The Director • Seo Changbin

09

Never in Baram's entire life would she ever have thought at 19 years old she'd be sitting on a live stage getting interviewed. Never in her wildest dreams would she have thought that she would become the assistant to DEAN an amazing Korean R&B artist. She never thought that he would be so charitable to her and help her make her directing dreams come true.

"So how long have you been working alongside Kwon Hyuk?" The interviewer asked focusing her attention from the much more famous man to Baram.

"About 6 months now. I officially signed my contract to work with him when I dropped out of college but I was his "assistant in training" as he called it, 9 months ago." She smiled back

"Wow you guys have been together for along time!" The audience applauded, "Now that we have finished our standard questioning with Kwon Hyuk we have asked our audience and viewers online to ask questions."

"Ask away!" Hyuk replied relaxing in his chair

"Yes go ahead!" Baram nodded

"Ok let's start off with a tough question! This comes from Twitter... Baram, why did you drop out of college?"

"I dropped out because of some people in the student body, and because of work. The stress of college was too much for me so I just focused on making money to get by."

"Yes, college was very tough for me also, I had to move back in with my parents after my first year. Next question is also from Twitter. Hyuk, how did you meet Baram? And why are you two so close?"

"Oh that's a fun story." He replies sitting up straight in his chair, "A group of my friends went to go play some arcade games and drink on our down time. Baram was working the night shift but it was obvious she wasn't expecting many people to come in that day. She was at the front counter with her friend editing a short film on her laptop. When we walked up to the counter she completely ignored us! We eventually got her attention and she served us. Anyways, her friend noticed us and asked for autographs but Baram wasn't interested, she only asked for me and Zico to check out her short film and if it's worth trying to upload somewhere. So we were there huddled in-front of her laptop with our beers watching it. It was pretty good only small issues. So I told her to go for it. I've never met someone with such a clear passion for filmmaking... So I gave her my personal email and phone number to contact me about it. After that she started being my "unofficial assistant". She chose to drop out of school awhile after and contacted me about helping with a film and some other things. I could tell she was struggling artistically and financially, so I offered her to work for me as an intern assistant kind of. The rest is history."

"Wow you really are such a nice person. And to finish the question, why're you two so close?" The interviewer smiled leaning in slightly

"Well I guess we just work beautifully together..." he says looking over at Baram with a smile.

"You guys have a real chemistry. And speaking of chemistry the last question comes from our live audience!" The interviewer says clapping encouraging the audience to do so as well.

"Are you two in a secret relationship?? Ohh... Fan pictures from Hyuk's last meet and greet shows you guys being very close... Fan accounts are going crazy!" She motions toward a tv with some pictures of the two before and after the fan event.

The first picture was Baram sharing her peach soda with Kwon Hyuk using the same straw as she previously did. The second was giving Baram 2 bouquets of flowers the pair smiling at each other.

"Firstly no, we aren't a couple. Mr. Kwon focuses a lot on his work as do I, we wouldn't have time for that. Secondly, you fans never get me at my good angle my face is so round in those pictures!" Baram pouts slightly at the end of her sentence, allowing the audience and interviewer to chuckle.

"Those pictures are way out of context. Baram and I have spent a lot of time in the west so I guess we don't hesitate to act close with each other like most Koreans. We share drinks and food often. Or should I say, we steal each other's food often... That day I was complaining because I wasn't allowed to have anything sweet because of a diet my manager had me on. I whined so much she let me have half of her soda. You fans really exposed me this time!," he chuckled, "And I'm not sure if you guys have noticed but after every fan meet I give the flowers fans get me to the crew. I always save the ones with fan letters attached for myself though." Hyuk explains

"Awww you two are seriously so charming! Too bad, you'd make a great pairing, am I right everyone?" The interviewer motions toward the audience, earning a cheer back. "That concludes our show for today stay tuned for 'Cooking with Jihoon' at 3:00." She finishes making contact with the camera, then turns to the pair. "Thank you so much for being here it was great to have you."

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