They arrived at the studio where the photoshoot was scheduled.
"Put on the mask of the obedient artist, the glimmering star… Oh! And start considering your girlfriend a little bit!" Sang-Jun commented.
Oh, my lovely girlfriend, Ha Mi-Ok…
That beautiful, twenty-two-year-old girl, a singer who had decided to go public with their relationship. She had been on top of the charts for the past few months. Her voice wasn't bad, but it needed more practice.
It was her looks that made everyone turn their heads. She was one of the most, if not the most, beautiful woman he had ever had by his side. And they were having this stupid photoshoot and interview for that stupid magazine today. Because everybody had to know more about their love and their life together...
"Let's just get through this day..." Ye-Jun said in defeat.
"Do you remember the answers to the questions?" Sang-Jun wanted to know.
"Always!" he confirmed.
"Good! Don't improvise, don't add anything else. Are we clear?" Sang-Jun reminded him.
"Absolutely!" Ye-Jun replied with false enthusiasm.
"Good boy! We'll be over soon, if you pose nicely for the photos" Sang-Jun joked around.
"I always pose great! You're the one who's forgotten how to do it, walking around with that long face all the time!" Ye-Jun nagged.
Sang-Jun smiled. "Sorry for growing up, Ye-Jun!"
They entered the studio, and the staff showed them to the photoshoot set. Ye-Jun greeted everyone with a smile on his face, as always. Today, his facial muscles struggled a bit harder than usual.
He was introduced to the makeup artist and realized they had worked together before on a TV set. Their handshake lasted a moment too long as they tried to remember which show it was.
It was then that he heard a familiar voice: "Ju-Ju...."
Yeah. That was Ha Mi-Ok.
He turned and saw his girlfriend. She was already in her photoshoot outfit: a flashy lime green jacket and black leather pants. She was undeniably beautiful. And she was frowning, heading straight for him.
"Ju-Ju, you're late" she said.
"Sorry, baby. There was an unexpected problem at the office" Ye-Jun said.
Mi-Ok approached him and put her arms around his neck. "Don't do it again..." she ordered. Then she rose onto her toes and kissed him on the lips.
Ye-Jun did not resist. How could he?
You leech!
How am I supposed to clean my lips now?
He offered her the sweetest smile he could muster.
Mi-Ok released him and turned to the makeup artist. "You! Do your job and don't go around chit-chatting with people out of your reach" she said, her tone angry and possessive.
"Babe, we are all here to do our job, remember?" Ye-Jun told her, unable to stand her behavior. He looked at her with a steady stare and a big smile on his face. Exactly as he was supposed to.
And they call me immature?
"Go get even more handsome. We'll talk later" Mi-Ok said blankly before stepping away.
Ye-Jun offered an apologetic look to the makeup artist and went to a dressing room. His outfit was designed to match Mi-Ok's. He had reviewed it beforehand, but he still hated it. Black leather shorts and a light green jacket. Why did it have to be shorts? Why not at least pants? Dan-Bi had approved everything, and he trusted her.
What else can I do?
He changed and went to get his makeup done. As usual, the result was more dramatic than he would like, but it was the theme.
What else can I do?
He knew he'd have to change his makeup twice more, once for each new outfit. But that was his job.
What else can I do?
Sang-Jun was on the phone when he came in. He nodded at Ye-Jun and continued his conversation. He was on his own for now. Taking photos was easy.
The set was, to say the least, extravagant. Huge structures like gigantic rocks were covered in all sorts of fake minerals, crystals, and gems. The background featured psychedelic large-scale paintings. Here and there stood antique furniture, broken and repaired with a gold-like substance. Everything looked exactly like Mi-Ok, the one who had set it up: too much and too little at the same time.
And there she was, lying on a sofa, taking instructions from the photographer.
Ye-Jun approached them slowly. Mi-Ok had put on her seductive face and was looking at the camera provocatively. She saw him and turned. "Ready, baby? Oh, you look so great in these clothes..." she told him, her eyes scanning him from head to toe as if she wanted to devour him.
"Thanks, dear" Ye-Jun said, smiling of course.
She and that photographer were staging everything. He was her friend, and she had insisted on working with him. Ye-Jun had heard all about him—how innovative and influential he was. But he saw nothing innovative in his pictures, only something outrageous, even insulting. But then again, what did he know about photography?
"Let me introduce you to Ash. He knows all about you; he's a big fan" Mi-Ok said.
They shook hands. "Nice to meet you. Mi-Ok's told me a lot about you, too," Ye-Jun said, carefully avoiding returning the fan compliment. "Ash? I have to ask. Where does that name come from?".
"Ash... it's from the ashes that remain after I burn any preconception about what photography and art should be!" Ash replied.
"Oh, now I get it. Not bad, as long as you don't set the studio on fire today" Ye-Jun said.
"Ju-Ju, don't make jokes! And you are an artist, too" Mi-Ok scolded him.
"No offense taken, honey!" Ash told her. "Even our peers don't always get my work. Yeong Ye-Jun, I will transform you today. This shooting will be an unforgettable experience for both of you. I dare say, it will bring your relationship to another level" he continued.
Ye-Jun kept smiling, not saying a word. Anything he said would sound wrong.
It's just a job.
"Did you hear? Another level..." Mi-Ok whispered.
"When do we start?" Ye-Jun wondered. He was more than eager to get this over with.
The first part of the photoshoot took about an hour. Ash was not easily satisfied, repeating shots again and again. They posed as a couple in love, full of tenderness and desire.
The second part was easier. The theme was loathing and fear—his favorite. He aced one scene right away: standing behind her with his hand around her neck. Ash looked immensely satisfied and muttered something about boundaries being easier to cross with such intimacy.
He has no idea...
The third part was the most surreal. They were to pose as "two units divided in space but united in time". Ye-Jun knew he wasn't the smartest, but he was sure that wasn't the reason he couldn't understand the concept. On the other hand, he was shirtless in a silver suit. Maybe that was even worse than the leather shorts.
It was already midday when they finished, and he was looking forward to lunch. He buttoned his jacket and headed for the dressing room. On his way, Mi-Ok appeared in front of him, blocking his path. No one else was around.
"Did you enjoy the photoshoot? Did you feel what I felt?" she demanded.
"I don't know how you felt. And I don't care" Ye-Jun replied angrily, looking for an escape route.
"In our profession, emotions play a large role. Don't try to fool me. You know what I want from you" Mi-Ok said.
"Actually, I don't. What do you mean?" he asked, annoyed.
"Ju-Ju, you will give it to me finally. You know, I dream about it all the time..." Mi-Ok continued, with no reservations.
"Then keep on dreaming" he said with a wide smile, spotting a crew member approaching. Just then, Sang-Jun appeared in the hallway—his chance to escape. "Hey, man, ready for lunch?" he said, stepping around the girl blocking his way.
When they reached the dressing room, Sang-Jun asked, "What was that?".
"You know. She started her nonsense again. I can't believe it. Isn't it clear to her?" Ye-Jun wondered as he quickly changed clothes.
"A girl can dream" Sang-Jun said.
"What are we eating?" Ye-Jun asked, urgently changing the subject.
"We have lunch in the cafeteria here. They prepared a table for you and Mi-Ok" Sang-Jun informed him.
Ye-Jun took a deep breath. "Can't we all eat together?".
"We'll be around. You know what to do," Sang-Jun replied, stepping out of the room.
Ye-Jun took off the silver suit and put on his own clothes—black trousers and a gray T-shirt with geometric shapes. Time to remove the makeup. He began wiping everything from his face, a process that was always liberating.
Finally alone after several hours, the morning's events flooded back. He felt the anxiety of a possible catastrophe and the anger of not being heard. On top of it all, Ha Mi-Ok had managed to upset him all over again.
Why is everyone against me? Why can't I get any rest?
He laid his face in his palms, shook his head, and tried to shake off the anxiety along with the makeup. He didn't have the luxury of losing control. He was working. Everything had to be perfect.
A sudden urge hit him. He picked up his phone and searched for a specific name.
Hana.
'Hi! Do you have any free time tonight?' he wrote and sent the message.
He continued removing his makeup, and just as he was almost done, a new message arrived.
'Hello! All of a sudden? Yes, I do. At eight o'clock?' the message from Hana read.
'Thanks. See you then,' he typed.
He put on his jacket, ready for lunch.
At least my evening seems a bit more interesting.