23 December 2010
D-2 (Part 2)22 December 2010
11.45pm
Big Hit Practice studioAll the members, including Ga-In, were gathered at the dance studio after their group practice. IU had arrived 15 minutes ago but was intercepted by Seul Ong at the lobby since she sent him a message before she left the party.
“Remember, you are not to touch Jin Woon and as much as possible, don’t let him touch you.”
“Oppa, you do realize that’s NOT possible right? We are going to do tango, it’s a COUPLE dance. Don’t make unreasonable requests. Let’s go. I don’t want to be late.”
“This is why I didn’t want you doing the dance. Why did you agree to it?”
“Are we going to go through this again? Be cool about it. It’s just a 2 minute performance. If you continue to be a pest, I’d tell Jin Woon oppa that we would do the whole song!”
“Don’t you dare!”
“Then stop being such a girl about this! Aish~”
The two of them walked into the elevator. The moment the door closes, Seul Ong hugged IU.
“You don’t know how unwilling I am to let you do this right? Not just the dance, but singing Nagging with Jin Woon as well. That’s our song. Every time I hear that you have to sing it with some other guys, I’d be very frustrated and angry.”
“I know, I feel the same way. It’s never the same when I sing the song with others. But this time round, this acoustic version is different and Jin Woon oppa is really good with the guitar. Just treat this as a different version so it’s not really singing our song?”
“I still don’t like it. Maybe because this time round, it actually sounded really good.”
“You mean the other times it didn’t? How can you say that?”
“You have to admit that all the other performances could have been better.”
“Well, it’s not like ours is perfect all the time.”
“It’s not always perfect, but it felt RIGHT, like the two of us.”
Inside the dance studio, Ga-In and the other 3 members were discussing ‘strategy’ to get the truth out of Seul Ong. He had refused to tell them anything when they asked about what happened. But the way he kept looking at his phone told them that SOMETHING had happened.
“What should we do?”
“I think I should just continue what I have been doing so far. I’d try to make him jealous by getting close to Ji-Eun. I expect the choreography to have a lot of body contact right? He’s going to go crazy. But all of you have to protect me! I don’t want to suffer any bodily harm!”
“Don’t worry, we’ve got your back. But you are right, there’s going to be a lot of body contact. Will Ji-Eun be comfortable with it?
“Don’t underestimate that girl. She is more professional than Im Seul Ong. Oh~ I can’t wait to see Ji-Eun put Seul Ong in his place! I had asked the choreographer not to go overboard with the body contact. After all, we have to protect Ji-Eun and your concert rating is for anyone above 8 years old.”
“If that’s the case, noona, the clothes you brought over for Ji-Eun do not seem suitable. They are a little too flashy don’t you think?”
“Ya~ Jo Kwon! Everything I wear is too flashy to you. Well, we can let her wear leggings with the shorts so it won’t look too sexy. Jin Woon, what colour is the dress you bought for her?”
“It’s white since she looks so pure and innocent. Ah! I forgot to get her some accessories!”
“You don’t have to.”
They all turned when they heard Seul Ong’s voice.
“Hyung, what do you mean? And where’s Ji-Eun?”
“She went to the restroom. You don’t have to because I already bought something for her.”
“But you have not seen the dress…”
“It’s not too difficult to look through the history of the websites you have been to you know.”
“Hyung! How can you do that?! It’s a matter of privacy!”
“Well, you refused to let me see the photo so I had to resort to going through your history. By the way, please learn to clean up your history. Some of the websites you went to are rather suspicious looking…”
“Hyung!”
“Hello everyone! I’m here!”
Hearing IU’s voice, everyone turned to look at her. Jin Woon stood up and went to bring her into the practice studio.
“Ji-Eun ah, did you have fun at the party?”
“Yes I did! It was my best friend’s birthday party. Oh yes! Jin Woon oppa, can you help me sign this? My best friend likes you a lot so she begged me to ask for your signature.”
“Sure, anything for you!”
“Ji-Eun ah, let’s look at the clothes I brought for you. We have to take into consideration that your dress is white so you can’t wear colours that’s too dark.”
“But unnie, it should be alright since it’d be shorter than the dress? The dress comes up to here.”
IU pointed to a spot about 5 inches above her knees.
“So if the shorts is like the bottom of a bodysuit… like this one, it’d be fine.”
IU held up a pair of bright red, high cut shorts.
“Nice!”
“No!”
Jin Woon expressed his approval while Seul Ong vehemently objected.
“Why? These are perfect for the dance!”
Ga-In was amused with Seul Ong’s reaction and smiled secretly to herself before expressing her opinion.
“They are too short!”
“Well, they are called ‘shorts’ for a reason.”
“Unnie, what about these for the top?”
IU blatantly ignored Seul Ong’s objection and had picked out a bright-red corset top with black lace trimmings that matched the shorts.
“Ji-Eun ah!! Daebak!! That’s a very nice combination!”
Chang Min gave her a thumbs up. IU smiled back.
“Chang Min oppa~ Thank you! Should I go and change into this outfit and see how it looks?”
“YES!”
“NO!”
“YA! Im Seul Ong! It’s getting tiring with you opposing to every single thing!”
“Son Ga-In! You should know better than to bring all your flashy outfits for Ji-Eun. She’s only 18 and you want her to wear something like this? No, I won’t approve of it.”
“Exactly what gave you the rights to approve or disapprove what Ji-Eun wears?”
“I’m just looking out for her. Not to mention, when pictures of her wearing this outfit and dancing with Jin Woon reach the media, both of them might get into trouble!”
“So you are simply looking out for her like an older brother to a younger sister right? Ji-Eun ah, don’t worry, I will protect you if anything happens.”
“YA! Jung Jin Woon! Who needs you to protect her? She’s got me.”
“Well, I’m only looking out for her like how an older brother would. If you can do that, why can’t I?”
“You…”
“Enough. I’m going to go change into this outfit. Seul Ong oppa, if this bothers you so much, then maybe you should go back to the dorm now and rest.”
That shut Seul Ong up immediately.
“Ji-Eun ah, since you are wearing leggings right now, you should keep them on and wear the shorts over. Then it won’t look too flashy. Let’s pick two more outfits then we can decide which one to wear?”
“Alright, which one do you suggest, unnie?”
“How about the red top you picked out with this black shorts? And then this black corset top with either one of the shorts we have picked out? But this means you have to wear black leggings. Will that look weird with your white dress?”
“Or I could do without the legging, then we don’t have to worry so much.”
“NO!”
Everyone turned to look at Seul Ong then just resumed the discussion.
“So it’s these two pairs of shorts and one of the three tops. Ok I’m try all three tops with the red shorts first then switch it around.”
IU was walking out of the practice studio and Seul Ong was about to follow when she turned and glared at him and motioned for him to stay put. He had no choice but to remain in the studio with the rest who were looking at him really strangely.
“Im Seul Ong, can you stop following her like a lovesick puppy? It’s a little disgusting to watch!”
“What… I was just going to…”
“What were you going to do? And you are embarrassing by opposing to everything that we are discussing. She has her own mind and we should respect that.”
“But those clothes of yours are really flashy. I’m sure Kwon think so as well.”
“Don’t pull me into this. I reserve my right not to comment.”
“Seul Ong ah, we know you are protective over Ji-Eun but this is a tad TOO MUCH. If you oppose so strongly to the outfit, what’s going to happen later when they start dance practice for real? So my advice to you is, if you want to stay, then you need to control yourself. If you don’t think you can do that, then it’s better if you go back to the dorm first.”
“Seul Ong hyung, are you merely stating your objections because you are protecting her like a younger sister or is there something more?”
Everyone turned to look at Jin Woon who asked the question and applaud his daring to ask the question that all of them wanted to ask.
“Why do you ask that?”
“Because I cannot understand the need to be THAT protective if it’s just looking out for a fellow artiste, even if it’s someone you regard as your younger sister. I care for Ji-Eun too but I don’t get all protective and RESTRICTIVE over what she can wear and do.”
“Easy for you to say since you are the one who’s going to do the special stage with her!”
“Is that all? Just because I’m doing the special stage with her? Then, I don’t think you have the right to keep contradicting what she’d agreed to do. It just puts her in a difficult position.”
“And what gives YOU the right to tell me that?”
“Seul Ong hyung, what Jin Woon just said is true. If it’s just about protecting a fellow artiste then you have to respect what Ji-Eun wants to do. Much I didn’t like the dance choreography and the flashy clothes that Ga-In noona wore for ‘Irreversible’ I know that it’s her job and I’d just have to be supportive about it instead of adding on to the pressure she was already facing.”
“But…”
Seul Ong couldn’t continue because IU had just walked into the practice studio with her dance outfit. All the 2AM members gasped in surprise. Ga-In clapped her hand in delight. Even Sae-Byukie was looking at her like he’s never seen her before.
“Ji-Eun ah!! You look so different but in a good way!! You are so going to shock everyone with this outfit and the dance! I don’t think there is a need to try on the others. We should just go with this combination! The black shorts offsets the red corset very well!”
“Wow! I’m so honoured to be your first dance partner!! Ji-Eun! You have to let me take a photo with you! Chang Min hyung! Help us take a photo!”
“I want one too!”
Everyone crowded around IU to get a photo with her except for one who was getting more and more angry with every passing second. Thankfully, before he went crazy, the dance instructor came into the practice studio.
“Wow! IU-ssi, I never expect to see you like this! You look stunning!”
“Seon-saeng-nim, don’t say that! I’m embarrassed. Should I be wearing this to practice?”
“Are you not done showing off yourself to everyone here?”
Everyone was shocked at what Seul Ong said. The instructor was the first to recover.
“No, I think you should change out of this. Otherwise we might get too distracted and we would have to be here all night!”
Everyone laughed at his comment and IU excused herself to go and change.
Author's Note: There's still the actual dance part which is more difficult than I thought because I have to actually think about the dance steps and the music. So, just take note of the dates in the heading.
Oh yes, IU is going to be a guest at 2AM concert on 25th Dec.