[16]

 

Cameras

 

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September 1st, 2010

 

Tomorrow will be the last day of vacation not just for my five immediate guardians who have full custody over me. But the last day of freedom before we return to Korea and start my training of becoming a celebrity. Ironic isn't it? Suddenly life is plunging me straight into a world of hell.

 

Curse these five bastards.

 

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"Sara, go get ready! We're gonna be late!" Amy complained as she threw a fresh outfit at me. If it wasn't for the fact that I'd grown up with her as my best friend, I would've kicked her out due to the fact that even after SS501's betrayal towards me, she still insists that I should forgive Hyung Joon because in her vision, he loves me. I think she's just blinded by her new relationship with Kyu Jong.

 

"I am ready!" I protested. We were invited to go watch DBSK's concert in town as part of their American tour. She looked me over and rolled her eyes in annoyance.

 

"Get! Into. The. Outfit!" She cried as her petite figured lunged at me. I easily dodged her attempt but paused to get my ringing phone. It was then that she attacked me and forcefully stripped my clothes away for the outfit she had picked out for me.

 

"Hello?" I called into the reciever.

 

"Min Hee, we're here!" Jae Joong said into the phone. I told him alright and gave into Amy's outrageous complaints. I quickly pulled on the rest of the outfit, grabbed my bag and headed out.

 

"Where are you goin?" Hyung Joon asked as he caught up to me at the bottom of the stairwell.

 

"To the concert venue." I replied as I flew by him towards the front door. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me to a stop. "What now, father?" I asked him sarcastically. 

 

"I thought we said 5 o'clock." He said, his eyes were filled with over protection. Great, all of a sudden it was like he really was my father with his new guardian rights and all. This would disappoint him but you know what? He's not and no stupid contract could change that.

 

"Nope. That's what you guys said. Jae-Oppa just finished their final runthrough and came to bring me backstage with him." I paused to check if my words had affected him in anyway. But it didn't. I couldn't help but feel disappointment in my heart when he dropped my arm and dismissed me. 

 

'Screw this.' I thought.

 

I got to the car without once glancing at the man behind me. I couldn't lie. His lack of response hurt me more than I wanted it to, more than I expected it to.

 

"Did something happen?" Jae Joong whispered to me as his manager took a call on his phone. Jae Joong's voice addressed me full of concern.

 

"Aniyo...Nothing too important." I was thankful for Jae Joong, he lightened up half my weight after my parents had gladly sold me off to my cousin for $15 000 000. Jae Joong constantly comforted me that day and would call everyday to talk despite his busy schedule.

 

"Alright then. You don't have to talk to me." Needless to say, me and Jae Joong became fast friends in only about a week. I was going to miss him once it came time to go back to Korea and he'd be left touring America for another week and then Japan for a month.

 

When we got into the change room area backstage, I instantly got a rush of Deja Vu. It was just like the first day at SS501's concert. The rush, the anxiety, it was all there. When we got in, Jae Joong was auomatically draggeed in front of a frand make up and hair mirror. The woman that was standing behind him tugged at pieces of hair while the other members greeted me.

 

Junsu and Chang Min took turns knocking the breath out of me as they individually smoldred me in bear hugs. In a mere week, Ihad developed a tight relationship with DBSK courteousy of Jae Joong. It wasn't surprising considering the fact that for a week I had been out and deliberately avoiding SS501.

 

"Where's the other one?" Yoochun asked as he leaned casually against the counter.

 

"Amy's at home. She's coming with Hyun Joong-shii later." The members nodded in understanding. At first, they gave me looks, wondering why I referred to my cousin as "shii" but after a few days, they had understood that my respect for double S had just gone downhill.

 

Not long after, I got escorted by Jae Joong to the V.I.P. area coser to the front where I parked myself next to Amywho stood with fingers entwined with Kyu Jong's. On the other side was my cousin and beside him stood the other members.

 

"Min Hee! You surprised us! How could you just run off with Jae Joong without telling us?" I expected any of them to say but not even my best friend said a word. She was too busy talking to her brilliant boyfriend.

 

I simply stood there, imitated until DBSK got on stage. It was then that their voices made me feel more free. Amy turned to me in the middle of their first song and gave me the happiest smile of life as she watched, amused by their brilliant energy.

 

In the middle of one of their slower pieces called 'Hug' (which I later found out was one of their first singles), a felt a presense next to me...well to be more precise, like I was being watched. I knew this feeling by heart now after one month of experience. The paparazzi had arrived. but as fast as i had felt the camera, I was suddenly not standing alone.

 

"You sholdn't stiffen up in front of a camera like that." His calming voice spoke as he took my hand in his, and once again, he saved me from breaking down.

 

"Young Saeng..."

 

"I know you don't like the cameras. You'll get past it." He reassured me. "We'll train you how to in DSP. You'll be able to conquer it. I promise." He sounded like he was reassuring himself rather than me.

 

"Just because she got over the paparazzi doesn't mean--"

 

"She didn't. But I know you will because you're stronger than her." Without noticing, the song had changed and Young Saeng used my hand that he held and dragged me over to side stage. There, he didn't give me a warning to what was going to happen, we waited until that song ended and another ballad started.

 

To my surprise, right after Jae Joong had finished one line of the verse, he walked towards us. There, Young Saeng gave me hand to Jae Joong who led me on stage without explanation. On stage, all 5 members gave me a pampered attitude while for the first bit, I simply stood there, stunned. The song, I recognized, was "My Little Princess."

 

I felt it then, the pressure of all the video cameras and paparzzi cameras. They had it all planned all along and I hated them for this. Was this really their way if testing me?

 

Jae Joong took my hand during one of the verses and it was when I looked into his encouraging chocolate brown eyes had I realized the song they were dedicating to me. When their voices warmed me with happiness, I couldn't help but be overwhelmed with tears. At the end of their song, Jae Joong pulled me into a comforting hug as Yunho patted me on the back and told me I did a good job.

 

A member of the stage crerw came up and handed something to Junsu who passe it to Yunho. Yunho placed the stuffed bear in my arms. The bear wore a t-shirt that read "DBSK's little princess. Lee Min Hee. Aja Aja Fighting!" signed by each member.

 

"You have to go now. Your flight leaves in 20 minutes." Jae Joong says as they all me off stage. From the corner of the stage. I waved good bye to the audience and took Jae Joong's hand held mic.

 

"Remember my face America! I, Sara Lee will take over your radios and music stations! Bet on it!" I shouted at them. A chuckle came from off stage. I said a final goodbye to DBSK before strutting past Young Saeng who had a triumphant grin on his face.