*{The Queen says: First of all, I had to thank those concerned readers who reviewed me, I truly appreciate that. So, for other readers, please oh please send me reviews or just simply mail me 'coz if ever, I'll be replying. Anyway sorry if this came out late for I had been very busy at school (as usual). Just a reminder guys, this is just my "trial story". Anyway, this is the third chapter of my entry. This chapter is mostly or even just about good ol' Julia. So, once again, if ever you have anything to say just review or e-mail me. Okay? Good.}
Disclaimer: I have no intentions on claiming Tekken labels, trademarks, names, indicia, etc. as mine.
Julia tapped her pencil on the computer keyboard. She felt so distracted in doing her research work. Disturbed by the thought of Pam, who was now having a good ol' relationship with hot shot Jin Kazama.
"Sheesh, how did we ever know each other anyway," Julia said to herself. "Some friend she is." Sighing, she picked up the phone and dialled Christie's number.
"Um, Good evening, could I speak to Christie, please" Julia said after the phone was answered on the third ring. "This is Julia."
"Oh, hi Julia, just a sec," said a motherly voice from the end of the line.
Moments later, Christie answered the phone. "Wassup Jules?"
"Um, nothing, I-I just had to talk to someone. That's all." Julia answered gloomily.
"Oh, its about Pam and her instant relationship, huh?" Christie asked.
"Yeah," Julia replied. "I mean, I can't believe it, I-I was so shocked. I mean..."
Christie halted Julia, saying, "I know, it surprised me too. But we had to accept it. Pam likes Jin. I mean what could we possibly do? Tear them apart?"
"(sigh) You're right, of course." Julia answered wearily. "Well, that's all , I guess."
"Whoa, c'mon Jules, cheer up, let's just talk this over with Pam, alright?" Christie consoled her friend.
"NO, absolutely not, I'm not talking to her if she doesn't apologize to-." Julia bellowed.
"Hold on Jules, Take it easy." Christie seized Julia's words. "Its not like Pam did a mortal sin against the Ten Commandments. We just lack a little attention and understanding to her. I mean, who knows, maybe Jin really is a good guy, only that he is surrounded by a rude group of friends."
"I guess you're right again, but Pam has no reason for that, I mean just think of what Jin did to her, wasn't that a big proof that Jin isn't the guy for her." Julia said after Christie finished her discussion. "Anyway, that's all, I guess. Bye Christie. Good night."
"(sigh)Same to you Jules, Bye!" Christie then hung up. Julia returned the receiver and went to the bathroom to wash.
A few minutes later, she emerged from the bathroom ready for bed. She threw herself upon the soft mattress and thought before she closing her eyes. I just can't believe that an unexpected person like a Pam can do this to me…She thought as she gradually drifted to her slumber.
Next day at school, Art Class...
"Okay just remember class-", Mr. Paul Phoenix words were cut off when an unexpected person emerges in the classroom. "Ah, nice to have you in our art class Mr. Kyung. You have finally decided to join us, I see."
The red-headed boy found a seat at the back of Julia's. He slammed his backpack on the floor and slouched in his seat.
"Alright then, back to our discussion," Mr. Phoenix said. "Now where was I?"
"About this semester's project sir." Julia corrected.
"Of course, thank you Miss Chang." Mr. Phoenix replied. And not a second later the bell rang. It was already dismissal time.
Students began to pack their stuff and got ready to get out of the classroom. "HOLD IT!" Mr. Phoenix yelled. "Before you leave, I had to give you your project assignments."
Students moaned and groaned as they went back to their seats.
Mr. Phoenix ignored them as he picked his class record up and announced as he scribbled something, "Our project's theme will be about the Ancient History of Japan. Some of you will be making posters, conducting researches, reports, or other work of arts."
"History of Japan?" A student reacted mockingly from the back. "Can't we get anything better like modernization stuff or something?"
"Hmm, good question." Mr. Phoenix said as he held his chin. "Anyway, the president was the one who suggested this so no arguments, okay?"
More groans and moans from the class but still Mr. Phoenix ignored them. "Alright then, I'll be assigning you in pairs, so all in all there'll be fifteen pairs. Okay, first pair, uh, Ms. Chang..."
Julia, then stared at Mr. Phoenix hoping to be paired with a worthy someone. Then Mr. Phoenix continued, "I've paired you with Mr. Kyung and you two will be making a mural near the football field."
Julia's eyes widened and without hesitation she objected, "But sir-"
"No buts Julia," Mr. Phoenix halted her opposition. "I decided Mr. Kyung needs to be paired with someone as experienced as you."
Julia sighed heavily. Great, Julia thought. Now things will be much harder. Then she felt someone stabbed her back.
"Ouch!" Julia yelped. Then she turned and realised that it was Hwoarang. "What'd you do that for?"
"Sorry," Hwoarang smirked. "Anyway, I can't even believe I've been paired with a nerd either."
Julia rolled her eyes. "So?"
"So, let's just make some plans earlier and make things go straight fast so that I won't be mistaken hangin' out with some other people. Okay?" Hwoarang s
aid conceitedly.
"Whatever." Julia answered as she turned her back away from him.
"Okay, now class dismissed." Mr. Phoenix declared as he finished announcing the pairs.
Hwoarang was just about to leave when Julia called him hesitantly. "Hwoarang, wait."
"What do you want?" Hwoarang answered annoyingly.
"You want things to be fast, don't you?"
"Yeah, so?" He answered.
"So, meet me here at about 8:00 am tomorrow. And don't forget to bring some paint and necessary art materials." Julia said.
"Hey, I got better plans for my Saturday than spending it working for some dumb project."
"Then I guess I have to tell Mr. Phoenix to fail you instead, eh?" Julia said with a smirk.
"(sigh) Alright, 8:00." Hwoarang said approvingly.
"And don't worry I'm not here to wreck your reputation." Julia said. Then she scurried away bumping Hwoarang's shoulder purposely, which caused his backpack to fall. And Julia heard him comment from afar, "Hey, what's the small idea?"
Julia ignored him.
That night, Julia worked hard on planning and sketching for their mural. I just can't believe I've been paired with that punk, Julia thought. He won't help. I just know it. I'd rather be paired with someone suffering form dyslexia.
Hwoarang strummed his electric guitar playfully. I can't believe I've been paired with that nerdy, Hwoarang thought. Now I'm going to spend my Saturday making a mural. I'm totally pissed off.
Man, I feel hungry, he thought as he felt his stomach grumble. Gotta grab something to munch.
He returned his electric guitar to its proper place and went out of his room. The soft carpeted floor of the Kyung mansion tickling his bare feet.
He went down the stairs and into the vast kitchen. He opened the fridge and took out a carton of orange juice and a placed a handful of chewy oatmeal cookies on a plastic plate. Then he headed for his room.
As he entered his room he sat and pigged-out on his snack. As he finished, a knock was heard on his door.
"Come in," Hwoarang said. Then a man emerges into the room. He has the same body-build as Hwoarang only slightly taller and his hair was undid, it was brown. He wore a dark colour polo shirt and pants.
Hwoarang suddenly sat-up straight and said, "What is it, dad?"
"Well, I was just wondering if you have something to do tomorrow?" Mr. Kyung answered in a way a teenager's dad would approach a son. Hwoarang raised his eyebrows in a then-what-is-it way. Mr. Kyung decided to continue, "Maybe because you and I could hang-out and play some golf and stuff, y'know father and son stuff."
Oh, boy here we go again, Hwoarang thought. Its not like he doesn't like his dad its just that he doesn't want to hang-out with him these days unlike when he was younger and used to force his father to take him to work at their company which their family owned. And now he has to make a good excuse to avoid it and fortunately the mural thing came to his mind.
"Um, I'd like to dad," Hwoarang began. "But, you see, we have this mural thing at school and I had to go there and do it."
"On Saturdays? But you usually hated to go back at school at Saturdays." His father asked. Hwoarang scratched his head. "(sigh) Well, I can't force you. Guess you'll be seeing another pretty girl at school, huh?" His dad added playfully as he nudged his arm.
"Dad!" Hwoarang commented. "It's a project."
"Alright, alright." His dad backed. "But maybe we can do this father and son bonding thing next time, eh?"
"Maybe next time, dad. I promise." Hwoarang said as his dad nodded his head and patted his shoulder and exited his room.
Seeing a pretty girl? Yeah right. Dorky girl, that's more like it, he thought sarcastically as laid down on his untidy bed with his arms at the back of his head and he closed his eyes ready to sleep.
Then randomly, in his mind's eye, he pictured Julia's face. She seemed to be beauty only hidden under red-framed glasses and un-styled hair and foremost, a face with no make-up. Then, magically on his mind, he transformed her. Right now, she was wearing a strapless cream coloured silky gown that reached the floor. Her chestnut brown hair was down and her chocolate brown eyes sparkling. Her lips kissable red and her face, smooth and as silky as her gown. She was very attractive and well-done...
Hwoarang, then opened his eyes and seized that thought. What am I thinking about? He said to himself. There's no way I'm gonna fall for that. And moments later he fell asleep.
Next day, Hwoarang arrived at Mishima High football field finding Julia was already starting with the work. And he thought that it was nothing unusual and headed towards her.
Julia dipped her brush on a bucket of blue paint as she felt someone coming close to her.
She turned her back just to see her partner drawing close to her. Great, just what I needed. Company, damn company, she thought glumly.
"Wow, you seem early," Hwoarang commented.
"Seem?" Julia answered angrily as she turned her back towards him. "I seem early? Hah, do you know what hour of the day is it, mister?"
"Well, I happen to know," Hwoarang said coolly as he glanced obediently at his watch,. "Its nine twenty-six am." Then he smiled at Julia with one of his seducing smiles.
Julia somehow fell for it, he seemed cuter though. But she fought back. "I thought we had an agreement. Eight thirty, right? And where are your art materials, I thought I reminded you to bring."
"OH, right! Sorry, I forgot," Hwoarang said playfully as he scratched the back of his head. "And I thought it was nine thirty, that's why when I came I thought I was early."
Julia breathed loudly and rolled her eyes. "Whatever." Then she turned her back and continued the mural.
Hwoarang started to sit down on the grass with his back against the wall. He took his portable CD player and said, "Just tell me if you need me."
Yeah, right. I need you for nothing. Julia thought cynically.
One hour later…
Damn, I've been working for an hour already. Julia thought and she glanced at Hwoarang who was now busy listening to his CD's. You can't never count on a partner like him.
Julia dipped her brush to some blue paint. She stretched her hand to reach the highest edge of the wall t paint the sky.
"I can't reach it," She said to herself. Then she thought of Hwoarang. "I admit it, I somehow need his help right now."
She walked over to him and tapped him on the shoulder and called upon him. "Hwoarang, I think need some help here." No answer. He ignored her purposely. He continued to nod his head to the beat of the music while his eyes closed.
"Hello, is anybody home?" Julia said as she raised her voice. But still he didn't answer. She even shook him. But then again she guessed he was just being playful again.
Childish little brat, she thought. So, you wanna be playful, eh? Julia dipped her brush into some rich red colored paint. And as the brush was coated with thick red paint, she aimed her hand at Hwoarang and flipped the brush, allowing thick drops of red paint to fall upon him.
"HEY WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA?" Hwoarang shouted as he raised himself from his position and started wiping red paint from his clothes. "Don't you know that this jacket costs more than half of you life?"
"Sorry, no. But right now I need your help." Julia said coolly and at the same sarcastically. "And, oh, now you have matching colored hair and jacket."
So, she wants to play, He thought. Then I'll give her time to play. He caught a brush and dipped it to a can of yellow paint. He flipped it and did the same thing on Julia.
"Eeek!!!," she shouted. "Why you-you-"
"Hah, now were even." Hwoarang laughed.
Without further thought, Julia grabbed a can of blue paint and splashed it on Hwoarang who was now laughing hysterically and wasn't aware of what Julia was going to do.
"NO!" He shouted as thick splashes of paint dumped on him.
Then Julia was now laughing as if there was no tomorrow. "You-you- look like a smurf! Haw, haw, ha, ha!"
Hwoarang laughed with her for a moment and suddenly dumped a can of green paint on her and rubbed her head messing her neatly pony-tailed hair.
"And now you look life one of those little green men." Hwoarang teased. Julia also fought back by splashing some yellow paint on him. They fought back at each other splashing paint all over the area. They looked like playful little children enjoying every moment of it. And at that very moment, they forgot their grudges againts one another…
They played childishly with paint for what seems like an hour, and they finally got tired of it. The two of them helped each other clean their dreadful mess. Then they decided to get some lunch.
"I'll have a cheeseburger, large fries, regular coke and some frozen yoghurt," Hwoarang ordered at the drive-in counter of the fast food restaurant. "What about you, what are you having? And don't worry its on me." Hwoarang said as he turned on Julia.
"Um, I'll just have a chicken burger and a regular coke, please." Julia replied politely.
"You heard it, and add another yoghurt in that." Hwoarang said facing the drive-in counter and it answered, "Got it sir and you can pick up your order now sir."
Hwoarang stepped on the accelerator and forwarded his car to the cashier's window.
"Here are your orders sir," the sweet smiling lady at the counter said as she handed a couple of bags. "And thank you, come again."
Hwoarang accepted them, paid the lady and drove along.
"Man, I'm beat," Julia muttered as she wiped her rainbow colored hands full of dried paint with wet tissues.
"Yeah me too," Hwoarang answered as he handed Julia her order. "And I'm starving." Then he took out his burger and took a greedy bite.
They went silent for a while, eating their lunch as they drove along the traffic. And after eating their food, Julia spoke, "Hey, when are we gonna finish our mural?"
"We'll start again next week, and I promise," Hwoarang replied as he faced Julia with a smile.
"And you better do," Julia said as she playfully pointed her finger at him like a child. "Or else, we'll fail in Mr. Phoenix's Art class."
"I promise," Hwoarang said with sincerity in his voice and placed his hand on his chest, as if vowing. Then he turned on the radio and heavy metal rock came on.
"You listen to this stuff?" Julia asked.
"Of course," Hwoarang answered eagerly. "Its still called music isn't it?"
"Not if your me," Julia replied. "I consider it as noise." Hwoarang shrugged.
Then they drove to Julia's place silently listening to the boisterous sound coming out of the car's stereo.
Moments later, a black Porsche stopped in front of an old Victorian style house.
This must be her place, Hwoarang thought. Hmm, typically her type of house.
"Here we are," Julia said as she collected her stuff and prepared to go out of the car. "And thanks for the lift."
"Yeah, anytime." Hwoarang answered.
Then Julia opened the car door just as before Hwoarang halted her, "Um, Julia, wait."
"Hmm?" Julia asked confusingly.
Then Hwoarang held out his hand for a shake and said, "Nice knowing ya!" Then Julia took his hand and shook with it and replied, "You too."
Then, unexpectedly, Hwoarang didn't let go of Julia's hand. He pressed his lips on her hand like a gentleman would on a fine lady. He kissed it and said quietly, "You're one of a kind, really."
Julia giggled. She couldn't help her gentle attitude. And said, "(sigh) See you then."
"Um, wait, one more thing," Hwoarang said. "Can I have your phone number?"
Julia shook her head and rolled her eyes, "Sure, why not?"
Hwoarang got a piece of scratch paper and pen and handed it to Julia. Then she scribbled down a couple of numbers at the paper.
"Thanks," Hwoarang said gratefully as Julia handed him the paper. "I'll call you." Then he waved his hand and drove along.
Julia waved until the car was already out of sight. That was weird, she thought as she went inside the house. Sometime ago we were like enemies and now we were so close. Then she smiled to herself.
Hwoarang whistled gleefully at the tone of the music although, hard core heavy metal rock barely had a melody. But right now, he wasn't being himself. It was a positive attitude though. And it was a familiar behavior too, for it was his behavior towards girls. Girls who intrigued him the most.
He can't believe he was now interested in the least expected girl of his life, Julia T. Chang. And not only that, she didn't even care what happened back then including him kissed her hand, which means she takes him as sincere as he does, although he's not so sure.
He glanced down at the neatly scribbled numbers on a piece of scratch paper he held in his sweaty palms. Man, I'm already falling for her, he thought gladly although, he doubted. I was really wrong about her. Anyway, I'll be calling her tonight.
*{The Queen says: Whew! Another chapter finished. AT LAST! Hope you guys enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Although, I know some of you must've disliked my pairings, you know, Julia/Hwoarang & Xiaoyu/Jin. Anyway, sorry again if this came out too late. And please, if possible, could I get some more reviews from you out there, okay? Or better yet e-mail me @ agent_xtremequeen@yahoo.com. See y'all next time.