I'm His... Makeup artist and Stylist

Chapter Twenty-Five

"Mic test... Mic test..."

The voice of one the technical staff echoed inside the SMART Araneta Coliseum as we entered the venue while doing the final preparations for the EXO'rdium Concert.

It's only 11:45 in the morning and the fans are already starting to arrive and wait outside the coliseum.

I have never been to any of their concerts, just their studio shows and variety shows.I looked around the whole place and mouthed 'wow '.

"This place is huge! I have never been to a concert, ever." Mark exclaimed.

We stood near one of the two entrances of the VIP section where all the different directors, managers, producers, a few audio engineers and the other staff were walking around, checking the lights, the sound system, the VCRs - basically the usual process before any concert.

Their concert venue is big and the stage production is very impressive. Their stage is formed quite similar to their logo, their props for Peter Pan, and the tons of water they'll use for a few of their performances - it's an EXO thing. You can really see the efforts of EXO and the whole team to make every performance for the fans and the members as well.

Memories started to flush in my mind, remembering the days when I was someone part of the 'behind the cameras' team. Doing my hobby, making new friends, exploring new things, and working for him.

"They have arrived. They are on their way to the waiting room, Director."

"Okay. Let them eat first. We'll have rehearsals in an hour."

I snapped back into reality when I heard a production assistant and a director talking a few steps in front of us. I can't deny the fact that my heart was beating faster than it should be.

Irene! You are here to work! Here goes my conscience. Well, I really should be working.

We were led to a space just near the side of the stage which was also near the doors of the backstage. We were separated into to two groups since we were 10 volunteers in all. The other doctors were on the opposite side of us. We were given instructions of our positions and all the emergency exits that can be accessed during the concert.

"If you have any problem or questions, here are your radios to contact us." The smiling staff told us. "We actually have free lunch for you guys but you can also eat outside if you want. We will just leave your food here. The show's going to start at 5:30. Be back here by 3. Thank you so much for responding to our needs, doctors." She ended it with a smile.

"No problem, ma'am. Thank you." Celine replied for all of us then the staff left.

We decided to set up our area and prepare first aid materials. "Who wants to have coffee?" asked Enrique.

"Me." Janice raised her hand. "I didn't have enough sleep today. I just assisted Doctor Mundo's surgery two hours ago."

"Me too! My report almost exploded my head." followed by Rose.

All of us were basically tired from our shifts and duties this week and our case reports to be presented in less than two months. Some weren't that hungry yet so we decided to have coffee and snacks in Starbucks nearby the venue while the others remained in the coliseum.

Starbucks is always full but thankfully we found a space in the corner of the shop. It was nice to have a calm-before-the-storm moment with the team.

We talked for an hour, mostly related to medical things; system in hospitals, patient stories, diagnosis of our case reports, funny situations in the hospital and horror studies during our duties and night shifts.

"Gosh! That was totally embarrassing! I didn't want to face Doctor Lani ever after that incident!" exclaimed Paul.

We laughed for five straight minutes that some of us were already tearing up until we were out of breath so we decided to calm down a bit.

Mark's face suddenly lit up, "Irene! You worked as a Korean artist's makeup artist in Korea, right?"

My fellow doctors looked at me with interest. They all oohed at the thought.

"Well, yes. I... I was." I said in a monotone.

"Wow. You must have earned a lot of money!" Josh said, the person who thinks that money makes the world go round.

"Well, I just earned just enough. I didn't think about the money tho. It was more about doing my hobby... and a little bit of relaxing." I replied.

My mood suddenly changed. I was unsure of sharing to them the whole story of my work in Korea. I wasn't mad or angry, I was just simply not in the mood to talk about it.

And thankfully, not one of them decided to ask me more questions.

"Wow, Korean artists are really taking over the world." Enrique started as he stared at the glass windows of the shop while sipping his iced coffee.

"Even my younger sister is loving Korean music and even has what they call their 'bias' and 'bias wrecker.'" Janice added.

Our conversations continued until we all stared outside while sipping our drinks, mentally getting ourselves ready for later that night.

Little did we know that it was already 2:37 in the afternoon so we decided to make our way back to the venue since we now have to deal with the big crowd outside the coliseum.

We were already walking along the halls of the coliseum towards the VIP section. We can already here EXO rehearsing for the show. My co-trainees were running, getting excited, wanting to see EXO for the first time. While I on the other hand remained my pace in walking.

I was nervous. Really nervous. I felt guilty for leaving him. I didn't know this day would come, that I'd be seeing him again for the second time around.

"They sing well!"

"Janice! Look at them! They all look so handsome!"

"That guy has cool dance moves right there!"

"My younger sister loves this group. She's going to be jealous of me."

The venue was so loud but I could still hear my co-trainees shouting.

I kept on repeating reminders to myself that everything's going to be fine, that he won't be seeing me, that I just need to enjoy tonight, and that I was there to  do my job - to help others and to prevent them getting into accidents.

A gave out a big sigh.

Do your job tonight, Irene.