*{The Queen says}: Alas! The fifth chapter. Man, its been a long time. Once again, thanks to those who reviewed my previous chapter, I truly appreciate that ;-) Anyway, this chapter, I guess would still be more Hwoarang and Julia, and I added a little Christie too. I guess, I had to write more about them coz I had a lot of events in mind that would suit them perfectly and I hope its not getting stale…well, anyway, read on and enjoy. Don't forget please review. Thanx!
The silvery moonlight flooded Christie's dark bedroom, the moon's rays touching her silky tan face as she lay down on her soft mattress preparing for her deep slumber. Christie smiled. She was happy. Again. She tried to remember that afternoon, after lunchtime at school. It was, for her, a special occasion. The reuniting of their friendship. She can't help but remember that very second they hugged each other. It was, after all, memorable. I'm glad everything's back to the way it was again, she thought. And I hope things would remain as peaceful as they are.
A warm tear crawled her cheek tickling her flawless skin. I'm glad Xiaoyu knew Jin, she thought as she wiped the tear from her cheek. It after all started changes to occur and it somehow got things better, especially for Julia.
Christie then felt her eyelids grew heavy and decided to close them and proceeded to her long awaited slumber.
Nina Williams shouted again at her unbearable herd of noisy and not to mention neglectful cattle, namely her students.
"I SAID SHUT UP!" She shouted. "CAN'T YOU PEOPLE UNDERSTAND A SIMPLE PHRASE WHEN YOU HEAR ONE? I'M TRYING TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT HERE."
The students suddenly became quiet. They sat still and steady as a rock. The room instantly became peaceful. The awkward silence was bothering everyone in the room until Kate; a hippy cheerleader raised her hand.
"What is it Kate?" Ms. Williams asked.
"Its just that, the bell rang, Ms. Williams." Kate said in a cheerful voice. "In case you haven't heard."
"I heard the bell, Kate," Ms. Williams answered her. "Its just that all of you are so excited to leave that you aren't even paying attention to what I'm going to say."
Julia then stood up and started saying, "In behalf of the class, Ms. Williams, we apologize and I think right now-" Julia paused and glanced at her classmates who were staring at her scornfully. "Right now we are ready to hear you out." Then she took her seat and took a deep breath.
"Why'd you do that?" Christie whispered to Julia.
"So what, its for he benefit of everybody. Isn't it?" Julia whispered back and Christie answered her with a shrug.
"(sigh) Thank you, Julia for your concern," Ms. Williams said as she looked at her students straight in the eyes. "Anyway, as I was about to say, that your upcoming Junior-Senior Prom will be held in 4 weeks and-"
The hooting and howling of her students cut off Ms. Williams' sentence. "THERE YOU GO AGAIN! WILL YOU PLEASE LET ME FINISH SO THAT WE WILL MAKE THIS FAST?"
Her students once again obediently settled down. "I know you all are excited but please, oh please, control yourselves. Sheesh!" Ms. Williams added.
"Again, as I continue, I will assign a committee of students to manage on different responsibilities for the preparation of the prom." Ms. Williams said. "And since no one will volunteer, as usual, I decided to take the responsibility as you class adviser to assign selected students to take charge. And as usual, the proud leader of the prom committee would be Julia."
Ms. Nina Williams eyed Julia and said, "And I'll be seeing you after this Julia." Julia nodded with a response. "Okay, I guess that would be it students. Now, you are all dismissed."
Students then eagerly flooded the door to exit the classroom. As for Julia, she stayed behind, as she was told.
"See ya later!" Christie said as she waved to Julia and exited the room. Julia then waved back to her as she rose from her seat to approach Ms. Williams.
"(sigh) I can feel gray hair growing on my head already," Ms. Williams said as she smiled wearily to Julia.
"Don't be glum ma'am," Julia consoled. "You'll still look fresh and young if ever gray hair will start to penetrate in your head."
"I dunno Julia, its seems that I'm countin' my days or somethin'-" Ms. Williams then stopped abruptly and continued. "Nah, what am I sayin'. Anyway, Julia lets get down to what you are here for."
"Sure ma'am," Julia replied.
"Alright then, you know the drill right?" Julia nodded and Ms. Williams continued as she handed Julia a folder. "So, here are the tasks you need to do for the preparation; as you can see, I have sorted them, so as the telephone numbers you need to contact if you need some professional assistance with the food and decorations."
"Yes, ma'am," Julia answered.
"Good," said Ms. Williams. "You may go now."
Julia nodded her head and went straight to the door. But before she could completely exit the room, Ms. Williams called her once more. "And, oh, Julia," she said. "Don't forget to hire a professional band or singer or something, okay? Just in case the school band forgets...you know what I mean."
"You got it ma'am." Julia answered. Again. Then she exited the room.
"So, I see you have another responsibility to carry on again, eh?" Christie asked as Julia came up to her. "Man, aren't you growing tired of it already? 'coz it seems that you haven't time for a date or something."
"Christie, how many times do I have to repeat it to you?" Julia said in an annoyed tone.
"Hm, good question...maybe you could repeat some more, hm?" Christie teased.
Julia shook her head. "Christie, I'm not here in school to date. I'm here 'coz I want to have a better future. I'm here to study, to look forward to my career and-"
Julia's words were cut off by a honk of someone's car.
It was Hwoarang. He was waving at Julia.
"Well, speaking of date...I guess you are having one right now, hm?" Christie teased again. "I guess, you better switch goals for a while, I mean you deserve it."
Julia gave her an exasperated look. "He probably doesn't want a date."
"Date or not. What are you waiting for? Go to him." Christie said as she pushed Julia gently.
Julia looked back at her and gave an angry look. Christie shook her head and smirked. She'll get over it, she thought to herself.
"Hey, Jules!" Hwoarang greeted as Julia approached his car.
"Hey, what's up?" Julia greeted back.
"Well, I was thinking if you need a ride home." He said.
"Well, I..." Julia started saying.
"C'mon, or maybe you can bring your friend along, if you want to." Hwoarang insisted.
"Um, well…" Julia said. But before she could think, Christie spoke up behind her saying, "Nah, you too go ahead. I'll be fine." Then she waved and walked away.
"C'mon Jules, hop on!" Hwoarang called.
"Okay," Julia replied. She walked over the right side of the car and sat on the front seat.
Hwoarang backed away from the parking lot and exited the gates of Mishima High and drove along.
"What's the matter Jules?" Hwoarang asked as they were driving along. "You seem hot today. You flunked a test or something?"
Julia did not answer. She was looking outside the window.
Hwoarang noticed that she wasn't paying attention. "Hello, Julia!" Hwoarang called for her attention. "Snap out of it!" Hwoarang snapped his finger near Julia's face.
"Huh? What?" Julia stammered.
"I said what's the matter 'coz you seem hot. But I guess you're dazed." He said as Julia came to her senses.
Julia laughed a little. "Nah, I'm just a little tired."
"Is it a new responsibility at school again?" He asked and Julia nodded. "Y' know what, maybe you should take a rest from all the school responsibility you have."
Julia sighed heavily. "How could I?" She replied.
"Well, maybe you can talk the teachers in to giving you a rest 'coz I'm pretty sure they won't mind." He said. "I'm so worried about you."
Weird. Julia thought. He's starting to worry about me.
Julia turned to him with a puzzled face and said, "You're worried about me?"
Hwoarang felt himself blush not knowing what exactly to say. "W-well...I mean...of course. What are partners for? Right?"
Julia calmed down consider the thought. "I guess so." And she said to herself, Yeah, what are partners for?
There was an eerie silence between them for quite some time. Then Hwoarang spoke up saying, "Uh, Julia..."
"Hm?"
"I was thinking this over for quite some time," He started saying.
Julia grew interested and said, "Yeah, what is it?"
"Well, I understand that you are very much into school activities and stuff and you are always quite busy and the fact that you live long distance from school and..." He paused.
"And?" Julia said.
"And I was thinking if I could offer you a dorm at school." Hwoarang said quickly.
Julia faced him with her eyebrows meeting in puzzlement and said, "You are offering me a dorm at school? But…"
"Well, that only if you want to," Hwoarang replied. "Just think it over."
"But how in the world could you afford paying me a dorm?" Julia asked.
"Well, I don't really have to pay for it its just that my father and the president of the school are very good business partners and friends. So, instead of having only one dorm, I got two in which the other one is reserved for emergency cases. So, I decided that instead of making the place rot of emptiness, I thought you could make use of it 'coz I really don't make use of the place anyway." Hwoarang explained. "So, what'll it be, hm?"
Julia shook her head. "How and why would you always be so good to me," Julia replied with a trace of disbelief in her voice. "Remember that you are the one who made the mural project possible, you treat me every lunch time and you give me a ride home after school. Was it already enough?" Julia said which such intense that made Hwoarang felt a bit hurt and made him think she was scolding him for some unknown reason.
Hwoarang did not answer and so did Julia. They each remained quiet until they reached Julia's place.
Hwoarang halted his car in front of the sidewalk of Julia's house and said sullenly, "You're home now."
But Julia did not get out from the car. She too bowed down her head and said slowly, "(sigh) I'm so sorry, I guess I must've been a little shock because It's not that I don't like what you have been doing to me, its just that, I guess you have been doing too much. But anyways…" She then held Hwoarang's gloved-hand that was resting on the wheel. "...you have been always a very special friend to me and I always feel fortunate to have you"
Hwoarang turned his bowing head slowly to face Julia. His red locks falling on his face. Julia felt herself melting as those rich brown eyes looked straightly at hers. Julia smiled at him and he smiled back.
They stayed in the car lost in each other's gazed for quite some time until Hwoarang spoke up, "So how about my offer?"
Julia let go of his hand, laughed a little and said, "Well, It's a pretty good offer and I guess I couldn't resist…"
"So?" Hwoarang said.
"Sooo, I'll just think about it." Julia replied.
"Why?" He asked.
"Are you in hurry or what?" Julia asked arching her eyebrow.
"No, not really," he answered. "Its just that I'm eager to know if you..."
"Just call me tonight, okay?" Julia said.
"Okay," he confirmed.
"Well, I guess I'll be seeing you," Julia said as she opened the car door and started to come out of the car.
"Yeah, see you tomorrow!"
I just can't believe she got away with, Hwoarang thought. I was just starting to get pissed off while she was blabbering negatively and I was just about to drive the car into a post and now she...she just held my hand said something and went out of the car safely. If it were other girls, I'd have already left them walking by themselves. He then let out a satisfied sigh. I'm just glad that I have her by my side.
Snap!
It was already the fifth time Julia's pencil lead broke. She was feeling tense or rather awkward.
Julia reached for the pencil sharpener and sharpened it while thinking to herself over and over again, Should I accept his offer?
She must've asked that question to herself a million times but can never come up with an answer and a big reason to support it because there'll always be a negative and positive reason. To make things clear, she can't decided at all even though Michelle, her mother has already allowed her.
If I don't accept his offer, she thought as she solved an equation in her Math homework. He might turn his back on me and he might think I'm some killjoy freak; which I don't want him to think. But then I'll owe him a lot in which maybe he'll be taking advantage of.
She slapped her forehead thinking hard as she scribbled down numbers and thought again to herself, But if I do take his offer, he'd be glad and we might even be closer to one another and I might be closer to school and might not need to ride a stupid bus. But then no one will be staying home with mother and I might get distracted in my studies. But hey, is he treating me just like a friend or what?
Julia moaned. "Oh, now what?" she said as she slammed her fist on her table. "I just can't decide. Oh, its hard to fall for a guy. Hmph!"
While she was in her state of dilemma, the phone rang.
Julia picked the phone up and greeted politely, "Good evening, Chang residence. Julia speaking."
"Julia its me." the voice at the end of the line responded.
"Oh hi, Hwoarang," Julia said as she allowed herself to collapse on her bed.
"So, how about it?" He asked eagerly.
"What about what?" Julia answered although she already knows what he meant and the reason why he called but then she hasn't came up with a final answer yet.
"You know." He answered. "About my offer. For the dorm."
"Oh...yeah." Julia answered as she twisted the cord of her phone. "That."
"Yeah, so what about it?"
"Well, I...I was thinking hard and I really can't decide whether yes or no," Julia answered hesitantly.
"Aw, Jules. C'mon." Hwoarang whined like a child. "Think of all the advantages that'll do to you."
Yeah right, and think of all the disadvantages, Julia thought. "Why are you offering this anyway?"
"Don't worry about my act of generosity," Hwoarang answered. "'coz you won't be owing me anything."
Hm, now that's very convincing, she thought. "Well...I guess I'll consider..."
"Is that a yes?" he asked.
Well, decisions, decisions, she thought. "Yes, it's a yes."
"Great!" Hwoarang said excitedly. "Then you can pack and since its Friday, you can transfer on the weekend."
"I guess so…" Julia answered.
"Uh, hey, does your mother know about this already?" He asked.
"Of course."
"Cool, so, just let me know if you're ready, okay?" He said.
"Sure." Julia answered.
"Well, see you then, Bye!" Hwoarang said.
"Bye!" Then Julia hung up.
Gosh, he's so excited, she thought. Guess I'll start packing.
Jin handed two tickets to the woman and stepped inside the movie theatre with Xiaoyu following him into their seats.
He handed Xiaoyu her popcorn as they were settled down. He decided to take Xiaoyu out for a Friday night date to the movies.
As they were watching, Xiaoyu laid her head on his shoulders and suddenly asked, "Hey, do you think Julia and Hwoarang will working out well?"
"Why'd you ask?" Jin asked.
"Well, I have observed that they are strangely close to each other nowadays ever since they got paired up on that mural project," Xiaoyu answered.
"Uh, I dunno," Jin replied. "Because it's hard to think that those two can work out smoothly."
"Yeah, I know." Xiaoyu said. "'Coz on Julia's case it'll be hard but for Hwoarang's case I guess he's already used to that stuff."
"But then Hwoarang seems too eager to get Julia's attention, don't you think?" Jin said.
"Well, I can't see that he isn't," Xiaoyu replied. "'Coz your best friend had been eyeing my best friend; treating her in lunch time and giving her a ride home." She continued.
"Hm, I guess Hwoarang's always like that when he's into girls but then if it's taking his desired relationship too long to work out, he'll be in supreme action," Jin said in an analyzing tone. "But in this case I guess my ol' pal has been a little patient."
"Well, whatever happens I'll be happy for my best friend 'coz she'll finally be seeing someone besides the librarian or teachers," Xiaoyu concluded on her side of the opinion.
"And I guess I'll be happy too for my best friend 'coz he'll be with a girl that is not the bitchy type; if ever they'll work out," Jin concluded on his side of the opinion.
With that they quit talking and thinking about their best friends and enjoyed the movie with each other instead.
\TBC/
*{The Queen says}: Damn, I just can't get my fingers off the PS2 especially in the holidays. Kingdom Hearts is a masterpiece! As always, chapter six will be up soon (I hope it will not take me a month or two again) and I hope you readers enjoyed it and I hope you'll be reviewing this chapter even though it came out soooo late. Anyway, I'm in a hurry to finish this story so that I'll be starting on a new one 'coz I just can't do a lot of stories all the same time. And once again, thanx for reading and reviewing! ;-