If we were to rank the most popular female students at Midtown High School.
Gwen's popularity might not be the highest, but she would definitely rank first.
In fact, there's a strong chance she'd be first by a wide margin.
Most likely, the silent majority at the school would choose to cast their vote for Gwen.
This includes Hawk.
He still remembers when he first started school, because he wasn't good with words and was rather solitary, Gwen mistakenly thought he was 'being ostracized by classmates' and tried to help him integrate into the student body.
But that was merely because Gwen is kind-hearted.
Hawk never took Gwen's apparent concern for his situation as anything else.
Because if it were any other student, the beautiful and kind Gwen would choose to help as well.
And how does that famous saying go?
Oh, right.
Life has three major illusions.
Among these three illusions, 'She likes me,' is undoubtedly the first by a cliff-side margin.
So...
Naturally, Hawk wouldn't fall into this illusion.
Quickly.
They arrived at Queens County Court.
Hawk looked at the courthouse outside the car, thanked Gwen once more for giving him a ride, then opened the door and got out.
Then...
He heard footsteps from behind, turned his head to see Gwen had also gotten out and followed, with a puzzled expression emerging above him.
"?"
"How are you planning to get back? Walk all the way back? It's quite far from here to the airport."
"The..."
"Driver's union is on strike, subway drivers are drivers too."
"..."
Hawk was silent.
Gwen smiled slightly and walked toward the courthouse first: "Let's go, it's almost three o'clock. You wouldn't want Judge Bros to cancel your hearing, right?"
Hawk looked at Gwen walking ahead of him, opened his mouth, then thought better of it, shook his head, and followed.
Family Court Room No. 3.
Judge Bros tapped his gavel.
"Next, Hawk's independence hearing."
"Your Honor."
Hawk stood up from his seat and politely greeted the judge on the bench.
"Your Honor."
The Child and Family Welfare Agency worker responsible for Hawk also stood up.
Judge Bros looked at the various documents Hawk submitted for independence application, then after a while, turned to the welfare agency worker: "I see from the documents that he has never been adopted nor has he had a foster family?"
The worker smiled bitterly at the words.
"Yes, Your Honor."
"May I ask why?"
"Hawk is different from other kids. Since he was young, he didn't like speaking or interacting with others, so adopters never considered him. That's why Hawk has stayed in the adoption system for so many years without ever being adopted."
"Hawk."
After listening to the welfare agency worker's answer, Judge Bros nodded, then looked at Hawk, who from appearance alone didn't seem to have a reclusive personality: "I see your document says you applied for independence because you want to rent a place?"
Hawk nodded.
"Yes, Your Honor."
"May I ask how you plan to pay the rent after you become independent?"
"I have thirty thousand US dollars saved in my bank account, which is more than enough to cover rent for a cheap apartment until I find a job."
"Thirty thousand?"
Judge Bros listened to Hawk's answer, found the bank account deposit proof submitted along with Hawk's independence application, then looked at several other documents, a hint of disbelief flashing in his eyes.
No phone.
No computer.
No car, not even a driver's license.
Judge Bros was somewhat surprised.
It's not unheard of for orphans to apply for early independence before they're eighteen, but Judge Bros had never seen someone like Hawk reduce all unnecessary consumption.
Let alone seeing an orphan who had never been adopted or taken in by a foster family having a savings account with such a huge amount as thirty thousand US dollars.
Judge Bros mused internally, then looked at Hawk, his tone somewhat peculiar.
"You have a lot of self-control, Mr. Hawke."
"Thank you, Your Honor."
Hawk, hearing Judge Bros refer to him as Mister, felt a flutter in his heart.
Because Mister is a term for an independent adult male.
Indeed.
Judge Bros smiled slightly, stamped a seal on Hawk's independence application documents with a thud, passing them to the bailiff beside him, while saying to Hawk: "Normally, I'm not in favor of early independence because the adult world is harsh, but you, Mr. Hawke, I believe you're ready, so congratulations, Mr. Hawke."
Hawk took the documents passed to him by the bailiff, listened to Judge Bros's words, and looked at Judge Bros.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Judge Bros nodded and smiled at Hawk, then tapped his gavel again: "Next case..."
Hawk then left the court with Gwen, carrying the stamped documents.
Outside the courthouse.
Hawk looked at the document in his hand stamped with the court seal and smiled slightly.
Because with this court-backed document, it signifies he is legally independent ahead of time. Even though his actual age is not yet eighteen, he can now sign a rental agreement with a landlord.
Finally, he can move out from that powder keg of a temporary residence hangar that could explode any day.
This, is great.
Hawk happily thought to himself as he headed toward the subway station.
In the next second.
He was pulled back.
Hawk looked up at Gwen, who seemed a bit exasperated, blinked, and realized.
Oh right, the subway's shut down too.
"Sorry."
"Let's go..."
Gwen shook her head, then thought of something and added a line to Hawk: "...Mr. Hawke."
Hawk noticed a hint of amusement on his face, then raised his eyebrows at Gwen as she walked toward the nearby parked vehicle.
A traffic cop was standing in front of Gwen's yellow Corolla.
"Excuse me, officer."
Gwen saw the traffic cop taking out a ticket and quickly ran up to give him a card from her bag.
The traffic cop looked a bit puzzled when he saw Gwen's card, then reached out to accept it.
But it wasn't a business card, it was a family card, something circulated among New York Police Department families.
This card serves only one purpose.
It proves you are one of them.
The traffic cop looked at the family card, noted the name and number 'Nineteen District: George Stacy' on it, then looked at Gwen, put away his citation notepad, and returned the family card to her.
"Go ahead."
"Thank you."
Gwen thanked him quickly.
The traffic cop re-mounted his police motorcycle and puttered off.
Gwen watched the departing traffic cop, breathed a sigh of relief, and spoke to Hawk with a tone of slight relief.
"That was close!"
"..."