This story follows the journey of Zion Brown, a talented African American music producer from Atlanta, who relocates to Seoul, South Korea, in search of new inspirations and collaborations in the world of K-pop. Eager to make his mark, Zion's path c...
I was lounging on the couch in my downtown Atlanta apartment, watching my favorite comedy, Madea Goes to Jail. Just as I was getting into the movie, my phone rang loudly, cutting through the dialogue.
RING RING RING!
I glanced at the screen and saw "BOSS" flashing on the caller ID.
Zion: "Hello?"
Boss: "Hey Zion. I know it's your day off, but I need you to pack a bag."
Zion: "For what?"
Boss: "I got a call from an entertainment company in South Korea. They want you to help one of their groups produce a song."
Zion: "Um... I'm not sure if I'm ready for that."
Boss: "Come on, Zion. You're incredibly talented, but to get your name out there and land bigger opportunities, you need to take offers like this. This isn't just any K-pop group—they're one of the top acts in the industry. So, are you in?"
I hesitated, thinking about the gravity of what he was asking. But then I nodded to myself.
Zion: "I'm in."
Boss: "Great! I'll forward you the flight details. Good luck, Zion. Don't worry, you'll be fine."
As the call ended, I sat there, the reality sinking in. I've never been outside the country—barely even outside of Atlanta. What was I getting myself into?
Am I ready for this new chapter?
END OF FLASHBACK
PRESENT TIME Seoul, South Korea — Incheon Airport
I've finally made it to South Korea, though I swear I nearly passed out on that flight. I didn't get a wink of sleep—there was a crying toddler kicking my seat, an elderly man who couldn't stop coughing, and the girl next to me even drooled on my brand-new shirt. Disgusting. Flying Economy is officially a no-go.
This airport is massive, but surprisingly easy to navigate. Atlanta's airport could take some notes.
As I walked through the sliding glass doors into the main part of the terminal, I started scanning the crowd for the guy my boss said would be waiting for me. There were so many people holding cameras and signs—I assumed they were here for some artist or group. Better hurry up and get out of here before I get caught up in this chaos.
After a minute of searching, I finally spotted a man holding a sign with my name on it.
Zion: "Hello, I'm Zion."
Man: "Nice to meet you, Zion. I'm Jaehyun, your personal driver during your stay here. I assume you're exhausted and probably jet-lagged. I'll take you to the apartment where you'll be staying. Let's get going."
Zion: "Alrighty."
I followed Jaehyun to the vehicle, where he took my luggage and placed it in the trunk. I settled into the back of the van, the drive quiet and long. Finally, I decided to break the silence.
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