August 2013

I took a taxi to the SM Entertainment building. While holding the letter tightly, I was thinking why I got this even if I didn’t apply for them. It’s really puzzling me. One thing’s for sure, though. I will not sign the contract.

The taxi stopped in front of the building. I gave him the money and got out. I was walking towards the entrance of the building when my phone vibrated in my pocket. I grabbed it and glanced at the screen. It was appa. Why is he calling me all of a sudden?

I tapped the call button on the screen and placed the phone on my ear. “Yoboseyo?”

“M-M-Minho, my son,” appa said as he sniffed. Even though I can’t see him, I can feel that he’s sad and that he’s crying.

“Appa, is there something wrong?” I asked in concern. He continued sniffing and making heavy sighs. “Appa?”

“Minho, be calm as possible, okay?” he said.

“Ne,” I said softly.

“Your umma,” he said. He paused for a while. “Your umma has… brain tumor.”

My eyes widened and my mouth opened in shock as it sent shivers down my spine. It felt like my body was about to fall from shaking. My hand that’s holding the phone is trying hard to take a hard grip on it. “Appa, w-what happened?” I said as I wiped a tear with my left arm.

“When I went home from work a while ago, I saw her lying unconscious on the floor in the kitchen. I ran to her quickly and called the ambulance immediately. After the examination, she was found out to have a brain tumor,” he said. “She’s still unconscious and I’m waiting for her to wake up.”

I can’t speak. I was baffled on what’s happening.

“The doctor said that she needs a radiation therapy immediately. But, the problem is,” he said. “We don’t have enough money to afford it. I tried loaning to my boss but they don’t want to because of the large amount of money needed.”

I stopped for a while and thought of the savings I have in my bank. “How much do they need for the therapy?”

He did not answer for a while. “The doctor said it’s 26,889,500 won. He said that the treatment must be done as soon as possible to prevent the growth and spread of the tumor.”

It’s not enough. The money I have in my savings is not enough. “I’ll find a way, appa. Don’t worry, okay? I’ll go there once I have the money.”

He sniffed once more and said, “Okay. Thank you, son.”

“Bye,” I said as I sniffed.

“Bye,” he said softly as I heard him crying again. I ended the call afterwards.

I breathed heavily as my arm became dead while holding the phone. I looked up at the black sky and gazed at the few stars and the moon that’s shining. Where can I find that amount of money in an instant? I don’t have any offers right now to write or compose a song for their artist.

My umma—the woman that I love and loved me back since I was born has brain tumor. The woman that took care of me is sick. Her life is at stake right now. I would do anything to save her.

I looked at the building of SM Entertainment that’s in front of me. Even if I don’t want to do this, it’s the only way to save umma. I need to bite the bullet.

I entered the building and walked directly to the receptionist. “I’m here for the contract,” I said as I shakily showed her the slightly crumpled letter.

She took a look at it and typed something in the laptop. After typing, she grabbed the telephone’s handset and dialed. She spoke softly that it’s quite inaudible. She nodded a few times and hung up afterwards. “Please proceed to the third floor. You’ll see the office of the director there.”

“Thank you,” I said as I forcefully smiled. She gave me back the letter and I proceeded to the stairs.

I reached the third floor and walked at the hallway. Because I was in a hurry, I bumped the shoulder of a tall girl wearing Aviator shades, white blouse and skinny jeans. “Sorry. I’m so sorry,” I said.

“Ugh,” she said in disappointment and didn’t bother to look at me.

I watched at her as she continued walking at the opposite direction. She seemed familiar. I shook my head and headed towards the office of the director.

When I reached the door of the office with the sign ‘Music Director’, I knocked three times. “Ne,” the director from the inside said loudly. I twisted the doorknob and pushed the wooden door.

“Ahnyeonghaseyo,” I said shyly as I half-raised my hand.

“Oh, Choi Minho!” the director exclaimed in bliss. His arms were wide opened as he neared me. He’s wearing an Aviator type of eyeglass, a suit and his hair’s brushed up. He hugged me lightly and patted my back. I didn’t know what to do, so I just patted his back. “I’m Ahn Chil-hyun. Back then, I was known as Kangta from H.O.T. You know me right?” he said as he raised his right eyebrow and smiled. I nodded and smirked. “How are you?”

“I-I-I’m fine,” I said.

“Come. Take a seat,” he said as we walked towards his table. I took a seat at the couch in front of his table.

As he walked towards his seat, I took a glance at his spacious office. It has a cold ambience mixed with the wooden cabinets, drawers and tables that all have a glass top. The floor is carpeted in grey and the black couch I’m in is quite comfortable to sit in. His table has his transparent glass nameplate in front. Behind his table is a wide window showing great scenery of the night life in Seoul.

“Do you want coffee?” he offered me as he showed me his white mug with the pink SM Entertainment logo in it.

I shook my head and said, “No, thank you.”

He took a sip from his mug and placed it on the coaster as he took a seat from his black leather office chair. “So, what brings you here?” He looked at me directly with a smile on his face.

“I’m here to sign the contract,” I said.

He mouthed an ‘oh’ and looked down. “I thought the rumors were true. But, I guess not,” he said and laughed. “So you really didn’t put SM Entertainment to your blacklist?”

“I did,” I honestly said. “But, I thought that it’d be a good ride to be part of SM Entertainment.”

He opened his drawer and grabbed a leather folder. He placed it in front of his table and slid it forward. “Here’s the contract.” He picked a pen and placed it on top of the folder.

I gulped and stood from my seat. I came closer to his table to grasp at the contract. “I have a favor before I sign this.”

“What is it?” he asked.

“I know this is a big favor, but,” I said and sighed. “I need 26,000,000 Won immediately.”

He was stunned. “Why?” he said flatly.

“M-m-my umma has brain tumor and she needs the radiation therapy immediately,” I mumbled.

“Why do you think that we’d give that large amount of money to someone like you that’s only starting to work here?” he said as he raised his eyebrow.

I sighed and said, “Because I know that you need me badly than any other songwriters and composers here.”

He laughed for a while and said, “I like your attitude. Geurae, we’d give it to you.” I was shocked.

“Jinja?” I confirmed.  He nodded.

I can’t help but grin and be excited. I was given a hope even though I loathe my decision. I took a hold of the pen, opened the folder, turned the pages and signed the contract immediately, not minding what’s on it. “Slow down. Aren’t you going to review what’s on the contract? Don’t you know that it says that you need to be here for thirteen years?” he joked, referring to the false rumors.

“Ani,” I said. “I trust in you. I’d do anything.”

“Arasseo,” he said. “I’ll give you the check tomorrow. Come here by 10AM and we’d discuss your first project.”

I nodded. “Kamsahamnida,” I said as I bowed.

“You’re welcome. Thank you, too, for being part of SM Entertainment,” he said. He offered his hand and I shook it as I grinned.

It was 8AM when Minho woke up the next day. He was excited for this day, since he knows that his umma will be cured. After discussing his first project, he planned to go to Busan immediately to bring the good news to his family.

“For your comeback, we’d grant your request to write and compose the song,” Kangta said. “But.”

Sulli eagerly looked at him while she’s sitting at the couch, waiting for his next line. “But?”

“Someone will co-write and compose it with you,” he continued.

Sulli was surprised and grinned. “Well, that’s good! Is he a great one?”

“Yes,” he affirmed. “He wrote several songs that charted in the past few years, like Miss A’s ‘Goodbye Baby.’ In fact, he graduated from the high school you’re in before.”
 

“Really?” she asked. He nodded.

“After high school, he was admitted to Seoul National University and took up Bachelor of Arts in Music Composition. There were rumors that he blacklisted SM Entertainment. He confirmed the rumor to me yesterday but he wanted to work here now for certain reasons,” he explained.

“Ah,” she said. “When’s he coming?”

“Any minute now,” he said as he checked his watch.

I walked at the hallway, wearing a grey elbow patch sweater, khaki pants and black boots. I neared the director’s door and my heart’s pounding faster. Not Sulli, please. Not Sulli. I don’t have the courage to face her right now. I knocked the door with my shaking hands and the door opened immediately.

“Welcome, again,” the director said excitingly. I walked in the office and looked to the right. “Choi Minho, meet Sulli. Sulli, meet Choi Minho.”

Oh shoot, I thought. My body froze as I smiled awkwardly and observed her. She’s wearing a loose white graphic shirt that’s tucked to her violet shorts, and brown brogue shoes. She’s different now. She grew taller and her hair’s cut really short.

“Minho? Is that you?” she said enthusiastically as she stood from her seat. Her jaws dropped and formed a big smile.

“You know each other?” the director asked Sulli. She nodded in bliss.

“Yes! He’s my childhood friend,” she said in excitement as she walked slowly towards me.

Her walking pace became faster. And faster.

“Chingu!” she exclaimed as she ran towards and hugged me tightly. “I miss you, chingu!”

I stayed still—smiling and not uttering any word. As she hugged me, I felt her warmth and smelt her vanilla-scented perfume. I slowly hugged her back as I heard her chuckles on my ear.

For her, it’s like she did nothing in the past. That she didn’t leave me with any reply. It’s like it was all washed off.

I missed her. Her face, her voice, her chuckles… her bubbly personality. I refused to release the hug and wished that we’d be like this forever.

During that time, I felt like I’m actually happy again after more than eight years.

I felt like I’m over the moon, ecstatic.