The K-Pop Dream

"You want to know something? I have never been in a car alone with a man aside from my dad and manger" Tae confesses

"Seriously? What about dates?"

"Uhh I can't really be pictured... so we would usually meet up with separate vehicles or with a friend"

"Ooooh, is this a dispatch exclusive?" I ask her quite interested in the dating habits of a star

See looks to the camera and asks politely, "Editor nim please cut this part out"

"Have you ever been in a car with another woman?" She asks with a slight smile and shy glance lifting the edge of her right eyebrow

"No comment" I laugh and play it off despite her glare. I might be young, but I'm not stupid.

Changing the subject, I decide to bring up what we will be doing today, "What do you think of extreme sports?"

She thinks for a second, "Uhhh". This little pause makes me a little nervous before she breaks out into a charming smile "Sounds fun"

Her answer instantly relieves all my tension, "Really? That's good"

"Why?" She asks with a cute voice

"Because that's what we'll be doing" I playfully respond

"Dylan, I'm not really dressed for..."

Before she can finish her sentence, I step on the gas and hurry towards our destination

"Hey! Slow down" She says laughing getting high off excitement from the speed not really giving a serious command

Not long-after we are near the ocean and by a small shop that has 'Jeju Fun' on it's signboard.

Entering into the small store, which reminds you more of a small house, 2 men sit at the counter by the entrance.

One is busying himself with what seems like accounting while the other a tanned, 30 year old whose wearing a red tracksuit and light blue visor greets us enthusiastically.

"Annyeonghaseyo!" He greets with a large smile

I greet back and gingerly ask as I rest my hand on the counter, "Is this where we can do parasailing?"

With a warm smile still on his face, he shuts down my hope " Yes but today there a lot of waves and strong winds, so I wouldn't advise it"

I freeze immediately not knowing what to do with this information, "What?" I turn to the PD, and internally ask ' I thought you said this was all set up?'

She just avoids my gaze and shrugs as if to say 'it's your problem now'

With a nervous smile I turn to Tae "Noona, what shall we do?"

Instantly she transforms into reliable mode and looks to the owner and asks "Since parasailing is not on the agenda for today, do you guys have anything else on offer?"

The owner smiles and suggests " How about using the jet boat?"

"What's the jetboat?" She asks

"A speed boat that turns 360 degrees"

"Noona, that sounds fun. Want to give it a go?"

She nods her head.

"Let's give it a go"

Recognizing our excitement, the owner/driver/pilot tells us to follow him downstairs to the marina where we are handed a life vest each to put on for safety, assisting Kim Tae with hers, as she ties her hair into a pretty ponytail, making our way down to the pier.

Seeing the boat look a little more intimidating than I pictured, I involuntary backtrack as noona exclaims "Waah, it looks like so much fun"

"Yeah, but you're not nervous at all?" I ask concernedly

"No" she bluntly responds, "Why are you nervous?"

Bluffing, I put on my manly pride "I'm totally not nervous"

She laughs at my apparent display of charisma.

Facing the red boat with a flame decal on it, we board the vessel with the help of the captain ans step onto the metal flooring

Offering Tae my hand. I help her gain balance before we sit down.

As the boat bobbles and sways in the ocean water. I feel my mind slowly disappear from my body, Its like I'm watching everything in third person

"Are you getting sick?" She probes noticing my pale expression

"No never...look the waves are really strong over there" I point out, to the waves crashing against a boulder down north of us.

Weekly I say "Its... starting." As the boat starts speeding up faster and and faster.

"Waaah, this is really fun!" She comments as the salty sea water begins splashing everywhere and anywhere

Thankfully somehow due to all the excitement all my nervousness has gone. This is when she turns to me and asks "Isn't this a little boring now?"

'What do you mean a little boring'

She proceeds to shout, "Ahjussi, Ahjussi, Faster faster!"

This gives the old man courage as he steps on the accelerator and takes the boat to its limits doing cool turns and inverted tilts.

My soul left me body for a moment or two. Thankfully the ride ends not to soon after, and with it I am left legless as I struggle to maintain balance of land as Tae laughs at my suffering but hands me a towel to dry our heads which have been made wet from the experience.