The neon lights of Gangnam buzzed with an electric hum, and the girls couldn't help but marvel at the throng of well-dressed partygoers lining the streets. The taxi dropped them off in front of a sleek, glass-fronted building that looked more like a high-tech lab than a club.
"This is the place?" Vanessa asked, craning her neck to take it all in. "Looks like we're entering the headquarters of the Avengers."
Jisoo nodded, grinning. "Welcome to Club Prism! It's one of the hottest spots in Seoul. You're going to love it."
"Love it? I already feel intimidated," Asha murmured, watching as a pair of impossibly tall girls in miniskirts strutted past.
"Don't worry," Jisoo said, grabbing Asha's arm. "You'll be fine. Just stick with me."
Inside, the club was everything Vanessa and Asha had not expected. The music was an electronic beat that pulsed through the air, but it wasn't the Afrobeat or Bollywood tracks they were used to. The lighting was moody, flashing blue and purple, and the crowd was a mix of Koreans and foreigners swaying to the rhythm with the precision of robots.
Vanessa stopped short, blinking. "Wait, is this it? Is this what all the hype is about?"
"What did you expect?" Chloe asked, already tapping her foot to the music.
"Not this!" Vanessa said, waving her hands at the calm crowd. "Where's the energy? The chaos? The vibes?"
"This is the vibe," Jisoo said with a laugh. "Korean clubs are different. It's not all grinding and sweaty people like back home. It's more...chill."
Vanessa frowned. "Chill? I didn't come all the way from Lagos for chill. I came for madness!"
"Well, lower your expectations," Asha muttered, looking around nervously. "This feels more like a fashion show than a club."
Jisoo and Chloe, meanwhile, were thriving. Chloe was already on the dance floor, moving confidently to the beat, while Jisoo navigated the bar, ordering drinks with ease.
"See them," Vanessa said, pointing at the duo. "Acting like they own the place. Meanwhile, we're here looking like confused tourists."
"We are confused tourists," Asha replied. "And I don't trust this music. It sounds like my laptop when it crashes."
"Facts," Vanessa said, nodding. "But we can't just stand here. Let's at least try to blend in."
The two reluctantly ventured toward the dance floor, where Vanessa attempted to move to the beat. It lasted all of ten seconds before she stopped, shaking her head.
"Nope. I can't do this. This isn't dancing. This is aerobics."
Asha laughed, though she was equally out of her element. "At least you're trying. I feel like I'm in a dystopian movie."
"Same," Vanessa said. "And why is everyone here so serious? Are they afraid to sweat? Nobody's even breaking a smile."
As if on cue, a tall, awkward man approached them, holding two drinks. His Korean accent was thick but charming as he said, "Hi. You...look...nice. Want drink?"
Vanessa gave him a skeptical look. "No, thank you."
The man didn't seem to understand, smiling nervously as he held the drinks closer.
"I said no," Vanessa repeated, louder this time. She turned to Asha. "You see my life? I came here for vibes, and now I'm rejecting suspicious cocktails from strangers. This night can't get worse."
Asha snorted. "Don't jinx it."
Meanwhile, Jisoo and Chloe were having the time of their lives. Chloe was deep in conversation with a handsome Korean guy, her laughter carrying over the music. Jisoo, ever the social butterfly, had gathered a small group of locals and was teaching them an American line dance.
Vanessa watched them from the corner with a mix of amusement and envy. "Look at them. Living their best lives while we suffer."
"Maybe we're just not cut out for this scene," Asha said with a shrug.
"Maybe this scene isn't cut out for us," Vanessa corrected.
As the night wore on, Vanessa and Asha tried to make the best of it. They sampled some drinks, took a few selfies, and even attempted to dance again. But the weird encounters kept coming.
At one point, a man wearing sunglasses inside the dark club approached Vanessa. "You...very beautiful. Like Beyoncé."
Vanessa raised an eyebrow. "Beyoncé? Oga, do I look like I have a private jet and a billion dollars?"
The man stared blankly, clearly not understanding her sarcasm.
"I'm leaving," Vanessa declared, grabbing Asha. "If I stay here any longer, I'll lose my mind."
"Agreed," Asha said.
They found Chloe and Jisoo at the bar, still in high spirits.
"Are you guys done already?" Chloe asked, sipping her cocktail.
"Yes," Vanessa said firmly. "This place is not for me. The music is confusing, the people are weird, and I feel like I'm in a sci-fi experiment."
Jisoo laughed. "Okay, okay. We'll leave soon. But did you at least try to have fun?"
Vanessa sighed. "I tried. But this isn't my kind of fun. If they played just one Burna Boy song, I might have survived."
Chloe grinned. "Maybe next time we'll find a club with more of an international vibe."
"Please do," Vanessa said. "Because this one is not giving."
Back at the loft, the girls recapped their night.
"Okay, I'll admit it," Chloe said, flopping onto the couch. "It wasn't as exciting as I thought it would be. But it was still fun!"
"For you," Vanessa said, kicking off her heels. "I was out there dodging awkward men and trying not to fall asleep."
Asha nodded in agreement. "Same. I've officially decided that clubbing is not for me."
Jisoo smiled apologetically. "Sorry, guys. I should've picked a different place."
"It's fine," Vanessa said, yawning. "But next time, let me pick. I'll find somewhere with actual vibes."
"Deal," Jisoo said with a laugh.
As the girls drifted off to bed, Vanessa made a mental note: Seoul might be a city of surprises, but its club scene was one she could live without—unless, of course, she was in charge.