Paper Dolls

Chapter 23

"Girls! Million dollar smiles please!" I hear a shrill voice resonate from behind the glaringly bright diffusers in front of us.

I'd always admired how glamorous idols looked on magazine covers and how effortless it seemed. Modelling used to be my second dream job, only because I grew up the tallest in my family and everyone always gushed about how my five foot six height and slim build could make me a supermodel. 

It turned out to be a laughable dream because I later learnt that the minimum height requirememt for models was actually five foot eight and right now I've never been more thankful that I didn't pursue this as a career instead. 

Singing on stage is one thing but posing in the same position, trying to catch the lights in angles that best accentuates my face and doing it in a group feels like one of the hardest things I've had to do since I joined here as a trainee. 

The twelve of us are currently arranged in a variety of poses around various musical instruments on a plain white set. Management has decided to theme us as musical angels for this showcase so we are all dressed in elaborately designed gowns, with painfully tight bodices and sheer tule skirts that barely cover our legs. 

Some of us have puffed see through sleeves that cover the length of our arms while the others are left bare. 

I'm currently wearing the sea green colour that has been assigned to me and I lean against the piano forte prop behind us, trying my best to look like I am enjoying myself thoroughly with Rachel next to me.

It's hard to act but Rachel is a natural. She puts an elbow on my shoulder, her bones digging into my flesh painfully and I grit my teeth together, keeping my smile intact. 

"Going to have to try harder than that," I murmur inconspicuously and shrug her arm away by changing position. I lean against her, putting the weight of my body on her shoulder and her fake camera smile falters. 

Next to us, Binna and JinJin are the perfect pair of friends as they pose around a large mahogany cello. They smile and pose in a teasing way that earns praise from the team of photographers but I notice Binna grimace in pain when JinJin steps on her foot "accidentally."

Behind us, Kim lies horizontally across the piano hood while Grace sits on the side with a leg propped up. 

"Okay, girls. Great shots. Take five." 

Finally! I slouch forward after being told to keep my shoulders peeled back for two hours straight and hold my thighs for support. 

Some of the girls rush to the monitor to look at the pictures of us and I saunter up to them after catching a breath. 

One look at the pictures and I really have to admit this idea of propping us up in colourful gowns in a plain setting with only wooden instruments really works. All of us look beautiful, our smiles somehow shinning through the camera lens. 

"It's so nice," Rachel whispers in awe and I nod in agreement. 

"We look great, Jina." She turns to me and I really can't tell if she's smiling at me genuinely, all I know is that she's right. 

"Let's get something to eat. I saw some kimbap at the refreshments table." Binna suggests and soon twelve hungry girls are rushing to the table by the back wall. 

Our corsets are too tight so I'm only able to eat a few pieces but they are so delicious that I pocket a few into my bag for after. 

My hand grazes the burner phone hidden in the side pocket of my satchel and I check for any messages. 

Hyeon hasn't texted since the day he dropped the phone into my coat pocket and after waiting and waiting I decided to text him first. 

I told him I've discovered something and that we need to meet but so far there has been no reply. Sometimes I wonder if he's moved country or something. It wouldn't hurt to send a simple reply of acknowledgment, right?