Shine, Dream, Smile

Everyone's Truth

Audrey

RM: Do you want to know the truth?

Audrey: Yes.

RM: Whose?

Audrey: What do you mean, whose?

RM: My truth or everyone else's?

Audrey: Everyone else's?

RM: Those articles.. You've read them, haven't you? Everyone's truth is in those pages.

Audrey: So what's your truth, RM?

Mason

One year ago..

We're all in our practice room, sitting on the floor.

"Our music video was posted an hour ago, but there's only 30,000 views," says So-Min, staring intently at his phone. "That doesn't sound right to you guys, does it? Is U-Tube working properly?" he asks worriedly.

"Hey, it's still quite early," says Nam, strumming his acoustic guitar. "Maybe after our debut stage, the views will grow more."

"Yeah," agrees Jung, also on his phone. "We're from a small company, after all. Nobody knows about us yet."

So-Min pouts. "I guess you guys are right.. Huh? RM? Where are you going? We're going to practice soon."

I smile at them. "I have something I need to do really quick. I'll practice when I get back, okay? I promise."

In truth, I'm going to buy drinks and snacks for all of us.

Next stop is BB Street. Ah, that's my stop. I should start lining up to leave.

The girl next to me is watching something on her phone.. Is.. Is that me?

That's our music video!! Embarrassed but happy, I put a hand over my mouth to hide my blushing face. Should I say something? 'Thanks for watching'? 'Please support us'?

Suddenly, a guy pushes past me and gets closer to the door. He must be in a hurry.

My yellow eyes widen when I see the guy grab the girl's butt and squeeze it.

The guy turns away just as the girl looks over her shoulder to find her assailant.

"You shouldn't touch women like that, kid," says the man, pulling down his cap. "Especially if you don't know them."

Before I know it, the girl slaps my cheek so hard it leaves a red mark. "Disgusting," she snaps. "Learn how to treat women properly." She squints at my face. "Wait. You look familiar. Aren't you RM from 4 Seasons? You just debuted, didn't you? Just because you're an idol now, it doesn't mean you can do whatever you want."

I touch my reddened cheek. "I didn't--It was--" I look around. "--Him?" He's gone.

Click Click. White flashes. Camera flashes. Fellow passengers are taking my picture.

I didn't do it, I want to tell them. It wasn't me.

I'm not the culprit. But I became it.

Now, whenever I walk outside, all I can hear are:

"Isn't that him?"  "What's he doing in town?" "Probably trying to hit up more girls."

"Since he couldn't get that one on the bus, huh?"

The people said since then. Until now I still remember them.

Yet my strongest worry.. was how my family would feel if they heard them, too.

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