The next morning, the loft was filled with groans and the smell of instant coffee. Chloe was sprawled on the couch, nursing what she claimed was "emotional fatigue" from the night before. Jisoo was flipping through a guidebook, trying to plan their day.
"We need a win after last night," Vanessa said, tying her scarf with a flourish. "That club was a disaster. Today has to be better."
Asha, sipping her tea, raised an eyebrow. "Better for you means less weird men and more Burna Boy, right?"
Vanessa pointed at her. "Exactly. If they're not playing Last Last somewhere, count me out."
"Well, today we're going to Myeongdong and then Namsan Tower," Jisoo said cheerfully. "Shopping and sightseeing. It'll be fun!"
Vanessa clapped her hands. "Shopping? Say no more. I'm ready!"
"You're always ready when money is involved," Asha teased.
"Ah, leave me," Vanessa replied. "This is the time to spend and shine. You can't come to Korea and look like a struggling auntie."
Myeongdong was a sensory overload from the moment they arrived. The narrow streets were lined with bright signs, vendors shouting their deals, and the smell of sizzling street food wafting through the air.
"This is what I'm talking about!" Vanessa said, spinning in the middle of the street. "This is vibes. Look at all the action!"
Asha, less enthusiastic, dodged a man carrying an enormous box. "It's also chaos. Can we stick together, please? I don't want to get lost."
"Relax," Chloe said, already snapping pictures. "If we lose you, just follow the smell of hotteok. This place is full of it."
Jisoo led the way into a cosmetics store, where Vanessa immediately began testing every sample she could find.
"Look at this," she said, holding up a gold face mask. "It says it'll make you glow. Do I need it?"
"No," Asha said. "You already glow. Save your money."
"Lies," Vanessa replied, tossing it into her basket. "I need to glow like the sun."
Chloe and Jisoo were trying on lip tints, while Asha looked increasingly overwhelmed.
"Can we get food soon?" Asha asked. "I'm starving."
Vanessa grabbed her arm. "Let's find some street food. I saw a stall selling fried chicken on a stick. That's my ministry."
They exited the store and made their way toward the food stalls, but Vanessa stopped short when she noticed a man staring at her from across the street.
"Why is that guy looking at me like I owe him money?" she whispered to Asha.
Asha glanced over and shrugged. "Maybe he's just curious. You do have a way of standing out."
Vanessa rolled her eyes. "Please, don't hype me now. It's too early."
The man began walking toward them, his eyes locked on Vanessa.
"Uh, guys?" Vanessa said, stepping closer to the group. "We've got company."
The man stopped in front of her and smiled. "Hello. You are...beautiful. Like a goddess."
Vanessa blinked. "Excuse me?"
"I saw you," he continued, his English heavily accented. "And I think...we are meant to meet."
Jisoo stifled a laugh. Chloe whispered, "Oh my God, this is gold."
Vanessa, however, was not amused. "Meant to meet? Do I look like destiny to you?"
The man ignored her sarcasm, pulling out his phone. "Can I have your number? Please?"
Vanessa turned to Asha. "You see my life? I just want to eat fried chicken, and now I have to deal with this."
Asha shrugged. "You're the goddess, apparently."
"I'm not giving you my number," Vanessa said firmly, turning back to the man.
"But...why?" he asked, looking genuinely confused.
"Because I don't know you!" Vanessa exclaimed. "And this is not a Nollywood movie where random strangers fall in love on the street."
The man frowned but didn't move. "I will wait for you."
Vanessa's jaw dropped. "Wait for me? Are you a gatekeeper? Abeg, carry your wahala and go!"
At this point, Jisoo and Chloe were laughing so hard they had to hold onto each other.
"Okay, let's go," Vanessa said, grabbing Asha's arm and marching toward the food stalls. "I'm not letting one random weirdo ruin my day."
At the food stalls, Vanessa quickly found the fried chicken she'd been dreaming about, while Chloe and Jisoo opted for tteokbokki. Asha, still recovering from the encounter, settled for a mango smoothie.
"That guy was...something," Chloe said between bites.
"Something annoying," Vanessa replied. "I don't understand. Do I have a sign on my forehead that says, 'Weird men, approach me'?"
Jisoo giggled. "Maybe he really did think you were a goddess."
"Well, he can worship me from afar," Vanessa said. "I'm not here for that nonsense."
After eating, the group headed to Namsan Tower, taking the cable car up the hill.
"This is gorgeous," Chloe said, staring out at the view of Seoul's skyline.
Vanessa, however, was focused on the love locks attached to the fences near the tower. "So, people really come here to attach padlocks and declare their everlasting love?"
"It's romantic," Jisoo said.
"It's a scam," Vanessa replied. "Imagine breaking up and then realizing your lock is still here. Waste of money."
"You're such a cynic," Chloe said, laughing.
"I'm a realist," Vanessa corrected, snapping a picture of the locks. "But it's cute. I'll admit that."
As they wandered around the tower, Vanessa couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her. She turned and froze.
The man from Myeongdong was standing near the love locks, waving at her.
"Oh, come on!" she exclaimed.
The rest of the group followed her gaze and burst into laughter.
"Your admirer is persistent," Asha said.
Vanessa groaned. "This is not funny. How did he even find me?"
"You are a goddess," Chloe teased. "He's probably following your divine aura."
"I'm going to lose my mind," Vanessa muttered.
The man started walking toward them, but Vanessa held up a hand. "No. Stop right there. I don't want to talk to you!"
He stopped but called out, "I will see you again, my goddess!"
"Over my dead body!" Vanessa shouted back.
As he disappeared into the crowd, Jisoo wiped tears of laughter from her eyes. "I think he's in love with you."
"Well, he can fall out of it," Vanessa snapped. "Let's leave before he shows up again."
The ride back to the loft was filled with laughter as the girls recounted the day's events.
"You're going to remember this forever," Chloe said, leaning against Vanessa.
"I'd rather forget," Vanessa replied, but a small smile tugged at her lips.
Deep down, she couldn't help but admit: the chaos made the trip that much more interesting.