South Korea, being a country in Asia that is very modern, is beautiful and has a very grandiose capitol city. Seoul City, South Korea is a beautiful mega-city with buildings that remind you of New York City, only better. You can't avoid the wireless connection, you certainly cannot avoid the appealing signs that show off the fashion of GD and their K POP bands, and let's not forget the smart homes being controlled by cell phones.
When you first see it, the lights seem to blind you and you realize the city is LARGE. Many of the tourists' attractions can be only seen at night. It truly is a city that never sleeps. So many people take to the streets. There are even street performers that WILL capture your attention. They will probably dance THEIR latest dances (K POP dances). This is where our story takes place.
WELCOME TO SEOUL CITY, SOUTH KOREA!
"Hurry up and get into the cab!" my sister pushed into the cab. I was distracted by GD's billboard sign. It was huge and I never knew people depended on his type of fashion. "He's very awesome!" Naomi had managed to say. She is my height, but sometimes it looks like she is taller or I am, so it confuses people. She has rounder face and is 2 years younger with curly hair. I am 20 years old and we are in South Korea for a months' vacation. It would have been for the rest of the summer because I saved up a lot of money, but my baby sister decided to tag along. Mom and dad said a month, they got what they wanted, and now so does my money.
"Will you stop daydreaming and give that man the address?! I swear..." she grumbled on as I gave the cab driver the address. Sighing in relief that I had found my wallet, where I put the address, since I usually lose my wallet...and cellphone, but that's not the point! "Hey, we should visit Hongdae area. There are street performers there and you'll enjoy the dancing," I told my sister, taking off my thin sweater. It's hot here in Seoul. That would make sense since I looked up what kind of weather Seoul has in the summer...It gets PRETTY hot.
"OK, let's go now! Or after we eat!" she cheered excitedly. She is younger and she acts like it. I sigh and nod. Eating is important, which is why I picked an American restaurant. Naomi will refuse to eat with chopsticks. "Burger King!" Naomi ran out as I paid and thanked the driver. "Gamsa," I said to the driver, to Naomi, "It's the Itaewon area." "Have fun," I heard a strong accent from the young, Korean driver. How sweet. I bowed and waved as he drove away. This place is also full of life on the streets.
"I ordered while you were flirting with our cab driver!" I gave her my death glare. "What? I didn't say anything." We ate for a good 45 minutes, talking excitedly. Every now and again she would ask...."What if BEAST was out on the streets and we weren't able to recognize them. And 4MINUTE or SHINee. I know you won't care. I would!" I would answer, "I would love to meet them. But think rationally, that seems impossible. I don't think they want to die by being trampled by fan girls. Plus, we're American tourists and very uninteresting. They won't care, they have fans everywhere. In their eyes, we are like all those fans." "But, we aren't..." she tried to say more, but I shushed her.
We walked over to the Hongdae area after we ate. "But I just ate! At least carry me," Naomi complained and pulled my arm like she used to do when we were kids. "Hey, you'll lose the gained weight," I said. I don't mind walks or jogging or running and she knew all this plus I wasn't going to let her win. We walk and spot all types of clubs and all types of street performers. as Naomi points everything out I let my guard down.....
A young man in his mid-20's with a blue sweater, a black shirt, and baggy jeans seems to walk very slowly pass me, but like I said....I have my guard down now. He is obviously Korean and from here, yet he seems like a stranger in his own country. His face is easily recognizable. He has large brown eyes, a nice somewhat chubby face, and definitely Asian. The thing that stood out the most was his blue watch. (I love blue!)
 |
| This is him! Ignore the aegyo. He is EVIL. |
OW!! "Aish!" The dancer yells, turns to me as I mentally rub my head in question and stare back. All I did was react to the thief who just stole my wallet. I lost him! He looks mad and my sister is by my side. "What happened?" she asked as I look for the thief. "Some random dude just stole my wallet! Most of our money was in the wallet! And don't say look on the bright side!" I yelled at her even though nothing is really her fault.
"OK! I wasn't going to say that! Let's look around the dancers. We'll meet up in an hour!" she ran as I checked the opposite side. She said this screaming and now I realize how loud the music is. This area is packed with people admiring the amazing performers.
Yeah, I took pictures of this guy dancing until he spotted me. I'm such a tourist! An hour has passed, I didn't find him and apparently neither did Naomi. All I see is a huge frown and eyes that look exhausted. "Well, now I did lose the calories from the meal. I hate running!" I grinned at the simplicity of the fact that she didn't need to run all the way, assuming she did (and she did, it's her nature). "Stop it! You'll never guess what?!" That's weird she never gets mad at me for a few seconds...Well, it doesn't look like my wallet..."Must you run...like ...fast, Naomi!"
 |
| HyunA |
I looked at HyunA as she shied away, she didn't seem to like my glaring. I sighed as Naomi took out her small boombox. "Eodissneunji neun sabun ibnikka? Geunyeoneun michin fanigirl ibnida," I asked where 4MINUTE was and that Naomi is a crazy fan girl. She laughed and said with her high pitched voice, "They are... coming." Naomi pulled me away and turned on the music. She motioned me to dance with her. The song is Breath by BEAST. We started and she sang along with the song. I rap Junhyung's parts (and dance his dance), but not loud enough for HyunA or the crowd that's forming...can hear. Uh oh, this means we are getting attention. "Don't leave me, finish the rap. The song is almost done!" Naomi yelled as HyunA kept two thumbs up and turned to run. When we were kids Naomi would force me to learn group dances so she could get better. I like it, but not in public! I don't even have a mask to cover my face!
 |
| HyunA, So Hyun, Ji Yoon, Ga Yoon, Ji Hyun (in that order) |
 |
| Du Jun, Junhyung, Yoseop, Hyunseung, Dongwoon, Gi Kwang (in that order) |
"We heard about your problem. We usually hang around here to look at the performers. I am Yoseop and you are?" He stands in front of me, full head of blondish hair and sunglasses like the rest of them. I respond by saying, "I'm Naomi's big sister, Alexa." He introduces all the members of both bands. His baby face makes me smile and I give him a small bow. This is still impossibly happening. "I know it must be strange to see us, but we like helping American fan girls. Even though it's never happened before. It's been our dream, sort of." I raised an eyebrow, but Naomi came back with the hat full of money. "The people of South Korea can be very generous, we are a thriving economy. Plus, your performance was...awesome. We can help by performing with you!"
I counted the money and smiled, but it wasn't enough for our room in the hotel. Plus I don't have my card, it's in my wallet...I sighed and thanked them, but Naomi and I were just going to have to sleep outside. We'd also have to find something to eat. Our luggage isn't much, but its a lot...It's obvious no one wants that. "Uli gwanlija michin jishaji anhseubnida." Du Jun interrupted Yoseop as he was telling me to calm down. They begin to discuss as Naomi pulls me to the side. "This is so cool! They will help us find a place to sleep and something to eat! They realize we aren't crazy fan girls!" "Naomi, we are fan girls nonetheless. They are not stupid, they will leave us once they get back to their schedules. We have to find the thief!" I exclaimed. She nodded, understanding. What to do?
"OK, hyung agrees. We will help you out and since your thief is long gone, we will help you raise money. It will be easy, you are Americans!" Yoseop raises his hands. Well! "Why do you say that?" I asked. "Because...you are funny and entertaining. Koreans pay good money for that type of stuff! Plus if you have BEAST and 4MINUTE, they won't resist." He nodded....This is a bad idea. "But fan girls will chase after you!" "Not while we perform, plus that's why our body guards are here. There is not that many fan girls anyway. They will be looking at you!"..."But.." Naomi covers my mouth and says, "No buts! Let's go!"
Here we go again!
We are going to dance with 4Minute as Ji Yoon pats my back. Her short hair is amazing and I see my reflection on her sunglasses. "It'll be OK! We'll help. Let's do HUH, Naomi says you know it, especially HyunA's rap. Go!" I nod and try. WE GET TO DO A GREAT PERFORMANCE! The applause is nice. We move on to T-ARA's APPLE IS A and I do Hwayoung's dance. I say aloud, "He's just my style, super apple. Wanna be your angel apple." Then, a part of MUZIK by 4MINUTE and Lovey Dovey Dovey by T-ARA. They are all dances that take tons of practice.
Suddenly, BEAST moves in and 4MINUTE steps to the side. We perform BREATH, Beautiful Night, and FICTION. All of Naomi and my favorites. They are all by BEAST and they congratulate us on a job well done. As people keep placing money in my hat and Junhyung's- a short,not too short, blonde with pretty chubby cheeks and full lips-hat, he place his hand on my shoulder and points.
"You see?" he laughs and nods. I smile back. "You were...not bad," grinning sheepishly, he says this with a strong accent and slowly. "Look, I know I'm a bad dancer. No need to rub it in," I knew he understood, especially since he grinned even more. We laugh and I know we are both exhausted. It IS late and there isn't enough money for us. It looks like we are sleeping out on the streets. I f my parents were here, they would yell at me for being so irresponsible. I hold in the tears as I feel Junhyung's eyes on me. I close my eyes and open them again, No time for crying and pitying myself.
I look to one side, Ji Yoon, So Hyun, and Ji Hyun give me a thumbs up. I grin and spot a blue watch. In a place where the impossible has just happened..."That's the guy who stole my wallet," I point and Junhyung calls his guards. He signals me to lead him, so we can confront him. He's serious now, all traces of his recent teases are gone. The guards follow me with Junhyung next to me. I see the thief flash the wallet, he's about to pay at a kimchi cart when Junhyung talks to him.....He's seriously running again? He runs off.
 |
| SERIOUS!!!! |
As he runs, Junhyung runs as well and his body guards trail behind. No one seems to notice the small commotion. No carts are thrown like in the movies, just people being pushed.The body guards trap the thief by cornering him into the same Burger King that Naomi and I ate at just a few hours ago. Wow, time sure does fly by. They grab him and Junhyung lands a punch to his stomach. His security guards are thick and tall. They hold Junhyung off and he calms down...Until he starts yelling. I only understand part of what Junhyung yells at the guy. He asks him how he could do this to some tourists. He also says we probably don't even have that much money. "Well, we're not that poor!" I put my hands at my hips and he just begins snickering. Dongwoon appears and smiles down at me, "We got....wallet back! He is idiot for... not leaving when there was chance. Yay!"
"Yeah! Now you can find a place to stay! And food!" Ji Yoon cheered and hugged me. Junhyung passed me the wallet and I smiled. "Wallet," he says and I repeat the word. Small amount of communication that means thanks. We don't speak the same language, but there is understanding there.
"Well, Miss Everything Is Impossible, what do we say?" Naomi winked at me. We bowed and gave them the peace sign saying, "Gomawo!" (It means thank you) They call it aegyo, an act of cuteness, we call it being grateful. My sister smiled as BEAST hugged her for acting so cute in her thank you. "That was so cute...You..said..thank you together!" Dongwoon exclaimed as Ji Yoon pinched my blushing cheeks. All the BEAST members laugh at my cheeks that always betray my embarrassment Next thing, I know the cops escort the thief away...That's weird.
Well, at least they helped us. This place is beautiful and so lively. The streets are filled with lights and there is the bridge that I still want to see. Strange people seem to be found everywhere. It's going to be a great vacation! I think as they walk away and the several fans scream their names. "Wait, we still need a ride to the hotel!" I run after them.
"At this rate, you might as well have our phone numbers or at least mine!" Yoseop offered and turned to the groups, "What do you say?" "Yay!" cheered HyunA. "I like them!" said Ji Yoon. "OK. A ride is OK," Junhyung winked at us. Hyunseung and Gi Kwang grinned. Du Jun smiled and nodded, "But don't give our numbers away!" I took a picture of Naomi with Dongwoon and HyunA..A memory she will love forever. Then I took a picture of HyunA and Dongwoon, it looks like this: Oh, might as well. These pictures should last!
And the great city SEOUL:
No comments:
Post a Comment