THEY TOOK A TAXI to Insadong where there were karaoke bars or noraebang lined up. They rented a small room that could fit up to five people inside. There was a disco ball hanging from the ceiling. There were also tambourines and maracas. Cheska ordered two bottles of soju, a pitcher of iced tea, and a variety of foods such as grilled squid, beef bulgogi, and japchae. The staff handed them a songbook with English and Filipino songs.
"Choose a song," she told Carter.
"Nah, I’m okay. I'll just drink my iced tea here,” he said and leaned back on the sofa. He’s not in the mood to have fun. Maybe he preferred to sulk in the corner.
A song that immediately caught her attention. She stood up when the intro started playing. “Di ko kayang tanggapin na mawawala ka na sa akin. Napakasakit na marinig na ayaw mo na sa akin.” (I can't accept that I will lose you. It hurts so much to hear that you don't want me anymore.)
Carter almost spilled his drinks. "What is that?"
"April Boy Regino Medley," she said with a grin. She finally got a reaction from him. Not exactly a positive response but it was better than watching him brood. "Di ko na kayang mabuhay sa mundo kung mawawala ka sa piling kooooo.” (I can no longer live in the world if I wouldn't have you by my side.)
He gave out a little sound, whining. He looked like he was having a hangover even when he wasn’t even drinking any alcohol. "Are you trying to torture me?"
"Then choose another song if you don’t want to hear my song choice.” She gave him the song book and continued her singing. “Nagdurugo ang puso ko dahil sa sinabi mo. Gusto kong magmakaawa sa iyo. Pilitin ka, himukin ka na ako’y muling mahalin.” (My heart is bleeding because of what you said. I want to beg you. Force you, urge you to love me again.)
“Here. Pare Ko by Eraserheads,” he said and put it in the slot for the new songs.
The new intro cut off Cheska’s lamented version of April Boy Regino’s song. “Pare ko, meron akong problema. Wag mong sabihin na naman. In love ako sa isang Kpop wannabe. Hindi ko maintindihan iyan. (Bro, I have a problem. Don't say ‘not again’. I'm in love with a Kpop wannabe. I just don't understand it.)
“Yeah! That’s my boy!” she said and poured soju on the two shot glasses. She raised the glass. "Gunbae!”
They sipped alcoholic drinks together. She almost winced at the bitter taste of the soju running down her throat. But after that, she joined Carter in singing.
“O, Diyos ko, ano ba naman ito? ‘Di ba ‘lang hiya! Nagmukha akong tanga.” (Oh, my God, what the heck is this? Isn’t it just a shame! I looked like a fool.)
They sang continuously for an hour until their throats hurt and they needed to rest. Carter's eyes were more alive now compared to earlier. 
"We don't have soju anymore," she said as she sealed poured the last drop of their drinks. They already consumed four bottles and a pitcher of iced tea. "Let's order more."
“Enough. Just order iced tea or juice,” he said. “I’m sorry your day was ruined because of what Min Ji did. You were even dragged in our fight.”
“It’s nothing. She’s the one who has a problem. Big problem. It’s not your fault.”
He brushed his face with his palm. “Eun Young was right. Min Ji is a loser. How could I be so stupid? I didn't even notice.”
“Because you are in love. People are blind when they are in love. You don’t see the flaws of the person you love. Everything is perfect in your eyes. Even when truth slaps you in the face that they’re making a fool out of you, sometimes you just don’t realize it.”
“Not anymore. Earlier I realized that she wasn’t the woman I wanted to be with. It took me a year. She only used me for one year. I hoped that she will eventually like me too. She just needed to focus on her career according to her, asked me if it was okay for me to wait until she becomes famous. And I said yes. To think that I even fought with my sister because of her. Is Eun Young happy? She has proven that she is right,” he said bitterly and took a bite of the japchae.
“Yes, she’s happy but at the same time, she was also sad that you were hurting now. So we’ll just stay here and sing our hearts out until you’re okay.” She opened the songbook again looking for English songs. "Let’s do Air Supply next?"
“Why are you doing this for me? You don't have to distract me to forget Min Ji. I'm fine."
“I said the same thing but I was actually sulking in my room since the day Doc Darryl died. Actually, until about two months ago before I went to Korea.” She clasped her hands and smiled at him. “But everything changed when I came to Korea. You made me forget that I am lonely. I can fall asleep with a smile on my face. You pulled me out of that dark hole. That’s a big deal for me so I also want to help you whenever you’re sad. I don’t want you to feel alone. Besides, I feel like it was also my fault why Min Ji got mad at you.”
"Why do you think so?"
“Because I called you nae sarang. What is about that word that people look so shocked whenever I call you that?”
He was silent for a while. "Uhmmm…about that…"
Cheska pulled out her cellphone and opened the Naver Translator. “Why did I forget I have a translator here? Nae Sarang…”
"Give me that phone.” He tried to snatch the cellphone from her.
She moved it away from his grasp. Her eyes widened when she saw the translation. “My love? My beloved?”