I had a bit of a headache when I woke up the next morning. After taking a couple Tylenol, I pulled my hair up into a ponytail, leaving wispy strands around my face. I chose a long red sweater with black leggings and matching flats. I put on a bit of makeup to bring the color out in my face. Grabbing my purse and guitar, I practically bounced out of the house and skipped down the street with excitement. Not only would I get to sit in on a recording today, Ji Yong would be there. My heart and stomach were full of butterflies. I made a pit stop at the corner store and picked up a pack of Bacchus drinks. I figured everyone could use the extra pep.
Finally at the YG Building, I placed my thumb on the security reader and the front doors opened wide. I smiled at the receptionist and rode the elevator up to the studio. Ji Yong and Taeyang were already sitting at the desk working with the editing software.
"Hey, guys." I smiled as I slid through the door and set my guitar and purse down next to the couch. I set down the box of Bacchus on the table and grabbed two bottles.
"Ha Na!" Ji Yong said with enthusiasm, "Come here, I want you to listen to the music for the track we're going to record."
"Sure!" I said as I handed a bottle to Ji Yong and Taeyang. I sat in the corner of the room on a comfy black leather arm chair. It was the closest sitting area to where they were working. Ji Yong handed me his headphones and I slid them on. I closed my eyes and listened to the deafening silence until the music started. The sound was upbeat and fun and something you could nod your head to, if not get up and dance like a maniac. I kept my eyes closed, bobbing my head from left to right. Once the music that would accompany the chorus started a second time, I started singing:
Maenjeongsini nan himdeureo (It's hard for me to be sober)
Amugeosdo hal suga eopseo (I can't do anything)
Maenjeongsini nan jeil silheo (I hate being sober)
Neo eopsin jamdeul suga eopso (I can't fall asleep without you)
The music suddenly stopped and I opened my eyes. Ji Yong and Taeyang were staring at me with wide eyes and their mouths half open.
"W-what?" I asked and wiped the corners of my mouth expecting there to be something on my face.
"What you just sang..." Ji Yong replied.
"Oh. That." I blushed.
He leaned forward in his chair, "Where did you get that from?"
I gave him an odd look and pointed at my head, "Who knows where thoughts come from, they just appear. I guess I was so into the song the lyrics just flew out of my mouth without thinking. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that - it was your song."
"Don't be sorry!" Ji Yong jumped up and pulled me out of the chair into a huge hug. "I've been wrestling with the chorus for days and you solved the problem."
"Oppa, my lyrics can't possibly..."
"Oppa?" Seung Hyun pushed past the door and dropped his bag on the couch. I quickly wriggled out of Ji Yong's embrace.
"Um...hi!" I waved awkwardly and was met with the trademarked Seung Hyun scowl. I flopped back in the chair.
Daesung and Seungri followed behind. "What's with this tense atmosphere guys?" Seungri gestured dramatically. "Oh, I'll be taking one of these." He snatched a Bacchus drink out of the box. Daesung grabbed one, too. Seung Hyun passed.
Ji Yong broke the tension, "Okay, Seung Hyun, I've already recorded the first verse. Want to head in and do your thing?" Seung Hyun, with his emotionless face, grabbed the sheet music off the desk and headed into the recording booth.
Even though I was absorbing everything that was going on, I felt extremely out of place. After a dozen takes, Seung Hyun emerged from the recording booth. Taeyang followed, then Daesung and finally Seungri.
"Ah I'm starved. Ha Na," Seungri slid next to me, "did you bring any food?" He put both his hands on either side of the armrest, his face near mine and batted his eyelashes. I leaned back, my cheeks red.
"Hey, ladies man," Taeyang laughed, "You'll give her a heart attack with that aegyo of yours."
"Seungri, go order us some lunch." Seung Hyun walked over and slapped Seungri on the back.
"Hyung! I'm a world star!" Seungri complained.
"We're all world stars, dummy. But you're still the maknae." Seung Hyun smiled. I loved it when he smiled. The corners of my mouth turned up a slight bit. "I want Jajangmyeon." The other boys chimed in agreement and Seungri sulked off to the corner to place an order on his cell.
When the food arrived, everyone pulled up a chair to the table in the middle of the studio. I grabbed a bowl and sat back in my corner seat, still feeling out of place. As I mixed the black bean sauce into the noodles, Seung Hyun sat next to me on the floor. I was taken aback as he took his chopsticks and stole a noodle out of my bowl. He grinned like an idiot with black bean sauce around his mouth. I shoved a napkin at him.
"So, you and Ji Yong dating?" he asked in a low voice so no one could hear him.
"Are you out of your mind?" I replied.
"Well, you don't call the rest of us oppa." He raised an eyebrow.
I didn't have an answer for him so I shoved a bunch of noodles in my mouth.
"Hey, Hyung! Stop bugging Ha Na!" Daesung yelled playfully from across the room.
"We're just having a friendly conversation, right, Ha Na?" Seung Hyun looked at me with his eyes raised.
I just about choked on my noodles but found a way to nod emphatically.
"Guys! Let's go out tonight!" Seungri jumped up. "I want to party and celebrate finishing this song!"
"You want to celebrate and party on any day that ends in Y." Taeyang teased.
"Ha Na, do you want to come with us?" Ji Yong asked.
"Um..." I hesitated. Honestly, I had nothing to wear to a club. I was never one for clubbing, and something told me that hanging with these guys meant VIP sections. I certainly wasn't fashionable enough for that.
"Of course she does!" Taeyang danced over towards me and Seungri pulled me out of the chair, dancing with me as I stood still like an awkward rag doll.
"Ha Na doesn't seem like she wants to go. Maybe she'll be too busy doing laundry or whatever she does every night." Seung Hyun folded his arms.
"I'm not busy! I'll go!" I shot him a death glare.
"Then it's settled!" Seungri clapped his hands together.
Shortly thereafter all the boys left the studio one by one, promising the other that they'd see eachother later that night.
Finally it was just me and Ji Yong. "Um...oppa."
"What's up, Ha Na?" He spun around in his chair to face me.
"I don't think I can go tonight." I said sheepishly.
"Why not?" He asked with concern.
"It's...it's embarrassing." I looked down at my clothes and kicked the ground with the toe of my shoe. I wonder if Ji Yong picked up on my vibe.
"Ah...well, if you don't want to go do you want to run a few errands with me?" Ji Yong smiled.
"Sure." I returned his smile.
We drove to Gangnam in his Lambourgini. I really felt uncomfortable and out of my element. On one hand, I was spending time with Ji Yong. On the other, I was in a Lambourgini in Gangnam. He brought the car to a parking garage with a valet. "Here, before we get out, take this." He handed me a notebook and a pen.
"What's this for?"
"Just hold it to your chest and keep your chin up. You'll see why."
The moment we stepped out of the car, a throng of people noticed him and began taking pictures and yelling his name.
"Oppa! Who is that girl?" A fan shouted. It sounded slightly accusitory.
"She's here to interview me about fashion." He waved at the crowd that were all murmuring about grabbing the next issue of whatever magazine cover he would be on. I felt a slight pang of disappointment. It was unfounded. It's not like we were really dating or anything, but I hated having to pretend.
When we stepped into the botique, Ji Yong turned to me, "Sorry to have to do that to you, but I didn't want you to be caught up in any crazy scandle because the fans misunderstand."
"It's okay, oppa. I understand." I replied trying to hide the disappointment in my voice.
Two attendants rushed up to Ji Yong and bowed. "What can we do for you today?"
"I don't need anything." He replied. I looked over at him wondering what he was talking about. "Take care of her. She needs an outfit for tonight. Looking for something fashionable for a party."
"Oppa..." I had been tricked. I caught a glimpse of one of the price tags hanging from a mannequin and almost had a heart attack. He held up a finger to his mouth and gave me a wink.
The two girls escorted me back to the fitting room. I felt like I was being kidnapped. I hated shopping for clothes and this would be sheer torture. On top of all that, I would be paraded around in front of Ji Yong in clothes that would never suit me. One of the girls rolled over a rack of dresses of all shapes and colors. Ji Yong browsed the selection and pulled four dresses off the rack and handed them to the attendant. He sat in a lounge chair and I was ushered into the fitting room. I'm sure I sounded like a fool with all the noises I was making. It's not easy to shimmy into a tight dress and have people tug and pull at you without feeling completely vulnerable. Once they were finished abusing me with the first dress and matching heels, I stepped out. It was a yellow knee length dress with faux fur trim. Ji Yong shook his head and the attendants shoved me back into the fitting room.
This routine went on for a good hour and a half. I wanted to die. One of the attendants pushed back the curtain and a bright smile appeared on Ji Yongs face.
I was wearing a strapless royal blue dress with a black lace overlay. My feet were adorned with royal blue shoes accented with a rhinestone bow at the heel. The attendants had found a matching pair of diamond earrings and pendant. They had fussed with my hair and worked a bit on my make up before sending me out.
"You look amazing." Ji Yong said in awe.
"I feel...awkward." I smiled at his compliment and looked at the ground. I noticed his shoes had changed, and his pants, and his shirt...
He handed the attendants a credit card.
"You weren't wearing that when we came in here, oppa."
"You're very perceptive. I took the opportunity to pick out an outfit for myself. Do you like it?" He spun around.
"I do. Very much."
The attendants brought back a receipt and put our old clothes in a bag for us.
"Do you have a...more discreet exit?" Ji Yong asked the attendant.
"Yes, sir. Right this way." She motioned for us to follow her towards the back.
Ji Yong offered me his arm and I tentatively put mine through his. "I don't think you'll be able to pass off as a reporter anymore. Shall we, beautiful Ha Na?"
I nodded and we walked, arm in arm, out of the building together.
