Chapter 118: Quiz

“Annyeong haseyo,” Yun Ho and I greeted into our microphones.

“This song is a cover, isn’t it?” a reporter asked.

“Yes, it is,” I replied. “’Ice Box’ was originally sung and made popular by the American singer, Omarion, in 2006.”

“Any particular reason this song was chosen?”

“Well… I’ve always loved this song.” I said. “It has deep and emotional lyrics, and the beat of the song is great to dance to. You can express a lot with this song.”

“Yes,” Yun Ho added. “It’s one of those songs where you can lose yourself in and allow the emotions it evokes to drive you.”

“So how long did it take to get all this done?” a reporter asked. “There was news that all these were completed in a little under 3 weeks.

“Yes they were,” Yun Ho said. “The project was rather sudden, and the rush was also due to TVXQ’s schedule. We’re heading to Japan for at least 3 months in 2 weeks time. So we had to finished and put this out before I had to leave, otherwise it would be a lot of traveling, back and forth, for me.”

“Why so sudden? Why couldn’t the release have waited till after TVXQ’s stint in Japan?” another reporter asked.

“Is it because the management is trying to capitalize on the recent popularities of S-Cube and TVXQ? Were they afraid that if they left the project for 3 months later, it might not be as popular as it is now?” another reporter added.

“Maybe you can check with the management,” Yun Ho smiled. “As for me and Sierra, we were pretty eager to put this out and see the response.”

“Ye… and we’re very proud of what we’d achieved in this short time.”

“Sierra sshi, Yun Ho sshi. How does it feel to be back together again?” a reporter asked.

“I’m sorry?” I said. What sort of question was that? “Again? This is our first project together.”

“Sierra and I have never had a duet before. Previously TVXQ and S-Cube collaborated for the concert in New York, and that was the only time I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with Sierra.”

“Sorry,” the reporter said. “I was referring to your relationship with each other. Has this project brought you closer?”

“We’ve always been close,” Yun Ho said. “At SM, we’re all family, and not to forget, Sierra is dating Jae Joong, my brother,” he smiled.

“Sierra sshi, has this collaboration been a strain on your relationship with Jae Joong? You’ve dated Yun Ho when you first debut, and then Jae Joong the year after. Does your collaboration make Jae Joong worried that you might have rekindled an old flame?” a reporter asked.

“Was it the video that made you think that?” I laughed and a murmur of ‘Yes’ echoed through the theatre.

“I guess Sierra’s and my acting has improved a lot,” Yun Ho laughed.

“I think they’d just write off those scenes you saw as very good screen chemistry. Yun Ho and I were pleasantly surprised that we were able to capture the essence of the song in our acting.”

“But won’t you admit that it’s because of past chemistry that you were both able to relate to the song and portray it effectively? Isn’t Ice Box about loving, losing and betrayal?” the same reporter pressed on.

“Lots of couples can’t even bring their real life chemistry to the screen. Therefore I wouldn’t say that anything from our past could be attributed to the success of this work. It’s not a deciding factor of whether a couple has screen chemistry or not,” I said.

“Right… can those present refrain from asking anymore personal questions and focus on asking questions regarding the single,” the emcee cut in.

“Can we have more explanation about the storyline of the MV? There seems to be 2 different versions of Sierra. Why is that?”

“That…” I smiled. “There are 2 versions of me.”

“All will be revealed in the 2nd MV which will be out next week,” Yun Ho said.

“Isn’t it a bit to rushed to reveal the 2nd MV within the week?”

“Well, you’ll have to ask the marketing team,” I said. “It’s all been planned out and Yun Ho and I will be on the road promoting this single for the next 2 weeks. So we hope that it will be a great turnout.”

“Does it ever get too tough for you, Sierra? You’ve just gotten back from a nationwide promotional tour with S-Cube and Hee Chul. How much do you think you’ve improved in terms of coping with the workload as a kasu?”

“To be honest, in the past, I’ve often wondered what I have gotten myself into. But I realized that whatever country I’m in, the entertainment industry will always be tough and often unforgiving. I am truly grateful to have been allowed to do this project with Yun Ho. I feel that my abilities have been recognized, and I can really put them to use in this project,” I said.

“I’d like to add a few words. May I?” Yun Ho said as he turned to look at me, and I nodded.

“As her sonbae, I’ve seen her grow from a shy girl from Malaysia to the kasu she is today. I think she has managed as well as us locals did. It’s not easy for anyone, and especially more difficult for a foreign kasu to survive in our music industry. The industry, media and even fans and anti-fans have been hard on her for most of her career, and she has managed to hold her own.”

“Thank you, Yun Ho,” I smiled.

“No problem,” Yun Ho said. “You deserve some credit, and I think that this collaboration we’re doing will be a testament of your abilities and success, and it will be an important milestone in the duration of your career as a kasu here in South Korea.”

“I’ve been given a great opportunity, and I was very lucky to have made it this far, not that I doubted my own abilities, but I will always be grateful to those of you who have given me the chance to spread my wings here. And I hope that you will continue to support me for the entire duration of my career as a kasu here, in your country.”

“Our country?” Yun Ho smiled. “I think you’re becoming more and more Korean as each day passes, and if you marry Jae Joong, this will be your country too,” he said, and that brought about peals of laughter from the audience.

“We’ll see,” I smiled. “But to answer the initial question, I’ve learnt to cope with the hardship of being a kasu here. A job is not a job without hardships, and the best thing is that I love my job, which is not something everyone can say of theirs. Whenever it gets too tough, I tell myself that it’s worth it, because I’m living my dream, and the dream of many others.”

The reporters shot a few more technical questions at us, and finally, the conference ended with Yun Ho and me giving a live performance of ‘Ice Box’. The fans and reporters seemed to be impressed with the whole routine, which had been altered slightly from the one in the MV because we had to sing live; the microphones’ receivers clipped onto the back of our hips and the wires made it a bit difficult to dance in such close proximity as we did in the MV.

After our performance, we went back into the holding room and had our hair and make up touched up before we left the building to get to the MPV. On our way out, we were allowed to sign a few autographs and greet the fans who’d come to see us. We got into the MPV waiting out front and headed to KBS for our next appearance, where we’re going to be singing ‘Ice Box’ on KBS2’s Music Bank.

If it were an all guy band or all girl band in the car, they’d be changing in the car on their way to the next venue. Yun Ho and I were lucky we didn’t need to do that. Plus… my outfits weren’t that easy to get changed into in a moving vehicle anyway.

“Didn’t you brief the reporters before hand?” we heard Yun Ho’s manager yell into the phone from the back for the MPV. “What do you mean you didn’t know?”

I supposed that the manager was asking about those personal questions they were asking today. They may have seemed like trivial questions asked out of curiosity, but they could have a damaging impact on our reputations.

“I think we’re about to be painted as a pair of adulterers in tomorrow’s papers,” Yun Ho said to me.

“Tell me about it,” I rolled my eyes. “I knew this would happen the moment they said we were doing this together. Jae Joong should have done this with me,” I grumbled.

“Twaeso… the songs and MV worked out well. It’s just the way the media are painting it now,” he said as he reached over and patted my hand.

“I know it was a success, but it’s going to reflect very badly on us.”

“Then I shouldn’t have taken the job when Jae Joong abandoned it?” he asked.

“Aniyo… the role was right for you,” I said. “I just wish that things didn’t have to be like this.”

“It’ll work out. It’s just an initial hype. The management knew there would be lots of speculation the moment they agreed with this idea. Kwaench’ana.”

We reached the KBS studios and were quickly ushered backstage to the changing rooms. Our assistants helped us change into our outfits, and when done, the stylists checked our hair and makeup once more before we headed to the backstage area.

We were both dressed in white suits; Yun Ho’s was buttoned all the way up, and mine was a plunging v-neck, and I wore a spaghetti strapped top inside since a tube top might fall off. We both wore white slacks, and he had white leather shoes on while I had white leather stiletto pumps.

“Are you sure you can dance on those?” Yun Ho asked me when I walked out on those heels.

“Do I have a choice?” I laughed.

“Why don’t you wear something with a broader base?”

“Come on, Yun Ho. This is not the first time I’ve danced on shoes like these,” I smiled. “I’ll be fine.”

The PD called for us and we walked up to the side of the stage where our dancers were waiting. We were going to do a full dance routine and start singing from the middle instead of from the beginning like in the original. The stage darkened as the last group of performers left the stage.

“Woo Hyuk hyung,” Yun Ho smiled as he waved at Jang Woo Hyuk who had just gotten off the stage.

I’ve never really spoken to Woo Hyuk before, but I’ve heard a lot about him from the guys, and I’ve always admired his dancing skills.

“Catch up with you later,” he said as he smacked Yun Ho on the arm before walking off.

We got onto the stage and took our positions. The spotlights were turned on; first on me, then on Yun Ho, and the music started, amidst the screams of the fans and the emcee’s announcement. I started my part of the routine with my group of dancers, while Yun Ho’s remained stationary with him, like statues, then my group and I froze, and Yun Ho’s group started dancing. Yun Ho moved towards me and circled me slowly. My body remained stationary, but my eyes were trained onto his, watching him as he moved.

The beat of the music hardened, and I started moving. I put a hand on Yun Ho’s shoulder as we did some kind of a rumba inspired movement, moving back and forth whilst facing each other. I twirled and faced my back to him, and he put his hands on my waist and we repeated the movement. At the end of the routine, I slid down with my back on his front into a kneeling position, whipped my head up to look at the audience and the stage went pitch dark for a moment so that we could pick up our microphones. The lights came on again and the music started.

Yun Ho: Yo! This is Ice Box…

Sierra: Yeah… are you ready…

Yun Ho: Sure am…

Sierra: Then sing it…

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']