Do you believe Seokjin?

Soo Emi

I did exactly what Seokjin wanted me to do in the morning, with some struggles along the way.

In the morning, I had no products to "make me look presentable" other than a toothbrush. There was no makeup, which was confusing because I expect Seokjin to have a whole closet full of beauty products.

I had to leave the house barefaced.

Then, trying to remember where the Show Hall was. It was tough.

In my defense, Seokjin only showed me once and I was too busy jumping to conclusions about the situation to pay any attention.

But, I still made it. I still found the place after taking a few wrong turns and taking much more time than expected.

Now I am where I need to be...according to Seokjin.

I am at a place.....

A place that I can't really describe other than the fact that it looks exactly like the place behind the stage in the Show Hall. Just bigger and creepier.

I was immediately seated in a chair with stylists all around me.

They were doing my hair, brushing my teeth, plucking my eyebrows, and doing my makeup.

It all happened so fast, I was still trying to figure out why Seokjin didn't have any beauty products in his bathroom.

Like, it's Seokjin....an actual doll with no imperfections. How does he do it?

Anyways, once I got here, they seated me down without a single word or question. I was escorted through the door and then boom, I'm in a chair, getting pampered.

As always, this is weird.

*

Time either went slow or fast, I couldn't tell. There was no clock or visible time in sight.

More girls showed up. Some I haven't seen before in my life, but geez, they were young.

Not children, but maybe a few years younger than me.

They looked so innocent and afraid, I felt so bad. Do they know what they're getting themselves into? Or are they forced into this?

I waited for the stylers to finish whatever they were doing to me, so I could go talk to some of those girls. But as soon as I finished, I was pulled into another room.

This room was similar to a huge walk-in closet. Mirrors everywhere and cushion seats placed along the center. Pretty dangling lights hanging on the ceiling.

*

I stand in front of the mirror with only my bra and underwear on. My arms wrapped around my body as I watched myself in slight panic.

Oh, my gosh. I'm naked in a room full of mirrors and people all around me.

I feel so exposed.

"Miss Emi, let me see...." One of the stylists comes up to me and starts checking me out. "Let your arms down, please."

I turn blood red.

"Miss Emi." She pushes my hair off my shoulder. "Why are you stiff like a statue? What are you so afraid of?"

Afraid? Why am I afraid? Hm....well, I'm about to get sold to a total stranger and get forced to do who knows what. Not to mention that my father is going to find out and everything is going to fall apart even more. This is what he warned me about and I didn't listen. Why should I be afraid? Why do I look disturbed?

"Seokjin mentioned how you were very shy, especially with your body." She stepped back and looked at my body even more. "I don't see why."

Ok, what's so bad with me being shy with my body? It's my body!

"I'm just saying, sweetheart, you have an amazing figure. If I had a body like that, I'd flaunt it." She gives me a warm smile, then disappears behind a curtain.

Flaunt?

I looked at the mirror again and slowly let my arms fall to my side.

It's not that I am unconfident with my body. It's just that I'm used to being modest and I think my body shouldn't be revealed to everyone...

"Miss Emi?" The stylist from before peeks her head out of the curtain and waves me over. "Let's get you dressed up."

*

Um.

Damn.

I stared at myself in the mirror with my mouth wide open.

I was wearing red, lacy undergarments and a glossy, black button up with some buttons undone, so my red lace was visibly peeking through. My pencil skirt was short and tight, and the color matched my top.

To compliment the look further more, I had red heels on that matched my red lips and it was the right height for my liking.

I look like a stereotypical sexy office worker that doesn't do work at all, but just makes out with the boss in his office.

"Alright, sweetheart, I'm going to take you to Mrs. Moon. She'll explain to you everything you need to know before we release you to the Show Hall." The stylist gently pats my shoulder and leads me out of the dressing room.

*

"When you are presenting yourself in front of the men, you'll be as charming and sexy and alluring as you can be." Mrs. Moon walked back and fourth in front of me.

This middle aged woman with the lightest skin and darkest hair made me stand up.

"When you walk, you use your hips." Her hands went down to my hips. "You sway gracefully when you walk. That is what attracts the man even more."

I blush.

"And your gaze," Her hands went to my cheeks and made me look at her. "You have to look powerful, a bit in a daze, and a hint of a glare. Make it look like you're attracted to him too."

I tried my best to do what she said and she cupped my cheeks again.

"Not only your eyes, but your mouth too, my pretty. Your lips should be a little open. It'll make your lips look plumper. Don't forget to smile." I smiled, but she shook her head. "No, not a cute smile. You're a grown woman. When you smile to attract a man, you smirk. Lift one end of your mouth, but don't show your teeth. Not yet. Keep them wanting more."

I obeyed and she clapped her hands.

"Good! Good! You're a natural, Miss Emi. Seokjin made it seem like you had no idea what being sexy was."

I faked a laugh.

That's so nice of him...

"Now, Miss Emi. I want to see you walk. I want to see you attract. I want to see Soo Emi, the sexy woman. Not Soo Emi, assistant girl. Pretend you're in front of the crowd..."

*

After the other girls went to Mrs. Moon and practiced their thing, we were officially finished and on the way to the Show Hall.

All of us were gathered the black van and sat facing each other with the seats on either side.

I looked around at the girls around me. They either had their head hung or their head on someone else's shoulder. They didn't look too excited.

I recognized those innocent faces, though. Now they're dolled up with sexy and revealing clothes on. They don't look so "innocent" anymore.

I was the only one in here with the least revealing outfit on right now. I wasn't as dressed up as they were.

The ride started out silent and awkward, but I decided to break that to learn more about these poor girls.

"Hey, you guys." I whispered gently and gave each of them a small smile. "I'm Emi."

"I'm Grace." The one with brown hair and tan skin raised her hand first.

"I'm Justina." Another one with tan skin, but black hair said.

"Ashley." The next girl with a deeper voice said.

Soon, everyone introduced themselves and I felt quite satisfied with myself.

There was a total of 10 girls here, including me.

Grace, Justina, Ashley, Sooah, Rose, Lilia, Soyi, Eunhye, and Haewon.

"How are you all feeling right now?" I ask, looking at Grace in her alluring eyes.

"Sick." Sooah mutters and leans her head on Soyi's shoulder.

"I feel like an object." Rose sighed and Lilia nodded.

"Same." Eunhye agreed with the lowest tone.

"If it makes you feel any better. You all look very beautiful." I awkwardly smiled.

That didn't work.

Gah, I suck!

"I don't feel comfortable." Justina speaks out and plays with her mini skirt. "I've never worn something so short before."

"I feel scared." Grace's eyes visibly shook. "What are they gonna make us do? It's terrifying."

"I'm not that scared." Ashley crossed her arms. "If this is what I have to do to get my mom out of the hospital and all better again, then I'll do it."

I looked at Ashley with a frown. "Your mom's in the hospital?"

"Mhm. She's really sick." Her eyes avoided mine. "Mr. Kim said that I could help her if I agreed to do this, so here I am."

"Mr. Kim?" My eyes narrowed.

"Kim Seokjin is his full name, I think. You know him. That tall and handsome guy. He put us all up to this, I'm sure."

"I'm here ONLY because I need money to pay for college." Justina shares. "The college I want to attend is all the way in Finland. It's the best there, really. But the sucky job I have now is not going to help me at all. Once I finish, I'll hopefully have enough to pay for everything. I hope Mr. Kim is right."

"Hopefully I'll have enough to pay for a vacation to France. Mr. Kim suggested that place. He said it was really beautiful, but really expensive." Grace tilts her head in wonder. "I want to be surrounded by people with awesome accents."

These girls believe they'll get to leave the job once they have enough money?

These poor things.

This just makes this bad situation into an even worse situation.

Seokjin explained to me before that THAT'S how they get poor girls to fall into their dirty trap.

They say it pays a lot, but something they don't mention is that you won't get to leave unless the person who bought you allows it.

We're getting sold. We won't have free will anymore. We are someone else's property that they bought for insane amounts of money.

Seokjin did this to them. He manipulated them. He took their dreams and used it against them.

I swallowed a lump in my throat and stared at the ground for the rest of the ride.

*

Bodyguards escorted us inside the building once we arrived.

Here we are, back at the marbled floor room.

My heart pumped crazily when I caught a glimpse of the men sitting out in the Show Hall, waiting for the show to start.

Soon, I'll belong to one of them.

Ew, it sounds so horrifying.

A stylist grabbed my arm and brought me to a seat in front of a mirror.

She started touching up my makeup and fixing my hair.

"Where's Soo Emi?" A familiar voice called out for me. "Did Soo Emi arrive yet?"

I froze at his voice.

"There you are, my innocent peach." Seokjin appeared in the mirror, behind me. "Look at you getting pampered."

The stylist was waved away and I turned around to face him.

Seokjin stood in front of me with a matte black suit on and perfectly styled hair. His smirk gave me goosebumps.

His smirk disappeared and I froze. He leaned down and sniffed my neck.

"You're my cologne, darling." He whispered so close to my ear.

"The stylist-"

"I don't mind it. You smell like me and it's attractive." He held out his hands.

I grabbed it and he stood me up.

"Stylists did an amazing job on you, darling." He lifted my chin.

I gulped.

"And, oh, look here. Lace?" His finger touched my lacy bra.

He leaned in to my ear and placed his hand on my waist.

"I can't wait to see you out there." He whispers, then pecks my ear. "I wish you good luck."

*

My heart was pumping so fast as I stood behind the curtain, waiting for my turn to do a solo walk.

I survived the introduction and I put on my best (fakest) smirk out there.

The crowd was loud when I went out, which was confusing because I couldn't do much other than walk around. My skirt was too short anyways, I couldn't do anything.

I spotted only a couple of people I remember from yesterday. I waved at them and they responded with a whistle.

*

I constantly paced around and tapped my foot. I couldn't stay still. I was too nervous.

Once I finish my solo walk, that's where people decide if they want to buy me or not...and for how much.

"Babe," Seokjin comes up behind me and touches my back. "Hey, you look nervous."

"Because I am."

"Don't worry, Emi. The crowd is really loving you!"

"Seokjin, that's not what I'm worried about." I placed a hand on my forehead and sighed. "I'm worried about what happens after today."

His smile disappeared.

"Like, what am I going to do? What are they going to do to me? Or with me? It's just scary because there's no answer. There are never answers. Everything seems to be a mystery. Especially with you."

"You find out later, Emi."

"I know I do. That's what always happens. I won't find out until it's too late."

"Whatever happens, Emi, You have to be obedient to whoever buys you, ok?"

I glared at him. "Yeah, I got that."

I remember him being the sweet guy who wants to keep me safe and protect me. But I will also remember that he is the one who put me up to this, or he is related to the one who put me up to this.

I remember doubting him.

He put all those girls up to this!

Gosh, I'm so stupid.

I should've listen to Hoseok!

Seokjin tried to caress my cheek, but I turned away from him.

"What's wrong?" He asks.

"Don't ask me that. You should already know what's wrong." I muttered with frustration. "This whole thing is wrong. This entire show is wrong. You're wrong....and confusing."

"Emi-"

"Don't act so sympathetic with me, Seokjin. I don't care anymore. You're doing this to all those poor and innocent girls here. You're lying to them and getting their hopes up. Yeah, I know what you did. I know what you're doing."

Seokjin stood back with his mouth slightly open.

"Miss Emi, you're up." Someone, I didn't bother to look, said.

I gave Seokjin one last dirty glare before getting ready for the curtain to open.

*

The claps and cheers were still ringing even after I stepped off the stage.

I felt a rush in my system. A rush that was strangely mixed with excitement and nervousness.

I did that.

I did THAT.

I just accomplished something I never knew I was able to do and succeeded.

Why am I proud?

I shouldn't be proud.

Again, all I did was walk around, but I got too caught up with the cheers, I ended up going into the crowd and waving to everyone.

I was brought to another mirror as more stylists began to clean me up. As in wipe off my sweat and fix my hair.

In the mirror, I could see Seokjin sneaking looks at me from afar.

I ignored it.

I don't want to speak to him anymore.

The stylists finished and I got up to watch the rest of the show.

I found Grace standing behind the curtain, ready to do her solo walk.

Her fingers were fidgeting like crazy.

"Hey, Grace." I approached her. "You ready?"

"No." She answered immediately. "I suck at this. I don't have confidence. I can't do this. I'm not like this at all!"

Her words spilled out of her mouth like a dam breaking.

I could see it in her eyes that she was about to burst into tears, but nervousness was keeping it back.

"Grace, look at me." I grabbed her shoulders. "I know this sucks. It really does. I know. I felt the same way. I've never done this before and I've never planned to. Just have confidence in yourself and you'll do great."

"Can't I just run away?" She begged.

"I'm sorry, but I doubt you can do that now."

She shook harder and looked away.

"Grace, have confidence in yourself. You're beautiful. Trust yourself. You'll do fine." I assured, stealing words from someone else.

She nodded. "I'll try. I'll try."

"Good." I gave her a quick hug.

"Thanks, Emi."

"You're welcome."

"Grace Xiu, you're up."