Italics for conversations in English.

August 9: 7pm, Olympic Stadium, Seoul

An hour before the Seoul concert, the Directors have a final meeting with the JYJ members. As soon as Hayaley walks into the room in her crisp long-sleeve button-down stretched shirt and black slacks, the room erupts in laughter. Hayaley looks at everyone with questioning eyes.

“Did we miss something?” asks Jun Su. The JYJ members were just as lost as Hayaley.

Just then Hayaley realizes the situation as she sees everyone in their comfortable jeans and tee shirts. She rolls her eyes. “Whose idea was this?” as she glares at Director Yoon.

“Don’t be upset,” Director Im says. “It’s part of the initiation process. Now, you are formally part of the team.”

Hayaley breaks out in a grin. “Do you know how uncomfortable it is to run a concert in this?” She gestures to her outfit.

Several of them answers in unison, “Yeah, we know!” followed by more laughter.

“Ahh! I’m so annoyed.”

“Okay, enough jest. Let’s start the meeting,” Director Yoon cuts in but still with a smile on his face.

Everyone does a final run through of their portion of the concert with the JYJ members. When it was Hayaley’s turn, “For the most part, I will cue Director Im, who will then direct you. Your headphones are also set to hear my cues so for example, Jae Joong-shi, you will hear my cue for ‘Dear J’ after the first video and Jun Su-shi will hear my cue for ‘Age 7’ and so on and so forth.”

“I will continue to direct all three of you so you don’t have to keep the headphones on if you don’t want or need to,” continues Director Im. “Any delays with wardrobe etc., managers, please radio me and I will relay to Director Sung.”

After the short 15-minute pow-wow, Hayaley didn’t waste time getting out of the crisp shirt and slacks, ready to put her comfortable clothes back on. She chuckles as she remembers Seung Hoon-oppa telling her yesterday, “Make sure you are dressed professionally for the concert.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean no tee shirt, jeans or Doc Martens. I don’t care how it is in the West, but being professional on concert day is important here.”

“It’s going to be so uncomfortable….”

“Don’t make me have to have another business etiquette talk with you.”

“Allright,” she had agreed begrudgingly.

She should have known better when she saw the other directors still in their jeans. Come to think of it, she did ask Director Park and he lied saying he was going to change after the meeting. She smiles as she slips into her comfortable black v-neck tee.

You beckon to me as if you’re whispering

… your deep voice

I hear it, I hear it

Every Single Day – “Echo”

The concert starts off without a hitch and soon everything is flowing as planned. Hayaley was a little anxious at first but has gradually gotten more relaxed. By the time Yoo Chun sings ‘I Love You’, she is in her comfort zone.

As Yoo Chun finishes, “Jae Joong-shi up next in 5-4-3-2-1.”

Jae Joong starts his performance for ‘Butterfly’. Hayaley smiles for the first time that evening when Jae Joong shouts, “Everybody scream!!” About 30 seconds into the song, Hayaley subconsciously shifts the controls on the mixer to hear Jae Joong’s voice better. Her smile grows softer and wider as his voice floods her mind.

But when he takes off his coat for ‘Mine’, she couldn’t help but tense up a little. Her heart had skipped a beat when he first appeared on stage singing ‘Creation’ with his almost bare chest. The glimpse of his tattoo across his belly did not help either. She had taken a deep breath then to keep her composure. And now with him strutting on stage half , she tells herself to k