Chapter 1 - Being the Backstage

As I walk through the open arena door, the smell of stale lager and sweat arises. Crowds already gathered in an indoor concert, I could see the heat, and the atmosphere filled with excitement, but the lights have not yet dim for the main act; the stage is visible even from the back for its performers.

A sigh of relief released from me, hugging the thick folders close to my chest; the concert will be starting sooner or later and hurries through the crowd. As I'm getting closer to the backstage in amidst of jeers and laughter, I saw men take the stage to complete the sound-check, securing the cables and women getting ready with the other tasks.

Getting inside the narrow and dark path, the loud and enormous speakers almost got me deaf, banging my head away from my body.

A red, curly hair neatly coiffed to real a furrowed, tense face appeared and stopped me the moment I stepped inside the powder room. "Where have you been, you idiot?!" Mairin shouted angrily, crossing her arms as she tapped her fingers on her skin.

A row of heads inside the room turned to them, and back in seconds to what they were doing, others did not pay any attention.

"I'm sorry, Mairin, I was assigned to the school project," she cut me off from explaining and was hit by a half-empty water bottle on my forehead, which I didn't manage to avoid.

"You idiot! I don't care about what you are doing in school, you know it's my concert day!" her voice raised, almost yelling. And she continues, "Don't you know, how I work hard on getting to this stage? And because of me, you got a part-time job to settle your debts in my family!" Mairin's face is flushing, squinting her eyes on me.

 "I'm sorry, again," and that's all I could say, head down.

"Now, you get ready for my next costume!" she demanded as she walked past at me and joined with the other performers.

I stepped closer to one of the drawers as I heard the explosion of the crowd's cheers, they echoed around the closed arena, putting the support and love into their favorite pop idols, and Mairin is one of the leading singers in their group.

Preparing the costume for Mairin, I stared at the glittering blazer, how I remembered getting on singing auditions, getting ahead, but in the end, was rejected. It was a total heartbreak for me, and I decided to get into the school and be an assistant to Mairin, who made up to become a pop idol.

Was my voice wasn't good enough? But some of the judges do comment that I can be one of the members of the group. But, instead, it was Mairin. Guess I need more practice or give up the dream of becoming a singer. The only possible thing I can do is to finish school and find a decent job.

"Hey, Ukiyo,"

I looked up, a cup of Starbucks held in front of me.

"For you," a good-looking guy came over and was smiling at me.

I was a bit hesitant to accept the cup, getting the feeling with deadly stares gives me goosebumps from the other girls around. Besides being embarrassed by the kind gesture of this guy, he has been the talk of being the famous young production manager.

"Thank you, Sir Grey,"

My gaze halted when I got to his roman nose, and his 'baby' smile had faltered for a fraction of a second. As a young production manager, he attracts that it wasn't just the girls who are after him. Even the other guys made themselves feel jealous and wished they could be someone like him.

    

"You should take some rest, you know, I see eyebags," he gestured to me.

I felt warm on my both cheeks, and shyly said, "Really? Guess, I need some rest, then," I somehow managed to smile in front of him, even though I got a little nervous whenever he's around.

He tapped my shoulder, "You should, well, I'm going back, take care," he waved, walking back to the other room.

It's been a month working with Grey, he was always a friendly one to work with, and he never scolds a worker, even it made a mistake, and tries to solve it together, and everyone respects and loves him,

"Wow, the bitch is making a move again,"

I turned and received a menacing group of girls who work in the music industry, and they are here to help with the concert. But, to me, they are here for trouble.

I don't want to make trouble with them, and I'm alone. So, I decided to walk away, avoiding those menacing girls and wait in the corner, giving any assists whenever I am needed until the concert is over.

 "Hey, idiot,"

Knowing it was Mairin's voice, I turned to see Mairin making her way out from the backstage along with her teammates. Their concert lasted for two hours and a half, and everyone is going home while others stay to clean up.

I hurriedly get towards her, attending whatever she needs this time. But, Mairin suddenly pushed me away. I lose my balance, dropping the folders and papers clattering on the wet cement.

"What's wrong with your assistant, Mairin, she's so clumsy," other girls with her roared in laughter, as they headed to the waiting limousine first.

I busied myself to get the folders and papers scattering on the ground, and some of the things are already wet. I heavily sighed knowing I needed to get to work this again and it was needed tomorrow.

A shiny red stiletto heel stepped on one of the papers before I could pick it up. I raised my head to see Mairin's smirking face, smiling down at me with cold malice.

"I'm sorry about that, Ukiyo, but I forgot to tell you that we are going to the party, and you need to go home first," she said sweetly.

"But, Mairin, your mother, she will be angry if you're not home before me,"

Mairin turned her back on me, shoving her curly, long hair to her back, "Just tell mother that I'm with my friends, and I don't like you being there," and she starts walking away with the girls, leaving me behind.

"Hey," The door behind me opened, another girl stepped out, calling her other mates to wait for her, as she adjusted the lapels of her jacket that were made of white fur. It looks fluffy, though.

It was one of the pop idol members, Suni. Blonde, long hair tight in a ponytail, revealing her fresh and radiant face. For me, she stands alluring among other members of their group, despite her thin frame.

She stops the moment she notices me, helping me to pick up the papers. Reaching out my hand to collect it from her, she held my hand. I jerked from her cold touch, but she held it tight.

Her eyes are glinting greenish-brown eyes, staring at my wrist. "Say, where did you buy this thing?" she asked. "What a nice bangle you have, Ukiyo," she held it and studied the circular shape; made of black glass with dragon heads on both ends of the bangle, which looks so imposing and exquisite, she was amazed by the craft.

"Where did you buy it?" Suni asked again, not leaving her eyes on the bangle until I slowly pulled away, and she let go.

"Well, my mother gave it to me when I was five," I answered as I busied myself, keeping the papers back in the folders. "And I don't have any idea where she bought this bangle. Maybe you can search online," I suggested with a smile.

"Oh, right! Why'd never thought about that, silly me," she giggled, "But, yours looks so exquisite, you think it's pure black gold?"

"I don't know. And never thought what this thing made of,"

"Oh, well, no matter, it looks good on you,"

"Thank you,"

"I would like to take you a ride, Ukiyo," she offered, which made me a bit surprised that one of the members invited me for a ride.

I tilted my head, tugging my hair at my earlobe, and said, "Suni, thank you," I faintly smiled, "But, I'd rather take a taxi, I don't want you to be bothered,"

"Oh, no, you're not bothering me, I'm happy to help," Suni insisted, but they heard Mairin and their group calling for Suni, all were waiting impatiently and wailing inside the black limousine, impatiently.

"You should be going now, don't worry about me," I said to Suni.

"Okay, see you," Suni waved at me as she walked towards the group.

"Thanks," I waved back as my gaze followed her until she climbed inside the tinted-window car and drove away.

The slap was as loud as a clap and stung my face.

"The hell did you do this time?!" the woman in her late forties yelled at me, knowing that I came home alone, instead of her daughter. She was clenching her fists with a clench jaw, "you left Mairin out there!"

I staggered backward, clutching my face, eyes watering. I already explained why I came home alone and what Mairin had said, but still, this mother wouldn't listen to me.

"I'm sorry, aunt, but Mairin..."

She quickly cut me off from saying another word, pointing her finger on me, "Don't you dare to reason me out, young lady, you should know how I react when Mairin is not home before you! You better go out and wait for her! Do not get inside the house until she's not home, you understand?!" she demanded.

I tried to suggest calling her daughter through the phone or let her driver fetch her, but I refrained. 

"Yes, aunt," I nodded and started heading towards the main door, with the slap that had left a red and stingy sensation behind.