Wednesday, October 31, 2012

An Old Story: The Meeting

"The Joker?"

"Yes." The senior advisor, Lee Sooman said calmly.

"What's the story?"

"Fun, entertainers, versatile, many talents in different areas... they are unpredictable... a traditional Joker card in a deck? They will be the one to beat all others with hidden talents." An assistant explained.

"That's a good one..."

"So, here are the profiles of the trainees. There are a total of 20 of them. Age ranging from 15 to 19." Files were passed to the staffs.

"This, here is our new project." Sooman announced and the discussion began.

"They will be a slightly different rotational group. All of them will be in the main group, The Joker. They will be divided into small groups for different songs. Something like Super Junior except that the members will be shuffled up and there will not be actual, permanent sub-units."

"There will be a main  promotion song where all of the members will be performing. Then there are secondary promotion songs. Taking EXO members as examples. Baekhyun, Chen and D.O are vocalists. They will be taking up a ballad song. But they can also join in on a dance song with Lay too. Then for a comeback, Lay can perform a solo ballad. Or Kai and Tao doing a duet."

"Meaning that their promotions can be done with different members, either as solos or duets, or   group performance. The whole group is always changing styles and giving a fresh and diverse image for every performance."

"Like a deck of cards. You shuffle them and randomly take a few cards out."

"It's a big risk. Not to be offensive, but it could be hard for people to try to get to know them. Since the faces are always changing for every performance..."

"It is... but I believe we can do this well." Lee Sooman said with a sparkle in his eyes.

"Okay. So... about when are we debuting them?" Yongjin asked.

"Maybe in 6 months?"

"6 months? Isn't that too fast for this scale of a group?" Rino was astonished by the senior adviser's words. It took at least 3 months of training for EXO. This Joker group has so many members. Will they be able to cope?

"It should be okay. I've seen this group and they are good at adapting. They'll be fine." Sooman assured her.

"Is there any specific style or genre they're focused on?" Kenzie asked.

"We'll stick to SMP for now. After that, we can explore a bit more." The assistant answered this time.

As questions were answered, the meeting was ended. The team of experts were given tasks: to plan how the debut album of The Joker was going to be.

Monday, October 29, 2012

An Old Story: A New Project

There was a knock and the door opened to reveal Yongjin.

"Dongjoo, what are you up to now?" Yongjin asked as he sat down in front of his desk.

"Nothing much. Sorting things out. I'm looking for some ideas from these drafts." Dongjoo was flipping through 3 stacks of files.

"Anything I can help? I just finished my tasks yesterday. Got nothing for now." Yongjin said while taking a file and started reading through it.

"Yea... There is... I have a few songs here. Can you help me go through the demos?"

"Sure. Whose are these?"

"Mine. I'm going to use one or two of them for the movie."

"You? A famous superstar actor... and now producer... writing songs?"

"Yeah. I try. Are they that bad?"

"No. Just quite surprised that you've written 8 complete songs."

"I got in some people to help me of course. Anyway, how are they?"

"They're quite good... You mind if I steal this from you?"

"Huh? What is that? Why?"

"This one 'The Kings and Queens'. The song has a dramatic feel. The lyrics are powerful. An addicting chorus. The company's going to debut a new group. I think this song should be perfect for them."

 "Wait a second here. You are thinking of using my song for a rookie group? I'm not a professional or even a proper lyricist. Are you willing to take the risks for this new group?"

"Let me tell you. This song is deep. Just with a little adjusting and refining for the group to synchronize with this song and it'll be a hit. Please? I'll get you the copyrights"

"Okay. Take it."

"Thanks. And these songs here are all good to go. Dongoo, have you ever thought of making an album?"

"Nah. I'm not good at singing at all."

"But you did sang for an OST rite? What was that... that drama... 'The Queen's Revenge'."

"That was 8 years ago. I was a kid."

"It was a good song."

"I'll pass. Besides, I already have new ideas in here." Dongjoo said while pointing to his head.

"I get it." Yongjin gave up in trying to persuade him to get into the singing career.

Yongjin's phone rang and he received a message for a spontaneous meeting.

"Well. I have to go. Looks like we'll have a new major project.

"Why would you say that?"

"Cause this is an unscheduled meeting. Bye. And thanks for the song." Yongjin then left Dongjoo's office.

@@

"Everyone get ready. One more round in 2 minutes." The dance coach said and the 20 students positioned themselves. The music started and they danced another intense routine.

The dance coach observed each and everyone of them. Making sure there are only motivated and hardworking trainees. Her choreographs were very upbeat and intense to train one's endurance. There are also softer or more elegant dances sometimes so that the students can learn to follow the beat and move "like water" or have fluid movements.

She noticed one of her coworkers at the door and approached him.

"Anything sir?"

"Hello Rino. Just passing by. I want to take a peek at the new group too." Yongjin replied while his eyes were fixed on the trainees.

"They're doing good. They have their own style. They kept the original SMP but with an added personality too. They should be fine as long as they keep this up."

"They're going to have to work harder. Not to bash them or anything, but the groups nowadays are all quite strong. They'll need a lot to outshine and stand out."

"Yeah. Couldn't agree more."

"Rino, there's going to be a meeting, did you receive any message?" Yongjin asked and she went and check her phone.

"Yeah. Thanks for notifying me. Wouldn't have known it." Rino smiled. The music ended and the trainees finished their routines.

"Students! The class ends here. I'll see you tomorrow morning at 5am." She said and left with Yongjin to attend the meeting.

"At 5am??"

"I need sleep..."

"I need a bath now..."

"Come on guys, let's go."

The trainees took their stuff and left the room...

...except for one...

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

[Cover] Honey

So... yeah... made this for fun... no images/ visuals. Just me singing... XD
uploading this for coffee for a... ??? like... as a "payback"??????

Friday, October 12, 2012

Ice Skating

"Sir, you'll be up in awhile." A girl knocked on my door and said. I thanked her as she left hurriedly. I checked myself in the mirror. I was wearing a sparkling red and black costume. I took deep breaths and wobble my limbs to shake off the nervousness. Even after so many competitions and performances, I'm still having these nervous moments. It's harder to believe it when people know that you are the national representative...

"...The moment you've been waiting for! Everyone, please welcome U-know Yunho!" The MC announced. I kicked my skates and skated towards the center of the ice rink. I struck a pose and the lights dimmed. In a millisecond, the music started, the spot lights shone, the crowd cheered as my performance started.

The beat to "Rising Sun" echoed in the hall and I dashed towards the crowd. Only turning at the last second before I jumped and gave a triple rotation in mid-air. The audience cheered and clapped. I danced on the ice rink, following the rhythm of the music and feeling the emotions. I performed a few spins and more jumps.

Then towards the second verse of the song, my partner came out. Claudia dressed in fiery red skated towards me and I caught her. We spun together and the audience went wild. As the beat of the song changed to a faster one, I threw her and she spun mid air. Landing swiftly after that, she made another jump  and rotated twice before I caught her hand and we continued dancing.

As the second chorus end, she bowed and skated away. I was alone again for my final act. I had to do a continuous jumps of triple-rotation. I calmed myself and waited for the right tempo to synchronize with my heartbeat. And then... I started the chain of jumps.

"Jump, One, two, three... jump, one, two, three... one two... "

One moment, I was in the air, twirling. The next, I made a careless landing and slipped. I fell knee first onto the cold hard ice. Something cracked.

My mind went blank. The crowd went silent. I froze in a kneeling position as I dare not move. The staffs scurried towards me. My coach, Changmin was way ahead of them. He and the staffs helped me from a kneeling position to sitting on the ice. My coach checked my knee, barely touching it or moving it.

"We'll have to bring you to the medics. Immediately." He said and I was brought to the hospital pronto.

"I'm not going to tell you to be depressed or optimistic. But you'll have to brace yourself for whatever the results." Changmin said as we waited for the X-ray results. I knew he wants me to expect the worst. Since he, once a medical personnel, must've known how serious was my knee.

"I'm afraid I have bad news..." The doctor came in with the x-ray results. He then revealed that there was a big crack in my knee... as well as a badly twisted ankle and... ...

...never ice skate anymore...

The words I never wanted to hear came.

"Can you check again doctor?" I said immediately, disbelieved, anger flowing through my blood.

"Yunho, calm down." Changmin said and held me down so that I won't stand up.

Changmin and the doctor talked a little longer. I was given the basic explanations. What to do, what not to... how to heal it... but I wasn't listening anymore.

I sank into an endless pit. I am stopped from doing what I've been doing all my life, what I love... what my heart is... I can't ice skate anymore...

Changmin drove me home that day. He didn't say much. He just told me follow what the doctor said. As the car stopped in front of my house, he told me to rest early. Using the new crutches given by the hospital, I dragged myself out of the car and bid goodbye.

For the next few days, I stayed at home alone.  I was practically doing nothing since I had to lessen the movements of my leg. I was constantly watching TV or lecturing myself for being so careless. Alcohol seems to be such a good companion when you're being down. Yet, somehow, miraculously, I have prevented myself from touching the bitter juice in the fridge by imagining Changmin staring at me with his eyes bulging out with fire. Only now I realized how dependent I am towards my coach. I would turn on my phone every morning, hoping to get a text or a missed call from him. However, Changmin being my manager as well, went to sort things out with the media and endorsements. Of course he would be busy...

It was almost a week I stayed in the compound of my house. Locking myself from the outside world. Not knowing what is going on out there. I knew I had to get up and not be depressed. I mentally slapped myself for being so grey.

Well, they say jogging helps you to clear your mind. But I'll have to improvise a bit. Changing my clothes and wearing a cap, I took my crutches and left the house for some fresh air.

I walked through the streets. Admiring the weather, the buildings, old and new, the new shops, the stalls... Watching people busying with their things... 

How long ago was it when I walked through the streets? For almost 10 years ago? It's been quite a long time huh? I've been ice skating my whole life... what should I do in the future? What can I do?

Before I could find an answer, my stomach growled madly. I looked at my watch and it showed 2pm. Seems like I've skipped breakfast and lunch... 

The next shop was a small grocery stall owned by a sweet old lady, Mrs. Kim. I used to come here with my mom before I went to train as an ice skater.

"Welcome!" Mrs. Kim greeted and I smiled. She hadn't change that much, just a few small wrinkles. I smiled. Seems like she doesn't recognize me anymore.

I explored the store a bit. It wasn't a very big store, it wasn't small either. There were so many shelves and different variety of foods. I admit, I was quite lost. I didn't know what to look for first.  

I was staring at a bunch of purple round things when I heard...

"Yu..Yuu..Yunho-sshi?"

I turned to see a petite girl with a pony tail. She looked at me with her small but twinkling eyes. Somehow, I have this feeling that I've seen her, a lot of times... but I didn't say anything, what was I suppose to say?

"Umm... could you tell me what is this?" I picked up the purple round thing and asked.

"Eh?... It... It's a mangosteen." She was surprised but still answered. 

"O...okay... Thanks..." I said awkwardly. What was I doing? A week out of socialization and I can't talk anymore?

"Umm... Yunho-sshi, I'm a fan of yours...can... may I have you're autograph?" She asked timidly. 

And suddenly, it hit me. She's the girl in the crowd that cheered for me, supported me since the beginning. She's the girl I laid my eyes on for every skating performance I had. For almost every performance, I would share an eye-locking moment for a person in a crowd. Even if it was just seconds, it was always with her. How could I have forgotten?

"I'll sign an autograph, but before that, could you do me a favor?" I asked, still unsure of where I'm going with this conversation.

"Eh?... Okay." She nodded and smiled widely.

"Could you accompany me for a late lunch?" I asked abruptly.

"Huh? What...?" She was surprised of course.

"Please? I really want to talk to someone, someone who's always been supporting me, someone like you." I pleaded.

"O... okay." She accepted. We shopped for some groceries and went to look for a place for some late lunch.

We went to a local restaurant famous for their traditional Korean food. We chose a table at the corner of the restaurant and ordered food. After the waiter left, I then asked what was her name.

"I'm Hyesun. Um... Yunho-sshi, are you feeling okay?" She asked earnestly. the worry in her eyes were unshielded.

"I'm fine. My leg's healing a lot." I said and smiled.

"No... I saw the news that you... you can't skate anymore... Yunho-sshi, I'm asking are you feeling okay here?" She asked while her hand pointed to her heart.

"I... I'm trying to adjust to it... I know I can, just need a little time..." I said honestly.

"Yunho! hwaiting!" She cheered and her cuteness made me smile. She was naturally cute, and it made her shine.

"Hwaiting!" I cheered as well.

"Yunho-sshi, not to be offensive, but have you thought about what are you going to do in the future?" She asked me when we were eating.

"I haven't decide anything... do you have any ideas?" I kept on chewing my food since my stomach had been empty for such a long time.

"Hmm... since you're still studying... just continue?" Hyesun ended with a question mark.

"Yeah... I guess that's what I'll do for now." I sighed at the thought of the future, starting all over again with something other than ice skating.

"Don't worry, you'll find your way eventually." Hyesun gave me a smile that warmed my heart. She just knew what to say to make me feel better...

We talked more as we ate. Later I know a bit about Hyesun. She's 3 years younger than me, studying business management at Gwangju University. Even thou she's still studying, she already had a small business. She has such a bubbly personality, just that she doesn't show it much since she's quite shy. Throughout the meal, I talk a lot and she listened to me blabber too.

As we finished our meal, I thanked her and gave her an autograph like I promised before. She bowed and said thank you a lot of times.

"Can I have your number?" I took all of my courage and asked her before she left.

She nodded. Her face went red as she typed in her number into my cell phone.

"Thank you Hyesun. Thank you so much." I said as she boarded the public bus.

After that unplanned lunch, I decided to continue my studies in Seoul National University as Changmin also agreed that it's a good decision. He said that I can still be in the ice skating scene, not as a performer or athlete, but as a coach. He said that I have potential in coaching and encouraged me to give it a shot. I would follow him for the training sessions and learned how he taught them. What should I be focusing on and what should I be doing. It wasn't what I expected but I am content.

And Hyesun? I contacted Hyesun whenever I can. We became good friends. After she graduated, we decided to start a proper center to teach kids to ice skate. We're still in the process of setting up the center. And do you know? As we spent more time together. I realized, I like her a lot... Should I ask her to be my girlfriend?

~END~

Happy belated bday~ coffee~

FYI, I joined the competition... :D