Before the camera flashes,
before the light is upon you along with those eyes,
Hold up the glamorous perfect curtain of yours,
the real you is someone you would barely want to show off.
Y/N's P.O.V-
'First, our new SM group will make their debut on stage. We and our forces are joining to cheer you up. Give us your best performance. Please look forward to them and here we go!'
The backstage then was flooded with people. Staffs were running around hurriedly carrying things, working, spending their last drop of sweat to present the idols all polished and glamorous. The incoming roars were gradually getting louder and louder, the audience space filled up from bit to bit by numerous devoted fans. The lightsticks in their hands shone brightly to declare their support for those, who in no time, were about to bring in their show tonight.
'Aishee, joesonghabnida!' I bowed slightly at the apologizing person getting over the abrupt collision and continued my speed walk. Pushing through the curtains, I entered the boys' dressing room. A mild admonishment was running inside at the moment.
'Those buttons are totally broken and falling off. We can't afford to send the boys with their torso all naked in front of the audience, can we? Where's the designer and his team?'
'Eonnie called, they have already arrived and are fixing the outfits. Don't worry.'
'They have got them done.' Seeing me bringing out forward all the fixed outfits cast a delightful look on her face. 'Thank you for bringing them to us.' The stylist quickly took them from my hand proceeding for the last check before handing over to the respective males.
I took a seat beside the manager and led my eyes around the room, focusing on the boys who were sitting before the wide full mirror while the stylists worked on their bare faces to hide the littlest imperfections. It was the night, for their last show to bring on. Also, it was the night, for their possibly last vice to accomplish.
They waited for it. I waited for it. The department, the enlisted operatives selected for the howling mission of the night, waited for it.
And each one for their own purpose.
A trophy awaiting their sinful hands to get held by. And, a pair of menaces to embrace those wrists for the darkest things they ever did before.
The question was, what would they get? Both? Or just one? Or none?
. . . . . . . . . .
'Ah, I can hold that for you. Do your thing.' I took the hairdryer from the stylist woman's hand holding it before the male's brown-blonde hair locks. 'Thank you Y/N-ssi.' Gifting a sweet grateful smile, she continued drawing with thin liners on his eyelids. I observed his reflection in the mirror.
'How are you feeling Taehyung?' He gave a relaxed smile trying to picture a strong confident look through his appearance. 'I am feeling good. We are all fit for the performance. But-' he paused for a second, then continued,
'my voice hasn't been great lately when I practiced. That's why I am kinda anxious right now.' He licked his lips. Besides what he said, there was something else playing shadows on his face.
'Don't worry.' I put my hand on his shoulder, 'Worrying will only get it worse. Your voice is all perfect right now. Take some water. But don't drink too much.' He smiled a bit and nodded. On the last corner of the room, my eyes caught the maknae, standing with the leader talking over something.
'Hyung, I am still not sure about my part of...' The only words from the maknae my ears could faintly catch, unable to hear what the other said. Namjoon spoke something in a low voice, patting the youngest's back in assurance. I twitched my eyebrow a bit, wondering what they were talking about.
The girl took back the dryer from my hand finishing her work. 'Keep on. Hwaiting!' I took steps forward to finish the last supervision on others.
'After this small break, next up we have, yes what you all have been waiting for, presenting to you our most popular group of seven boys, BTS, coming up on stage with the special performance of their hit track--'
'Namjoon, Hoseok, everybody line up, wait, where's Jimin?' Everybody looked around for the male who was absent amongst all. 'I think I saw hyung going to the washroom a minute ago.' Jungkook replied. This boy...! I huffed and scampered towards the opposite direction.
'Jimin-ah?' There was no presence of any living creature all around in the dimly lighted room. The styling tools, numerous bags, and other essentials were lying here and there, announcing themselves as the undivided rulers of the whole place. I was about to sigh and go out looking at other places, but then, a shuffling sound from a dark corner made me look back. I peeked my head in again to take a further look.
'Jimin?' My voice as the only source of sound echoed loud to reach his eardrums even defeating those earbuds plugged in. 'Oh Y/N...' He mumbled, pulling the white wires to take them off.
'Why are you sitting over there hiding like that? There's no time to play around. It's your performance next, everybody's looking for you,' I stood and observed his curled figure, 'Is anything wrong?'
'Y/N...' He became silent in the midst, then cleared his throat, 'I am scared...'
'Why are you scared? I saw how you practiced so well. There is not a chance for you screwing up on there. Just be focused and cool.'
'It's not about the perf-' The sentence stood unfinished. His voice became lower than before, 'What do you do when you are scared?'
I was about to push him up with all my force, but his sudden question left me still on my position in thoughts. In the faintly illuminated atmosphere, I could neither see nor discern what his face had been presenting about his inner mind. It was like a veil to curtain that man on his inside, who was voicing in his head, shoving in all the negative thoughts he could ever receive.
He was a deadly criminal. He has done so many things, still there the words 'fear' and 'scared' about anything is applicable for him?
'Well,' I yet spoke softly, 'I think of all the good things I had gone through, all the good times, the persons who I can relate to and who make me feel better about myself even if with their littlest presence doing nothing at all.' All the words gush out of my mouth in a second so quick, as if they were ready inside to be expelled right after they were permitted. Even I, was surprised at myself.
'That works...?' He dilemmatic spoke. I shrugged in reply. Whether I personally in real do that all the time or not, advising him something that I know will work was in no way a crime.
'Remember Liza? She is the person who inspired teaching me that. She has a locket worn all the time. She says her Eonnie gave it to her, and it's the source of all her optimism. Know what? Even for one day, I never saw her positivity go down, whether it's due to the power of that thing or not. She believes in it, and it's the undying belief that works here.'
'So, carrying something of someone who gives me strength, thinking about the person who makes me feel good? Hmm...' He asked himself as if going through his head to find out the right ones. I replied, trying to help to truncate the search, 'Like your hyungs, you know? They are your peers, they are always there for you, they are who make you you... think about them.'
Piercing through the soft shade of darkness, his eyes looked at me, oddly. His, were immobile, unblinking, leaving mine as the same. The dark chocolate hues protected under the pair of those blue contact lenses, still the intensity and hypnotic effect of them was, never-fading and never replaceable. A white smile glazed out on his lips in genuine form, 'Thanks Y/N, for the advice. I will do that. I feel better now.'
'You do?' An alike smile shimmered on my face, 'Good.'
'Now, get your freaking ass up, we are hellaty hell late PARK JIMIN!!!' I towed his arm darting out of the room in my fastest speed, and nudged him on his hyungs with a push. All seven of them slowly climbed up on the stage. The lights taking a shot all around finally centered upon their figures alike to Greek gods. And the music,
Finally began.
. . . . . . . . . .
'BTS!! BTS!! BTS!!'
The beat dropped, the music resonating the whole surrounding finally met its specific end. The claps all around wrecked the stage. The entrance to backstage was made space through, the boys tiredly walked in. The last one to enter, was a pouting maknae.
'My toe hurts like hell!' He briskly complained. His cheeks ballooned featuring him as a bunny, 'Namjoon hyung stepped on my feet on the stage. I feel like it got fractured.'
'I am sorry, Kookie. I apologized already.' The accused male rolled his eyes, although his face was painted with partial guilt.
'Open your shoe. Lemme see, where does it hurt?'
'No no, it's fine.' He protectively shielded his shoes to block me from them. 'I will manage.' There was a slight flash of pinkness on his neck.
'Namjoon.' With the male I looked back too, finding Yoongi standing with a stern face. The aura from him hit me instantly, taken aback by an extensive realization and slight arousal of the heartbeat.
It's time.
'Jin hyung, pick up your bags.' Namjoon put off the glittery jacket replacing it with a simple black one and pulled out the sunglasses. The manager helped them, 'PD nim agreed on it too that it's important for you to get some rest. As he's letting you all leave early for next day schedule, be sure to take full of it.'
'The car is waiting outside.' Both shared a secret eloquent gaze. That only they could understand, including another third person, which was me.
'Let me escort them out.' I intentionally blocked the manager's way to get in charge of the work and led the boys out to back door through the busy hallway. The drops of weariness were officially withdrawn from their body, the face mask of jolliness flawlessly portrayed their fake held emotions. It was no longer the music and the show which would give them happiness.
My sweet deadly enemies...How bad I will miss them after tonight...
'Sleep well. Let's meet again tomorrow. Jal-ga!' I waved my hands. 'Thank you.' Hoseok threw a rainbow smile as he got himself in along with others. My eyes steadily followed the car's movement. The wheels gradually increased their circular motions, the back horn blinked for once before it went out of sight. My protruded lips turned down instant gaining the sternness. This was my perfect time.
I fished out my phone from the pocket.
'Operative 47, they have gone out just now, heading for the dorm.'
'Get yourself out there now too, Y/N.' The bold woman voice whispered, proving its owner to be Momo, 'You will need time to prepare.'
'Yes.' I disconnected the call. With no acquaintance or staff member around, I could easily now get myself out. And I was a pretty good liar to make up an excuse later on if got asked.
I climbed down the single flight of step and had taken two steps ahead. The moment, a curious feminine voice called me back.
'Y/N ssi?'
I facepalmed.