The Red Carpet Rebel
In 1992, MTV was the epicenter of young American pop culture, the ultimate tastemaker. Absolutely everything that fell under the umbrella of pop culture—music, fashion, film, television—was subject to its massive influence. For any teenager, coming home, throwing a microwave dinner their mother had left behind into the microwave, and turning on MTV was the most natural daily routine imaginable.
Having transitioned from the neon-soaked, vibrant eighties into the nineties, MTV still led the era, shifting toward a dry, sexy, black-and-white aesthetic. When they announced they would host their very first movie awards show and released the nominees, teenagers across America went wild.
"A 'Best Kiss' category?! That's insane! I have to vote!"
"That is so cool! 'Best Kiss'! My mom would pass out if she knew!"
The first-ever movie awards show hosted by MTV, the icon of rebellion and youth. The voting, conducted via postcards and mail, yielded truly historic numbers. The influx of votes from all over the country was so overwhelming that MTV had to assemble a dedicated task force just to count them.
"Best Kiss... Fragments of You, Sion Lee and Elena Asimov..."
"Yes! I'm taking the pot today!"
Surrounded by mountains of postcards and letters, opening each one, reading, and recording them was a mentally exhausting, grueling task. To boost efficiency, the staff on the counting team kept themselves entertained with small wagers.
"How many in a row is that for Sion Lee and Elena Asimov?"
"Seventeen! Jessica bet sixteen, and Tom bet twenty. This is getting tense. Who's closer?"
"Damn it, do we even need to count these? Sion and Elena are obviously going to win Best Kiss anyway. They've been leading by a landslide from the start."
"So can we just agree I won?"
"No way! It's not over yet!"
"Ah, the next one is Sion and Elena too."
"Damn!"
"Heh, there's no helping it. In terms of sheer impact, their kiss scene was the most overwhelming this year."
"True. That scene in Fragments of You was no joke. In the final scene, when Elena looks at him with those lingering, sorrowful eyes and kisses him... man. If you didn't cry at that, you're not human."
"I didn't cry."
"Liar."
"No, seriously. The kiss was so beautiful I was just stunned speechless. I bet a lot of people were like that. To put it in one sentence, it was the definitive kiss scene of two young American icons of this generation."
"But what do you think their reaction will be if they win Best Kiss?"
"Elena will probably be her usual composed self... but Sion is bound to do something entertaining."
"Right? Now that Sion Lee has matured a bit, there's no better actor. He's brilliant, his looks are out of this world so he has tons of fans, and he always behaves like a true 'superstar.' I'm really looking forward to what he pulls off this time."
Indeed, Sion Lee's image within the industry had undergone a massive transformation. In the past, he was the reckless, wild Teen Heartthrob who picked fights with annoying fans and reporters, constantly teetering on the edge of ruin with his endless antics. But now, he was an actor who strategically leveraged public expectation to exude pure, calculated charisma. His fashion and behavior reported in newspapers and magazines, his tone and philosophy revealed in interviews and broadcasts—all of it was beginning to captivate the youth of America. It reached a point where even his slightly diluted "bad boy" image was perceived as effortlessly cool.
MTV, naturally, had high hopes for Sion to ensure the success of their inaugural awards show. And why wouldn't they? With his peak acting skills and constant media buzz, he had been selected as the winner of both Best Actor and Best Kiss for the glorious 1st MTV Movie Awards. MTV had even reached out to his agency first, showing their utmost sincerity by promising to send a limousine right on schedule.
Finally, September 14, 1992 arrived.
In a hotel room in Burbank, California, Sion, fully prepped and ready, stepped out of the temporary dressing room.
"How do I look?"
Seeing him impeccably dressed in a sleek tuxedo, Charlie Kang shook his head in sheer awe and clapped enthusiastically.
"Bravo, bravo! You really are the most handsome guy on the planet!"
"Do you think this is enough to steal the fans' hearts?"
"Ha! Steal? You're going to assault their hearts. The police are going to arrest you!"
"Good. I'll take a life sentence."
Sion smiled as his stylist stepped up to put the finishing touches on his hair.
"I swear, Sion, Armani suits look the absolute best on you."
"Really? Glad the sponsorship worked out."
Sion offered a brief, silent prayer of gratitude to one of his precious clients who kept his bank account as plump as his acting fees.
Exchanging light banter to ease the tension, Sion glanced out the window. Burbank, California. Not far off, the Walt Disney Studios were visible. And beneath a massive "MTV" logo erected specifically for today, a colossal crowd had gathered. They were the general public, all waiting to catch a glimpse of the stars arriving for the MTV Movie Awards, scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM.
Even for Sion, standing before a sea of people required a certain level of mental preparation. Calming his nerves by channeling his inner brat, cracking jokes, and reflecting on his past life, he waited in the hotel room for about an hour.
"Today, I'm the coolest guy in the world," he muttered softly to himself.
With a final send-off from Charlie Kang, he stepped out of the room.
"I'm off."
"Yeah. See you at the police station."
"If I get life, make sure to post bail."
Sion was genuinely grateful to Charlie, who kept up with his humor even on the cusp of such a massive event.
As he took the elevator down to the lobby, countless paparazzi began snapping photos through the glass windows. Bathed in a barrage of camera flashes, Sion was guided by MTV-provided security guards to a pristine white stretch limousine, where he waited for his partner to arrive.
A moment later, Elena emerged, flanked by an even larger security detail.
As always, her beauty was elegant and breathtaking. Her near-white blonde hair was swept up into a neat, sophisticated updo. Her knee-length, sleeveless white dress was a perfect fit for the anti-establishment vibe of the MTV Movie Awards, yet it retained a touch of formal, classic American beauty.
Sion let out a soft whistle. "Aren't you a bit too dressed up today?"
"Look who's talking. Didn't they specifically ask us not to wear tuxedos? Since this is supposed to be a fresh, youthful awards show."
"Which is exactly why I wore one. That's just who I am."
"Honestly, you're hopeless. What's next, wearing shorts to the Oscars?"
She spoke as if it were a given that Sion would one day attend the Oscars. Smiling at his stubborn, contrarian nature, Elena accepted Sion's hand and stepped into the limousine.
"We're departing," the driver announced, and the limousine glided smoothly forward.
It was a short drive of about two kilometers. The streets were lined with crowds who had gathered to enjoy the MTV Movie Awards, many of them dressed in eclectic, expressive outfits that showcased their individuality.
Watching the vibrant, chaotic scene with a thoughtful expression, Sion suddenly smirked. He reached up and yanked his bowtie loose.
Elena watched him, startled.
"...What are you doing?"
"Well, since it's MTV, I should show them some proper respect."
Sion left the undone bowtie draped loosely around his collar and unbuttoned the top few buttons of his shirt. Elena immediately caught on to his intention. By taking a traditional, formal outfit and deliberately deconstructing it, Sion was perfectly channeling MTV's anti-establishment, rebellious spirit.
"Did you come up with that styling yourself?"
"Maybe. What do you think?"
"Knowing you, you definitely did."
"Bingo."
Elena smiled softly, looking at the smug Sion with an affectionate, proud gaze.
"I'm counting on you today. I think it's going to be a wonderful day."
Sion nodded with a confident smile.
The red carpet pre-show for the MTV Movie Awards, which began at 3:00 PM, was being broadcast live nationwide through multiple cameras.
Robert Downey Jr., Keanu Reeves, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Wesley Snipes, Mike Myers. It was a star-studded lineup of the era's most iconic young superstars.
As various VJs roamed around with their cameras, interviewing the celebrities one by one, the white limousine pulled up.
The fans behind the barricades erupted in a deafening roar as they witnessed the grand arrival.
"Ah, it looks like the superstars we've all been waiting for have arrived!"
MTV VJ Tina Parker rushed forward, microphone in hand.
The limousine door opened, and Sion was the first to step out. The moment everyone saw him, they froze in collective awe. His tall stature, his broad shoulders. And a tuxedo worn with an undone bowtie draped over his collar—a look that seemed to mock the traditional values of both the Oscars and MTV. He pulled it off so effortlessly that it was impossible to tell if he was wearing the suit or if the suit was wearing him.
When Elena stepped out of the car right after him, the spell broke, and the crowd erupted into an even louder frenzy.
Elena Asimov and Sion Lee. Sion Lee and Elena Asimov. The duo that had burst onto the scene like a comet last Christmas, driving fans wild all year long. The two leads of Fragments of You—which was still playing in select theaters—had finally arrived on the red carpet.
Amidst the roaring cheers, Tina Parker approached them and asked, "The most iconic couple of the year has arrived! Sion! I have to ask first. How are you feeling?"
"Ah, now that I've loosened this suffocating tie, I feel like I can finally breathe."
"And what about you, Elena?!"
"It is such an honor to be here at the first-ever movie awards hosted by MTV. As someone who watches MTV all the time, this ceremony is incredibly meaningful to me. I hope MTV continues to lead and shape youth culture for a long time to come."
"You all know that's a total lie, right? There's no way she actually watches MTV... Ouch!"
When Sion playfully called out her overly polite, textbook interview style, Elena silenced him with a sharp elbow to his ribs.
Though briefly taken aback by their incredibly close and natural chemistry, Tina, ever the professional VJ, quickly flashed a million-dollar American smile for the camera.
"Yes! Moving right along!"
With that, the two began walking down the red carpet.
The origin of the red carpet dates back to ancient Greece. Historically, a red path was a symbol used to welcome the highest authorities, like kings or gods. That cultural legacy had been passed down to the modern era as a formal way of saying, "You are the main character of this space."
As Sion and Elena walked down that path and entered the venue, they were greeted by... the four lead actors of The College Player.
"...What the hell? Why did you wear a tuxedo to a place like this?"
Frederic Patterson, standing at the very front, was already half-drunk. It was because Elena, who wanted to attend the awards show together, was standing right next to Sion.
While it wasn't uncommon in Hollywood for young actors to act unprofessional and cause trouble at these events, getting wasted before the pre-show was a bit much. Fortunately, a few seeds Sion had planted beforehand had grown beautifully to keep Frederic in check.
"Ugh, you idiot! Stop drinking! The show hasn't even started and you're already drunk?"
"Yeah, don't go causing a scene during the ceremony."
Susan Hopkins and Chelsea Cartwright snatched the champagne glass from Frederic's hand and handed him a glass of water instead. The final blow of seeing Sion as "Elena's partner" had triggered Frederic's accumulated insecurities, leaving him completely groggy, unable to even get angry, and only capable of muttering complaints.
Sion exchanged a look of silent gratitude with the two actresses who were closely monitoring the ticking time bomb. Then, he felt Elena's hand tighten on his arm.
"...You've gotten awfully close with them. Only the actresses, of course."
"Don't worry. I only flirt with you."
"You'd better. But wow, there really are some incredible stars gathered here."
Elena looked around in wonder. It was a moment that truly drove home the massive influence of MTV.
Before the main ceremony began, the two navigated the catering tables, greeting the countless stars that made up the Hollywood galaxy. During this, Sion noticed a cute young boy, seemingly in his early teens, walking toward them. Sion welcomed him with a bright smile.
"I really loved your movie. It was so much fun."
"Thank you. I loved your movie too. You're a much better actor than I was at your age."
"I want to act like you, hyung. How did you get so good at acting?"
"...Just by winging it, I guess?"
While giving a casual answer to a difficult question, a wave of complex emotions swelled in Sion's chest. The overwhelming gratitude of a miracle that had allowed his broken self to return to the era he had yearned for so deeply, giving him a chance to rewrite his career as an actor. And a bittersweet, protective feeling, hoping that this young boy would also find his own miracle.
After a brief chat with Edward Furlong, the star of Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Sion felt a surge of excitement and, uncharacteristically, kept looking around the room. Noticing his restless gaze, Elena asked, "Are you okay?"
"...To be honest, I'm a little excited."
"Really? That's unlike you. Lately, you've been all about being professional."
"This is a moment I've yearned for deeply. Like I told you before. I expected it, but actually standing in the same room with the actors who moved me so much on the big screen... it's overwhelming in many ways. Every single one of them is someone who delivers beautiful performances in their own unique way."
"..."
A brilliant light of pure ecstasy shone through the windows of his sculpted face. As Elena stared at the side of Sion's face, completely captivated by the scene around him, an indescribable, complex emotion welled up inside her.
Until now, no matter what happened, Sion had always maintained a cool, slightly mischievous, bad-boy persona in front of her. But now, she felt as if she had caught a tiny glimpse of his true, innermost feelings. Though she found it slightly strange that this realization brought her joy, Elena kept the conversation going, wanting to know more about him.
"Is there... anything I can do for you today, Sion?"
Only then did Sion turn his gaze back to Elena. After a brief moment of contemplation, he asked, "Can I kiss you during the acceptance speech?"
"...What?"
"With you, of course. Since it's the Best Kiss award."
Sion gave her a sly, mischievous grin. Though she had gotten better at handling his teasing, her mind suddenly raced with dozens of complicated thoughts, just like during their very first "date."
Even for a relaxed event, kissing her suddenly during an acceptance speech at an awards ceremony? To someone who valued propriety as much as she did, it was a completely insane proposition. Furthermore, they had only played lovers on screen; they weren't actually in a relationship.
And yet... perhaps she was swept up in the youthful, free-spirited atmosphere of the awards show, where everyone abandoned formal tuxedos and gowns to express their own individuality.
Before she could stop herself, Elena asked a question of her own.
"...Are you really going to do it?"
Without offering even a single word of rejection.