Disclaimer: I don't own Tekken.
Chapter 9 – Breaking Bonds
It was six in the afternoon when Jin went downstairs. He was wearing a black suit. All the maids who were preparing the living room were fascinated by him. He was really handsome. With some luck he would be able to speak with Lao that same night. At seven the guests started arriving, they were mostly Julia's family. Cousins, Uncles and Aunts.
Steve joined Jin and when Lao arrived, he took them so they could meet the guests properly. Hwoarang arrived in that moment, but Lao pretended that he didn't see him. There was no point to introduce Hwoarang to the guests, because Julia would never choose him.
In that moment Miharu came down the stairs. Jin and Steve were surprised to see how beautiful she was in a light brown dress that matched her hair.
-'I wish Ling was here.'-Jin sighed.
-'Do you mind if I ask her to have a drink with me?'-Steve asked.
-'No…go ahead, but she's a good friend of mine, so respect her or I'll make you pay Fox!'
-'Don't worry Mishima…'
Due to Miharu's appearance, Julia managed to join the party without being noticed; actually only Hwoarang noticed her.
-'Are you hiding?'-he asked.
-'No…just…'
-'Ok, you don't need to explain, I guess I know what's going on…'
-'You look very handsome in that suit.'-Julia said to change the subject.
-'You're not bad yourself…though I would prefer a short dress!'
Julia looked at him and shook her head. She had decided not to mention the previous night and it seemed that he was doing the same.
-'Idiot!'-she said.
In that moment, Lao spotted her and called her.
-'Julia is going to make an announcement after dinner…it's very important.'-Lao said to everyone on the living room. They all looked at Julia with excitement and no one noticed that she wasn't too happy.
During the dinner, Julia was forced to smile and talk happily with her family.
After that, Lao had to pick up an important phone call and left the living room. Julia went to the balcony and her sister followed her.
-'What happened to you?'-Michelle asked.
-'Huh?'
-'You look like you're going to a funeral.'
-'I don't want to get married.'
-'I see…you don't want to marry Steve or Jin…'
Julia nodded.
-'What about Yon?'
-'What about him?'
-'I saw how you look at him.'
-'It's not my fault!'-Julia blushed.
-'I know. But dad doesn't like him.'
Julia shrugged and sighed.
-'What a mess…'-she said.
-'You better think carefully…but I guess you know what to do…just tell dad how you feel.'
Michelle left and Julia watched the night sky. She was thinking about what to do when she heard steps behind her.
-'So your dad doesn't like me, huh?'-Hwoarang said.
-'Sort of…were you spying on us?'
-'No. I was already in the balcony when you arrived.'
-'Why is that we always end up arguing?'
Hwoarang shrugged.
-'Because you're stubborn?'-he suggested.
-'Ha ha…very funny.'
-'What's the big announcement?'
-'The stupid wedding…'
-'With Jin?'
-'No…Jin is leaving…probably tomorrow.'
-'Steve then.'
-'Yeah. But I don't love Steve…'
-'And I guess he doesn't love you either.'-Hwoarang said pointing at Steve who was speaking happily with Miharu.-'You need to tell you father!'
-'It's easy to say that…'-Julia sighed.-'He's going to be so disappointed with me.'
In that moment Lao returned to the party and Julia saw him speaking with her sister. Michelle pointed to the balcony.
-'Damn…I wish I could disappear.'
-'Well…you can.'-Hwoarang said and jumped from the balcony. Julia almost screamed but then she realised that it wasn't that high.
-'Are you alright?'
-'Yeah…fine. Now jump before your father sees you!'
-'I'm wearing shoes…with heels.'
-'Just jump and I'll catch you!'-Hwoarang suggested.
-'Are you crazy? What if you let me fall?'
-'I won't. Trust me!'
Julia lifted her long golden dress and stood in the ledge. She looked down and closed her eyes.
-'If I fall…I'll kill you!'-she said and then she jumped. When she opened her eyes she was safe, in Hwoarang's arms.
-'I told you…'-he said smiling.
They heard Lao opening the balcony's window.
-'Julia? Where are you?'-his voice asked.
Hwoarang pulled her under the balcony so they wouldn't be seen from above. They stood there for a couple of minutes waiting for Lao to go inside again.
-'Now what?'-she asked.-'I can't just keep on hiding.'
-'Lets go!'-Hwoarang ordered pulling her towards the garden.
-'Where are we going? Look…if you try anything I swear that…'
-'I'm not going to try anything.'
Hwoarang and Julia passed the sign saying "No Trespassing" and they stopped right in front of the small lake where Julia used to swim when she was a child.
-'Were you happy when you were a child and could come here to swim and play with your friends?'-he asked all of a sudden.
-'Yes, I was. Why?'
-'Are you happy now?'
-'I have a great family; I have friends and a huge house…'
-'That's not what I asked you! Are you happy now? Do you want this for your future?'
Julia watched the lake and understood what Hwoarang was trying to say. When she was a child she was free to go there and do whatever she liked. Now she couldn't do that anymore. Her destiny wasn't being controlled by her, but by her father. The problem was that he wanted her to do something that she didn't want to do. She wanted to be free again, to be able to make her own decisions.
-'No…I'm not happy. I will never be happy if I do what my father wants.'-she finally said.
-'Then change your destiny!'
-'I guess I have no other option. I'm going to face my father and tell him that I won't marry Steve…'
Julia looked at Hwoarang and smiled. Then she took off her shoes and her watch; and she entered the lake.
-'What are you doing?'-Hwoarang asked surprised.
-'Going for a swim.'
By entering in the water, Julia was breaking the bond she used to have with her father, because she had promised him that she would never swim in there again. Now she was no longer the "daddy's girl", she was someone with a mind of her own.