Chapter 97: 내가 허락할 테니 (Love Is Never Gone)

[Sierra’s POV]

It’s the week where Yun Ho and I will start on our collaboration together. I woke up this morning and Jae Joong was already up, so was the entire house. I stretched as I turned to look at the clock. 8am! Why didn’t he wake me? What happened to my alarm?

I got up, quickly ran a comb through my hair and straightened out my outfit before I walked out of the room. I now lived with 5 guys, not just 2, and most of them have not seen what I looked like without a shower and a comb.

“G’morning!” Jun Su greeted perkily from the dining table.

“Why didn’t anyone wake me?” I asked.

“We’re all vying for the bathroom, so we thought that you should be last so that you won’t be harassed. You don’t know what it’s like to be in the middle of shampooing your hair and some mad man bangs on your door, demanding that you get out of the bathroom immediately,” he laughed.

“I heard that,” Chang Min chipped in from the sofa. He was watching the television while wolfing down his breakfast.

“Where’s Jae Joong?” I asked them.

“He’s in the shower now,” Jun Su said.

“Yun Ho?”

“He’s ready, and tinkering around in the workroom. Here comes Yoo Chun,” he laughed.

“Hello Hamtaro,” Chang Min said, and it took Yoo Chun awhile to realize that I now lived with them. He’d walked out of his room with just his Hamtaro boxers on.

“Yaaahhh!!!” he yelled and ran back into his room.

“How many pair of cute boxers does that guy own?” I asked them.

“Dunno… he gets a year’s supply from fans each birthday. We lost count,” Chang Min laughed.

“This is gonna take some getting used to,” Yoo Chun said as he came out of his room again, this time wearing a pair of shorts over his cute boxers.

“You didn’t have to,” I smiled. “Hamtaro’s adorable,” I laughed.

“I was just concerned about your eyes,” he grinned and he padded into the kitchen to get his breakfast.

“Aren’t you hungry, Sierra?” Chang Min asked me.

“I’ll grab a bite at the studios,” I said.

“Next!” Jae Joong yelled as he walked out of the bathroom.

“G’morning,” I smiled as I walked up to him and kissed him lightly on the lips.

“Morning, baby,” he smiled.

“My virgin eyes…” Chang Min wailed dramatically.

“Shikkeureoptta,” Jae Joong laughed and we walked into his room hand in hand.

“Did you turn off my alarm?” I asked him as soon as he closed the door.

“I did. I was gonna wake you when I was done showering.”

“You know I need time to wake up. I had like 2 alarms lined up.”

“Yea… I was gonna wake you, and by the time you actually wake up, everyone would be done.”

“And I’d be late.”

“No you wouldn’t. I would’ve timed it perfectly.”

“Right…” I rolled my eyes.

“And if you don’t move now, you’re gonna be late,” he said.

I quickly picked out an outfit and walked out of the room, into the bathroom. It was still steamy and smelt of the soap Jae Joong used. Exactly how he always smells after he’d taken a bath. I showered quickly and got dressed, did my hair, applied minimal makeup and I was ready to go.

“Ready?” Yun Ho asked as he looked up from the newspaper he was reading.

I was riding with him to the studios since we’re headed to the same location. The rest of TVXQ had their own schedules waiting for them.

“Yea,” I said, and we walked out of the apartment. But before I did, I zipped in to catch Jae Joong for a quick kiss.

“See you later,” he said.

“Later,” I smiled, and kissed him one more time before I ran out to join Yun Ho.

“Slept well?” Yun Ho asked me as we drove out of the apartments’ compound.

“Not too bad,” I said.

“You and Jae Joong seemed to have caught up with lost time,” he said.

“Not quite, but we’re getting there,” I said.

“I just want to say that I’m happy for the both of you,” he said.

“Thanks.”

“I just want everyone to be happy,” he added.

“I know you do, Yun Ho. You’ve always wanted that for every one of your friends.”

“Be good to each other, araji,” he said.

“Nae,” I smiled.

We arrived at the studios and the first task on the agenda was to run through the activities for the collaboration.

1. Record the song
This was to be finished within the week. There were 2 songs, and both would be sung in English, a first for Yun Ho. The lyrics of Ice Box would be modified to accommodate the duet, while the other song, To Be Your Love was written as a duet, and would require no modification.

2. Dance training for the MV
Yun Ho and I would be spending all our free time rehearsing for the MV of Ice Box, of which more than 50% will consist of dancing. We had to learn the routine in 3 days, and be ready to shoot the MV by the middle of the 2nd week into the project.

3. Shooting the MV
There will be a short script in addition to the dancing, which we have to have memorized. The filming has been scheduled for the later half of the 2nd week of the project.

4. Photo shoot for the CD sleeve
This could be done in parallel with the MV, maybe on the same day, or the day before so ensure the costumes were in pristine condition.

5. Promotional activities
This would include a press conference, stamping session, live performances, and a short tour around the country.

All in all, this was a very rushed project with a target for completion in less than a month.

“If anyone can do it here at SM, it’s you and Yun Ho. Both of you have huge reputations to live up to,” hyung had said.

We started off the day by recording Ice Box. This song was originally sung by the American artiste, Omarion. We took the song and changed the lyrics a little so that we could sing it as a duet. The introduction beat has been softened but still retaining the tempo of the original, and Yun Ho sang the first line.

Yun Ho: Fussin' and fightin', we back at it again
I know that, its my fault, but you don't understand
I got memories, this is crazy
You ain't nothing like the girl I used to know

Good with ma, good with pa, cool with all my brothers
I should try to decide, wanna let you in, but no
That means memories, and its crazy
You ain't nothing like the girl I used to know

Yun Ho: Girl I really wanna work this out, cause I'm tired of fightin'
Sierra: And I really hope you still want me the way I want you
Yun Ho: I said I really wanna work this out, damn girl I'm tryin'
Sierra: Its no excuse, no excuse

Yun Ho: I got this icebox where my heart used to be (but I got this)
[Sierra: You got this icebox where your heart used to be]
Yun Ho: I got this icebox where my heart used to be (said I got this)
[Sierra: You got this icebox where your heart used to be]
Yun Ho: I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold
Sierra: You’re so cold, you’re so cold, you’re so cold

Yun Ho: I got this icebox where my heart used to be (but I got this)
[Sierra: You got this icebox where your heart used to be]
Yun Ho: I got this icebox where my heart used to be (said I got this)
[Sierra: You got this icebox where your heart used to be]
Yun Ho: I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold
Sierra: You’re so cold, you’re so cold, you’re so cold

Sierra: Why can’t you get it right, just cant let it go
(You said) I opened up, she let me down, I wont feel that no more
I got memories, this is crazy
You ain't nothing like the girl I used to know

I don't mean to take it out on you baby but I cant help it
Cause my heart is in the same ol' condition that baby left it
And I, I apologize, for makin' you cry
Look me in my eye and promise you won't do me the same, you said…

Yun Ho: Girl I really wanna work this out, cause I'm tired of fightin'
Sierra: And I really hope you still want me the way I want you
Yun Ho: I said I really wanna work this out, damn girl I'm tryin'
Sierra: Its no excuse, no excuse

Yun Ho: I got this icebox where my heart used to be (but I got this)
[Sierra: You got this icebox where your heart used to be]
Yun Ho: I got this icebox where my heart used to be (said I got this)
[Sierra: You got this icebox where your heart used to be]
Yun Ho: I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold
Sierra: You’re so cold, you’re so cold, you’re so cold

Yun Ho: I got this icebox where my heart used to be (but I got this)
[Sierra: You got this icebox where your heart used to be]
Yun Ho: I got this icebox where my heart used to be (said I got this)
[Sierra: You got this icebox where your heart used to be]
Yun Ho: I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold
Sierra: You’re so cold, you’re so cold, you’re so cold

Yun Ho: I don't wanna be stuck up in this cold cold world
Don't wanna mess this up better keep your eye on me girl
Sierra: You don't wanna be stuck up in this cold cold world
Don't wanna mess this up better keep my eye on you boy
Yun Ho: I don't wanna be stuck up in this cold cold world
Don't wanna mess this up better keep your eye on me girl

Sierra: You don't wanna be stuck up in this cold cold world
Don't wanna mess this up better keep my eye on you boy
Yun Ho: I don't wanna be stuck up in this cold cold world
Don't wanna mess this up better keep your eye on me girl
Sierra: You don't wanna be stuck up in this cold cold world
Don't wanna mess this up better keep my eye on you boy

Yun Ho: Girl I really wanna work this out, cause I'm tired of fightin'
Sierra: And I really hope you still want me the way I want you
Yun Ho: I said I really wanna work this out, damn girl I'm tryin'
Sierra: Its no excuse, no excuse

Yun Ho: I got this icebox where my heart used to be (but I got this)
[Sierra: You got this icebox where your heart used to be]
Yun Ho: I got this icebox where my heart used to be (said I got this)
[Sierra: You got this icebox where your heart used to be]
Yun Ho: I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold
Sierra: You’re so cold, you’re so cold, you’re so cold

Yun Ho: I got this icebox where my heart used to be (but I got this)
[Sierra: You’re so cold, you’re so cold, you’re so cold]
Yun Ho: I got this icebox where my heart used to be (said I got this)
[Sierra: You’re so cold, you’re so cold, you’re so cold]
Yun Ho: I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold
[Sierra: You’re so cold, you’re so cold, you’re so cold]
Yun Ho: I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold, I'm so cold
[Sierra: You’re so cold, you’re so cold, you’re so cold]

Yun Ho: Girl I really wanna work this out, cause I'm tired of fightin'
[Sierra: Boy I really wanna work this out, cause I'm tired of fightin']

Yun Ho and I removed our earphones as the music ended. It was our first complete run through of the song. The song was so powerful and poignant that you could see it mirrored in our expressions even after the song had ended.

I turned to look at the producer and engineer in the control room and they gave us the thumbs up. It was a good take, but we’d probably have to do it a few times. We left the recording booth and sat in the control room with the producer and engineer to run through our recording.

“This was a good take,” the producer said. “I can hear the raw emotions conveyed in this song, but the pitch here,” he said as a part of the chorus we sang played, “needs some work. We’ll need to do this a few more times.”

“Nae,” Yun Ho and I said.

“And your pronunciation for some of the more complex words, Yun Ho” he added. “You need to work on them, and try not to slur your words so much. I know you’re trying hard to suppress your accent. Just practice a little bit more.”

“Nae,” Yun Ho said.

“Sierra… you’re fine overall, but you need to control your pitch at the end of each line because you went off on several occasions.”

“Alright,” I replied.

“I can already see this whole project coming together nicely,” the producer said. “We’ll wrap up the recording of this song by tomorrow morning, and move to the 2nd song tomorrow afternoon. Any problems?”

“Animida,” the both of us replied.

“Good…”

We spent the rest of the day recording, working hard to achieve the perfect pitches, tone and mood for the song. By the end of the day, I’ve never felt more exhausted. It wasn’t just because it was physically taxing the way we kept at it, but the way this song is set, and Yun Ho’s presence; somehow, this song was affecting me emotionally.