IMPORTANT NOTE: I do not own anything
CHAPTER 3
Lili Rochefort was a girl blessed with divine beauty. From her childish years, people from different cosmetic or clothing companies wanted her to advertise for them. She still remembered the time when her father took her to the birthday party of one of his business partners' son. She never left her father's hand and whenever he would look at her with his beautiful smile her eyes would shine. This kind of expression made a photographer want to make her his model. He was working for a fashion magazine, which was worldwide known and it was about those days that they wanted to add "a children's edition". Those days making clothes for elementary students and infants was really fashionable. The man approached them and with a polite smile gave her father his business card. He begged him to allow him to photograph his daughter. Lili's father was completely against it. I'm not going to allow you to drive my child into this world full of hateful antagonism. She's my dear pure and kind daughter. You won't shatter her innocent heart. That was what her father exactly said to him and tightened his grip on little Lili's hand. Even though his grip hurt her frail hand, Lili knew that her father was saying all this to protect her… Father? She said back then… Please, let me do this. Just once. I want you to have my pictures all over your office. Her father looked deep into her blue eyes and noticed the expectation they were emitting. His grip on her hand loosened… You really want to do this? He asked her and she gave him a nod… I see…but just this once, ok?
However, "The just this once" thing happened again and again. Lili was happy with what she was doing. She had people taking care of her and trying to get on her good side. That was a "have to do" thing or else they were fired from their supervisors, since young Lili had already started to be one of their biggest assets. As the years were going on, she started to realize that she had the need to do other things but the way she chose to live didn't give her any freedom as to play with her friends…even though she didn't have any…
When she entered the age of sixteen, it was the time when everything changed wholly. Her body stopped changing and she had the perfect proportions and qualities to stand on the runway equally with older or more experienced models. But with the more experience she was getting, the pressure was getting even bigger. She remembered her father's words back there when she was just six years old. When he talked about "hateful antagonism". If only she had him close to her now. When she became sixteen, she left her house in Monaco and went to live in New York with her manager. Her father was looking out for her and he was the one, who hired that woman as a manager for his daughter. She used to be his secretary for a lot of years and he was always satisfied from her work. However, he decided to be strict with Lili. She was the one, who was happy and wanted to continue doing this kind of thing. He told her that she needed to take care of herself this time. Lili agreed with her father in the inside. At first, she felt alone and helpless but she cheered up when she decided to do her best for him…
…
'Cough, Cough'
The young girl placed her hand on her mouth as she started coughing. She was feeling a little weary for some days now. Truth is that as a professional model, she had a specific everyday diet. She wasn't eating food with a lot of vitamins but she was replenishing them by getting pills. Her manager was worried about her, fearing that she may collapse out of nowhere. She was trying to reason with Lili but the only thing she was managing to do was to get her angry. What a stubborn girl? It's been five years now that she was working with her but she was still difficult to deal with. It was when Lili said to her that she accepted a job in Japan that everything turned worse. It was true that Lili had already finished with doing all her jobs here, well she was really professional and punctual, but still, the woman couldn't follow her this time. She was her manager. Maybe, Lili didn't have to do anything and finished everything she had but still, the woman had to be in contact with her agency and accept or deny possible future contracts for her. This time she realized that she, at least, needed to have someone she could trust to take care of Lili, there, and be her bodyguard. A smile appeared on her red colored lips, when she remembered something or better someone…
"Lili, are you ok? Should I delay your flight?"
The young girl shook her head negatively and while having the pill inside her mouth, containing some of the vitamins she needed to take, she swallowed it as she started drinking a glass of water. She sighed and placed the glass on the counter… "No, I'm fine. Anyway, I have already talked with Hwoarang and informed him about when I'll be there."
"I see…Lili?"
"Yes?"
The woman after placing the tray with Lili's usual breakfast on the table, walked behind her and touched her shoulders… "Since, you're going to Japan for that commercial…Why don't you take a long vacation there?"
Lili placed her hand under her chin and with one of the fingers of her other hand, she started playing with her hair. She raised her head to look at her manager. A longtime vacation sounded nice but then…This time period was always busy. "Don't I have any job scheduled?"
"I believe they want for you to do something but anyway, it's not something important."
"Did they give you any hint about the content? I mean…Runway or a photo shoot?"
She gave her a nod and walked to sit at the chair opposite her. She filled Lili's cup with some warm milk with honey inside and she filled her own with some coffee. For a moment the blonde younger girl felt jealous. She never had coffee, so she didn't know the taste, but the smell was really soothing and felt nice…
"I believe it's a photo shoot. Well…Do you want me to tell you the theme when I find out?"
"Please do. By the way, Hwoarang said that he had prepared everything, so you don't need to worry."
The woman nodded and smiled… "He sure is a dependable man."
Lili crossed her arms and looked curiously at her manager… "Now that we mentioned him, you hired him…And you said back there that we can trust him. Did you know him a lot before that?"
The older woman crossed her legs and a nostalgic expression appeared on her face… "You could say that…Actually, he's somewhat like a son to me. Better call him my godson, hehe…"
"What do you mean?"
"You see…His mother and I were friends. Your father had told you, maybe, when you found out that I will come with you, that I was one of his most hardworking employees. I really tried my best to help her…She was sick, you know. Since, things weren't getting any better, I decided to talk to your father and he was kind enough to lend me some money."
"So? Did you manage to help her?"
A sad smile appeared on the woman's face. She really tried to smile or else she would break down to tears… "Unfortunately, I was too late. I, still, remember the day of the funeral. Her son was there, completely clueless. He couldn't realize it. When I approached him, it was the least I could do, he gave me a letter. I recognized my friend's handwriting. She asked from me to keep an eye on him. Thankfully, she had talked with a lawyer, as well, and I immediately took him under my custody."
The woman stopped talking when she felt her eyes getting teary. Lili gave her a concerned glance but in an instant looked at her empty now plate… "Believe me, Lili…You can trust this child."
She gave her a brief nod and stood up from the table and the other woman did the same… "I'm going to have a bath now."
"But keep in mind that we will have to be at the airport in about an hour. Two bodyguards will be on the same flight as you, in any case, and when you'll arrive, Hwoarang will take the lead."
"Got it! I won't be late."
…
A black car was parked at the private parking area of one of Tokyo's airports. A tall man dressed in a black suit walked out of it and after looking around him, he closed the driver's door. He locked it and made his way inside the airport. Soon he arrived at the waiting station. He saw a bunch of suspicious looking people standing closer. Could they be journalists? Hwoarang approached one of the security guards and asked him…
"A-Are they reporters?"
"Probably…These days a lot of…how to say it… "Important people" are coming. Yesterday, it was Jin Kazama."
Hwoarang's eyes widened… "Who?! That bastard dared to come back?"
The man gave him a strange look but then looked at the reporters' direction… "Who knows why they are here today?"
"This is bad…I hope she won't make a flamboyant appearance or else…" he thought and took out of his pocket his cell phone…
He was biting nervously his lips, while waiting for the other person to answer the phone…
"Pick it up, already! Oh! Lisa?! What am I supposed to do? A bunch of reporters are here…What do you mean? If you remember your client is one of the most popular models, you know that she easily attracts attention…Just two?! You should have sent with her more. What? She asked for this? Is she crazy? Ok…I'll go wait for her there. Bye! I know already!" he dropped the call and let out a "mentally tired" sigh…
…
"Hehe…How did you know I liked this?" said Ling Xiaoyu at her friend…
She placed the music box on her lap and turned it on. The beautiful sweet melody started filling her ears. She smiled at herself and then she touched gently the back of her friend's hand. He was taken aback by this and his gaze fell on her small in contrast to his hand…
"Thank you, Jin…But…"
"But?" he asked and raised his gaze at her face…
Xiaoyu caressed once again his hand and that made him smile at her…
"You didn't have to…It's not my birthday or…and…we're…not…Anyway, I'm not your girlfriend."
When she realized her own words, she took her hand away from his and her lips turned downwards. Jin tightened his grips. What's with this? All he wanted to do was to make her happy by giving her a present and now…Did he do anything wrong? He was excited in the idea of giving her a present he knew that she would like. He swallowed hard and he grabbed her hands. She was startled by this…
"J-Jin…What are you…"
"Xiao? Being in a relationship or not with you it's the same for me. What's with this? Even if I tell you now to be my girlfriend, will your feelings change? Or if we stay like this?"
She gave him a small sad smile and he cupped her face…Without noticing it, he felt a single tear of hers falling on his hand. His eyes widened…Xiaoyu placed her hand on Jin's. The one, which was touching her cheek. Jin moved closer to her and hugged her tightly…
"Xiao?"
"Hm?"
"I know that now, I can't bring you happiness but…"
"What are you saying?" she interrupted him…
"Let me talk…" Xiaoyu buried her head deeper into his chest… "Now, I'm just a weak boy…But I promise you. I will become a dependable and powerful man. And then…Then, I will marry you."
"HUH?!" she said and pulled away from him being surprised… "You serious?!"
"Dead serious."
…
Xiaoyu opened slowly her eyes. As she did that, tears fell from her eyes. She wasn't shedding them now…Maybe, they were kept from back there. But in the past, these tears would express her happiness…now…What's their kind now? She turned to her left and saw no one. She remembered that Alisa was laying, there, next to her last night. She placed her arm above her eyes and a weird smile crossed her lips…
"Indeed…You became a powerful man…Dependable? I don't think so…Jin." She said to herself…
A sigh escaped her lips and she stood up. She checked the time at her alarm clock. Ugh…She slept a lot. She touched her chest when she noticed that on the same drawer as her alarm clock, she had, also, placed the music box, Jin gave her as a present. She shook her head and started "slapping" playfully her cheeks. She stood up and stretched…
Xiaoyu walked to the window and opened it, letting the fresh air fill the room. She looked outside. The town was as busy as always but it felt good. The dream she had didn't actually bothered her. It was a nice memory. If only she could turn back in those days? If she knew, she wouldn't trust him that easily. Maybe, she shouldn't have accepted his gift, in the end. As this thought entered her mind, her gaze fell once again on the music box. But no…she was proud of that trait of hers. She never had any regrets. She couldn't imagine herself having not met Jin and especially falling in love with him. On the other hand, she could be a little more careful…that was true. A grin appeared, suddenly, on her face…
"No, no, Xiao! Time to cheer up. Even though, I still…love him. Jin belongs just to my past. Off to the future I go!" she said to herself and nodded…
She walked away from where she was standing next to the window but she stopped for a moment. Being lost in her thoughts, she forgot about Alisa and Asuka. She remembered Asuka telling her that she needed to go and buy something but where the hell was Alisa? She rushed to the kitchen and thankfully she noticed a note being stack on the fridge. For a moment she gritted her teeth. It was obviously Asuka, who did this. That girl! She was always telling her to not stick anything on the furniture but she still kept on doing it. She decided to ignore it and took the note in her hands…
I'm out! I'll bring breakfast back (make sure there is coffee, though). I won't be late.
P.S. Alisa is with me
Xiaoyu read the note and smiled. Demanding as always. At least, Alisa was with her. The girl threw the note inside the recycle bin and proceeded to make the coffee, Asuka longed so much for. In about ten minutes later, the dorm's door opened and Asuka with Alisa walked inside, with the latter holding all the bags. An irritated sigh escaped Xiaoyu's mouth. She made her way quickly to Alisa's side and took the bags from her. Alisa had a confused expression on her face. It wasn't heavy for her, so why did one-san come to help her? In the end, she gave her a smile and Xiaoyu nodded. Asuka rolled her eyes at them and locked the door after closing it…
Asuka snapped slightly when her nose made contact with something pleasuring. She licked her lips and smiled with her eyes. She rushed to Xiaoyu's side, who was placing the bags on the counter and touched her shoulders… "Don't tell me!"
"What is it?" she asked confused…
"You did my absolute favorite, didn't you?"
"Indeed…As expected of a person addicted to caffeine." She said and placed a hand on her forehead. Asuka looked inside the light blue cup, which had her name written on it. Xiaoyu had one as well, even though it was orange and, obviously, with her own name on it. She looked at the color and had a better contact with the smell, which was revealing the taste. Xiaoyu found her cute in a funny way. Both of them were getting easily excited but Asuka was overdoing it. She, then, turned to Alisa, who was standing straight behind her. She placed her hands gently on her shoulders…
"Alisa? I made some for you. Would you like to taste it?"
"Of course, Xiao-onesan!"
Xiaoyu grabbed her hand and led her to the table. Her eyes widened and she stopped her pace with Alisa bumping a little onto her…
"Why did you buy that much?!"
Asuka raised an eyebrow and took out of her mouth the donut, she just tried to savor. She looked away from Xiaoyu and gathered everything she bought to her side. "I didn't ask you to eat."
"That's not the point!" she said and crossed her arms… "Didn't we say for you to not overdo it?"
"Just relax! The only thing that can actually happen will be, me spending another thirty minutes inside the toilet." Answered Asuka back and had a sip from her coffee…
Xiaoyu decided to not pull the subject any further and turned to Alisa… "Allie, come! Let's eat."
"Alisa is welcomed to eat, you're not."
"Oh really? I'm so hurt."
"Just kidding!"
With Asuka saying that, the three girls started eating. Xiaoyu was looking carefully at Alisa, who was ready to taste her coffee… "Alisa, be careful with that, ok? It's hot."
The pink haired gave her a nod but Xiaoyu's words took Asuka's attention, who looked at her hand… "By the way, how's your hand?"
"Yes, Xiao-onesan…Does it feel better?"
Xiaoyu touched her arm, which was wrapped in bandages. Unfortunately, she remembered the cause but she managed to repress it by trying to give them a smile…
"A lot better. Thanks again, guys."
Asuka breathed out and cleaned a little the edge of her mouth… "At least it wasn't for nothing." She mumbled to herself…
"Nothing…for what?" asked Xiaoyu confused…
The brunette tightened her fists remembering the encounter with that stupid annoying rude idiot. How dare he? And not only that. Maybe, he was actually a thief, since she had lost her student's passport and when she went back to where she fell, it was nowhere to be found. He, obviously, faked it. He should have been of those, who actually stand on the corners of the sidewalks and wait for their victims to appear. However, she decided to let it go for now. She was going to let the university's secretariat know and if possible make another one for her…otherwise? She was screwed…
"Asuka?"
"Forget it! Why don't we open the TV?"
Both Xiaoyu and Alisa nodded and the first walked to take the remote control, which was on top of the two seated couch. She walked back to the table and opened the TV. Suddenly, Asuka took the remote from her friend's hands with the latter being justifiably annoyed. She could just ask for it. She wasn't really interested anyway…
"By the way, girls…What would you say if we go and play later, huh? What about an amusement park?" Xiaoyu suggested…
Asuka gave her a suspicious glance… "What are you on? Pretty suspicious…"
"Huh?! I just want to thank you for yesterday."
Suddenly her eyes widened… "You mean that you will pay for all of us?"
Xiaoyu nodded knowing the reason why Asuka seemed so spirited suddenly...
"Ok, I'm in! What about you, Alisa?"
Alisa didn't answer them. That was weird. As a robot she was always aware of her surroundings, at least that was how Asuka and Xiaoyu thought. The two looked at each other and Xiaoyu extended her hand and touched lightly Alisa's… "Allie?"
Finally, Alisa responded at her by looking at them and said pointing at the TV… "Isn't that girl beautiful?"
"Who?" asked Xiaoyu and Asuka in unison. They followed the way Alisa was pointing and their eyes fell on the TV…
Xiaoyu nodded but Asuka stayed silent… "You're right, Allie! She's really pretty and successful. Oh…How I'd wish to be at least acquainted with her?"
"That means she's popular?" asked Alisa again…
"Well, duh? With those looks?" Asuka was heard this time… "She's Lili Rochefort. One of the most famous worldwide known models."
Alisa looked at Xiaoyu, who gave her a smile. The young girl couldn't understand why looks can make someone popular? But then, they said that she is a model. Well, she knew that the "fashion industry" was a popular factor to the women. Now she could understand her popularity somehow…
"Oh my, thank you for your concern. It's not certain how long I'm going to be here because of my job but I always wanted to visit Japan."
"Thank you, Miss Rochefort. Have a pleasant stay here in Tokyo."
"I will. Now if you excuse me."
Asuka turned the volume down as Lili's interview was over. As it seemed she was more approachable than she imagined…
…
Hwoarang walked outside the car when he noticed a blonde tall girl leaving the airport. Two bodyguards were standing at her side and they were making their way to him. He stomped on his cigarette and opened the back door for her. Soon enough, Lili appeared in front of him and smiled. He bowed in front of her and she let out a sigh. That was so bothersome. The young girl enjoyed being with him because he was actually making her feel comfortable…And now?...Did Lisa say anything to him?
"Nice seeing you, Hwoarang." She said and dismissed her two bodyguards…
They left and the two were now alone. Hwoarang waited for her to step inside and as she did, he said… "Same here…Lili."
Lili smiled when she heard him calling her by her first name. He closed the door for her and walked to the driver's door. He opened it and walked inside the car…
"How was your flight?" he asked as he turned on the enjine…
"Nothing out of the ordinary…just a normal flight."
A small smile appeared on his lips and gave her a nod… "I see…May I ask you something?"
"What is it?" she said and crossed her legs…
"Why did you take the decision to let the reporters interview you?"
"Don't you get it? Since I let them do it now, I could at least have a piece of quiet."
Hwoarang chuckled at what she said… "Pretty naïve of you…Don't underestimate those guys."
"Thanks for your concern but whatever…Take me home."
"Roger that!"
Still inside the car, Lili noticed a paper bag being at the back seat next to her. She took it in her hands but hesitated to open it. Maybe it was his and she shouldn't pry into it. She swallowed hard and said… "Hwoarang?"
"Yes?"
"What's inside this paper bag? Is it yours?"
Hwoarang shook his head, still looking at the road… "It's yours ma'am. A new cellphone sent by your agency here…weird though…and some spare keys from the house. I believe I should have a pair."
"I agree…Hey? What's a student's passport doing here?"
The young man raised an eyebrow confused… "What do you mean?"
"I can see the cell phone and keys but there's, also, this thing here…It belongs to a girl…Asuka Kazama, it says"
His eyes widened… "Huh? K-Kazama?"
"You know her? Could she be related to that new CEO?" she asked curiously…
"Oh no! I was just surprised because of the surname as well…What should I do with it? Dispose it?"
Lili turned the pages and found more information on her. She raised her gaze and looked at Hwoarang's back… "What's with you? We're definitely turning it back."
"S-Sure…How did this thing end up here? By the way, the other party contacted me. You can meet with him tomorrow morning if you wish."
A blush appeared on her face and her heartbeats sped up. She nodded to herself… "Hm…I see."
Entry four: What's behind this blush?
Thanks for reading!
Next chapter is focusing once again mainly on Lili and now Steve.