He waits at the building's front door. You can't believe he was serious.

Once in the apartment, you call your best friend Lori to tell her what happened earlier.

She encourages you to go with him. But you just aren't sure you should.

"I don't really know him, Lori."

"How do you get to know someone, hmm? You meet them, which you have. Next, to get to know him, do things together. Go out together. Hint, hint." She giggles and you can just picture her rolling her eyes at you. She hears your sigh of indecision.

She says, "Take a chance and go out with him."

You grimace, doubting yourself, "I don't know. I think I'm staying home."

Now she is upset. "What the hell, Jojo? Go out with him! Don't you dare spend another night crying over Ryung!"

"I stopped crying over him." You weakly lie to her.

Lori says, "But you were planning on crying. Now you get dressed and go out." 
With Lori's confidence boost, you hurriedly get dressed. She is still trying to talk you into going to America and staying for several months. 

Once dressed, you look out the window, surprised he's still there, but now he is leaning in the window of a huge suv talking to someone.

You almost decide not to go but then think, 'What the heck, this is going to be my last week in Seoul, so I might as well make the best of it.'

Tae turns as he hears the door open. "Hi, beautiful." He smiles so sweetly at you, and you feel your silly heart melt.

You think to yourself, 'Don't you fall, Jojo. If only he would stop smiling at me like that!'

"Hello, Tae. Is this your friend's car?"

Tae laughs, "Well, it's more like a company car." 

You think, 'Great, someone who doesn't even have his own car.' 

The suv pulls off, and across the street is a red Mustang with the top down.

He walks you over to the Mustang and opens the passenger door for you.

Smiling brightly, you ask, "This is yours?"

There's that cute boxy smile again as he says, "Yes, it is. Do you like it?"

You sit and smile up at him. "I love it!"

You are loving the ride in the Mustang as evening closes in. Glancing at you and then back to the road, he says, "I'm so glad it's such a beautiful night to drive with the top down instead of closed up in a suv with blackened windows."

 He smiles as he says, "I love the wind blowing through my hair, being so open to the world without having to worry about . . ."

He abruptly stops talking, pressing his lips together.

You ask him, "You don't have to worry about what?"

His hand goes to his mouth, and his fingers play with his lower lip as he thinks.

"Nothing really, just thinking out loud," he laughs, but it sounds hollow.

You suddenly realize you are not headed to the karaoke club. You turn to him, angry.

"Where are you taking me?! Take me home right now!"

 He quickly pulls over, and you reach to open the door. He rushes out and puts his hands on the door.

"Please wait. I wasn't thinking. I was . . . you distract me."

You roll your eyes. "Oh, blame me for you kidnapping me!?"

Confused, he says, "Not, not, no, I wasn't trying to kidnap you. I was going to my favorite jazz club instead."

You shove the door open, moving him out of the way. With hands on your hips, you say, "Yeah, right! You were taking me to Mama Smooth J's?"

He smiles. "Yes."

It's your last week in Seoul, and you need a change of attitude. "What the heck, let's go."
You smile at him as you return to the car, and he closes the door. He starts laughing with you, and the sound heals your heart.

Later, Tae drives you home after you have had the most fun in months. He reaches for your hand to help you out of the car, yet he doesn't move back as you stand. You're so close.

He looks intently into your eyes. "May I kiss you?"

You go up on tiptoe, put your arms around his neck, and kiss him. He isn't expecting it, but then he kisses you back.

Gently at first, then he pulls you tightly against him. You break the kiss, yet he won't let go.

Breathlessly, he asks, "Can I see you again?"

You tell him in a soft, sad voice, "I'm going to New Jersey. I'm not sure when I'll be back."

Still holding your hands, he says with regret, "I have to go abroad in a few days for work."

He gives you another kiss, gently running his thumb over your cheek.

"I enjoyed myself tonight. I hope we collide again in this lifetime."

You give him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Me too, Tae, good night."

Before he can say anything more, you run in before he sees you cry.