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...
The shrill sound of my alarm jolted me from sleep.
RING RING RING!
I groaned and tossed in bed for a few more minutes before finally dragging myself up. Today was my first day of work in Korea, and I couldn't afford to be late. As I got dressed, a strange feeling lingered from a dream I had last night—one of the group members didn't like me. I shook off the unease, hoping it was just my imagination.
After doing my hair and completing my skincare routine, I headed to the kitchen for a simple but satisfying breakfast. I made sure to clean up after myself, and just as I finished washing the dishes, the doorbell rang.
One of the perks of being in South Korea was the advanced technology. I could see who was at the door through a small tablet mounted on the wall. I checked, and it was Jaehyun.
I opened the door.
Zion: "Hey, Jaehyun."
Jaehyun: "Morning, Zion. You ready?"
Zion: "Yep, let's go."
I grabbed my crossbody Louis Vuitton bag and followed him to the van. As we drove, I put on my headphones and started listening to Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us." The song had been trending lately, and I needed something to calm my nerves.
The drive was short, but I noticed Jaehyun glancing at me through the rearview mirror, trying to catch my attention. I pulled off my headphones.
Jaehyun: "Alright, we're here. I know you're probably nervous, but everything's going to be fine. The group you're working with is really kind. Any questions?"
Zion: "Yeah, how will I communicate with them? Don't they only speak Korean?"
Jaehyun: "Actually, two of the members speak fluent English, so they can help translate."
Zion: "Good to know. That's all I needed to ask."
Jaehyun: "Alright, let's head in."
I stepped out of the van and looked up at the building. It was labeled "Cube Entertainment."
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We entered the building and headed straight for the elevators. After a short ride, we walked down a hallway and stopped in front of a door. Jaehyun knocked, and a voice responded in Korean, probably telling us to come in.
Inside, a man sat behind a desk. Jaehyun greeted him in Korean, and I followed suit, bowing and saying hello in English.
The man stood up and shook my hand.
CEO: "Hello, Zion. I'm the CEO of Cube Entertainment."
Zion: "Nice to meet you, sir."
CEO: "How are you feeling? Nervous?"
Zion: "Yeah, a little, but I'm ready to start working. Thank you for this opportunity—it really means a lot."
CEO: "You're welcome. I've listened to the songs you've produced for Khalid, The Weeknd, Lauv, and others. You're a talented producer and songwriter. I know this is your first time working with a K-pop group, but I believe you'll enjoy it."
Zion: "I'm ready for the challenge, and I won't disappoint you."
As we continued talking, there was a knock on the door.
CEO: "Come in."
The door opened to reveal a group of girls. I quickly stood up and bowed to them. They looked surprised but returned the gesture.
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CEO: "Hello, girls. I called you here to introduce you to Zion."
I waved at them again.
CEO: "He's here to help you with your next song."
Four of the girls smiled, but one didn't look too happy. My heart sank a little—was my dream coming true?
CEO: "You girls can take him to the studio, show him around, and get to know each other better."
One of the Girls: "Okay."
Jaehyun: "I'll come pick you up later."
Zion: "Alright. See you later."
I waved goodbye to Jaehyun and the CEO, then followed the girls to the recording studio. It was a simple setup, but everything was neatly organized.
Tall Girl with Blonde Hair: "Shall we introduce ourselves?"
Zion: "Yes, please."
All Together: "Hello, we are (G)I-DLE."
I smiled and bowed again.
Minnie: "Hey, my name is Minnie."
Miyeon: "I'm Miyeon."
Shuhua: "Hello, I'm Shuhua."
Yuqi: "Hey, I'm Yuqi."
Finally, I looked at the last girl. She crossed her arms and didn't seem too thrilled.
Soyeon: "Sup, I'm Soyeon."
Zion: "Hi, it's nice to meet you all."
Minnie: "So, where are you from?"
Zion: "I was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia."
Yuqi: "How did you start producing music?"
Zion: "I started writing when I was around eight, but I began producing music with my father when I was thirteen. From there, I built my career, creating songs for various artists."
Minnie: "Which ones?"
Zion: "I've made music for Khalid, Lauv, The Weeknd, and a few others. The biggest artist I've worked with so far is Chris Brown."
Minnie: "That's so cool. By the way, you'll be working closely with Soyeon. She writes and produces our music."
Zion: "I'm excited to collaborate with you, Soyeon."
She only nodded in response, her expression unreadable.
Soyeon's POV
I don't know who this guy thinks he is, but I'm not feeling him. He better not get in my way.
Zion's POV
The rest of the day was spent discussing possible genres for the new song. Minnie and I were hitting it off well, but Soyeon's attitude was hard to ignore. I just hope we can work together to create a hit.
