Julia folded her arms against her chest to protect herself from the cool wind, slipping her hand away from his. He hadn't let go as they'd walked down the halls, and she was the only one who made the effort to part. But in truth, he hadn't noticed that he still held hers in his hand.
"You scared the hell out of me you know." Nervously, she glanced back at the hospital. A genuine smile played on his lips.
"Maybe you're cute when you're scared." Moving her long hair from blocking her face, she glared at him. "And when you're angry."
"Are you always a jerk?" She huffed and began to walk faster, ahead of him. Placing both his hands on her hips, he stopped her and turned her towards him.
"I was only joking. Take my jokes as compliments." Hwoarang poked the center of her forehead and continued walking. "So, you a drinker?"
"I-uh-"
"You mean 'no'."
"I didn't say that. I drink just as much as anyone else my age." Julia bit back with a spark of enthusiasm.
"Oh yeah?" Hwoarang spoke, crossing the street to the hotel, Julia following closely behind.
"Yes, actually."
"Well," He opened the door for her. "what do you drink?"
"Whatever." She answered hesitantly, knowing wine coolers weren't on the top of his alcohol list. He smiled and nodded towards the bar.
"I'll buy you my favorite."
"You probably shouldn't be drinking after-"
"You worry too much Julia." She smiled at the speaking of her name.
Sitting down on the stool, he ordered two drinks in rusty Japanese.
"Are you feeling better at least?" He nodded as the tender slipped the drinks in front of him. He moved one towards her. "What did you mean when you said 'it happens all the time?'"
"It just does. It happens all the time." She glanced at the tags around his neck as he referred to his fainting and being hospitalized for a debilitating head ache.
"So why are you here?" Julia asked, delicately sipping the strong concoction, trying not to frown in distaste.
"For fun."
"Fun?"
"Mhmm. Ive got nothing to occupy my time now. So this is my fun. Money doesn't hurt either."
"Are you in the military?"
"Was." He corrected sternly, finishing his glass. She glanced down at her own, holding her breath. She took a large sip.
"You?"
"Me?" She coughed a bit.
"Why are you here? Pretty girls usually find better things to do."
"Trying to find my path in life."
"This would be the wrong place to do it. You make it sound so spiritual." She shrugged, and took the rest of the alcoholic drink like a shot.
"It used to be." She smiled in attempts to hide the pain the situation caused.
Hwoarang ordered two shots and pushed one towards her. She laughed.
"Do I look like a party girl to you?" He smiled after downing his shot, still completely unaffected by the alcohol.
"Hey, I could take that one off of your hands." He referred to her shot. Julia stuck out her tongue sideways at him, took the shot, and shut her eyes tightly.
"What was that?"
"Russian vodka."
"Ew."
"You'll be alright." Hwoarang laughed and she shook her head, hair falling into her face.
"Im done." Lightheaded, she laughed. He stared at her for a moment. Catching his glance, she looked away, then back again.
"What?" Hwoarang said nothing, but moved her hair from her face, tucking it behind her left ear.
"Your hair." He spoke in Korean.
"Hwoarang, I don't speak Korean." She giggled, and he blushed a bit, not realizing the slip.
"Your hair." He spoke in english. "It was hiding your face."
"Oh." Hwoarang stared into her eyes with a sort of blank look across his face. He was unreadable, even when he was trying to be. "Is there something wrong?" He shook his head.
"Thank you." There was a questioning look on her face once he spoke.
"For what?"
"For staying with me at the hospital." Hwoarang remembered how much he had hated waking up alone in the awful military make shift hospitals after being hurt, or when the head aches over came him.
"It was nothing. Im just glad that you feel better." He could hear the alcohol in her speaking. She ran her hand across his forearm sweetly. "I should be going." Hwoarang just about froze at her touch.
"I'll walk you to your room."
Before she put the key into the lock, she turned to face him.
"Thank you." She spoke softly. Standing only slightly on the tips of her toes, she kissed his cheek. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight Julia." He controlled the color of his face until she shut the door behind herself, then he turned bright red.
-o-
