If there were a ranking of the most popular female students at Midtown High School,
Gwen's popularity might not be the highest, but her ranking would definitely be first.
In fact, there's a high probability she'd be first by a landslide.
The silent majority in the school would likely choose to cast their votes for Gwen.
This included Hawk.
He still remembered when he first enrolled, because he wasn't good with words and preferred to keep to himself, Gwen mistakenly thought he was 'being ostracized by classmates' and tried to help him integrate into the student body.
But this was merely because Gwen was kind-hearted.
Hawk never mistook Gwen's seemingly attentive actions towards him for anything more.
Because if it were any other student, the beautiful and kind-hearted Gwen would have likewise chosen to help.
And how does that famous saying go?
Right.
There are three great illusions in life.
Among these three great illusions, 'She likes me' is undoubtedly the undisputed, cliff-edge number one.
So...
Hawk naturally wouldn't have such an illusion.
Soon.
Queens Courthouse arrived.
Hawk looked at the courthouse outside the car, thanked Gwen again for bringing him, and then pushed the door open to get out.
Then...
He heard footsteps behind him, turned his head to see Gwen, who had also gotten out and followed him, and his head once again squeezed out a question mark.
"?"
"How are you planning to get back? Walk? It's very far from the airport here."
"Subw—"
"The drivers' union is on strike; subway drivers are also drivers."
"..."
Hawk fell silent.
Gwen, however, smiled slightly and walked towards the courthouse first: "Let's go, it's almost three o'clock. You don't want Judge Brooks to cancel your hearing, do you?"
Hawk looked at Gwen, who was walking ahead of him, opened his mouth, but then thought better of it, shook his head, and followed her.
Family Court, Courtroom Three.
Judge Brooks, sitting on the bench, tapped his gavel.
"Next, Hawk's Emancipation Hearing."
"My Lord."
Hawk rose from his seat and politely greeted the judge on the bench.
"My Lord."
The staff member from the Children and Family Services who was responsible for Hawk also stood up.
Judge Brooks looked at the various documents Hawk had submitted for emancipation, and after a while, looked at the Children and Family Services staff member: "I see from the documents that he has never been adopted, nor has he been in a foster home?"
The staff member smiled wryly at the question.
"Yes, My Lord."
"May I ask why?"
"Hawk is different from other children. When he was young, he didn't like to talk and didn't really like to interact with others, so adoptive parents never considered him. This is why Hawk has been in the adoption system for so many years and has never been adopted."
"Hawk."
After hearing the answer from the welfare agency staff, Judge Brooks nodded, then looked at Hawk, who, from his appearance alone, didn't seem like the kind of reclusive person: "I see from the documents you submitted that you are applying for emancipation because you want to rent a house?"
Hawk nodded.
"Yes, My Lord."
"May I ask how you plan to pay the rent after you become emancipated?"
"I already have thirty thousand U.S. dollars in my bank account. If I just rent a cheap apartment, it's enough to cover my rent until I find a job."
"Thirty thousand?"
Judge Brooks listened to Hawk's answer, found the bank account deposit certificate that Hawk had submitted along with his emancipation application, then looked at a few other documents, a hint of disbelief flashing in his eyes.
No phone.
No computer.
No car, not even a driver's license.
Judge Brooks was a little surprised.
It wasn't unheard of for orphans to apply for early emancipation before turning eighteen, but Judge Brooks had never seen anyone like Hawk, who reduced all non-essential expenses.
What's more, it was the first time Judge Brooks had seen an orphan who had never been adopted by an adoptive family or taken in by a foster family have such a large sum as thirty thousand U.S. dollars in his deposit account.
Judge Brooks thought to himself, looking at Hawk, his tone somewhat unreadable.
"You have great self-control, Mr. Hawk."
"Thank you, My Lord."
Hawk's heart stirred as he heard Judge Brooks' address to him.
Because 'Mr.' is a title for an adult, independent male.
Indeed.
Judge Brooks smiled slightly, stamped the documents for Hawk's emancipation application with a crisp thud, handed them to the bailiff next to him, and said to Hawk: "Under normal circumstances, I do not approve early emancipation, because the adult World is very cruel. But you, Mr. Hawk, I believe you are ready. So, congratulations, Mr. Hawk."
Hawk took the documents handed over by the bailiff, listened to Judge Brooks' words, and looked at Judge Brooks.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Judge Brooks nodded and smiled at Hawk, then tapped his gavel again: "Next case..."
Hawk, meanwhile, left the courtroom with the stamped documents and Gwen.
Outside the courthouse.
Hawk smiled slightly as he looked at the document in his hand, stamped with the court's seal.
Because with this court-backed document, it meant he was legally emancipated early; even though his actual age was not yet eighteen, he could sign a rental agreement with a landlord.
Finally, he could move out of that temporary residence, the hangar, which was like a powder keg that could explode any day.
This was great.
Hawk thought happily to himself, walking towards the subway station.
The next second.
He was pulled back.
Hawk looked up at Gwen, who seemed a little speechless, blinked, and then realized.
Oh right, the subway was also shut down.
"Sorry."
"Let's go..."
Gwen shook her head, then remembered something, looked at Hawk, and added: "...Mr. Hawk."
Hawk watched Gwen, who had a smile on her face, walk towards the car parked not far away, and raised an eyebrow.
At that moment, a traffic Police officer was standing in front of Gwen's yellow corolla.
"One moment, Police officer."
Gwen saw the traffic Police officer who had already pulled out a ticket, quickly ran up, and hastily took out a business card from her backpack to hand over.
The traffic Police officer looked at the business card Gwen handed him, paused slightly, then reached out to take it.
But this was not a business card; it was a family pass, a card circulated among New York Police Department families.
This card had only one purpose.
To prove you were one of their own.
The traffic Police officer looked at the family pass in his hand, noted down the name and phone number '19th Precinct: George Stacy' on it, then looked at Gwen again, and immediately put away his ticket machine, returning the family pass to Gwen.
"Go ahead."
"Thank you."
Gwen quickly thanked him.
The traffic Police officer got back on his Police motorcycle and rumbled away.
Gwen watched the departing traffic Police officer, letting out a sigh of relief, and looked at Hawk, her tone somewhat relieved.
"That was close!"
"..."
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