YJ and Yedam stand on their markers, facing each other as they wait for the director's call. The lights were off, except for a spotlight above them. Yedam tried to focus on anything, but YJ's face. Even the illuminated dust particles floating above her head seemed interesting. When his eyes finally drift to hers, he found her watching him.
Slightly surprised, he smiles awkwardly.
"You ok?" YJ whispers with concern in her eyes.
Yedam nods, "Just a little nervous. This is my first music video shoot."
"You know you can drop honorifics" she gives him a small smile.
"Ah, ok...nuna?" He could feel his cheeks warm.
"I'm nervous too. I never thought I'd have to be in front of a camera like this. When I'm on stage, people usually just focus on the piano and the sound coming from it..."
She pauses, "but with a music video, they'll be watching us."
Yedam nods, holding her gaze.
"I feel silly standing here without a piano. Maybe it's my security blanket."
"I can be your security blanket." Wait, did he just say that out loud?
"Did you just say that out loud?" YJ's eyes light up as she tries to hold in her laugh.
Yedam tries to hide behind his hands as he felt heat trickling up his neck. Thankfully the director came to his rescue.
"and..Action!"
They both immediately got into character as the music started to play.
[Yedam]
My clock is fine, but the time's stopped
There's nothing that works out, I look pitiful
In the world where we were together
I'm now left here alone
I want to go and ask the sky yeah
What does it mean to say I love you
You're the only thing missing from my world
It feels like I lost everything
I'm just like this
[Yedam and YJ]
Why, why, why
Why can't I be fine without you?
Just why, why, why
Just tell me, I can't do this without you
[YJ]
When it's past twelve and tomorrow becomes today
Will we be a little farther
If I hold my breath with you
And take off this breather
Will we be able to endure it oh baby
They shoot Yedam and YJ's shared scenes first, then move outside.
YJ stands behind the crew and watches Yedam as he sings in front of the camera. He truly does have a beautiful voice. It was dark, but she could tell everyone's focus was on him.
She was so grateful to not be doing this alone. Seeing how professional and mature Yedam was on set encouraged her to do even better. Someone taps her shoulder.
"How are you feeling?" Seo Joon oppa whispers in her ear. A little too close, but she acts unfazed.
"Nervous." YJ quietly replies.
"Why? You're doing great, especially for your first time."
She stayed silent, not wanting to disturb the shoot. They stand together as they watch Yedam perform in front of the camera.
She turns to the screen connected to the camera and watches a close up of Yedam's face. It felt like he was actually looking at her. There was so much emotion in his eyes, it made her wonder if his heart had been broken before.
Yedam embraced the training from his acting classes, but found he didn't have to try very hard to feel longing when he saw Seo Joon and YJ standing closely. It was probably the romantic mood set by the music and sunset, he told himself.
--
"It's almost there, but it's still lacking real emotion." They were shooting YJ's scenes now and were already on multiple takes. The director was polite, but YJ knew the sun was setting and they were running out of time.
"Let's take a 5 minute break." The director announces loudly.
YJ heads straight for Seo Joon, "Oppa, help. I don't know what I'm doing here." She felt defeated.
He grabs her shoulders and looks into her eyes. "You're coming off reserved, like you're afraid of letting yourself open up. Try to think of a moment when you wanted something so badly, you couldn't breathe. A moment that makes your heart twist so much it's frustrating."
Oppa didn't say it exactly, it would be rude to, but she knew he was talking about her father.
"Ok."
Yedam watches the screen as they shoot YJ's last scene. There was a light breeze as the sun set behind her, making the wavy strands of her hair glow and frame her face. Her gentle gaze held a heavy sadness, as she stares into the camera – though her mind seemed to be somewhere else. The world disappeared around them as he got lost in the moment with her.
A tear escapes and grazes her cheek, leaving a trail just barely visible in the last moments of light. The set was so still, you could hear a pin drop.
"Cut! And that's a wrap!"
Yedam bows to the crew, "Thank you. Thank you." When he looked up, YJ was gone.
YOU ARE READING
Wayo: A Bang Yedam Story
RomansaA song that wasn't written for him, but became his story to tell. No one will ever know that it belongs to her. A look behind Bang Yedam's journey leading up to the release of Wayo.
