11- The Performance

The time is drawing closer and closer.

The auditorium is filled to the brim with fans and the SHAKE members were already inside the changing room getting ready.

I stood beside Hardin while their makeup artist touched up his face and the hairstylist styling his hair.

Everyone was super busy and I was fucking excited to witness what was going on.

"Hurry up, Hardin has less than twenty minutes to go on stage and open it for the night's performance." SHAKES Manager announced immediately after he walked inside the room.

"Just a few more minutes and he will be ready." Responded to the makeup artist.

"Cigarettes," Hardin mumbled. Well, it is no news that he smokes which he got a lot of hate for.

I unzipped his Chanel bag that I was carrying and found a pack of cigarettes inside it.

I grab the cigarette pack and open it. He took a stick of the cigarette and I lit it for him with his Zippo.

He took a drag and closed his eyes.

He looks so damn hot doing that.

Hardin stood up from his chair and sighed.

"Get me dressed up." He said to his stylist.

They both walked off to the clothes rack and started selecting his stage dress for his solo performance.

I glanced down at my wristwatch and scoffed.

A few minutes later he worked out with his stylist. When I saw him I was starstruck, I couldn't stop looking at him, he looked so good.

He was wearing black pair of jeans trousers and a black shirt and he was also putting on a fur jacket, a red fur jacket.

I.... Oh my goodness.

"He looks good doesn't he?" One of the staff asked behind me.

He does. He does look good. So good that I can't get my eyes off him.

"Hardin, we don't have time on our side. Go on stage now." His manager said and he nodded. He took the last drag of his cigarette and threw the rest on the ground then stepped on it with his shoe.

When Hardin walked out I heard his fans screaming. It is overwhelming.

I stood backstage, hearing him sing and rap at the same time.

Our multi-talented Hardin.

"Emma, help me fix this button," Scott said behind me.

When I turned to look at him I smiled.

He looked so glorious in that all-white outfit.

Is this a white night for him?

I button up his shirt while listening to Hardin's voice.

"What do you think?" Scott questioned me.

"Huh?" I asked absentmindedly. I had no idea what he was talking about.

He smiled and raised his eyebrows "what do you think about my outfit."

Haaa! You're dumb Emma.

"It is cool. I love a white night theme." I responded softly. He nodded and winked at me before walking away to talk to the others.

I let out a suffocating breath and closed my eyes, letting the song being performed on stage soothe me.

*****

It was almost 11:30 p.m when we got to our hotel last night.

It was one of the best nights of my life with a lot of fun.

I had so much fun attending to SHAKE members and helping them with things they need.

It was an honor to get close to them.

Now it is already afternoon and we were already on the jet again on our way to Florida.

Being here has opened my eyes to a lot of things. It is not easy to be a superstar.

Imagine performing all night and having little to no sleep because you're practicing and then it is time for another flight to yet another city.

It must be hard on Hardin. Being the leader and the architect of all their plans, he must be tired of everything. He must be lonely.

I glanced up from the magazine in my hand and looked right at him.

He was sitting in front of me and I was carrying his bag just like the first day we came here.

A beanie was covering his long hair and black sunglasses covering his eyes.

He wasn't sleeping like everyone else. He was going through the notebook in his hand.

Hardin. It must be hard on you.

We got to Florida some hours later and just like what happened in Seattle, we lodged in a hotel. This time I didn't get a room all alone to myself but I had to share it with the other trainees. Jennifer, Nana, and Sandra.

I just can't imagine what my life will be like after my debut. It scares me but I'm excited about it as well.

We will see how things turn out.

"I am going to order some food, I am hungry," Sandra announced and Jennifer sighed.

"What is it?"

"Creamy garlic Cajun shrimp pasta," Sandra said.

Manager Tristan made a timetable filled with salad for us to eat and be healthy.

Trying to stay fit and not gain weight has always been a pressure on me."

"I'll have some seafood gumbo thank you.'?"

After ordering our food, I went ahead and lay down on the bed.

"I am tired of everything and we are just on our second day. I am tired." Nana complained.

I wanted to laugh at him for thinking that but I was also sad because of what she said.

If I could be this tired and begging for it all to end in two days then SHAKE members need so much hug.

I grabbed my phone from the drawer beside the bed and unlocked it.

I went to Twitter and the performances from the Seattle concert were already trending on social media.

I was so happy.

They deserve it.

They are incredible.

Just one month. One month and this work will end.

How long can I stay through this? We would be going to different countries and states.

We haven't been to Europe.

A knock came on the door and I quickly jumped down from the bed. Time for some food.

*******

It has been two weeks since we started the world tour with SHAKE and the experience has been overwhelming.

We have performed in ten cities in the United States and five cities in Europe, including Beijing and Shanghai.

Now we have more than fifteen cities to go to according to the post-Hardin made on their official social media pages.

I was grateful for the opportunity given to me. I was able to realize that the dream I chased isn't as easy as it seems. I was able to learn courtesy and a thing or two from the tour.

We were in Japan and I rarely saw Hardin and the members unless it was time for the tour.

I was worried.

I just wished for us to go back to Seoul already.

Tonight is the big award night.

SHAKE was nominated for two categories and I'm rooting for them to win.

They deserve to win it.

SHAKE members flew back to the United States of America earlier today for the award. Some of the staff went with them.

I couldn't because I was only a trainee and not a professional staff, but I'm good just by watching them on TV.

"Emma, come and see this, they just walked down the red carpet," Sandra called out for me. I quickly left the bathroom and walked inside the room.

And there they were walking down the red carpet. They were all wearing black Armani suits. Then the four of them look so good I don't even know whom to watch.

The photographer just couldn't let them pass, everybody was trying to take a picture of them.

"What do you think about tonight's Grammy award?" The interviewer asked them.

"This is our 10th nomination and we are very grateful and excited to be here. Every year different things happen and tonight we are looking forward to a lot of exciting performances from other artists, so yeah we are excited." Hardin responded.

Isn't he cute? That accent.

"What do you think your fans all over the world should expect from your performances tonight?"

"Hmmm, every year we do come up with something new and exciting for our fans to spice up the performance. Recently we are on our world tour which a lot of our fans have gone to but our performance tonight will be spectacular as usual." Marcel retorted and winked at the interviewer who couldn't help but blush.

"He is such a tease," Nana said and chuckled.

"I am excited about this award show," Sandra said and rubbed her eyes.

"Do we still have the popcorn we bought in London?" I asked.

"I think it's inside the fridge," Jennifer responded and got up from the ground.

She walked towards the fridge at the end of the room and pulled it open before bringing out four big cups of popcorn.

Okay. This is going to be extraordinarily lit.

I'm excited and anxious.

*****