Lady Spring

The movie set was much smaller than Saeun expected. She thought the place would be filled with countless people roaming around in a frenzy. It was true that the set was hectic, but there weren’t as many people as she expected. On top of that, they were shooting indoors today, so there weren’t many onlookers. It seemed that most people here thought Saeun was one of the staff because none of them paid any attention to her. No one once asked who she was or why she was here.

 

Wooyoung had his trademark hair in a ponytail and was wearing a school uniform.  It felt like she traveled back in time. Saeun smiled at the sight of him. When his eyes met hers, he smiled at her and turned back towards the makeup artist who was working on his face.

 

“Scene 127, ready… Action!”

 

The set was the main character’s room. The female lead was to run into the room and get angry at the male lead. The lines were as follows.

 

How could you give up so easily? I had no idea you were so pathetic.What do you want me to do? Fine, I’m pathetic! So what?!You idiot, you’re… you’re…

 

Then, a kiss. 

 

Unfortunately, the director stopped the scene three times even before reaching the kissing part. Once was because of the female lead, who really looked like she was in high school, and twice because of Wooyoung. The director, who looked like he was barely in his mid 30’s, frowned angrily and glared at Wooyoung. 

 

“You are doing it all wrong. Think about this. You’re in a situation where you need to give up the very thing you love to do. You just realized that you don’t have the talent for it. The male lead has never imagined himself to be untalented in his life, but now, the reality of his situation has hit him hard. He is forced to give up his dream because he’s simply not good enough. So how do you think he would feel? Angry, sad, embarrassed, and devastated! You need to show these emotions. Losing something so precious… You need to do better to express this feeling. Got it?”

“Yes, I apologize.”

 

Saeun couldn’t breathe as she watched Wooyoung being scolded so publicly. She feared that if she made even a small noise, she was going to annoy the director even more. Her hands were sweating profusely. 

 

“Cut!”

 

The director kept pausing the scene over and over again. Every time he shouted “cut”, Saeun could see Wooyoung’s eyes twitching and the director’s expression becoming uglier.

 

Finally, the director announced, 

 

“Let’s just skip scene 127 for now and go on to 153. We’ll come back to it later. Min Wooyoung, go and calm yourself down. Just think about this scene.”

 

Wooyoung trudged towards Saeun. Jingyu, Strawberry Fields’ manager, hurried towards Wooyoung. 

 

“Are you alright, Wooyoung? Do you want something to drink?”

“I’m fine, Jingyu. Just get me my script.”

 

Saeun quickly got off the chair so Wooyoung could sit, but he instead sat down on the floor next to her. She looked around awkwardly before sitting down on the chair again. Wooyoung leaned his head on her thigh and closed his eyes.

 

“Dammit, dammit, dammit.”

 

In front of them, the staff were busy preparing for the next scene. They changed the lighting and the actress took off her jacket while the hair person quickly changed her hair style. The supporting actors kept busy poring over the scripts, and some of the staff were gathered together for a discussion.

 

People around her were running around, but all Saeun could think about was Wooyoung’s frustration. She whispered as she caressed his hair gently.

 

“Are you alright?”

 

No one paid any attention to them. Since Wooyoung was a famous celebrity, Saeun expected him to be always followed by paparazzi and stared at by everyone around him. But here, it seemed that people were too busy, and probably too used to Wooyoung, to care. Saeun realized that unless they began kissing passionately, no one was going to pay any attention to them.

 

Instead of answering her, Wooyoung just shook his head and accepted a bottle of juice and the script from Jingyu. The manager offered Saeun a bottle as well, but she shook her head.

 

Jingyu murmured to Wooyoung, 

 

“Umm, Wooyoung… I know the director is being too hard on you, but try to go along with it.”

“I know. I’m fine. Just go over there. I’m gonna read over the next scene again.”

 

Saeun and Jingyu have met a few times before at the work apartment, but it seemed that Jingyu was still uncomfortable about her presence. He kept glancing at her, but when Wooyoung laid his head on Saeun’s lap, Jingyu disappeared unhappily. 

 

Saeun caressed Wooyoung’s silky hair. She had to admit that his acting was indeed very awkward. It wasn’t that his pronunciation was bad or that his body language was wrong. The problem was that he clearly looked like he was acting. 

 

Wooyoung sighed and took a sip of his juice.

 

“It’s so hard.”

 

Saeun continued to pat him as she asked,

 

“You mean acting?”

“Yeah. And the fact that I’m disappointing everyone here. I know I’m not doing great. I know my acting looks awkward, but I’m trying. I don’t know what else I can do.”

 

Wooyoung smiled bitterly and glanced at her. He asked quietly, 

 

“You think my acting is bad too, don’t you?”

 

Saeun kept silent for a long time before dropping her hand from his head. Wooyoung glanced at her again.

 

“It must be really bad since you aren’t saying anything.”

“No, it’s not that…”

 

Frowning, Saeun finally looked down at him and asked,

 

“Aren’t you friends with that actress?”

“Who? Jang Eunsil? I don’t really know her. I met her for the first time when the filming began. She’s only 18, so why bother getting close to her? What would be the point?”

 

Saeun shook her head and smiled, making Wooyoung frown.

 

“Why are you smiling at me like that?”

“Wooyoung, could it be that you’re feeling awkward about the kiss scene because she’s only 18?”