December 3, 2010

“Now boarding train 415, from Seoul to Busan.”

Seohyun got up from her seat and stared down at her train ticket. She entered the platform where train 415 was ported and entered the train.

Today, Seohyun was going off alone to Busan. Seowoo and Jungil both were busy at work and her parents were just as busy. So Seohyun had opted to take the train. It was the first time she had ever taken a train like this one by herself. It was nicer than a subway train.

Once she found her seat, Seohyun put her small luggage in the top compartment. Seohyun had planned to stay at a hotel for two days. Her parents had suggested her stay in Busan until her day off from shooting the music video.

As Seohyun got settled in, she heard someone sit in the seat next to her. She shrugged off her coat and took out a couple of books from her carry on bag.

“Hey.”

Seohyun turned to the seat next to her and to her surprise it was Yonghwa. She smiled. “What are you doing here?”

“My manager has the flu so she can’t take me today. How about you?”

“No one can take me either,” replied Seohyun. “But since you’re here I won’t be bored for the whole trip.”

She watched him nod at her and settle into his seat. He took out his headphones and Ipod and set it on the food tray in front of them.

Bored, Seohyun decided to start up a conversation. “So, what company are you under?”

Yonghwa leaned his head back and looked at her. “I’m under F&C Music. How about you?”

Seohyun shrugged. “I’m freelanced. I still go to college. I attend Dongguk University.”

“Wow, I hear that’s a pretty good school for performing arts. I can tell you’re from there. Your acting is pretty good.”

“So is yours, I’ve seen you in some magazines,” said Seohyun. “You model really well.” Seohyun dug through her bag and produced a Dazed and Confused magazine. She flipped through the pages and found a clothing ad Yonghwa had modeled in. She pointed at his picture. “You make me want to buy whatever you’re wearing.”

Yonghwa chuckled as he slid the magazine a little over to his side so that it was between the two of them. “This was over six months ago. I was scolded so many times by the photographer for not following directions. I was such a rookie back then.”

Seohyun shook her head in disagreement. “I really like this one though. You look…fresh.”

Yonghwa laughed. “Fresh? Well that’s a first.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well my manager told me I had a boring look that it was a surprise that they even used the picture.”

“Well, I like it,” said Seohyun closing the magazine and putting it back into her bag.

Yonghwa stood up from his seat. “Do you want coffee? I’ll go get a cup at the counter.”

“I’ll go with you if you—“

“No, its okay I’m just going to get a few snacks for the ride as well. I’ll be quick.”

“Well okay,” Seohyun began to search her pockets for some money.

“Its okay, my treat.”

Before Seohyun could reject, Yonghwa had left for the counter. Seohyun looked behind her and watched Yonghwa buy her cup of coffee and snacks.

For the rest of the ride, the two of them continued their conversation. Seohyun learned more about Yonghwa. He had just graduated from F&C Academy where it also had an entertainment company. He had majored under music but his company suggested he went into acting and modeling. Surprisingly, he enjoyed it just as much as he loved music.

After  a while, they had stopped talking for a little bit. Seohyun closed her eyes as she sank deeper in her chair. She felt Yonghwa plug one of his earphones into her right ear. She shifted closer to him falling into slumber, letting her head rest on his shoulders.

“Taxi!” Seohyun yelled raising her hand in the air. “Taxi!”

It had been fifteen minutes since Seohyun had begun calling for a taxi. Not one came close. She heard Yonghwa chuckled beside her.

“TAXI!”

A taxi halted to a stop beside Yonghwa and Seohyun. He opened the door and held it open for Seohyun to get in. “That’s how you get a taxi in Busan.”

Seohyun scoffed as she got in. “That’s because you’ve lived here.”

Yonghwa shook his head smiling as he got in beside her. He told the driver the address and they were headed towards the building. Seohyun tied her hair into a neat ponytail.

“I like your hair like that,”

“Really?” said Seohyun as she smoothed out her hair of fly aways. “Why? You don’t like my hair down?”

Yonghwa laughed. “It’s nice both ways but I like this way better.”

“Eyy,” said Seohyun.

A few minutes later they reached the company building. Once they entered they were directed to the make up room to get changed and ready for the shoot. It was a hectic day as it was the first shoot for the actual music video. Seohyun and Yonghwa both received freshly made scripts from Minhyo. All the highlighted texts were the revisions she made and as Seohyun flipped through it looked as if Minhyo had revised everything.

“Are you confident?” asked one of the stylist as she was doing her hair.

Seohyun smiled at her in the mirror. “I’m half and half. I’ll just have to try my best in front of the camera.”

The stylist nodded in agreement. “You’re right. Usually when I do other actresses hair their always shaking in their seat from nerves. I’m glad you’re calm about it.”

“Thank goodness my character doesn’t have many speaking lines.”

“Lucky you! Oh, we’re also keeping our names for the music video.”

Seohyun looked over at Yonghwa who was also getting his hair done. From a distance his script just looked like solid neon papers were just stapled together.

He flipped through the pages in frustration. “I have about a billion revisions throughout the entire script. Everything we worked on yesterday has either been revised or cut out.”

“That’s what I like to call the ‘Cut and Paste’.” Minhyo stood at the doorway of the make up room with her arms crossed. “I cut out all the lines that I don’t like anymore and I paste in the new ones. Are you guys almost done? They want to start shooting the first scene.”

“Yeah, we’re done here.”

Seohyun and Yonghwa began following Minhyo outside. They were once again in the snowy fields. They were both wearing the same clothes from yesterdays photo shoot.

“Hi, I’m Hwang Bae. I’m the director for this music video.”

Seohyun and Yonghwa exchanged greetings. Seohyun began looking around her surroundings and the various camera men stationed around the field.

“I want to do the scene where the two characters meet and then we’ll do when Yonghwa’s character arrives in Busan,” said Hwang Bae. “I’ll give you a few minutes to review and then we’ll get started.”

The director began to check on all the cameras and left the two of them to review. Since Seohyun didn’t have any speaking lines in this scene, she let Yonghwa talk it out with her.

Ten minutes later, the director appeared. “Are we ready?”

They nodded.

“Okay great, so Seohyun I want you to first lie in the field and just keep your eyes closed. I want to get a few shots like that.”

Seohyun trudged through the snow and laid where the director had instructed her to.

“Okay perfect,” He ran behind the cameras. “Action!”

Seohyun closed her eyes and breathed lightly.

“Cut!” He popped his head out from behind the monitor. “Seohyun, you’re a little tense. Relax you’re face. It’s as if you’re asleep. Okay? Action!”

They continued to shoot Seohyun over and over again until they finally got the shot.

Next, they were ready to do the first scene.

“Action!”

As Yonghwa walked up the road he spotted a large snowy field. He held his camera in his hand thinking it would be the perfect place to shoot pictures for the magazine. As he stepped into the snow and through the field, Yonghwa noticed a figure laying in the snow. As he got closer, he found it was a girl sleeping. She looked so peaceful Yonghwa instinctively picked up his camera and began taking pictures. He slowly moved closer and sat beside her.

Suddenly she opened her eyes up to him. Shock read across her face as she sat up and stared at Yonghwa.

“Hi,” He said.

The girl didn’t respond to him but instead she looked at the camera in his hands.

He held it up for her to see. “I work for a magazine. I’m a photographer.”

Silence once again.

Curious, Yonghwa then asked. “Can you speak?”

Once again she didn’t answer him. She suddenly stood up from her place and began walking away. Even more intrigued by her actions, Yonghwa immediately stood up and chased after her.

“Cut!”

A bunch of stylists came out and draped a large puffy jacket for Seohyun and Yonghwa. She shivered under the jacket as the two of them made their way to the director to monitor their performance.

As they screened their performance, Seohyun couldn’t help but feel her heart beat faster. It felt…so exciting to see herself on the screen. Her dream was really coming true.

“I like it. Let’s go through it one more time.”

The two nodded as they resettled into their places and shoot the scene once again.

“Okay!” signaled Hwang Bae making the ‘okay’ sign with his fingers. “On to the next scene!”

The next scene was a solo part for Yonghwa. She stayed behind with the stylist unnies as the bus for this scene rolled in. Off by the road were Yonghwa and the director. They were discussing the scene and making sure Yonghwa knew where all his places for the camera’s to shoot were. After a few more minutes, the director came running back as Yonghwa exited the bus.

“Action!”

A flurry of cameras began to shoot. A camera man even had a special chair that would be able to elevate and shoot in a bird’s eye view angle. Seohyun made her way to the director to watch Yonghwa’s performance.

“Bus, start!”

The bus began to move with the camera following them. She saw Yonghwa stare outside one of the buses window. Many camera men surrounded Yonghwa and moved along with the bus to get the perfect shot. Seohyun was amazed by all the work and effort it took to take one scene. She smiled as she snuggled into her jacket more and watch them do another retake.

“Hi, I made a reservation yesterday. I just want to make sure that everything is fine and that my room is still set. It is? Okay great. Thank you.” Seohyun hung up her phone. She grabbed her backpack and her small luggage from under the make up table.

Seohyun bid goodbye to her stylists and to the camera men. The director had decided to finish filming earlier than planned. It was only 4 p.m. and the check in at the hotel was for 9 p.m. Seohyun wondered if she should sightsee Busan first.

Suddenly her phone went off. It was from an unknown number. “Hello?”

“Seohyun, its me Yonghwa.”

“Yonghwa?” Seohyun was surprised to hear his voice. “How did you get my number?”

“I got it through my manager who got it through Seowoo sshii.”

“Ahhh, so what’s up?”

“Do you have anywhere to go today?” He asked.

“No…”

“Great. I’ll take you around Busan and later we could have dinner at my house. My mom wants to meet you."

“Your house?! Your mom wants to meet me?! Why?”

Yonghwa laughed. “You’re one of the leads in the music video and I told my mother it’s your first time staying in Busan so she asked me to invite you over for a proper Busan dinner.”

“Please tell her she doesn’t have—“

“Seohyun~,” sang Yonghwa with a teasing tone. “She’ll kill me if you say no.”

Seohyun sighed. “I feel bad.”

“Don’t be. Wait for me at the front okay?”

“Hyun!”

Seohyun turned around and found Yonghwa behind her. She waved at him as he walked towards her.

“What did you call me?”

“Hyun, my nickname for you.”

Seohyun laughed. “Nickname?” She closed her eyes to think for a moment. “Yong!”

Yonghwa scrunched his face. “Yong?”

“No…Yong!” Seohyun elongated the last syllable.

“Hyun...” said Yonghwa mimicking her. He laughed. “Come on let’s go.”

“Where are we going?” asked Seohyun.

“Sightseeing.”

“How’d you know I wanted to do that?” asked Seohyun as she followed beside Yonghwa.

Yonghwa shrugged. “You’re the curious type aren’t you? Besides we have hours before dinner.” Yonghwa motioned for her to hurry along. “Come on or else we’ll miss the bus.”

“Ah right you don’t have your car. Why didn’t you take it this morning instead of going on the train?”

“I left it in Seoul. I was too tired to drive it this morning,” replied Yonghwa.

The bus pulled up as they arrived at the bus stop.

“But where are we going?!” yelled Seohyun as she followed Yonghwa into the bus.

He smiled at her. “You’ll see.”

“Welcome to Haeundae Beach!”

Seohyun’s eyes opened wide as she saw the vast and beautiful beach in front of her. She practically flew out of the bus and breathed in the refreshing and salty ocean air. Since it was winter, there weren’t that many people around. She ran towards the sand and scooped it up with her hands. The gusty cold wind made her shiver but she smiled through it. Seohyun heard Yonghwa walk up from behind her.

“If you think this is beautiful, just wait until its summer. Everyone will want to come here.” Yonghwa motioned for her to follow him. “Come by the water.”

Seohyun yelped as she got closer to the small waves. With her hand she felt the freezing water. Smirking, she flicked the cold water towards Yonghwa. He yelled in shock as he wiped the droplets from his face.

“Yah!” He yelled as he bent down and flicked water at her.

They played like that for what seemed like hours before lying on the sand side by side. She clenched the sand with his fist and let it fall from the crooks of her fingers. “I haven’t been to the beach since I was a child.”

“Really?” asked Yonghwa as he turned his head towards her. “Are you happy then?”

Seohyun nodded enthusiastically. “It feels nice to have a little break.”

Yonghwa agreed. “I haven’t worked like this in a while.”

“I’ve never worked like this! But I like it. I wish I could stay in Busan forever.”

“Eyy, you’ll miss Seoul too much,” said Yonghwa.

“That’s true,” agreed Seohyun.

“Where are you staying? Are you staying at a hotel?” asked Yonghwa.

Seohyun nodded. “At the Seacloud Hotel. My check in is at 9.”

“Wow, fancy,” Yonghwa nudged her with his arm. “Are you some rich heiress Seohyun ah?”

Seohyun laughed. “Not even close!”

They got up from the sand and began walking along the ocean. The sun was close to setting and it was about time they should be heading to Yonghwa’s house for dinner. On their ride there on the bus, Seohyun kept asking questions about how she should act and what to do. Yonghwa just and told her to just act herself.

They got off the bus by Yonghwa’s house and began walking up the street. They arrived outside his door and Yonghwa rang the doorbell. Seohyun felt nervous as the door opened and there appeared his mother smiling at them. She was a very pretty woman with a smile that shined. She looked at Seohyun with happiness as she hurriedly let her in the house. Seohyun, overwhelmed by their warmth, greeted Yonghwa’s family with a thankful bow.

“You must be Seohyun,” said a man that was Yonghwa’s father.

“You’re so pretty!” said Yonghwa’s mother with a large smile on her face.

Yonghwa stood beside her and nudged her on the arm laughing to himself at the situation. Suddenly, light footsteps began making its way downstairs and there appeared Yonghwa’s younger brother. She greeted him with a hello and smile.

“Come, come. Let’s have dinner now.” Yonghwa’s mother took Seohyun’s arm and led her to the dinner table.

On the dinner table was an array of dishes. As she sat down Seohyun couldn’t help but stare at how delicious all the food looked. There was some food she didn’t know but over all it made her slightly hungry stomach hungrier. As soon as the family members sat around the table to eat, Seohyun began to eat herself.

After an hour of eating and chatting, they gathered around in the living room to drink some tea. As she accepted the tea from Yonghwa’s mother, she settled in beside Yonghwa on the sofa.

“How is the music video shooting going?” asked his father.

“It’s good,” replied Yonghwa. “A bit cold but durable.”

“That’s good,”

“Seohyun do you have a boyfriend?” blurted out his mother.

Seohyun blushed. “No…”

His mother clapped her hands together with a smile. “Then date Yonghwa!”

“Umma!”

“What?! She’s a beautiful girl and very sensible. Yonghwa she would be great for you!”

“Umma, let’s talk about this another time. Let’s just enjoy the tea before you make Seohyun run back home to Seoul.”

They laughed and continued to drink the tea throughout the night. It was getting close to check in time at the hotel. Yonghwa offered to drive her back in his father’s car. Seohyun thanked his family numerous times before stepping out the door and into the cold Busan night.

“Here,” Yonghwa wrapped his navy blue scarf around Seohyun’s neck and slipped on his gray gloves on her hands. “You look freezing.”

Seohyun stood speechless as she felt him adjust the scarf around her neck. He opened the passenger door for her. She got in and Yonghwa started the car. They remained silent for the rest of the trip until they arrived outside of the Seacloud Hotel.

As she got out of the car, Yonghwa helped her with her things in the trunk. He walked her up to the check in desk and waited for her as she got her hotel key.

Seohyun turned to Yonghwa. “Thank you for today. I seem to keep thanking you all the time.”

“It’s nothing, so I’ll pick you up tomorrow?” asked Yonghwa.

Seohyun nodded. “If you want…” She began to unwrap the scarf and put it around Yonghwa’s neck. “Here take this with you, I’ll be warm now.”

“Keep the gloves though, your hand looked like tomatoes.”

Seohyun giggled. “Fine, goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

Seohyun watched him exit the hotel, get into his car, and drive off. She smiled to herself as she turned and began making her way to her hotel room, anticipating tomorrows shoot.