[Five days ago]

It was not everyday that Huang Haoyu, my boss, called me to his office without giving me any details. 
It could mean one of two things:

1. The client was filthy rich and wanted to meet the one responsible for guarding them in person. 

2. The client was a celebrity, whose top priority was to not get photographed, videographed, mobbed or injured. 

Huang Haoyu was a nice guy. If you met him in person, you wouldn't believe he was heading one of the most reputed security agencies in the country. The guy was a sweetheart. Incidentally, sweetheart was also the name most of our female clients, irrespective of their age, liked to address him by. The man was gentle, kind, compassionate, and could probably set a record for being the most patient person in the world. Everything about him screamed class, sophistication and elegance. Nonetheless, he was the best weapons trainer that I had ever come across. 

"Ah-Zan, you are early, like always. Love that about you! By the way, what can I get you?" 

See, I told you, he was a regular ball of sunshine. 

Haoyu gestured to me to take a seat next to him and gave me a moment to make up my mind. 

"Coffee. Thanks." I replied and got straight to the point. "So, I take it that we have a fussy one on our hands."

The boss-man waved a hand dismissively, patted my shoulder, and called my attention to the television playing on mute. "Do you listen to K-pop?"

"Should I be?"

"Just answer me, will ya?"

"Nope."

"Ahhh. That's what I thought." Haoyu's face fell just a smidgen, but before I could comment on it he directed his sweetheart-smile at me. "You are my best man. No client can frazzle you.'' 

His words didn't make me feel any better. If anything, I could feel a knot forming in the pit of my stomach. 

'Don't jump to conclusions and don't blame sweetheart without evidence. It might be the double cheese burger you gobbled down for breakfast.' The Bastard deadpanned.

The sweetheart looked out the window of his corner office on the twelfth floor of LixLor, the building that housed our office; smiling fondly at whatever had caught his eye, he continued, "You should listen to it. Listening to K-pop is 'in', my man. And some idols are really good"

There it was again, the word I despised: K-pop. Actually, I had nothing against K-pop, per say, I wasn't biased, you see. I didn't like any kind of pop. "No thank you. I am good."

"Thaaaat's not good." He dragged; his chocolate brown orbs looked troubled. "In any case, as you might have guessed, our client is a K-pop idol."

I fucking knew it! But, something didn't feel right. I had never seen the man look so forlorn. It worried me.

Even though he was my superior, and I looked up to him, I knew nothing about him. Outside of the work environment, we were strangers. 

Maybe, I should have tried harder to get better acquainted with him. 

"Laoban*, is there something I can do to help?"

The pensive man nodded once and continued to stare outside, "Our client is my brother."

I didn't even know he had a brother, leave alone that he was a k-popper, idol or whatever. "That's good news. I can take care of the formalities here while you are-"

"No. That won't be necessary." he interrupted, "I don't want… We, his agency and I, want to make sure his trip stays anonymous. You see, he tends to attract a lot of attention."

I bet! 

"More than you?" I quirked my brow teasingly.

"I am afraid so."

"Is he popular?" I asked, recalling the time, a year or so ago, when one of the 'top' J-pop stars had hired us. The girl was a nuisance, but hardly anyone recognized her on the streets of our city. 

Haoyu pursed his lips. 

"Oh. That's… " I left the words hanging. I must have looked worse than I felt, for the next moment my boss sighed, "Go on. Say it. I know you are thinking it."

I cleared my throat. "Well, not all of them are brats. In any case, he is your brother. And you know what they say: 'Apple doesn't fall far from the tree', am I right?"

"Oh, brother," Haoyu squeezed my shoulder. Hard.

"It fell very far, I can assure you."

His admission cleared up the reason for his less-than-cheerful mood.

"What are you worried about? Are you not on good terms with each other?"

Boss-man shook his head. "Quite the contrary. He adores me. It's just that I don't want to be seen with him. I am a private person, what do you think will happen if it gets out who my brother is?"

Everyone knew that the man valued his privacy and guarded it like a lioness guarding her cubs. His concerns were legit. "So, what are you planning to do?"

"Ah-Zan, I don't trust anyone except you to take care of Haojun. You are the best and unlike the rest in our team, you are not easily smitten by their charm either. Nonetheless, I am aware that you hate taking on such clients and I don't want to put you in an awkward situation."

Too late sweetheart, you put me in this situation as soon as you shared your woes with me. And now I am involved, whether you like it or not. 

"No. That's alright. I am not feeling awkward." I reassured him, making things more awkward than they had any right to be. 

'Well done, Zhao Laoshi! Way to go!' The Bastard commented gleefully, as if he was enjoying watching me make a fool of myself. 

Won't it be wonderful if the earth swallowed me up right now? I mean, no time like the present, am I right? 

"Ah-Zan, I am sorry. Forget that I asked. I am sure Jayjay will be up for it."

Jayjay!?

Gong 'I-am-always-at-your-service' Jay!?

Why him? 

"Everyone else is busy. It's either you or him." Haoyu elaborated; with a slight downturn of his lips and eyes cast low, he added in a voice barely over a whisper. "I will brief him. I am sure he will-"

That expression did not seem right, it looked somehow misplaced on the man's usually bright countenance. 

"No need. I will do it." I spoke as if my mouth had a mind of its own. 

'Congratulations, Dumbass. That's what he wanted from you!' The Bastard LoLed.

Instant regret came for me like an unexpected blind-date planned by one's parents. I repremanded myself, 'The fuck you do that for, Zhao Zan!?' and opened my mouth to do damage control; I didn't get further than that. 

"Really!? Ah-Zan. You are a lifesaver. Thanks man. I owe you one!" The sweetheart-smile was back with a vengeance. Haoyu's face at that moment could rival the afternoon sun on a clear bright day. He picked up a file sitting in front of him and handed it to me. "Here is everything you need to know about him. He turns twenty one in six days. I need you to bring him to…." He shook his head, "I will message you the coordinates shortly. Just bring him there by eleven pm.

"O… Kay. I guess." I muttered, feeling stupid and very much stuck. 

"The flight arrives at ten am. That gives you an hour and thirty minutes to go over the file and get your gear checked and ready." He threw me the keys to his bullet proof Toyota: the most inconspicuous car the agency owned, and grinning, clapped my back good-naturedly, "Since his anonymity is your top priority, you will have to drive him around too. Don't worry, he only has a handful of commitments. Once he is done for the day, take him to my summer home and watch over him. Any questions?"

Wait. He didn't ask Chang to serve me coffee! Did he just guilt trip me into-

My innocent-looking crafty boss picked up a file, and shooing me out of the room, whispered, "Chop. Chop." before closing the door on my face. 

Damn you, Huang Haoyu!

Anyway, there wasn't much I could do now. And my boss wasn't wrong when he had said that I was the best. I had dealt with the 'idol' types before, they were all bark and no bite. At least, that's what I thought at that time. 

Boy, was I wrong. 

[Chapter word count: 1444;
Word count so far: 2296]

Glossary:

Laoban - a term used to address one's boss if their relationship is not too formal.

Ah-Zan - The 'Ah' part is a term of endearment and can be used between relatives and friends. 'Zan' is the protagonist's given name.