Collab???

"Wazzup????", Yonghwa came in the studio as I was playing a piano piece of a song I have been working on. 

"Nothing much!" I answered without looking at him. I was too focused on the song.

"Busy ha? You don't even have time to chat with your 'Kuya' anymore?" he frowned. 

I call him and my other best friend, Jun, 'Kuya' because it's the Filipino term for older brother. They were both like real older brothers to me. 

Seven years ago, I was 15 at that time, I was scouted by an FNC agent to join the audition.

I was at my school eating lunch alone at the park with my guitar somewhere in Daegu when a man came to me and asked if I wanted to audition for the company. I always loved music and wanted to do music for the rest of my life, so I said yes. I passed of course, along with 10 other applicants. 

I trained for a year but had to stop cause I had to go back to the Philippines. See, the education system in Korea is different from the Philippines. Back then, in the Philippines, we only had 4 years in high school then we graduate and go to college. But in Korea, students stay in high school for 6 years. My parents thought it would be better if I enter college earlier. So, I had to finish one more year in high school in the Philippines instead of spending another three years in high school here in Korea. 

During that one year of training, Yonghwa and Jun were my closest buddies. They helped me through a lot - the culture, the language, the places. Yonghwa even helped me with my compositions. 

Even after I left Korea and went back to the Philippines, we still stayed in contact. We would talk through Skype and send emails to each other. 

So, I was really happy when my parents gave a go signal for me to come back to Korea and pursue my dream.

"Why are you here anyway?" I asked him, a bit annoyed because of the distraction. 

"I have a song for you", he was dangling a USB from his fingers. 

"Oh?", It wasn't even a month after our debut and he wants me to practice a new song.

"See, you aren't getting much attention from fans. Not as much as we expected anyway." He looked at me with both worried and expectant eyes. "So, Boss and I decided to put you up for a collaboration"!

"Whaaattt???? So soon?" he got my full attention now.

"You need publicity, Kris" 

"But, Kuya.." I pleaded.

"No buts" he stopped me. "We had an agreement. You agreed to follow the terms for a year before you can make your own terms."

"Yes, but...."

"I said NO BUTS", he was stern. 

I gave in. "So, let's listen to it then."

He plugged the USB in the laptop and played the demo. Nice, sweet... RAP?

"So, you mean I am collaborating with a rapper?" My eyes were wide. I thought they would pop out of their sockets. Rap...something I've never done. I'm more of a rock-alternative-mellow kinda musician, I don't do rap.

"Yes! And I have found just the right person for this!" he was pleased with himself. "Well, that's if he would agree."

"He?"

"Of course" he said as a matter-of-factly. "As I've said, you need publicity. You need a person who already has a huge fan base."

"So, who is 'HE'?" I asked. I know I couldn't do anything much. Sigh! I concede!

"Mark from GOT7!"

_________________________________________________________________________________________

I know my chapters are short. I have to include some past events for you to get to know the character better.