The chaos of the previous afternoon had settled, but only barely. The girls had packed, planned, and argued their way into the idea of the Seoul trip. And now, the moment had arrived. They were standing at the bustling JFK airport, lugging oversized suitcases through the crowd like some kind of disorganized, uncoordinated army of four.
"Y'all sure we're ready for this?" Vanessa asked, adjusting her oversized sunglasses and looking at her two bulging suitcases. "I mean, I'm just saying, I've never been on a plane longer than five hours. I don't know how my body is going to survive this 13-hour flight to Seoul."
"Girl, we'll be fine," Chloe replied, giving her a dramatic pat on the back. "It's just a long nap and a few movies. I swear, if you can handle your mom's jollof rice without choking, this flight will be a breeze."
"Wait, what does jollof rice have to do with a flight?" Asha turned, eyebrows raised, her arms crossed. "Because if you're comparing the two, I'm gonna need a whole new perspective on life."
"Hey, don't talk about Jollof like that," Vanessa shot back, giving Asha a warning glare. "If you can't appreciate the beauty that is Jollof rice, I'm seriously questioning your taste in food."
"I was talking about surviving the food, not dying from the food," Asha quipped, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "Look, all I know is, I'm just here for the vibes, okay? The K-drama boys, the food, and hopefully, not getting lost because you definitely know Vanessa's gonna start speaking in Edo and expecting the locals to understand."
"First of all," Vanessa said, holding up a finger, "it's not my fault if I have to teach some people a lesson in real communication. You might think you're cute with your 'namaste' and 'hello,' but the real charm is in 'How far?'" She threw up her hands as if it was the most important phrase ever uttered.
"I swear you're going to say that at the airport, and some poor guy is going to hand you a bottle of water thinking it's an order," Chloe laughed, shaking her head.
"Oh, please, don't start with me," Vanessa retorted. "I'll probably get a hot CEO out there, and we'll have matching outfits and do matching selfies while you're stuck making awkward small talk with some guy who's just as confused about your accent as you are about his."
Asha snorted. "Right, because a CEO's really going to be chasing after you, Vanessa. You're lucky if you even get the chance to say 'How far?' to a guy with a stable job."
"Stability? Is that your type now?" Vanessa asked, raising an eyebrow. "Omo, you really out here thinking that stability is what gets you real love? My guy is going to have a Lambo, be five-foot-ten at minimum, and know how to keep it exciting."
"Five-foot-ten?" Chloe interrupted, still holding her boarding pass in one hand. "Girl, you're barely five-foot-five! You're just trying to raise your standards because you're in denial."
"I'm just saying," Vanessa threw her hands up dramatically, "let me find me a Korean boy who can match my energy and keep up with my Jollof rice addiction, and we're good. All I need is a tall, spicy man with a good heart and a six-figure salary."
"Honestly," Jisoo finally chimed in, her voice dry and unimpressed, "if you meet someone who can cook better than your mom, I'll believe you."
"Oh, girl, don't do that," Vanessa said, flicking her hand dismissively. "I'm sure your 'tech bro' will cook you some bland quinoa while I'm out here eating real food. But hey, it's okay, Jisoo. When you get bored of all that 'quiet, introverted' energy, come find me."
Jisoo rolled her eyes, a grin tugging at the corner of her lips. "You're all so extra. It's a flight, not a dating competition."
Chloe looked over at Asha, shaking her head with a smile. "At least we're clear on one thing: Jisoo's not the one we're worried about. It's Vanessa, about to make everyone think she's a native speaker with her Edo."
"I can't help that it's a language with soul," Vanessa shot back, laughing. "You can't talk about soul food and not give credit where it's due."
By the time they reached their gate, the girls were in high spirits despite the chaos. There had been a last-minute packing disaster (thanks to Chloe, who 'forgot' she needed clothes for a week), frantic food runs at the airport for snacks (Vanessa got her Jollof cravings satisfied with a subpar rice bowl), and a bit of last-minute arguing over the seating arrangement on the plane.
"I'm sitting by the window, I called it!" Asha said, crossing her arms stubbornly as she looked at the others.
"Nope, it's mine," Chloe snapped, her eyes glinting with the same competitive spirit she had when they were playing Uno back in their dorm room. "I got this first."
"See?" Vanessa said, shaking her head at them. "This is exactly why I should've gotten a seat for myself. Both of you are out here treating it like some type of 'final decision' showdown. Let me just take the middle seat, and we can all be miserable together."
"Middle seat?" Jisoo asked, grinning. "Honey, if you're taking a middle seat, that's a direct path to chaos. Just say goodbye to your armrest, your leg room, your sanity. You'll be fighting for your life the whole 13 hours."
"Ugh, whatever," Vanessa muttered. "We'll all survive. But if that tech bro of yours doesn't have some snacks for the flight, I'm leaving you in Seoul."
Asha raised an eyebrow. "Tech bro? Really? That's what we're calling him now?"
Jisoo pulled out her phone and started typing in the group chat with an almost maniacal glee. "I'm getting us all in the mood for Seoul. Pack your chargers. We're about to experience the city of lights—the K-Drama boys, the food, the culture. Who's ready?"
Vanessa leaned over to glance at her phone screen. "Jisoo, your enthusiasm is literally too much for me to handle right now. You know I just want to sleep through this flight, not hear about your K-Drama fantasies."
"Oh, come on," Jisoo protested. "You're not going to tell me you're not excited? You've already mentally packed 50 outfits, ready for the 'Insta-famous' shots in front of the Han River. I can see it now."
"I'll take it if I have to," Vanessa said with a smirk. "But don't expect me to pose unless I'm getting my Jollof rice plate in front of me. That's the only shot I'll care about."
Asha laughed loudly, her voice echoing through the airport. "And there it is. The 'Jollof rice shot'—you're just as extra as I thought."
But before they could go any further in their banter, the flight attendant announced the boarding call. The girls grabbed their bags, shoved their sarcastic remarks into their pockets, and made their way to the gate.
As they walked down the jet bridge, Jisoo shot one last grin at her friends. "Get ready, ladies. It's going to be one hell of a summer."
Vanessa looked at the others, a playful glint in her eyes. "Let's just hope I'm not the only one who makes it out alive. You all have no idea what you're in for."
With that, the girls stepped onto the plane, all of them feeling the thrill of the unknown ahead. It wasn't just about the trip; it was the start of something they could never have imagined. A trip full of new beginnings, chaotic adventures, and maybe—just maybe—some hot K-Drama boys waiting for them in Seoul.