After almost ten days, Hwoarang found himself outside of Isa's building. He wasn't sure how it happened; he had been walking along, wasting time before he went to eat dinner. The next thing he knew, he was standing in front of her building. He had been making a conscious effort to avoid going near there, as he was afraid she would see him. It wasn't that he cared about her that much; he just didn't want to get involved. Or, at least he kept telling himself that. He knew that there was something different about this girl, besides the fact that she was not Korean. There was something special about her, something that made him want to learn more as his mind struggled to resist. Maybe it was just her perfume or those pheromone things people always talk about, he thought.
It was hard for Hwoarang to keep resisting her, especially when he saw her as so frail and naïve. She wasn't incredibly beautiful, but she was intriguing, and often cute. He kept trying to convince himself that she was nothing special, nothing to waste his time on, but his mind would not listen. He had tried to release some of his feelings by using other women, but none of them mattered. None of them were like Isa. Sure, they were pretty. And some had quite a sense of humor. But there was something that they were all missing, that she had. Hwoarang was damned if he knew what it was, and that in itself drove him crazy. Whatever was going on, he knew that he was not acting like himself.
So, here he was, standing outside of her building, staring up at the windows. He gathered himself and decided to go talk to her. Hwoarang entered the building, and headed up the stairs to her place. He knocked on the door and put on his best face. He wasn't dressed well, but he had made some attempt to wear semi-clean clothes that day. He was glad he had, although he absent-mindedly wished for his goggles.
"Hello?" She asked, opening the door.
"Hey precious," he replied, stepping forward and into the doorway. She was wearing plaid woven pants and a small T-shirt. He noticed that the kitchen table was covered with papers.
"Hwoarang? What are you doing here?" She looked a bit confused and surprised. "I haven't heard from you in so long, I thought you forgot about me."
"That hurts," he replied, putting his hand over his heart while acting shocked. "I've been busy." He looked down at her. "You hungry?" She nodded.
"Let me go change, first," she hurried off to another room.
"Were you busy?" He asked.
"Just grading some papers for school." Hwoarang heard clothing rustle.
"How is that going?"
"Fine. You know, I have a lot of boys in my classes. It's funny though; more keep wanting to take my class. The girls don't seem to like me much, either." He heard water running.
"If you had been at my school, I might have done the same. Hell, I might have actually stayed in school," she giggled and the water stopped. "I'm being serious, think about it. Most of the teachers are old and ugly, always yelling at you and stuff. I mean, hell, you could win some kind of beauty contest with no questions asked based on what I used to see."
"Well, thank you," she said. He couldn't hear any noises coming from the bathroom anymore. She came through a door and stood before him. She was wearing a short black skirt, a white T-shirt. Her hair was pulled back, and Hwoarang could see she was wearing make-up. She sat down in a chair at the kitchen table and began to put on sandals, lacing them up around her legs.
"Let's go." She said, standing up and smiling at him.
"I know a decent place around here. Hope you like Korean food," he winked at her and followed her out of the apartment. She locked the door, and the pair left the building. He led her down the street, to a small restaurant only two blocks from her apartment. They entered the building, and Hwoarang walked straight to a small table near the back.
"Do you come here often?" She asked.
"Not really. But I know some of the guys who work in the back." He watched as she ran her right pointer finger over the table, idly making circles on the tabletop.
"Can I get your order, please?" A young man asked. Hwoarang looked up at him and glared, shooting daggers with his eyes. There was nothing particular that stood out about him, but Hwoarang immediately decided he didn't like him. The guy just seemed shady, and Hwoarang knew his fair share of shady characters.
"Yeah, I want the special." Both men turned to stare at Isabella.
"I'll have the same." It was more of a question than a direct order. The waiter nodded and left the pair to talk. "What is the special?" She asked, hesitantly. Hwoarang laughed loudly, causing other patrons to look their way.
"I'm sure you'll like it. I'm going to get a beer. Want one?" He watched as she thought for a minute and then nodded her head. "I'll be right back." He ordered two beers from the bar, bringing the bottles back to the table.
"Thanks," she replied, taking a bottle from his hands. She took a sip and then cupped her chin with her left hand.
"You're really quite cute when you do that," he told her. She blushed and laughed.
"You can be quite a flirt when you want." Hwoarang scratched the back of his head, lightly running his fingers through his hair when he finished. He then winked at her and smiled.
"Tell me something about yourself." Hwoarang stared at her, unsure of how to respond to her request. His stomach growled, so he quickly finished off his beer.
"I just got a new bike recently." He saw her look him, seeming to try and figure out what he meant. "A motorcycle. Some jerk destroyed my old one. Your turn." She raised an eyebrow and shook her head.
"I once sold an ex-boyfriend's bike to some American military men. He sure was mad about that one, but hell, he deserved it." She took a sip of her beer. "Your turn."
"Hm," Hwoarang began, thinking. He thought of saying something rude and inappropriate, but funny to him at least. He decided against it, and went for something that wouldn't cause her to blush or get mad. "I finished my time in the military not too long ago. I served my mandatory two years and then got the hell out of there. I believe it is now your turn."
"I have this unnatural fear that I am going to fail here, and be sent home with nothing to show for my time or effort. Sounds silly, doesn't it? Anyway, your turn." She drained her beer as well, staring into his eyes. Luckily, for Hwoarang at least, the food arrived, the smell causing his mouth to water.
"Two more of these," he ordered, holding up his empty bottle. The waiter nodded and left, reappearing shortly with two more bottles.
"What is this stuff?" Isabella asked.
"The special," Hwoarang replied, smirking. "Just eat it. It won't kill you." He began to eat, stuffing food into his mouth at an almost alarming pace. He stopped and looked at her, trying to urge her to follow his lead. She shook her head, shrugged, and took a bite. He watched her chew for a few seconds, and then swallow. She smiled and took another bite, to which Hwoarang returned to his pace. They finished their meals, Hwoarang eating a portion of Isabella's. He noticed she ate slowly, but figured it was some cultural thing. The pair finished their beers, and started on another set.
"Now will you tell me what I ate?" She asked.
"The special," he smirked, and winked at her frustration. "You ready to go?" She finished her beer and nodded.
"Where are we going?" Hwoarang shook his head and stood up, his chair almost falling to the floor. He grabbed her hand, and pulled her up. The pair walked outside, the city growing dark as the sun was already down. "Shouldn't we pay or something?"
"Nah, they owe me one," he replied. "Besides, my part of the deal comes later." He smacked her butt and squeezed. She jumped a little, and then smacked his arm.
"Just joking." He said, leading her down the street, away from her apartment. He knew it would be a bit of a walk to the school, but Hwoarang felt the need to show her the building. He was quite proud of it, and thought she might enjoy it. If nothing else, he could show her a few moves and maybe shake the feeling that she was the most helpless creature on the face of the planet. Besides, he might even get a chance to size her up a little more.
Hwoarang continued to lead Isabella to the school where his master taught, the pair not really speaking. He liked that about her – she seemed to be comfortable with the silence, and let him control the pace. He looked down at her, and watched as she looked at the surroundings, attempting to take them all in at once. He put an arm around her.
"You're safe with me babe." He saw her roll her eyes. "Besides, we're almost there." He saw the school in the distance, and breathed a small sigh of relief. He had been living at the school with his master for some time now, and it really felt like home to him. He had other places across the town where he could crash, if needed, as well as an old warehouse that served as the base for his gang. But there was nothing like having your own bed, one that you had slept in for years. Granted, it was often hard to live with his master, and where he practiced, but it helped him improve.
Hwoarang dropped his arm from Isabella's shoulders and jogged to the entrance of the building. It stood alone, separated by the other buildings by a small field, full of grass. He was not too far away, and wanted to check the building before she arrived. He figured it would be best for them to be alone, not because he wanted to do something with her at that time, but because he figured she would be less embarrassed if it was just the two of them. He looked inside, and saw that not only were the lights off, but the door was locked. His master often went into to town, and Hwoarang figured it was one of those nights.
"Where are we?" She asked, walking up.
"This is where I live, and where I practice. We should be alone." He smiled and winked. "I want to teach you a few things, help keep you safe in the future."
"Why do I need to learn this stuff?" She started, following him into the building. "You'll always be there to save me." She smirked, waiting for his response. Hwoarang stared back at her and shook his head. She could be quite the joker when she wanted to be. Hwoarang flipped a few switches on a panel across the building, turning on the lights. He looked at her, half hiding in the dark near the door. He had to admit that she looked almost angelic standing like that, the light casting shadows on random parts and illuminating other features.
"Come out to the middle. And, remove your shoes if you don't mind." Hwoarang paused to remove his boots, kicking them to the side near the light switch. He saw her sit down, unlacing the sandals. She finished faster than he expected and walked towards him.
"I'm going to teach you some of the basics of self-defense." He walked behind her and wrapped his right arm around her throat. "How would you get out of this?"
"Stomp on your feet and elbow you in the stomach." She slowly moved through the motions, showing him that she knew what she was saying. Hwoarang nodded and let go, moving to face her. He was impressed thus far.
"Good. When you do that, make sure to aim up with your elbow. There is something else you can do." She stared at him, confused. "It might be difficult, but it could be helpful. Maybe another time though." She nodded and Hwoarang grabbed her throat from the front.
"I would kick you in the groin." She calmly replied. When she tried, however, she found that she couldn't get the leverage to hit the area well. They continued to work the basics for over an hour. He showed her how to make a proper fist and how to punch. He taught her the basic kicks, and gave examples for their uses. He taught her points she should target on the body. They went over different reactions for specific situations, Hwoarang trying to drill some of the ideas into her.
They were practicing one particular strategy when Hwoarang decided to call it a night. He moved back and dropped his guard. Before he could speak, however, she punched him in the stomach. She quickly put her hands to her mouth, covering her shock. Hwoarang leaned over a little; he hadn't expected her to do that.
"I'm so sorry," she said, putting her hands over her mouth.
"Look, it's OK. Really. Anyway, we should call it a night. Let me walk you home." She nodded and sank to the floor.
"That was tough," she said, not moving from her spot. Hwoarang looked down at her, and then picked her up, holding her in his arms. He could feel her heart, beating faster than he expected. He couldn't tell for sure if it was from their session or something else. He hoped it was something else.
"You did fine," he murmured, walking over to her shoes. He gently sat her down beside them before moving towards his boots. He could tell their session was hard on her, but for him, other than that last punch, he felt fine. They finished putting on their footwear at about the same time. Hwoarang flipped the lights off and lead her outside the building. There was enough light coming in from the street that they could both see well enough to exit. They paused long enough for Hwoarang to lock up the building. He motioned for her to follow him, as he walked to the back of the building. He hopped on his bike and patted the seat.
"There's room for one more." He made the typical come hither look at her, watching as she walked over. She sat behind him and put her arms around his waist. He started the bike and headed off. Hwoarang loved to ride, and he would usually take it out at high speeds. He wasn't quite sure how she would handle that, and he still wasn't used to the new bike, so he decided to go moderately fast. The drive didn't take very long, and before either of them knew it they were at her apartment. Hwoarang stopped and she hopped off the back.
"It's still early," Isabella remarked. "Would you like to come up? I have some cold beer." Hwoarang eyed her and nodded. He had nothing else to do at the moment, and he was always up for free beer. He left the bike out front, along with some others sitting nearby. He followed her up the stairs, watching her movements closely. She was light on her feet, and in rather good shape. He could see the outline of the muscles on her legs. Nothing too defined, but defiantly not weak either. He reached his hand out and then smacked her on the butt, for good measure. He heard her sigh and could almost picture her eyes roll, but he didn't care.
They entered the apartment and Hwoarang walked straight to the couch. He plopped down, and put his feet up on the coffee table in front of him. Isabella walked to the kitchen and rummaged around the cabinets for a moment. He watched her pull down a package of something he didn't recognize, before she turned to the refrigerator to grab some beers. She sat down beside him, offering him one of the cold beverages. He took a sip and nodded, thanking her without words. He watched her look at him and smile.
"I have something to show you," she began. "Stay right here." She got up, placing her beer on the table before them. She walked to the back area, and then came out holding a small book. She opened it to a map and pointed to a city.
"Is that where you are from?" He asked, looking half-heartedly at the map. He saw her nod and smile. The lighting was low, and he was only half-paying attention. From his point of view, it looked like she was pointing to the middle of the country. It briefly crossed his mind that the country was the one that looked like a boot.
"I just can't believe you have never even heard of it. But, then again, that doesn't surprise me. My students are the same way." She continued to sit next to him, both drinking and enjoying the silence. Idly, he ran his fingers through his hair before taking the final sip.
"Sit on the floor," she suddenly commanded. Hwoarang turned to look at her, still holding the bottle to his mouth. "Please, sit on the floor," she repeated. He shook his head and did as she asked, sitting between the couch and table. He felt her move so that his body was between her legs. The feeling was oddly arousing, and he did his best to suppress it. He felt her hands on his back, and she began to massage his shoulders.
She started softly at first, checking to see which areas were the most tense. Hwoarang could feel her hands working into the hard areas, gently lifting some of the pressure. He had to admit that she was good at this kind of thing. Not only was she releasing some of the stress, but also doing so without hurting him. She moved to his head after a few minutes, gently rubbing his scalp and temples. Hwoarang could not remember the last time he felt so relaxed.
"Lay down on the couch," he heard her whisper, her breath warm on his ear. He quietly followed her command, and flattened himself on the small piece of furniture. She sat down on him, using her knees for some leverage. She continued the message, working on his middle and lower back. As she moved down, he could feel his arousal growing. Her hands stopped at the line of his pants, however, never moving low. He had no idea how much time had passed, but she continued to work the muscles in his back. She then moved to his arms, her fingers smooth on his bare skin. After some time, he could feel her pace slowing. He grabbed one of her hands and turned his head to look at her.
"It's OK," he murmured, flipping over. She was now positioned on top, in a suggestive position. He couldn't help but think that under other circumstances she would be right where he wanted her. He started to move, pushing himself up to the sitting position.
"Thank you," he replied. "I hate to leave like this, but you know, it is late." He saw the disappointment on her face, but didn't quite understand why. "I appreciate it."
"Have a safe trip home." It was a bit soft, but he could tell it was also terse. He shrugged his shoulders and left her alone. He knew it was going to be quite a night trying to sleep, and figured a cold shower might do him some good.
Author's Notes:
Thanks to everyone who reviewed. I really appreciate the comments!
I just finished editing this chapter, and figured I would go ahead and post it. I have spring break next week, so I might be able to finish editing a few more chapters and maybe finish the next two that I am working on. In case you are curious, I am currently working on chapter six, and editing the other chapters.
I hope to keep a steady pace with these chapters, but I can't guarantee it. I am currently working on Master's degree in history, and it can be quite difficult to take time off from school and work to write. So, please forgive me if it takes me a while to add chapters after the next few weeks.