If the most popular female students at Midtown High School were ranked,
Gwen's popularity might not have been the highest, but she would absolutely have ranked first.
In fact, she would most likely have been miles ahead of everyone else.
At the school, the silent majority would probably have cast their votes for Gwen.
That included Hawk.
He still remembered when he had first enrolled. Because he was not good with words and tended to keep to himself, Gwen had mistaken him for someone being excluded by his classmates and had tried to help him fit into the student body.
But that was only because Gwen was kindhearted.
Hawk had never taken Gwen's apparent concern for him as anything else.
Because if it had been another student, beautiful and kindhearted Gwen would have chosen to help them too.
And wasn't there a famous saying?
Right.
There were three great illusions in life.
Among those three illusions, "She likes me" was undoubtedly the runaway number one.
So...
Naturally, Hawk would not fall for that illusion.
Soon enough.
They arrived at Queens County Court.
Hawk looked at the courthouse outside the car, thanked Gwen once again for driving him over, then opened the door and got out.
Then...
Hearing footsteps behind him, he turned and looked at Gwen, who had also gotten out and followed him. Another question mark practically squeezed its way onto his head.
"?"
"How are you planning to get back? Walk? The airport's really far from here."
"The sub..."
"The drivers' union is on strike. Subway drivers are drivers too."
"..."
Hawk fell silent.
Gwen smiled faintly and took the lead toward the courthouse. "Come on. It's almost three. You don't want Judge Brose to cancel your hearing, do you?"
Hawk watched Gwen walk ahead of him. He opened his mouth, thought it over, then shook his head and followed her inside.
Family Courtroom Three.
Judge Brose, seated at the bench, tapped his little gavel.
"Next case, Hawk's Independent Hearing."
"Your Honor."
Hawk rose from his seat and politely greeted the judge on the bench.
"Your Honor."
The Child and Family Welfare Department caseworker responsible for Hawk also stood.
Judge Brose looked through the materials Hawk had submitted for his independence application. After a while, he looked at the Child and Family Welfare Department caseworker. "According to these documents, he was never adopted, nor was he ever placed with a foster family?"
The caseworker gave a bitter smile.
"Yes, Your Honor."
"May I ask why?"
"Hawk was different from other children. Ever since he was young, he did not like talking or interacting with others. As a result, prospective adoptive parents never considered him. That is why Hawk has spent so many years in the adoption system without ever being adopted."
"Hawk."
After hearing the welfare department employee's answer, Judge Brose nodded and looked at Hawk, who did not appear from his outward appearance to be the withdrawn type. "Your application says you are seeking independence because you want to rent an apartment?"
Hawk nodded.
"Yes, Your Honor."
"May I ask how you intend to pay the rent after becoming independent?"
"I already have thirty thousand dollars in my bank account. If I rent a cheap apartment, it will be enough to cover the rent until I find a job."
"Thirty thousand?"
Hearing Hawk's answer, Judge Brose found the bank balance certificate Hawk had submitted along with his independence application. After reviewing several other documents, disbelief flickered in his eyes.
No phone.
No computer.
No car, not even a driver's license.
Judge Brose was somewhat surprised.
It was not unheard of for orphans to apply for early independence before turning eighteen, but this was the first time Judge Brose had seen someone like Hawk, who had cut out every nonessential expense.
What was more, it was the first time Judge Brose had seen an orphan who had never been adopted or taken in by a foster family possess such a massive sum as thirty thousand dollars in savings.
As Judge Brose considered this, he looked at Hawk with an indescribable tone in his voice.
"You have excellent self-control, Mr. Hawk."
"Thank you, Your Honor."
Hearing how Judge Brose addressed him, Hawk's heart stirred.
Because "Mister" was a form of address for an independent adult man.
Just as he thought.
Judge Brose smiled faintly and, with a smack, stamped Hawk's independence application. As he passed it to the bailiff beside him, he looked at Hawk and said, "Under normal circumstances, I do not approve early independence, because the adult world is cruel. But you, Mr. Hawk, I believe you are ready. So congratulations, Mr. Hawk."
Hawk accepted the documents passed over by the bailiff. Listening to Judge Brose's words, he looked at the judge.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Judge Brose nodded and smiled at Hawk, then struck his gavel again. "Next case..."
Hawk left the courtroom with Gwen, carrying the stamped documents.
Outside the courthouse.
Hawk looked at the court-stamped paperwork in his hand and smiled.
With this court-certified document, he was legally independent ahead of time. Even though he was not yet eighteen, he could sign a lease with a landlord.
He could finally move out of that temporary hangar residence, a powder keg that could blow at any unknown moment.
That was great.
As Hawk happily headed toward the subway station, he savored the thought.
The next second.
He was pulled to a stop.
Hawk looked up at Gwen, who seemed somewhat speechless, blinked, and realized.
Right, the subway had shut down too.
"Sorry."
"Come on..."
Gwen shook her head, then remembered something. She looked at Hawk and added, "...Mr. Hawk."
Hawk raised an eyebrow at Gwen, who wore a faint smile as she headed toward the car parked some distance away.
At that moment, a traffic cop was standing in front of Gwen's yellow Carola.
"Wait a moment, Officer."
Seeing that the traffic cop had already taken out a ticket, Gwen hurried over and quickly pulled a card from her backpack, handing it to him.
The traffic cop looked at the card Gwen handed him, momentarily stunned, then reached out and accepted it.
But it was not a business card. It was a family card, a card circulated among New York Police Department families.
The card had only one purpose.
To prove that you were one of their own.
After noting the name and phone number on the family card—"19th Precinct: George Stacy"—the traffic cop looked Gwen over, put away his ticket machine, and returned the family card to her.
"Go on."
"Thank you."
Gwen quickly thanked him.
The traffic cop got back on his police motorcycle and puttered away.
Watching the traffic cop leave, Gwen could not help letting out a breath of relief. She looked at Hawk, sounding thankful.
"That was close!"
"..."
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