Where Is The Truth

Twelve Sunflowers

Singer/Group: Red Velvet

Name of Song: Dumb Dumb

Type of Video: Music Video

Who am I: Odile  

"Did you wash your face thoroughly?" Shin asked, examining my face before he applied the make-up.

"Okay." I nodded. "It doesn't matter though, the scar's distracting enough."

"A Singer's face is just as important as your voice. You're trying to appeal to the crowd, Odile." Shin said, as he dabbed the brush on my cheek. "Your face, body, voice and hands are now no longer just your own, Odile. The moment you're sick, the moment you get a tiny injury, it all affects your performance and ultimately the revenue that's coming in."

The rest of the make-up session went through in a tired silence after that, until someone tapped me on the shoulder. I open my eyes, a little startled by the reflection in the mirror.

"Stone face, chin up, glare." Ji Yun chanted the mantra, as she grabbed my coat.

I fixed my expression and as we walked to the door, I whispered to myself before walking out of the house.

I am now Elido. The man, Elido. The singer, Elido... that's sleep-deprived and needs some sleep without suffocation as an alarm clock.

"We're a little early." Ji Yun said, grinning. "This is good. We'll have a bit of time for you-"

"To sleep?" I guessed, getting off the car.

Ji Yun rolled her eyes as Shin drove the car away. "No, to network, dummy. If you want to survive long here, you got to team up. This is for your publicity too. Find someone around your vibe, okay? Though it would be best to be friends with someone whose more 'In'."

But apparently it wasn't needed. The moment I walked into the first waiting room, the guys occupying it were startled. I automatically bowed while Ji Yun greeted them enthusiastically, but their eyes were glued to me, more specifically the scar that was spread across my face.

"Good morning, my name is Elido." I introduced myself, giving them a copy of my album. Ji Yun said it was a tradition.

One of the guy nudged the other, who apparently was the leader.

"Ri.. Right. One, two...."

"Hello, We're Bang Tan Boys." They greeted together, bowing after the unique greeting. Their greeting was loud, and crisp.

I bowed again in return.

"You're a new singer?" One of them asked.

"Just debuted a few days ago. Please look after me."

After a few more pleasantries, it was on to the next waiting room, where the same situation happens again. The really pretty girls stared at my 'scars', a little frightened.

"Were you in a gang?" One of them blurted while we were chatting.

Apparently that was the question in most of their heads as everyone looked at the girl. Ji Yun was stunned for a moment.

"I don't think-"Ji Yun began and I placed my hand on her shoulder, interrupting.

"Its a secret." I winked, giving them a rare smile.

That killed them.

"Are you serious?" The one who asked raised an eyebrow.

I shrugged my shoulder. "What do you think?" I pointed to the scar on my face.

"We still need to visit the others.Please excuse us." Ji Yun said, and forcefully ended the conversation.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Ji Yun hissed.

"My image is of someone dangerous currently. This shouldn't really hurt it. Let them imagine. I didn't really say yes. Just implied it."

Ji Yun waited till the staff in the corridor moved a little further away before hissing softly.

"If only you were seriously a guy." She messed her hair. "I'm having a hard time seeing you as that original you already. Don't make this harder for me by flashing your killer smile everywhere or implying about your past. I don't care if you really were in the gang or anything, just stop."

What killer smile? My smiles don't kill.... I still remember times when I tried begging for money, my smile only drove people away as I approached them. Or how about that time when I tried to asked our ex-neighbours for medicine? That woman threw salt at me as she chased me out. My smiles aren't killers at all.

"Yes, big sis." I said, and we continued the rounds. Shin finally found us after quite a long while and dragged us back to our waiting room as he touched up on the make-up. Whilst he did that, the amount of girls knocking on our waiting room door increased and soon I had a tiny crowd with me. It was extremely weird, the way some of them were trying to joke with me and initiate conversation. As if I was a guy they were interested in and not a girl. This was creepy and weird.

"Elido, you're up soon." One of the staff announced.

"I've to go, sorry ladies." I said, much to my relief and their disappointments.