It’s an early morning on the 9th of July. The day you have been waiting so long for, the day that you are finally able to enter the borders of South Korea. It is the country that you have learned to love so much through all the videoclips and music shows you began watching ever since you found yourself infatuated by that group of 9 girls.

As you sit comfortably in the chair of the airplane, you watch as the landscape quickly flash by and turn horizontal into diagonal. Your eyes are closed as your body takes in the quickly accelerating travel into the ocean of puffy white clouds. You have always loved the sight of mid-air. The calm and peace that reign above the land in which you live in makes you feel in control. To see that the place you’ve grown up in slowly turning into a miniature version of itself has always been an amazement to you ever since you stepped on your very first flight. Not much has changed since then.

The 6 hour flight should have been a boring one. Cheap microwaved food that wouldn’t fascinate the excellent self-caring chef inside you is given no more than a disgusting 2 star rating. And even that would’ve been a praise to whomever was cooking, but you could care less. Your eyes are set and focused only on the destination and the wonderful food that is heading your way in only 375 minutes and counting.

As you step out from the pearly gates of the Korean customs, you are greeted with a breath of fresh air that is completely different from the congested environment at home. You enthusiastically run towards the exit, leaving everyone far behind you. You look back and wave at your best friend, inviting her to hurry up, but just as you turn around, your head bumps into the wildly swinging arms of another woman, knocking you onto the ground. The sting on your forehead makes you feel a mixture of annoyance and hurt. The girl you bumped into kneels down and puts her hand on your shoulder. “오모, 최송해요. 괜찬하세요?” Her worried looks vaporized all emotions you once held dear. You recognize her as Sooyoung, one of the girls you have adored for 5 years long. She notices the blank look on your face and quickly changed her speech. “I.. I’m sorry. Are you okay?” She asks in near-perfect English.

Your best friend Ade is hurrying to your side, hoping to rescue you from that impossible mission of finding decent words to reply your favorite star. The manager by her side is impatiently tapping her shoulder and gestures she should leave. The girl quickly steals your phone and dials her own before handing it back to you. “I’ll call you tonight, okay?” she quickly tells you before hurrying away for the exit. You are still on the floor, uncertain of what happened, but your mind tells you something surely did. “Ade, pinch my cheeks.” Your best friend is perplexed as to why you’d ask that, but does it anyway. “Ouch!” You hold onto your cheeks. Even though you did request for it, it still really hurts. You show her your trademark pout and watch her walk away.

Your day has been somewhat uneventful, partially because of the early troubles during the check-in at the hotel. Luckily the manager spoke better english than the guy at the counter and managed to clear everything for the two of you, even offering a free ticket to the local spa. It was a sound plan for the weary bodies and you decide to take up the offer.

The spa wasn’t big as could’ve been expected from a freebee ticket. It was cozy, but the thought of an all-female naked spa always was somewhat intimidating. As you wrap your towel around your body you slowly enter the premises. You take slow steps to prevent yourself from slipping as you leave your phone on the towels next to the bath. Your sensitive body tingles from the heat, but slowly soothes into a relaxing mood. This was exactly what you needed after a long semester at school.

It didn’t take long before you get disturbed by the loud rings of your phone. You wonder who it that would call you all the way to Korea. Surely your friends already knew you were on a holiday. You turn around and stare at the screen reflecting the unknown number. Worried it might be important you pick up the phone. “Hello?” you cautiously answer.

“안녕하세요, 소녀시대 수영입니다!” You chuckle. The girl must still be used to doing it from her debut days. “H-hi.” you shyly reply. You hear the phone being transferred to someone else. “Hi there this is Tiffany speaking, what’s your name?” The sudden English took you by surprise, but you manage to collect yourself. “My name is Mel, or Melinda.”

“Hi Mel.” Tiffany joyfully shouts out. “So, we’re having a picnic at Sooyoung’s house tomorrow. Do you wanna come? You can bring your friend too!” The invitation left you out of breath. Surely you thought of enjoying your trip in Korea, but never in your imagination did you think this would’ve happened. Like winning a lottery ticket, you shout into the phone. “YES! I’D LOVE IT!” Your best friend quickly asking you to sit back down, so not to further attract the attention of the aunties and grandmas around you. “Alright! Send us your hotel and your names and we’ll come pick you up tomorrow alright? Seeya!” Your best friend tugs you on your arms, curious as to why you got so energetic. “Ade, We’re having a picnic tomorrow!”

After a nice shower and a long massage session you returned back to your hotel. You look at your skin and watch it glow like gold from a treasure chest. You smile at your best friend. “This is the best trip ever!” Your best friend nods and smiles. Things did turn out different from how you both had planned it to be. You weren’t sure what to expect, but surely you’ve seen her house before on the pictures floating around your Twitter account. It was big, almost majestic. Something that you would never find in your home country. You shrug your shoulders. You’ll just have to see for yourself tomorrow.

A knock on the door reminds you that you had once again forgotten to set alarms. Then again, who sets alarms when they’re on a holiday? You groggily drag yourself to the door and open it. A man politely tells you that Ms. Choi had called the reception and that they would be there soon. You quickly remembered what day it is today and rush to wake up your best friend. “Hurry up!” you shout, Sooyoung is gonna be here soon! The shock made Ade jump up from her bed and fight for the shower. “Hey, that’s not fair!”

Luckily Sooyoung was considerate enough to give the two of you just about enough time to prepare. You’re wearing a hoodie and a cute skirt underneath with sneakers supporting you for the rest of the day. You should do just fine. There’s another knock on the door. Standing in front of the door now was your bias ready to take Ade and you to her residence. She was taller than you thought she would be, but the difference gave you the comfort of being fully taken care of.

As the doors opened up, you are happily greeted by Tiffany and Yoona. “Hii.” she joyfully shouted. Yoona politely raising her hand to greet Ade. Your best friend still shy from the actual event just quietly sits in the back. “You’re so gonna enjoy it! The girls are already preparing the food at home!”

The ride was an enjoyable one. Tiffany wouldn’t stop talking and invited you to do the same. Even Ade who had been quiet so far opened up to the happy nature of the girls. The little chit-chat echoed throughout the car as the manager just drove the van through the city and into the countryside.

The manager brought you to the house that you remembered in the very first show they starred in. As you approach the gates, a group puppies are running towards you. You step back in fear, but soon recognized the bunch from the Instagram pictures you’ve scrolled through many times before. These were all the dogs from the girls. You continue walking through the path and watch as the other girls are busy preparing for the big meal. “We’re home! Tiffany shouts.” Everyone turns their attention towards you and waves.

The overwhelming emotions makes you tearful to the occasion. A tissue was handed to you from the side. As you turn your head, you see Sooyoung’s mother and father standing next to you. You quickly bow your head and apologizes to them. They pull you into an embrace and thank you for coming. The hug makes you remember how it was at home.

The girls swapped around prepping the food and playing the gardens. Just as you had imagined it to be. Tiffany and Jessica took turns entertaining you and showing you around. Tiffany mentioned that Nickhun would come by soon too. A day of non-stop eating and playing filled your days with the girls. Ade too couldn’t have been any happier. As the night turned dark, people gathered around a campfire. Taeyeon and Jessica sang their favorite songs while Tiffany did her best duet with Nickhun, all while Sooyoung tried her best to accompany you. She asked how you were and what you were doing, using your phones to take countless pictures for future memories. Memories that you would always treasure.

Night went by quickly and you wave your goodbyes to the girls. Each one ready to drive their own car home. You both enter the van that you came with and get back to the hotel. Sooyoung bend forward and gave you the warmest and sweetest hug you’ve had in a long time. Finally concluding the day of summer joy.

As you enter the hotel with Ade, your phone vibrates again. A text message that said:

I had a wonderful day with you. Thank you for joining us. Let’s be friends from now on!

God Bless,

– Sooyoung.