tan's bodyguard was a girl. What he wanted to know was why the president would allow this? He needed to find out.

James took a piece of paper from the table and scribbled something on it before leaving. This was going to be his best school year.

Naya whipped her head to him when she heard his voice. "You're cute" She said, smiling.

James was confused for a while. Joe had called him cute and his voice was tiny and adorable. He shook his head he was not going to think of Tan's bodyguard as adorable.

He held Joe's shoulders and led him out of the party. He was going to take him back to their dorm then go and look for his red head. Joe fell just as the got to the door making James wonder just how much alcohol Tan had given him.

Naya wasn't heavy which made their journey back easy. He laid her on her bed and was about to leave when she mumbled something before proceeding to throw up the entire contents of her stomach.

James cussed when he saw the mess but didn't have the mind to leave Naya in that state. He went back and turned her to her side so she wouldn't choke on her own puke.

He cleaned her up with a scowl on his face the entire time. He unbuttoned Naya's shirt and stopped midway when he saw the bandage carefully wrapped around her chest.

He pulled the sticky shirt away from her then started unwrapping the bandage so he could clean what he thought was an injury.

When he was done, he froze. He was not staring at an injury but a pair of boobs. They were not as big as the ones he was used to, but they were boobs nonetheless. This wasn't the type of secret he had hoped to find but it was still one that could work to his advantage.

He looked at Naya in a new light. The tiny voice, small body, and delicate face? It all made sense to him now. Tan's bodyguard was a girl. What he wanted to know was why the president would allow this? He needed to find out.

James took a piece of paper from the table and scribbled something on it before leaving. This was going to be his best school year.

I know. Naya stared at the two words that had her panicking early in the morning. It hasn't even stayed at the dorm for 24 hours and someone already knew her identity. How was she going to survive here when someone out there could expose her? Pain shot through her head as she remembered why she was in this mess to begin with.

So, this was how hangovers felt, she was never drinking again. She had let her guard down around Tan and he had taken advantage of it, no doubt to get her off his back. He had crossed the line last night when he got her drunk.

It had just been a weak moment she tried to console herself and whoever helped her back to the dorm knew who she really was. Hopefully, it wasn't Tan or his friend with the red hair.

James looked around the cafeteria for the girl he had just discovered last night. He really did hope she was okay. He wasn't the type to worry about other people and that scared him.

"Hey man, you seem distracted" Tan said. He hated when James was quiet because it only meant one thing, he was thinking and that ultimately meant he was plotting.

"You've charmed all the girls off their pants" James said, laughing "I'm afraid I won't be getting laid" he snickered at the end.

"Nah... the red head is still yours. Y'all look like a perfect ball of fire" Tan said, equally laughing before he turned to his side. James followed his line of sight and sees Bella and her red hair.

James and Bella had an overly complicated relationship but they both did not mind. They made each other feel good between the sheets and that was all that mattered. Bella also didn't care for him or have feelings for him, so it was much better. James, girls, and feelings didn't mix well.

Just then the dark-haired girl he has been looking for walked in. there were noticeable dark circles around her eyes. He could tell right away that she was angry and was sure the hot waves emanating from her were directed at Tan.

Naya looked around the cafeteria until her eyes settled on Tan. She felt the anger in her bubble back to life but before she could do anything rash her phone rang. She slid into the seat at the back from where she could keep an eye on Tan and answered the call.

"How is it going?" Came the rough voice she had become accustomed to over the years.

"Fine" She said. Naya narrowed her eyes when she sees all the girls surrounding Tan. She didn't know him to be a flirt.

The voice on the phone coughed to get back her attention. "Keep an eye out for him" The caller said before hanging up.

James watched carefully as she slid her phone back into her pocket and put her head on the table.

"Your baby is coming over" Tan said and nudged James.

"Don't call her that, we're not together" James said while rolling his eyes.

"...Yet" Tan finished, smiling. James rolled his eyes again, never in a million years would he be with Bella or anyone for that matter.

The said red head met his gaze and held it. She walked slowly to hi, making sure to swing her hips a little more. A reminder to James of how much he was missing out.

"I see you have the shots for me this morning, yeah?" Bella purred when she stood in front of him. James felt irritated, only finding it attractive when they were both naked and in his bed.

"What do you want Bella?" He asked.

She could hear the boredom in his voice and the lack of attention he was giving her. It only infuriated her.

"I don't remember you moaning my name this way" She said, tilting her head to grace him with the hickeys he had so generously given her.

"Can you back off? What has gotten into you?" He asked.

Bella could tell he was getting angry but was yet to even look at her. that was when she followed his eyes and found them resting on a boy. He was petite and had his hair braided in cornrows. He was a pretty sight too, just the kind of boy Chloe would like.

Why was James looking at him though? A plan forming in her head she walked over to his table and had to slam her hand on the table when the boy didn't look up.

Bella's temper flared up when he didn't utter a word to her. "What are you?" Bella asked.

Naya couldn't help but notice how she had constructed the question. The girl had some nerve, if she wasn't on a mission, she would've taught her a manner or two.

"Are you deaf as well as dumb?" Bella screamed. The entire cafeteria was watching now. Even Tan had turned away from the girls surrounding him.

Naya said nothing. She knew better than to give into the rage building up inside her. She settled for raising a brow at Bella.

"Who are your parents? You don't look rich to me so how the hell did you get into this school. It's clearly not for people like you".

Naya rubbed her throbbing head and winced. Yup, the hangover was still there. She looked at the fuming red head in front of her, her hair reminded Naya of James. They would be a perfect fit.

She decided then that the girl in front of her wasn't worth the stress and stood up to get herself breakfast which left Bella and the entire cafeteria in shock.

"Water please" She said to the person behind the counter. A boy with hair so white that it blinded her for a moment looked up at her with a smile. Naya noticed immediately how green his eyes were and how they almost disappeared when he smiled.

"You did well back there" He said.

Naya was confused for a while before she remembered Bella. She looked back to find the red head gone.

"Thanks, I guess" She said. She could see the amusement in his eyes and was glad she was the reason for it.

He leaned over the counter towards her "I would watch out for her though" He said so only Naya could hear.

"I'll be fine. Girls like her are all bark and no bite."

He had already placed a tray with Juice and Pancakes in front of Naya despite her only asking for water.

"Alex" He said, stretching out his hand.

"Joe" Naya said and shook his hand. He gave her a toothy grin that tugged at her heart.

"Be careful around here, at this rate you might not be able to make friends" he said.

Naya nodded and turned around to test what he just said. Everyone threw hostile looks her way. Alex was right, she wouldn't be able to make friends. It wasn't like she needed them anyway.

James had almost jumped out of his seat when Bella had hit the table. He wanted to protect Joe but surprisingly she handled the situation well.

He slowly stirred Bella by the shoulder out of the cafeteria before she caused more trouble. He knew Bella and how vicious she could become whenever she felt threatened.

"What were you doing?" He asked Bella the moment they got to the boys' locker room.

"You were staring at him, I needed to know why" She said.

James didn't even notice he had been staring. It must have been for a long time if Bella had noticed it. He had to divert Bella's attention.

"I like his hairstyle" James said.

Bella nodded but didn't say anything else.

"I don't want you near him" he added.

She could hear the warning laced in his words "Or what?" She asked, raising her brows suggestively at him.

James grabbed her wrist with force that caused her pain, the kind she liked. His face hovered dangerously close to hers. She could feel his hot breath and it did a lot of things to her.

"You don't want to find out" He said, drawing out each word lazily.

The danger in his words only made Bella want to push his buttons, he always pleasured her better when he was in a rage "And what if I actually do? What does he even mean to..."?

James kissed her cutting off what she was about to ask him. His lips met the plump ones he was so familiar with, this was friend zone. He fisted her hair and drew her closer to him until there was no space in between them.

He watched her eyes glaze over as he squeezed her ass, hard. She let out a soft moan and pushed herself further into him.

James smiled before whispering to her "Stay away" he then kissed her cheek and left.

Bella adjusted her skirt with a smile on her face. This was the perfect way to start her day. If James was going to treat her like this every time, she went near the boy then she definitely wasn't going to stay away.

James walked straight to his class only to realize Naya and Tan were in it too. He opted for the last seat at the back of the class where he could keep an eye on everyone.

"Where's Bella?"

James looked up to see Bella's best friend Chloe.

"I didn't see her come in" She said.

James only gave her a slight nod. How the two of them were friends was beyond him. Their characters were too far apart. The blonde in front of him screamed innocence, something that Bella never had. It was the same with Joe, but her innocence was something he was willing to taint.