My conviction had driven me to make a decision that only I considered right. Motivated by a dire need to escape the bore that was my life, I defied the will of my parents and ignored the foretold arrival of the affluent Singh family, back at Boston. I guess I was finally able to borrow the courage Jess possessed.

Yes. I did make a decision and while it had nothing to do with Boston or Harvard, it had everything to do with South Korea.

After hours of a rather enjoyable flight, I Priya Kapoor for the first time in my life finally arrived at the Gimpo International Airport, Seoul, South Korea.

I got to the airport's terminal, passed through baggage claim and arrived at the exit of the beautiful glass-covered building. I stepped out through automatic doors and admired the wonders that surrounded me.

The air was chilly, trees had their branches bare without the presence of leaves and snow planted its stunning white on rooftops and streets. I unzipped my luggage, got out a grey sweater and buried myself in it. Korea was still claimed by the freezing winds of winter.

The presence of artificial intelligence robots, giant digital displays, guide maps and unmanned vending cafes greeted me. Stores and malls made bright by light waves enough to oppress the human sight added to the liveliness that was South Korea. I was finally in the land of the morning calm.

I took in a deep breath and with arms spread wide like one far from sane, I smiled and said "Hello Seoul!"

I looked at a smart watch clutched to my left wrist. It was the twentieth hour of the day and according to a call I received from Yoojin agency before I boarded the plane, someone from the agency was supposed to pick me up an hour ago.

I paced around hoping they had not turn away due to impatience. I squinted and searched for everything and nothing when warmth found its way to my heart.

A few steps from where I stood I found my name inscribed on a beautiful white placard in striking red prints. Beneath my name the words 'YooJin Agency' were clearly seen.

The human who held the placard was dressed in a black suit and behind him a Hyundai Sonata in the best shade of blue was parked. Being the daughter of a man who loved to show off his wealth by wheels, I had a good knowledge of cars. The Hyundai I sighted spelt luxury as expected from a popular talent agency like YooJin.

Excitement coursed through the strings that were my veins and with high expectations satisfied by the lively canvas around me, I headed for my ride.

When I got into the car, a chubby human greeted me while the man who held the placard drove.

My eyeballs danced within my skull, not able to get a complete grasp of the beauty it discovered.

Spleen clean streets, live traffic displays and transit times, gigantic LED display screens, air quality monitors, drinking fountains, recycling stations and surveillance cameras at every corner perfectly described the world that had gone ahead of its time. And that world was South Korea.

"Hello, I'm Park Donghyun. You can call me Mr Park and the man driving is Hwang Do Yoon. I'm a representative from YooJin talent agency and Kim Tae Min's manager." The chubby man seated next to me said in English, interrupting my thoughts of admiration.

I squealed within me at the sound of the words 'Kim Tae Min'.

"Congratulations on winning this vacation Miss Kapoor. It's nice to meet you." He made a slight bow and so did I. Then we shook hands briefly.

"So are you fluent in Korean?" He asked.

"I am. I actually take Korean language as a major in school. I'm also self-taught. I have a grasp on Hanja and Hangul and I'm getting better at Romanization as well, so I can read and write in Korean." I said in Korean language. The words left my lips with such ease, anyone would think I was a citizen by birth.

"Wow! Then you'll fit in perfectly." He said in Korean and immediately switched back to English.

"Well done Miss."

"Thank you." I said in English as well. Pride radiated off me.

I looked out the left rear window of the car. We had gotten to a very different and vibrant area. Lights in colours too many to mention performed a razzle-dazzle dance on streets so wide and street signs so pretty.

Sky-high buildings, fashion houses, plastic-surgery clinics and luxurious cars roamed the place I found myself. Wealth was given off from every object my sight landed on. The names 'Google', 'IBM' and 'Samsung' were boldly displayed by LED lights, which sat on buildings that would intimidate anyone at first glance.

At the east end of a building called the COEX Mall, I found a statue that caught my eye in an instant. It was the statue of 'Gangnam style', an internationally famous song by PSY an amazing pop star. I laughed.

I knew exactly where I was. It was often called the 'Beverly Hills' of South Korea. I was in Gangnam-gu, land of the rich and famous.

My heart's pace increased and my feet had begun to dance. I was beyond thrilled but I did my best to hold back. I had to make a good first impression on Kim's manger.

"We'll reach Shilla Stay Yeoksam soon. That's where you'll be staying for the next three months. Also I'm sure you're curious about the date with Kim Tae Min, included in the prizes we posted on our website." Mr Park said.

"Yeah I am. I couldn't find anything about a date in the email the agency sent to me. So yes, it was a bother." I smiled, my stomach growled in doubt.

"Please don't say the date's cancelled. I will smack you up the head mister." The words echoed in my thoughts.

"Your date with Kim Tae Min will happen. Don't get worried. I should let you know that it will hold on the fourth of April though. Mr Kim is preoccupied with a lot of things right now. Every artist wants him featured in their music videos and every magazine wants him on their cover." Mr Park said.

"Of course they do. It's Kim Tae Min!" My thoughts spoke again but I laughed like a prim and proper lady instead.

"That's three months from now. Isn't that five days before the end of this vacation?" I asked trying not to sound annoyed.

"Yes it is. The agency decided to move your date with Mr Kim to the last month of the vacation. Being a fan of Mr Kim, the agency is aware that the date is the peak of your vacation and possibly the only reason you came to Korea. If the date is the first thing we offer, you might not be interested in the tour as much and that will ruin the effect of the prize. Some magazines will interview you on this vacation and we'd require you to give as much detail as you can." Mr Kim said and continued.

"The agency needs to uphold its reputation for future fans and followers. You won't be able to deliver if you lose interest before the second month. So, your date with Mr Kim will be the last thing you do before you leave. This way, you'll have a reason to get excited every morning you wake up, knowing one day you'll get to meet one of Korea's best dancers!"

Mr Park did make sense but I was not satisfied. I would have expressed my dis-contempt but I simply replied "It's alright. I understand."

Jess would never do that.

We finally arrived at Shilla Stay Yeaoksam. It looked like four huge rectangles glued vertically and spotted by tiny boxes of yellow lights. It was beautiful.

I got out of the car. One of the car's rear windows rolled down and Mr Park spoke to me.

"I've informed the manager of the hotel about your arrival and I'm sure the members of his staff are ready for you. When you get to the reception, just state your name and they'll take care of the rest. Tomorrow I'll be here by nine o'clock in the morning and I'll introduce you to your tour guide. If you have any questions or you're need of anything, just call me." Mr Park said, as he gave me a small black card.

"Thank you." I said.

"Well that's all the information I can give you today. We'll talk more tomorrow. Good night Miss Kapoor."

"Good night, Mr Park." I said and in twenty seconds, the blue Hyundai drove off, while I walked into the four star hotel.

Shilla Stay Yeoksam could be defined in one word. Luxury.

Shilla Stay had luxury implemented in every section of its building. A restaurant, bar and meeting facilities beautified at top notch made it a classy business hotel. I loved it.

When I got to my room, I was so awestruck I had to call Jess. We had a video call and Jess being Jess, it was a really long conversation.

I showed her the interior décor of my room. Peach and white settled on cushion chairs, bed sheets, duvet, throw pillows and furniture, while the colour gold in its royal aura glided across the room in eccentric details. It was a haven of dreams.

The sight of a flat TV screen, fridge, wardrobe, modern bath, electronic toilet and Aveda toiletries made Jess scream.

When I told her about the time of my date with Kim Tae Min, she was disappointed and used swear words on poor Mr Park. I laughed.

After two more hours of a lively chat with Jesse Parker, I slept in preparation for the next day.

The next day, with a yawn so loud and a gentle pat on both cheeks I was awake. I parted peach coloured curtains that hid the huge glass-paned slide doors in my room.

The morning came with its glow of freshness portrayed by the clean white of clouds that sailed on the perfect blue sea of the heavens. It was a perfect day.

I looked at the time on a digital clock glued to one of the walls in my room. It was eight o'clock.

"Shit! Mr Park will be here in an hour!" I said.

With desperation to be the best fan girl Mr Park had ever seen, I made haste and got ready for the day.

Mr Park did arrive at the hotel at exactly nine o'clock and as promised he introduced me to Cho Daehyun, a thirty year old private tour guide.

Cho Daehyun was occupied with catering to other tourists but since he was summoned and already paid by the YooJin agency, I had to tag along.

The other tourists were elderly people. A good number of them were retired couples. I envied their old love and wished for something similar, completely unaware that the city I tread on would bring me my first love.

We visited Yongsan-gu district and explored its beauty. It was a fabulous place made exotic by botanical gardens, amusement parks and historic architecture.

The other tourists and I spent the entire day paying visits to the Seoul tower and Bukchon Hankok village which was five kilometers from Yongsan-gu. We also took a tour to Yongsan international business district and other eye-catching landscapes.

On our trip, I stuffed myself with mouth-watering meals. I had a taste of spice and sweet from kimchi, bibimbap and pork strips called samgyeopsal.

At the Seoul tower, we rode a cable car which took us up the side of Mount Namsan to the base of the seven hundred and seventy four feet tall tower. We jollied in performances made at cultural centres in the very traditional Bukchon Hankok village. The antiques at the National Museum were admirable and the blue sea surrounding the Yongsan international business district was quite unforgettable.

Famished and fatigued, Cho Daehyun, the other tourists and I headed for a place to stay so we could explore Seocho-gu district the next day.

We had to cross over the Han River from Yongsan-gu through the Banpodaegyo Bridge, a two-tiered structure I had heard some much about. Tour blogs and websites had called the bridge an amazing attraction that was responsible for one of the most beautiful rainbow fountain shows in the world.

I had read about the wonderful array of multi-coloured lights that accompanied water nozzles which shot at both sides of the girder bridge and moved with music. I thought it a pleasant sight to behold but unfortunately such display of the bridge only opened from the month of April. I hoped I could see it before leaving Korea.

While in the bus, I decided to do something rather odd. I wanted to walk across the bridge deck. I requested the bus driver to halt and then I got off.

I explained my plan to Cho Daehyun, who thought it a terrible idea since the bridge was over one thousand meters long. I did my best to convince him with the fact that I had a full wallet and I could call if I needed anything. After a few more sentences, he let me go.

I had walked for ten minutes and my legs began to ache.

"This was a terrible idea." I told none.

"That's it! I'm calling Dae Hyun. I need a ride."

While struggling to get my phone out of one of the pockets on my coat, something caught my attention.

A black Ferrari Roma was parked at the edge of the bridge's deck. I squinted some more and found a human a few steps away from the car. The tall being stood close to the guard rails. Too close.

Being aware of the heightened suicidal rates in the world, I walked forward in hasty but cautious steps, ready to save a life.

"Hey, excuse me? Are you alright?" I asked in Korean. I was three steps away from the human now.

The tall being turned to me and by the power of headlights from an endless row of cars and streetlights, I observed the being carefully. He looked familiar.

He took one more step towards me until we were close enough to see each other's faces clearly.

"Hi, I'm fine." He said in English.

He wore an ombre over-sized sweater, which had more white than mint blue. The sweater dropped on white skinny jeans. He had white Alexander McQueen sneakers for shoes. A white coat with fur for collar, sat on his shoulders. He was the perfect portrayal of monochrome in men's fashion. He seemed very familiar.

"Where have I seen him before?"

My eyes strolled over his fingers and four gold rings shone on each hand. A simple gold chain dropped from his neck with a gold skull for pendant. Gold mini hoop earrings pierced his ears. His eyes were covered by contrasting sunglasses and his hair platinum blonde, shone boldly at every short strand. He was perfect.

He smiled at me and my heart dropped. I blinked twice and watched him take off his sunglasses.

At that moment my chest felt tight and my limbs froze. My skin flushed with heat and saliva escaped my tongue.

Of course I knew the human who stood before me and while in shock, words left my mouth incomplete.

"Oh my..."

Word Count; 2608

-Kim Tae Min
(From my perspective)

-Seoul Tower, South Korea.

-Bukchon Hankok Village.

-National Museum of Korea.

-Yongsan International Buisness District.

-Samgyeopsal (pork strips)
Korean dish.