before you love me | jjk

chapter one

━━━༻ ˚✩‧₊ january 2020₊‧✩˚༺━━━

To say Narae was nervous would be an understatement. In just a few minutes she'd be face to face with the biggest K-pop group in the world – she was nowhere near ready. When Bang Si-hyuk had approached her company a month ago, she had been enthused at the idea of a joint album with BTS, but now the day had come and her nerves were getting the best of her.

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"Moon Narae, pleasure to meet you, I'm Bang Si-hyuk, CEO of BIGHIT Entertainment and I have a proposal for you." The short man said from across the meeting room, glasses perched on his button nose. Narae thought he was adorable.

"I've been in talks with your label, but I personally wanted to meet you myself to hear your thoughts. As you know, BTS is dominating the Korean charts and is increasingly gaining popularity worldwide. However, we're trying to develop them more on an international, particularly mainstream Western scale. You Narae, are the key to that."

Narae couldn't fathom how she could possibly be of help to the BTS but she supposed Bang PD was going to explain it to her.

"Ever since your solo debut, you've become an international sensation. Out of all the acts from Korea, you're one of the most globally recognised, and mainstream wise, you're definitely number one. However, as I'm sure you've noticed, it's not the same here in Korea."

This was true. Narae had featured on Drake's album back in 2017 which had catapulted her to the next level of international stardom. Since then she'd released an EP and an additional album, the latter which went straight to no.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned her 3 Grammy nominations. Yet, comparatively, she wasn't as big in South Korea. Considering that was where she came from, she really wanted to do a lot better. She was starting to see where this conversation was going.

Bang Si-hyuk continued what he was saying, "This is where we can help each other. I'm proposing a joint album with BTS that can solve both of our problems. I'll give you some time to think about it, but here are the proposed terms, commitments and expectations for this collaboration. Tell your manager to give us a call when you've your decision."

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Narae had spent weeks deliberating on what she should do. She had read the terms so much, she felt as though they were permanently burned in her retinas. After going back and forth, adjusting some of the criteria, like bringing in her own choreographer and producer (if Narae was going to eat, so was her team), as well as adding on a few tour destinations, she was satisfied with the contract.

And now she was in BIGHIT Entertainment, ready to meet the men that she' be spending the next year and a half with.

"Narae, over here!" Her manager called out to her, gesturing to the secretary who'd come down to meet them in the lobby. "This lady is going to take us to the meeting room."

Narae pushed away her racing thoughts and hurried over to where the two were waiting for her. After going up the elevator, filling the silence with arbitrary small talk, they got off on the third floor, and made their way to the room at the end of the corridor. The secretary that accompanied them knocked on the door twice before opening it and motioning for the other two to enter the room.

Deep breaths Narae. She plastered an angelic smile on her face whilst striding into the room, her shaky fingers the only thing indicative of her nervous state – she was a performer after all.