The Best Kiss
The catering party before the awards ceremony was a textbook demonstration of what Hollywood "networking" truly meant. Actors, singers, comedians, directors, producers, writers—figures from every corner and echelon of the entertainment industry gathered in one place to celebrate, their glamorous interactions broadcast nationwide through MTV's cameras.
And among them, the most eye-catching figure of the night was, without a doubt, Sion Lee.
With his bowtie—the very soul of a tuxedo—undone and draped loosely around his collar, he perfectly embodied the spirit of rebellion and youth that MTV championed. Journalists and event photographers, instantly recognizing the effortless cool of his look, kept their shutters clicking in rapid succession.
A single frame captured on film. Which of them would walk away with the perfect shot would only be revealed tomorrow.
Amidst the crushing attention of the crowd, Sion maintained the poise of a natural-born superstar, acutely aware of everything happening around him. On the convex glass of CRT television monitors across the country, teenagers watched him exchange greetings with countless celebrities alongside Elena Asimov, gasping as if they were standing right there in the room with them.
"Whoa..."
"Sion Lee is insane. He is so incredibly sexy!"
"Wearing a tuxedo like that is so cool!"
In the Hollywood of the early 1990s, Sion Lee's reputation as an actor hadn't reached the absolute peak yet, but his breathtaking looks and today's "rebellious tuxedo" fashion perfectly aligned with MTV's anti-establishment ethos. Even inside the live broadcast control room, the staff couldn't help but marvel.
"Get Sion on Camera 3. Switch to him now."
"Again? Aren't we showing that kid a bit too much?"
"He's worth it. Look, he's talking to Edward Furlong right now."
"Wow, that's a killer shot... But wait, did he lose weight?"
"Definitely... Look at that sharp jawline. He came prepared."
Sion was living up to every bit of their expectations. Since his sitcom hadn't finished airing yet, he strategically chose a glass of water over champagne to manage his weight, carefully calculating every posture, breath, step, and glance.
In a place like this, you must never show your hand.
Though he was internally thrilled to meet the industry's biggest stars, he maintained a relaxed smile on the outside, smoothly handling the various professionals who approached to greet him. Fortunately, thanks to the solid reputation he had built over the past two years as a dedicated actor rather than a reckless brat, many greeted him with genuine warmth.
"A-yo. I'm loving the movie, man."
It was the rapper, Ice Cube.
"Great performance in the movie. I hope we can work together sometime."
The actor, Keanu Reeves.
"Oh, Sion. I heard you're starting The College Player soon? I really enjoyed that. I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with it."
The comedian, Mike Myers.
Legendary figures who had carved their names into Hollywood history were offering him their respect. Sion wanted to handle it with his usual composure, but even he could feel his voice trembling slightly more than usual when he greeted the next man.
"I really enjoyed your movie."
"...Mmh."
The man who answered Sion's greeting was a towering figure with strikingly sharp, heavy features. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
"I enjoyed your movie as well. It's been a while since a film brought tears to my eyes."
Even though he had shed some muscle to pursue more dramatic acting roles, standing next to him felt like standing beside a massive redwood tree. Yet, when the giant smiled, his face turned incredibly gentle.
Facing Arnold in his absolute prime, Sion suppressed his excitement as best as he could to exchange pleasantries. The moment he turned around, he tightly clenched his fist, letting out the awe he had been holding back.
"..."
Standing beside him as his partner, Elena couldn't take her eyes off this unexpected side of him, her expression filled with quiet surprise. And her blue eyes kept drifting toward his red lips, which seemed even more pronounced under the venue's makeup.
Before long, the main ceremony began.
The MTV Movie Awards were held in a standing format. Everyone stood as if they were in a club, casually holding drinks, looking up at the stage with relaxed expressions as tonight's host, the famous comedian Dennis Miller, stepped up to the microphone.
"Good evening. It's a beautiful night. This is the perfect day to dance, isn't it? I see a few people who look like they'd start shaking their hips the moment the music drops. Yes, I'm talking about you, Sion Lee. Why haven't we seen you at the clubs lately? Word on the street is you've gotten into gardening. You haven't joined some weird nature-worshipping cult, have you?"
It was a witty, sharp icebreaker. Sion laughed lightly and shrugged, adding a subtle, groovy sway to his shoulders.
MTV really is different.
It felt less like a traditional, stuffy awards ceremony and more like a high-energy, youth-centric show driven by music. After a series of comedy segments designed to keep the broadcast lively and the energy high, the presenters finally began announcing the categories and winners.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
Wayne's World.
The film sweeping almost every category was Terminator 2, the overwhelming masterpiece that had dominated the previous year. As it swept Best Action Sequence, Best Movie, Best Breakthrough Performance, and Best Female Performance, the time finally came for Best Male Performance.
"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggggghhhh-!!"
When his name was called, even though he had anticipated it, Sion felt his chest tighten and his vision narrow. For a split second, his "actor's mask" slipped, and he hesitated, unable to move toward the stage. Elena, who had been watching him closely, gave him a gentle push from behind.
"Go on, dummy. Act cocky, just like you do with me."
"...Mmh."
Her words snapped him back to reality. Sion took a deep breath, composed his face into an expression of effortless confidence, and walked up to the stage.
"Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaahhhh-!!"
Countless star actors cheered for him. It still felt surreal that he had been chosen by the public over so many brilliant stars. Of course, there was a certain level of "hype" and "inflated numbers" at play. Even with his past scandals, Sion Lee had always possessed a fiercely loyal fanbase. Combined with the dramatic narrative of a former brat turning over a new leaf to immerse himself in his craft, and the sheer luck of finding a beautiful film that the whole family could enjoy, the stars had aligned. The youth-centric MTV Movie Awards was the perfect stage for him to win. For someone like Sion, who still had "flaws" to iron out, the Oscars involved too many complex, traditional hurdles to clear just yet.
Swallowing those analytical thoughts, Sion stood tall on the stage. He felt like a hitchhiker traveling through the Milky Way. Among the countless stars in the crowd, his eyes locked onto Elena, who was staring up at him from below—a star that would soon shine brighter than any other.
Steeling himself to wrap his entire being in the persona of the "charming rebel," he began his acceptance speech.
"Wow, honestly... to be completely honest, I never imagined I'd feel this way."
He dramatically placed a hand over his eyes as if overcome with emotion, then flashed a brilliant grin.
"Because I obviously expected to win. But it still feels surprisingly good, doesn't it?"
He played the crowd like the ultimate showman.
"I mean, who else was going to win this year if not me? Did anyone else deliver a performance as memorable as... well, actually, there were a lot. Plenty of people did better than me. But you all know, don't you? Among teenage girls, I'm easily the sexiest. No one can deny that, right?"
The crowd burst into laughter. He was the arrogant brat of Hollywood, but tonight, he showed a hint of maturity—a perfect reflection of his recent growth.
"But I didn't do this alone. A brilliant script, cinematography, sound, styling, a talented director who tied it all together, the production company that funded it, and the distributor that brought it to the public. You all helped me shine in the night sky. And of course, my lovely partner, Elena Asimov."
"Uoooooooooohhhh-!"
As if on cue, the camera cut to Elena. It was a shot any seasoned broadcast director would have prepared. She was looking at Sion with an exasperated expression, but a faint, genuine smile played at the corners of her lips.
Seeing her raw, unscripted reaction, the crowd was stunned. Elena Asimov, who had never been known to form close partnerships or show public affection for other actors on set—and who was rumored to have a terrible relationship with Sion—was smiling so comfortably at him.
Wait, what's going on between those two?
Are you kidding me? If those two are actually together... they look incredible.
That notoriously difficult princess is smiling like that just looking at Sion Lee?
Photographers fired their shutters continuously, already drafting dozens of headlines in their heads. Oblivious or indifferent, Sion continued his speech.
"To my precious fans. You might think it's weird hearing me say this, but tonight is a special night, so I'll say it. I love you. You won't hear that from me very often, okay? And finally, to everyone in Hollywood. Let's keep doing our best. Though, of course, I'll be the one holding the trophy at the end of next year too!"
"Boooooooooooooooo-!"
A chorus of playful, good-natured boos erupted from the crowd—a classic Hollywood response.
"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggggghhhhh-!!"
But the roar of applause that followed was deafening. Sion walked down the stage, holding the golden popcorn trophy high above his head.
Only Elena noticed that his hand was trembling slightly from the sheer rush of adrenaline.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After a few more categories were presented, the moment everyone had been waiting for finally arrived.
An award unique to the MTV Movie Awards, unmatched by any other ceremony.
"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggghhhh-!!"
Amidst the deafening cheers of the audience, the two of them slowly walked up to the stage.
"Congratulations!"
"Congrats, guys!"
"Yeah! You two were the best!"
Numerous famous Hollywood actors offered their congratulations as they passed. Standing on the stage for the second time tonight, Sion, now fully accustomed to the roar of the crowd, leaned in to whisper a light joke to Elena.
"Nervous?"
"Not at all. Are you?"
Sion offered his arm with an exaggerated flourish, and Elena looped hers through it. They looked like a rebellious punk and a pristine princess attending a noble gala. The only catch was that the "punk" was so breathtakingly handsome that he looked just as aristocratic as the princess... making them an incredibly striking pair. It was a look that felt Oscar-worthy, yet completely defied the stuffy traditions of the Academy, perfectly representing the youth of the era.
Bathed in the brilliant stage lights, they accepted the trophy at the podium. Sion took the golden popcorn cup and tilted it toward Elena as if presenting her with a bouquet of flowers, flashing a mischievous grin. With that, Elena stepped up to the microphone to deliver her speech.
"This is truly an overwhelming night! I want to thank the many people who helped us win this award! First, Linda Ackerman, the head of Longday Studios! Thank you for giving me this opportunity to stand here! And our director, Kate McCushey...!"
"Ah, this is probably going to take about thirty minutes, so feel free to sit down on the floor and listen."
Sion leaned his head in to interrupt her through the microphone, and the crowd erupted into laughter. Knowing Elena always gave textbook, proper interviews, Sion playfully broke the tension to keep the atmosphere light. Flustered by his antics, Elena puffed her cheeks slightly and stepped forward to continue her speech.
Oh, she is so cute.
Wait, has she always been this beautiful?
Elena looks incredible when she shows normal, everyday expressions.
She usually barely shows any emotion, like a delicate crystal sculpture.
Standing next to Sion, they look like a scene straight out of a teen drama.
The chemistry between the two completely captivated the audience watching at home. Thanks to Sion's playful, relaxed demeanor, a charm of Elena's that the public had never seen before began to shine through. And the reverse was true as well. Sion, who might have been dismissed as a mere brat on his own, gained a more grounded, appealing image by standing alongside the highly respected Elena. They were a dream couple, elevating each other just by standing together.
As they bickered on stage, showing sides of themselves they had never revealed before, it felt like watching a delightful, short comedy sketch. If Elena had simply delivered a standard thank-you speech, it would have been polite but forgettable. But with Sion's playful interruptions, every word took on a special, electric nuance.
Even so, Elena remained true to herself. She was not the type of actor who believed she stood on that stage alone.
"In addition, so many people behind the screen worked tirelessly for Fragments of You."
Elena went on to thank the writers, sound crew, lighting technicians, stylists, every single member of the production team, the supporting cast, and everyone who had inspired the film. Standing behind her, Sion made exasperated gestures to the crowd, but his eyes were incredibly soft as he watched her. He found her stubborn adherence to her own artistic philosophy deeply admirable. In fact, he felt a profound sense of respect.
It's so easy for an actor's ego to become bloated.
Though she had a cold exterior, she was a deeply warm person who was simply socially awkward, and seeing her express that warmth without hesitation on this stage felt incredibly endearing.
Sion gazed at her with a look that anyone watching would find deeply meaningful. Elena smiled softly as she thanked everyone involved in the film. And the audience drank it all in.
The "Best Kiss" award, the most highly anticipated category of the inaugural MTV Movie Awards, was building toward the exact climax the public and MTV had hoped for.
"This is insane."
"Zoom in on Sion Lee's face. Now. More."
At the director's command, Camera 2 zoomed in on Sion's face, projecting it onto the giant screens in the venue.
"Uooooooooooooooooooooooooooooohhhh-!"
The audience roared as they caught the expression on Sion's face. Someone let out a loud whistle, and the entire room focused entirely on this deeply romantic moment.
With millions of young people across America watching, Sion thought to himself:
If I do it now, there might be a tiny bit of real emotion in it... Ah, whatever.
Just as Elena was wrapping up her speech, Sion stepped forward and spoke directly into the microphone.
"Ellie. That's not what the people want to see."
Elena blinked, tilting her head. "What?"
Their quiet, private exchange was broadcast clearly through the microphones to the entire nation. Under the gaze of countless eyes, Sion turned, pulled Elena into his arms, and kissed her.
"...?!"
"What the—?!"
"Kyaaaaaaaaah!"
Inside the live broadcast truck, the crew screamed in shock. The cameras captured their kiss from multiple angles. Sion naturally wrapped his arm around Elena's waist as she leaned back, and Elena, startled by the sudden loss of balance, instinctively reached up to place her hand on his back.
For a brief moment, time seemed to stand still.
Inside the broadcast truck, where the kiss was displayed from every angle across thirteen different monitors, the crew stared in stunned silence, their hearts racing. It was, in every sense, a defining portrait of "youth" that perfectly captured the soul of MTV.