*{The Queen says}: Well, I really have nothing to say but I guess this fic is turning out to focus on Hwoarang and Julia 'coz I my ideas seemed to fit their roles here in this fic and I just got fond of the two but I'll try to write some on Xiaoyu and Jin (its promise to those Xioayin fans). In addition, I would like to say thank you to those who read and reviewed the previous chapter. Thanx a million!
Disclaimer: Once again, I have no intentions on claiming Tekken trademarks, labels, signatures, or indicia as mine.
Julia closed the lid of her traveling bag forcefully and laid it standing on the floor.
"That's the last of it, and now to phone Hwoarang," Julia said to herself as she picked up the receiver of the phone and dialed Hwoarang's phone number.
It rang twice and Hwoarang answered at the end of the line, probably expecting Julia's call. "You ready?"
"Yup!" Julia replied eagerly.
"Okay," Hwoarang said. "I'll be there. Just prepare you luggage."
"Sure," Julia answered.
"Okay then, I'll be right over," Hwoarang said as he hung up.
After several minutes of waiting, Hwoarang arrived in a pick-up truck. He went straight to Julia's room and helped her with her things.
"Wow, I've never been inside your house before," Hwoarang said as they went down the stairs. "But it sure is spic and span."
"Thanks," Julia replied. "My mom makes sure it is."
"I guess you mom is such a perfectionist," he said.
Julia laughed a little and said, "Hm, I'll take it as a compliment."
"Hey, speaking of your mom, where is she?" Hwoarang asked.
"She on work," Julia answered.
"Hmph, too bad I don't have a chance to meet her," Hwoarang said as they exited the house and loaded the truck. Then they headed for the dorms.
As they arrived in the dorms, they went straight to Julia's new room.
"Well, here we are," Hwoarang said as he opened the door to her new room. Julia stared open-mouthed. "Come on in."
"Wow, its great," Julia said as she saw a vast room with a bed on the right corner, a telephone and a lamp on the bedside table, an air- conditioner, a study table on the left corner, a closet, a dresser, a Mishima High standard computer- probably provided in each room, and even a mini-refrigerator.
"Wow, I mean, I never expected it to be this...well." Julia wowed. "I mean, I never expected it to have a computed and a mini-fridge.
"Well, Heihachi-san does make sure everything suits him as well as his students," Hwoarang answered.
"I guess so," Julia said as she sat down the bed.
"Anyway, here you can find the bathroom and the wardrobe and all," he said as he opened another door at the far side of the room.
"Oh and before I forget," he said as he approached Julia who was sitting on the bed. "Here are the keys for all the doors and for all the other locks you can find in here." He handed them to Julia and continued, "And, uh, I guess I had to leave you here. So, is there anything else you need?"
Julia stood up and nodded her head. "Okay, so I better get going and are you sure you don't need any help in fixing you room?"
"No thanks, I can handle it all." Julia replied.
"By the way, my room's just across your room and I don't usually stay here on weekends, I usually stay home." Julia answered with a nod. "Anyway, I just had to let you know that. And I gotta go." He waved at Julia and exited the room
Julia allowed herself to collapse on her bed as soon as the door closed. She felt glad that she accepted his offer. I think its not so bad, she thought. Then she stood up and decided to start fixing her new room.
It was 5:30 in the afternoon when Julia finished her work and after feeling contented with her arrangements in her new room, Julia decided to cool down and have a snack with a can of soda and her favorite sandwich. She also made up her mind to phone Christie.
"Hey Christie, you'll never guess where I am," Julia said excitedly as soon as she started a conversation with Christie.
"Hm, let me see...you must be in… in Harvard University for your college application!" Christie answered jokingly. "That's not hard to guess, though."
"Ugh, yeah right," Julia responded with deep sarcasm. "Anyway, I'm here at my new dorm room at school."
"(Gasps) Really? But how? I thought you said you couldn't afford." Christie said in a state of shock.
"Well, let's just say I got a sponsor," Julia said coolly with a giggle.
"Hey, I thought you said the school won't provide you a dorm for free no matter what because of some business reasons?" Christie asked.
"I didn't say the school sponsored me," Julia answered.
"Well, who did?" Christie asked, as she grew interested.
"Guess it for yourself miss-I-can-guess-it-all," Julia teased.
"Hm, lets see..." Christie said to herself. "Hey, is it a teacher?"
"Nope!" Julia replied.
"A school official?"
"Not either."
"Or perhaps a classmate?"
"Uh-huh."
"Is it a friend?"
"Maybe..."
"Are you two close?"
"Uh-huh."
"Do I know this person?"
"Of course."
"Boy or girl?"
"I'm not telling."
"Aw, Julia!"
"C'mon Christie, isn't it obvious?" Julia hollered.
"I know! I know!" Christie shouted at the end of the line. "It's Xiaoyu!"
"No, its not Xiaoyu." Julia answered. "And even if it is her, she would have told you already."
"You're right..." Christie responded. "Its hopeless Julia, I don't know. I don't have the slightest clue."
"Aw, come on. I never thought you'd give up on guessing." Julia said. "Come on, you're getting close."
"Alright then, let me see, who is Julia's classmate and at the same time a close friend who would be rich and kind enough to provide Julia a dorm?" Christie analyzed at the end of the line. "Um, one more question Julia, uh, does this person love rock music?"
"Uh, I guess so," Julia answered with a puzzled tone. "How should that help?"
"(Gasp) JULIA, wow!" Christie bellowed at the end of the line. "It's him isn't it? I-I mean Hwoarang?"
"Yeah, it was he." Julia answered. "And promise not to tell the whole school about this."
"Oh my God!" Christie gushed. "Do you know what that means?"
"How should I know?" Julia answered coolly.
"It means that he really likes you and I mean really!" Christie said excitedly.
"Whatever, I guess I had to go now," Julia said. "I still had homework to do."
"I guess so too," Christie answered. "Bye, see you later and congratulations and my best of luck to you both!"
"Christie!" Julia hollered sounding annoyed. Christie giggled mischievously and hung up.
It was about 6:30 in the evening and it was about an hour ago that Julia phoned Christie. She was doing her homework in Advanced Biology.
"Hm, let's see," Julia said to herself. "Question number 8: Explain the difference between osmiotrophy and holotrophy. How do both differ from phototrophy?"
"(sigh) I'm getting weary answering these questions already," Julia said to herself. "And I still have seven more to go."
Julia sighed heavily again and started scribbling her answers. Well, here goes, she thought. Okay…'Phototrophic organisms photosynthesize, using the sun as their source of energy. All the rest require energy in organic form. Osmiotrophs, either saprophytes or parasites, are fundamentally absorbers of monomeric-sized nutrients. Holotrophs ingest nutrients that are in larger packets than osmiotrophs. Most holotrophs-'
SLAM!
Julia then stopped when she felt that she was about to jump off her seat. She heard a door slammed shut so loudly. And later, she heard voices shouting. And according to her intuition, it came just across her own room. And it was no other than Hwoarang's dorm room.
She forced herself to concentrate to what she was doing. But she can't leave her curiosity behind. She so wanted to know what was going on in that room. The shouting and all, that is.
So, being taken over by her curious thoughts, she rose from her seat taking her pen and notebook with her and slowly exited the door.
She was down right true. The shouting and all was happening inside Hwoarang's room. And silly at it may seem even for Julia herself, she leaned closer to the door to listen. And later found her ear glued to the door. And fortunately for her no one was around peeking through their doors, which was highly unusual.
"I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE YOU! YOU KNOW THAT?" A female voice, which Julia hardly knew hollered harshly. "WHAT IN THE WORLD HAPPENED TO YOU OUT THERE? WHAT?"
"ME? I BELIEVE YOU HAVE TO ASK THAT FOR YOURSELF!" A guy's voice answered angrily, in which Julia identified as Hwoarang's.
"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?" The girl shouted again and this time a wooden abject must've fell. "ANSWER ME DAMN IT!"
"Can you do me a favor? Just quit bitchin' around!" Hwoarang answered and this time more in a lower voice. "And just shut the fuck up before the whole dorm collapses with all your cursing shit!"
Julia was taken aback of what he said and now she heard a harsh breathing, a familiar sound in which reminded her when someone was sobbing or was about to cry so loud.
"UGH! I'M SO OUTTA THIS DUMP!" The girl, who was probably crying, shouted again. And now she heard loud stomping footsteps towards the door.
Julia, upon hearing this, panicked and her whole body froze. But her instincts tell her that she's going to get out of there and head for her room or else she's toast but her ear was still glued to the door for she was still curious to know what was going on inside. And most unfortunately, for her she was in a state of mental block due to her panic. And when she felt the doorknob turn she froze of terror of being caught. Luckily, not whole of herself was in the state of shock, so instead of running the hell out of there she purposely dropped her things that she was carrying and pretended to be anxiously looking for it.
And in a fraction of a second the door opened and the girl came out furiously with out noticing Julia near the door way.
"Sure go ahead and leave without even saying goodbye," Hwoarang said standing on the doorway as the girl walked on quickly without looking back.
And as Hwoarang was about to turn his back, he can't help noticing Julia who was crouching near the doorway. "Julia?! What the-?" He stammered.
"Oh my, where in the world is that pen of mine…" Julia pretended to say.
"Uh, Julia?" Hwoarang called her out and Julia faced him saying, "What?" And Julia felt so stupid caught in this messy situation.
"Uh, your pen's in front of you if you haven't noticed," Hwoarang informed.
Then without further choices, Julia grabbed her pen and said in a foolish manner, "Oh, silly me, I must've been looking on the different direction! He-he!" Julia said blushing furiously.
Hwoarang came forward to her and held out his hand and Julia took it and raised herself. "Um, you see, I was just walking down the hallway to my room and...and when that girl came out of your room I was knocked over and-and my things fell and-and now I'm here, ha-ha!" Julia lied adding a forced laugh, and stared at Hwoarang with a guilty and nervous face.
Hwoarang stared back at her with a puzzled face. And Julia decided to escape from her messy situation instead. "Uh, so, I...uh...better go now to my room now…" Julia said.
Then Julia turned her back leaving Hwoarang and a sigh of relief escaped her lips. And when she was about to turn the doorknob of her door, she thought to herself, Great job Julia, now just look at the mess you got yourself into.
Moreover, when she thought she could already get away with it, Hwoarang called her out, "Uhm, Julia?"
"Huh? What is it?" Julia answered nervously.
"Uh, are you busy tonight?" he asked.
"Not really, just a few homework, why? Do you need any help with your homework?" Julia replied.
"No," Hwoarang answered. "But I was thinking if we could go out for dinner or something..."
"Um, I don't know…," Julia started saying.
"C'mon Julia, its my treat," Hwoarang said. "And besides I need someone too keep me company for a while after all that's happened, if you understand?"
Julia thought that there is no use to excuse herself put of this one. "(sigh), I understand, just give me five minutes."
"Sure." Hwoarang replied.
Julia felt nauseated by the time Hwoarang was driving to their dinner. Great, just great, She thought to herself. After all that has happened to him and that girl, he still asked me out. And I know I can't resist it…I just can't. And just then Julia heard Hwoarang snickered.
"What's so funny?" Julia said wondering.
"I know Julia and you know it," Hwoarang said while holding a laugh.
Julia was struck confused. "What are you talking about?"
"I knew you were listening at the door when me and Hazel were having our little discussion," Hwoarang said.
Julia's heart pounded furiously and she felt herself turned red as a beet. And she even felt like melting. She was so embarrassed.
"No need to be ashamed of it," Hwoarang said. "Its alright. Its not like it's the first time that it happened, anyway. People at the dorm are probably sick of it."
"And its weird that no one cared to listen except me," Julia said with a trace of embarrassment in her voice. "What happened to you and Hazel anyway and I thought you don't stay at the dorm on weekends?"
"Hm, it's a long story," Hwoarang said. "It happens all the time. Hazel is such a flirt you know." Hwoarang shook his head in disgust. "And this time, we're off for good."
"I'm sorry," Julia confessed. "And I'm sorry I was eavesdropping it's just that I was curious. Well, its not all the time that I hear it happen."
"No sweat and you should get used to it anyway since your staying in the dorm." Hwoarang said as he parked the car in front of a snazzy looking restaurant and they started to get out.
The place was great. And not the kind of restaurant Julia would most likely be seen in. For it was rather pricey as it seems. But the place feels calm and romantic.
"Its been a long time ever since I've brought someone to this place," Hwoarang said as they took their seats and the waiter had finished took their orders. "It reminds me of my first date and my first girlfriend."
"Really?" Julia asked. "Who'd you ask out then?"
"Lila," Hwoarang said sadly.
"Oh, I see." Julia understood. She knew who Lila Steamer was. She was one of the most popular girl in school and not to mention the prettiest and smartest. And there was no doubt why Hwoarang wouldn't like a girl like that. But she was one of those unfortunate people who died in a car accident. And Hwoarang seemed so troubled of her loss until now. But who wouldn't if that happened to you first girlfriend.
"And ever since," Hwoarang continued saying. "I asked a different girl out just trying not to be troubled by her loss. But I guess no girl can really be compared to her. And its a shame I've become somewhat of a playboy. And my image towards the school community changed."
"Yeah, I guess so," Julia said. "What can I say, I hardly knew Lila but I knew she was great. And not to mention she was the chairman of the Math and Science Club and those years were a blooming start of the club. And it was all because of her."
"Yeah, I was really proud of my girl. Well, what's done is done and we had to accept it," Hwoarang replied and suddenly smiled sheepishly . "But it's a shame she died without me making love to her. We made a promise to each other that we will; right after graduation or the prom, that is."
Julia laughed. And Hwoarang continued, "Hey, you know what? I haven't told anyone about this."
"I assume you told your other girls already," Julia answered.
"No, honestly I haven't" Hwoarang said.
"Then why are you telling me this?" Julia asked. "I know this thing would be personal. But I guess your little fight with Hazel turned out to be a little stressful for you, huh?"
"No, believe me, it happens all the time and besides I feel I'm not compatible with anyone to share any secrets," Hwoarang said. "And I guess the reason that I'm telling you this, is that I feel I trust you, Julia." Hwoarang held Julia's hands passionately. And Julia felt his troubled sense and yet, they felt warm and touchy.
"You really are a good friend to me Julia," Hwoarang said as he looked into Julia's eyes. And Julia grew speechless. "I feel so at home and comforted when I talk to you. I mean it is different with Jin and the gang, they're just, well, occasional friends or something. But for me, you are a friend for all occasions. I've felt like my old humble self when I'm with you. You're perfect Julia. Don't you ever change, Julia. Don't ever change for me."
Julia felt like crying. Instead she just gave him a nod and gripped his hand tightly. Enjoying every moment of it.
It had been about and hour before Julia got to bed. But still, she couldn't fall asleep. Their dinner was great. She can't help thinking about Hwoarang and what he said during their dinner together. It was a private conversation and a very personal one too. Julia can't help thinking how troubled he was, then. Ever since the death of Lila, his most beloved.
It's true that two years ago before Lila died, Hwoarang wasn't like what he is right now. Plus the divorce of his parents last year which had left him really emotionally stressed. He was overly depressed for he was closer to his mother since he was the only child in the family. And his father now had been practicing polygamy and as for Hwoarang, well, its rather safe to say "like father like son". Before, he was a humble gentleman with short hair and smart appearance. But right now, he has greatly changed. He had long hair, and even dyed it with an unusual color which is red. He looked tough now and at first glimpse, you'll really know that he's just some popular rich ass-hole who didn't care much about life and just waits for all the glory to come and maybe even sometimes a good lay.
But Hwoarang really was popular ever since, together with his childhood friend Jin. And simply irresistible. But he has become somewhat of damn playboy. And now he's having a bad image to those who respect school rules.
But now, Julia begins to understand who he really is deep inside. Deep inside, I guess he's just a poor little boy suffering from a troubled life, Julia said to herself. And she just can't forget what he had said to her a couple of hours ago. You're perfect Julia. Don't you ever change. Don't ever change for me.
And with that Julia's heavy eyelids closed and went to another trip to dreamland.
*{The Queen Says}: Ahhhhh…another chapter finished and another yet to come...for the next two months that is. Well, sad to say I don't really update fan fics as early as possible. I'm just pretty busy with too much school work, that's all. Anyway, hope you enjoyed this one and once again please REVIEW! And thanx a lot for reading! See ya next chapter!