JISOO.
7 years later.
"No! We have talked about all this before, Shaffer. I took this job on that condition and you agreed to it! If you're going to insist on what you or they wanted, then I call it quits!" I said angrily over the phone. There's an audible sigh of frustration on the other line.
"Jisoo, how long are you going to do this? In all honesty, I only agreed on that condition because I thought you weren't serious!"
"Well you now know that I'm fucking serious about it so it's your call now, Shaff," I threatened. Silence. I have been a sort of ghost producer for Columbia records for the last 7 years. I met Shaffer in Altomonte when he went on vacation after performing in Rome. Shaffer is professionally known as Ne-Yo. He acquired rights at the label years ago, making him the biggest shareholder. He accidentally caught me making some music in the local pub and sent demos of my work to the executives. I guess they loved my work because not a day later after submitting those demos, I got the job offer.
I adamantly demanded that I stay hidden, even my name to the rest of the label. They just have to send me the materials and I will work from there and from my studio in Altomonte. We did video conferences for some concerns and all went smoothly for the past years, until now apparently. The executives are demanding for physical presence in the studio in the US but I know better. They want more publicity because not to brag, the record I produced gained recognition from all over the globe but no one knows who I was or even my face. I'm determined to keep it that way. It has worked perfectly all these years and I don't see any reason to change it now. I'm content with where I am.
I began my communication again with Jennie and Lisa just last year and they seem to be genuinely happy for me and understood why I can't come back now. They have respected my space and I couldn't be more thankful that I have friends like them who stuck with me through all my ups and downs. I promised myself that I will make it up with them. Just not now. I'm still not ready. I have avoided social media and stuff on the internet. I just focused on what I do now and only corresponded with people I hold dear to my heart.
I still didn't have the courage to check on what's been going on with Chaeyoung. It has been 7 years and I'm pretty sure that she has already forgotten about me. I chuckled humorlessly to myself.
Why am I still even surprised at that?
I'm far easier to forget. I have proven that time and time again.
"Do we have a deal?" I prompted Shaffer. He sighed again and cleared his throat.
"You're giving me not much of a choice here, Chu. Really, this is going to boost your career if you move into the open. There are a lot of promising artists who want to collaborate with you but they're all adamant that they meet you in person. Don't do this to me please," he pleaded his case again but I'm not having it.
"Fine. I'll just finish this last album of System of a Down and I'll be out of your hair," I replied with finality.
"Jisoo, please," he pleaded.
"We have talked about this all before. I won't do it in public. It's all in my contract, Shaffer. You can't hold this condition against me because I have been transparent with you ever since the very beginning and it's on you that you never took it seriously. If you want me out, fine, I respect that but you have to respect me as well. I have done everything that I could and more for this label. You know my work ethics and I have never brought you down. Lose all that," I retorted.
"Fine. Fine! I'm never gonna win against you anyway. God, what did I get myself into?" I chuckled at that because this label needs my expertise. Only 7 years in the business and I have accomplished far more than the veterans out there. But there's no competition on my end. I just do what I do.
