Rhythms of hearts

Makeup professional

Tuesday, 15 December 2020, 6.30PM

It was two hours till his show. He paced back and forth in his dressing room, unable to sit still as his anxiety mounted. Every sound seemed amplified, making his nerves feel raw and exposed. His palms became sweaty despite the air-conditioned room. Thoughts raced through his mind, each more unsettling than the last.

'What if I make a mistake?'

'What if I sing the wrong lyrics? That's so embarrassing!'

'What if I...'

Semi continued with his train of negativity till he stopped to look in a mirror. He had forgotten to put his eyeliner. His eyeliner is so complicated, even Semi couldn't do it sometimes.  He invented it, so that his makeup artist would do it for him. His makeup artist is a professional lady. Unfortunately, that lady isn't here today. He panicked, breaking out into a sweat once again. He was interrupted by a knock on the door.

Like a hesitant guest, the door opened slowly. Behind the door was Lilith. She came to drop by and visit Semi before the big concert. She also had someone to substitute the makeup artist. Semi thanked Lilith, rushed to sit on the chair and close his eyes. While he closed his eyes, he could hear Lilith whispering. The distant whisper sounded malicious, tingled with hostility. When the door slammed, Semi tried to take a peek at who was the substitute but he or she immediately slapped his/her hand onto Semi's eyes.

"No peeking." The substitute commanded.

The substitute gave Semi the cold shoulder. Semi scoffed and closed his eyes the whole time. The voice of the substitute though...so a voice that flows like melted caramel, smooth and indulgent. Semi fell in love with the substitute's voice and listened to him humming to one of his favourite songs. Semi felt a wet tissue wiping across his face...He also felt other makeup tools such as a brush, an eyeshadow brush and many more.

After applying, the substitute released his hand from Semi's eyes and ran out of the door before Semi could even say a thank you. Semi just shrugged it off and checked out his eyeliner. It's...PERFECT. The angle, the correct eyeliner, it's waterproof, EVERYTHING! The substitute even recorrected Semi's horrible makeup skills. Semi messaged Lilith's number, to bring him the substitute for the next time his personal makeup artist is absent.

'No can do. The substitute said that was the only time he was going to do the eyeliner for you. Sorry!'

Semi stared blankly at Lilith's reply. It cannot be this is the only time the substitute is going to work for him...Does the substitute hates Semi and was forced to work his eyeliner? Semi was having his train of negative thoughts again.

The door slammed open. It was the backstage manager. He screamed at Semi that it was his turn on stage. Semi jumped out of his chair and negative thoughts, grabbed his guitar and swiftly made it to backstage. He heard loud cheers from the audience. His palms started to feel sweaty again. It felt like there were more people than a concert stadium. Of course, people would come here and watch Semi's concert, the whole event's registration is only ten dollars! To calm his senses, he reached for his pocket and dug till he felt a familiar item. He pulled it out. It was the purple guitar pick that 'The Beach' gifted him. He still did not know who this 'The Beach' was. Suddenly, the host stated Semi's name, that was Semi's cue to go on stage.