SEVENTEEN! SEVENTEEN! SEVENTEEN!

SEUNGCHEOL! JEONGHAN! JISOO! JUNHUI! SOONYOUNG! WONWOO! JIHOON! MYUNGHO! MINGYU! SEOKMIN! SEUNGKWAN! HANSOL! CHAN!
WHOOOOOO!!!!

OKAY! STOP! Let me breath for a sec! WHOOPS!

Who even invented this fanchant?! Like seriously?! 😅😅😅

Let me just remind you, I am not a rapper but I guess shouting these names make me a good damn rapper!😅 Hoshi-sshi, I hope you are enjoying seeing your fans ran out of breathe and listening to them rapping out loud your precious names! 😊😘

For me, that was the most nerve-wracking fanchant ever in the history of Kpop. Why? Who would ever want to memorize all 13 names and shout them out loud without breathing within 5 seconds? Well I can only guess one particular fandom! CARATS!!!😁😆😲

Slipping into the diamond life wasn't an easy decision. Or did I even made a decision in joining this fandom? I guess I didn't. I just slipped into Sebongies life without realizing it. What did I say before? I slipped out of the Kpop world for few years but these 13 playful kids brought me back to the music I listened and adore the most.

I listened to their songs, watched their variety shows, searched their names on google, well I guess that was enough to say I slipped into the diamond life. But what made me realize I really stanned this group? When I heard they have a world tour and their last stop was no other than my precious country, the Philippines.

I want to go. I want to witness their live performances. I want to watch with my very own two eyes the beauty of their creative choreographies. I want to listen to their angelic voices.

And then it hit me, I really wanted to see them even just for once!

Remember what happened with my ultimate bias, 2NE1? I attended their concert, the All or Nothing World Tour last 2014 and I was really glad I attended. I might have regretted for the rest of my life if I didn't attend their concert because who would have really thought that the All or Nothing question will really be an All or Nothing period.

I felt at that moment when I learned about Seventeen's concert, I might regret if I will not go. I was afraid that even if they are still starting as a group, that would be their last concert here in the Philippines.

So I decided I should go. I will go no matter what!

But the problem was, where would I get money to buy a ticket? Was my salary enough to purchase even an Upper Box ticket? Well guess what? I just learned the word "iponing" and how to do it.

I realized I could really save money if I really wanted something. I did save money for the concert. I even did the last thing I could ever did, to ask for an advance pay! 😅😅😅 Well that was how desperate I am just to attend their concert.

But struggles didn't left me. Problem didn't stay away from me. Why? Because my next problem was, my desired seat Upper Box was already unavailable. Hmmmmm 🤔🤔🤔. Lower box ticket was too much for my little amount of budget. I was getting really down because I might not be really able to go to the concert. I was losing hope of seeing Seventeen for once. So I tried my last chance, asking on every group and marketplace online for an extra ticket for upper box.

I struggled a lot looking for a ticket. At least a cheaper one that was almost the same as the real price in SM tickets. Why? Because the others were selling their tickets in a triple price than the original price. Not to offend or bash anyone, but Carats please be considerable to one another. It doesn't mean that a Carat is desperately looking for a ticket, you will already put a lot of gold on top of the ticket. Because of this scheme, I was totally losing hope. I actually did lost hope already.

But a blessing came. My luck didn't abandoned me. A very genorous person did sell her ticket to me in almost the same price as the original. And I am really grateful to you (you know who you are so just comment down 😊). If it wasn't because of your ticket, I would not have seen my precious Jun and all the kids of Seventeen! 😊😘😭

But I thought buying the ticket was enough. Damn it! I missed the most important part, saving a lot of money for it to be wasted in buying a lot of goods during the concert. Huh! 🤔. My outfit should be perfect since there would be a fan project, to fill in the arena with rose quartz and serenity color. So even if I was really running out of cash, I bought a t-shirt(serenity color), a cap, a lightstick (but not the official Carat bong since I don't have enough cash to buy a 2K bong) and a customized, personalized phone case. These were the only things my money could bought. But little things do matter with Seventeen. So even if I have little things to show my support to them, at least I still showed it. For me my presence was way more important than any of the material things since the presence of every Filipino Carat was more important to Seventeen than any gift or materials.

And it's D-Day!!!!! It's time for Seventeen Diamond Edge Concert!!!!! SCREAM!!!!

Well the outside of the arena was really filled with screams and shouts from the ever excited Carats who were itching to see the precious boys of Seventeen! Even the guards and security of the arena couldn't hold down the hungry Carats for Seventeen's appearance. 😂😂

Well not until late afternoon did the Sebongies came and endless storm of screams filled the whole Pasay City!!! A bit exaggerated but when you were there, I guess you felt the same. Few hours to go and the concert will start. Excited Carats get up to their feet and started to line up to see the lovely princes perform every masterpiece they have released since their debut. Everyone was practicing the fanchants and of course, to perfectly rap their names while waiting for the line to advance. Everyone else was excited and giggled every time the line advanced. All Carats were overwhelmed that at last they would be watching Seventeen perform live!

Seven o'clock kicks in and almost everyone were already inside the arena. Official music videos of Seventeen were being played on the big screen and all of us were jamming to all the songs. I could really felt the excitement of everyone. Screams filled the arena. Overwhelming passion of every Carat to sing the songs showed their unending love to the group.

I realized I did not regret slipping into the diamond life. We were all counting every minute to pass by until BOOM!!!! Eight o'clock ticked!!!

Opening VCR with the ever gorgeous princes of Seventeen appeared on screen. They were really playful. I really wonder if they are really men already 😅😅.

Then a tick of a shoe was heard. Next thing I knew I was screaming hard!

JUN!!!!!!!!!!!

God bless my soul but hell yeah!!! Why are you so handsome Jun!!!! I can't even breath!!! You're so damn errrrr!! I love you!!! 😘😘😘

Then he was joined by SoonHoon!!!! Damn!!! Why are you so cute!!! Then BAAM!!! ALL SEVENTEEN PRINCES CAME OUT!!! I couldn't even hear my own voice because the arena was already occupied by endless passionate shouts from every single Carat!!!

The themepark opening was really playful. I just enjoyed myself watching all the members run here and there to greet the fans. Watching them enjoying the stage was more than enough for me. I knew they were very tired because of their continuous schedule but you could really see through them that they were enjoying every moment there is to enjoy.

YEPPEUNDA!!!

Pretty U was the first song. It was the first song I listened and the first stage I watched from Seventeen but stopped watching and listening in the middle of the performance. I am again sorry and I am very apologetic to Seventeen and Carats but I wasn't able to appreciate the song at first. But look at me now, who would have thought that it will be a song I will always treasure because of its meaningful lyrics?

The concert was getting hyped because Pretty U was followed by another two energetic songs, Beautiful and AKKINDA (Adore U)!!! Adore U's chereography was so much fun to watch. They were really excited on stage. I could feel they were having fun and that was how I enjoyed their stages, I also just had fun watching them. I didn't know where I should focus, on screen or on the stage? I guess I watched both since I have four eyes 😅😅!!!

But I was targetting particular members!!! I mean I was spotting more of the ships!!! 😂😂😂

And my ultimate ship, WONHUI!!!! RISE BOYS!!!! I love their cute interactions. I also spotted some JiCheol and JeongCheol and Junhao and Verkwan!! I am really sorry that I didn't have any pictures because I was too focused on enjoying their stages that I wasn't able to capture on my camera every single moment. I just captured all those precious memories inside my mind and heart. So if you want to share all your photos, please feel free to comment down.

Opening MENT and BooSeokSoon, the ultimate crazy trios were really crazy to watch. I love them! I just smiled the entire opening ment. My smile could even tear apart my cheeks because seriously seeing their generous smiles made me soft and just smile with them. All of them greeted their Filipino fans individually and tried to express some Tagalog words like "Mahal Kita", "Kumusta kayo". They were all sweet and sweaty 😅😅😅. They were cute while saying those Filipino words but I couldn't get enough of Joshua and Vernon's english 😂😂.

Next song was introduced and it was Still Lonely OT13 ver. They are the only group I knew as of the moment who can actually make any of their songs into an OT13 ver. Like for example, Still Lonely was a mixed unit song and also Highlight which was an original Performance unit song but they rearranged it and made it into an ALL ver. song.

Still lonely was followed by the ever, cheerleading song Aju Nice!!!!! 🖒🖒🖒🖒 Aju Nice is a very hype song and can be a cheerleading song since the chorus is really addictive. You just have to dance with it and shout it out loud, AJU NICE!!!!

Next song, it was the Performance team's Swimming Fool. Yeah right. We Carats are fool enough to be in love with you guys because you are all so adorable and dorks. Performance team will always be my favorite unit because I myself knows how to dance and dancing is one of my hobbies. Another thing is I really adore how powerful Performance team are when they are performing on stage. No doubt even the other members of Seventeen always tell no one among them could be compared to the passion of Performance team during practice and even on stage. And of course I have always this infatuation or close feeling to a dancer. Maybe my ideal type is someone who really knows how to dance well. That is why my bias is Jun and he will always be no matter what he does and what he says.

Another VCR played and showed the middle school aged Seventeen. I love their cuteness. It reminds me of my own high school life and I was still on the "NENE" days of my life. High school thought me a lot things such as decisions that I have never imagined I would decide on. I just hoped Seventeen's middle school life was the same as mine because if I am not mistaken, some of them started as trainees even before they could shout Mansae!!! I mean, some of them started as trainees when they were already in middle school.

MANSAE!!! MANSAE!!! MANSAE!!! HEY!!! The next song was Mansae!!! 😂😂😂 This song was really really fun!!! They really brought out their inner kiddos' life. They just have fun dancing on stage but damn, how could they still be in synchronize moves? I mean 1 sec they were just playing around then here comes the chorus and they were already dancing in sync. Only Seventeen could do that I guess. The highlight for mansae for me, it was DK's high notes at the last part while everyone else was waving their hands into the tunes of the song then DK suddenly hit that high note. My ears still couldn't get enough of that high pitch. Everytime I listen to Mansae, I always anticipates DK' notes at the end. And who could not know the famous "Mansae Wave Dance"!!! Everyone raised their hands and waved their hands to the Mansae Wave!!!! That was so fun actually.

BOOM BOOM!!! BOOM BOOM!!! BOOM BOOM!!!

The grenade drops and BOOM BOOM!!! Boom Boom is one of Seventeen's song with the hardest choreography and it was one of their choreographies I really wanted to see LIVE. Like how could they be in synchronize while jumping three times at the chorus and how could they make that kind of circle also during the chorus? This was the beauty of staying in Upper Box because you could really see the beauty of their formations. I mean I love their choreographies. They were done creatively.

Its MC time and for DE Manila, Dino and Hoshi became MCs for the night. They played together with us and the game was for them to imitate each other and whoever receives the loudest cheer amongst us will be the winner. So if I remember it correctly, Dino imitated Hoshi first by copying Hoshi's way of talking. I couldn't remember the whole details already. But Hoshi won the game by imitating Dino's part on Ulgo Shipji Anha'a chorus. He imitated how Dino executes the Ulgo Shipji Anha dance move during the chorus. It was really funny actually that was why everyone was screaming and Dino accepted defeat in the end. Of course, there was a punishment and that was to spell out their name through their butt. And Dino did it. Everyone was freaking and screaming hard. After Dino, we cheered on and shout out to Hoshi to do the same even if he won the game. And he entertainly did it for Filipino Carats!

SOLO UNIT PERFORMANCE STARTS!!!

Its VOCAL UNIT!!!

We Gonna Make It Shine (2018 ver.). It was their first song. Their angelic voices melted the whole arena. The sweetness and heavy emotions in the way they sing the song was so touching. You could feel the emotions in there and their desire to make every moment shine. Their harmony with each other felt like as if they are one and they really are one team.

Then the stage turned into dark with heavy smoke and frightening feel. Then 5 vampire prince take their positions and started to sing in their evil voices 😅😊. Don't Listen Secretly (Vampire ver.) really gave that feeling where you are being haunted by five beautiful evil princes through your darkest nightmares. Well I am willing to have nightmares every night just to see these beautiful souls. They are so talented that you wouldn't believe this unit is the dorkiest and noisiest one. They were really serious on stage.

BAAM!!! The atmosphere turned into heavy rock vibes. It was time for HIPHOP UNIT!!!

They started off with their mixtape release, Un Haeng Il Chi! Well trust me, what I just did the whole hiphop unit song was to head bangged with them and almost jumped with them but I couldn't 😂😂. I love hiphop because it always makes me high and energetic. So I love them!!!

Then its Check In time! Yeah I check in Manila City!!! Yeah right Manila city is on their song. All of us just sing along with them as they all move around and sing!!! Also the visual of this unit is undeniable. All of them are so handsome that I really wanted to hug them and kiss them on the cheeks! 😂😘😊😁

Another VCR played and there, my favorite unit, PERFORMANCE UNIT time to take stage once again!

OH MY GOD!!! OMG was the first song and I just had enough of watching them dancing on stage. I just sing along with them and enjoyed my life watching them dance. They were very synchronized and powerful when dancing. No doubt that they are called the performance unit. They deserve the name.

Then HIGHLIGHT was next!!! It was the remix ver. where I witnessed their dance break. No matter what they do in dancing and despite of continously singing and dancing on stage, they were still powerful as ever. I was kind of hoping that they will perform WHO because that is one of their songs I enjoyed the most but I guess luck was not with me.

We are almost halfway through the end!!! NOOOOO!!!! 😢😢😢

Yes. It was already second half of the concert but the energy of every Carats was still incomparable. The hotness inside of the arena was building and that was because Seventeen came back on stage on their red outfits.

Crazy in Love was the next song and yes, we are damn crazy in love with you Sebongies. Stop melting our hearts!!!! Damn it!!! 😂😂 The ending pose of the song was Wonwoo but was joined by Junhao because of the next song.

MY I. One of the very reason why I wanted to really watch Diamond Edge concert in Manila. It was because of this song. I knew this stage would only be performed once and that was through their entire DE concert. I knew that I will never be able to witness again that stage so yes, Jun and The8's duet stage was one of the most important reason why I watched the concert. The connection and bond of the two was undeniable. The choreography and the song itself detailed their brotherhood. The beauty of their performance was over the top. I really felt their connection with each other. I felt the happiness they had whenever they perform that stage. I saw the white rope will connect them through the time, always and forever.

Also Seventeen is the only group who actually gave a spotlight for their Chinese members to perform a solo stage in their concert. Other groups wouldn't do it. Only if there are really solo stages but for Seventeen, they maintained the solo stage for Junhao!!! THIS IS THE MAIN REASON WHY I LOVE SEVENTEEN!!! They always make sure that each member shine on stage.

Then it was Hiphop unit's time again to sing their unit song, If I. It was one of their songs that truly shows they are not born only to rap but were also born to sing. The hotness and sexiness during the ending received tremendous cheers and I am one of those who left out a very noisy cheer.

Vocal Unit was up to take on the stage once again and they also performed one of my favorite song of them, Habit. As always, they gave so much emotion on the song and the ending harmony during the chorus always gave me the chills.

They talk once again. I couldn't remember every detail actually because all I did during Ment portions was to laugh, scream and smile with them. I am not pretty much sure of what they talked about during this ment but I remember, they teased Joshua to do something again. Sorry folks but you are free to comment down if you remember anything about this ment. Then also only I could remember was them introducing their stage that would be full of hotness despite of the cold weather outside of the arena. Their next stages will be goddamn sexy.

And they were right, the two songs brought out their inner men outlook and performed two of their hardest choreographies ever, Rock and Chuck. The choreography was very intense and damn powerful but they maintained they synchronization. No doubt they always ran out of breathe when performing these two songs consecutively.

After the two songs, there was another ment and they were saying their goodbye already. They said that it would already be their last stage. NOOOOOO!!! They introduced the song as their best masterpiece and the song that really gained a lot of love and fans.

ULGO SHIPJI ANHA!!!

The main reason why I attended the concert, the song that made me slipped into the diamond, the song that made me realize my life is not yet complete. Don't Wanna Cry was creatively done and the story behind it was touching. The choreography was also beautifully created and their synchronize moves on this song was done perfectly. It was the song that stayed on my top list as my favorite song of all time. The meaning of the song was very emotional that at the time I learned about it, I almost cried. I did cried actually. So witnessing it live was very emotional that I almost got myself into tears once again. I just tried to hold back the feelings. They sang the song with so much emotion while performing the choreography with intense feeling of longing and separation.

Every Carat just sang along with Seventeen whenever the chorus hits. Ulgo Shipji Anha!!! But what stopped me was Wonwoo's part. No matter what, Wonu's part will always have a special part in my heart.

"How can I live as one if my other half is gone?"

A question that would make you think, how will I live if a part of my heart and soul is missing. Try to think about it. This part doesn't only pertain to a lost loved one or missing a certain person. This part could also mean something about yourself, about loving yourself, about finding yourself. You will never live as whole person as long as there is something missing in you but the problem is, you doesn't seem to know what is missing. That only means that you have to find yourself to make you live as one person.

For me who doesn't really have a special someone like that of what is describe on Seventeen's song, Wonu's part targeted my life, in loving myself, in finding myself, in completing myself. How would I ever live as one person if half of my life is still missing? And the fact that I do not know what is missing. Maybe I still have a lot of dreams to fulfill and I am also finding or rather, waiting for someone to complete me. That someone will one day appear who will listen to my sentiments, someone who will be my crying shoulder, someone who will always tell me that I am in my best condition and that I can achieve all the things I wanted to achieve. Maybe I am too emotional on this aspect but everytime I hear Wonu's part, I always think like that.

Also I felt Woozi or Seungcheol wrote this part thinking how would each one of Seventeen members live in the future if they would go on their seperate ways already. How would each Seventeen members would go on with their lives if the brothers they have treated as their own will be gone one day. Also, it is a message to all Carats that how would Seventeen live on their name if Carats will be gone.

Anyways, like what I have said the chereography was very emotional and the power Seventeen showed while performing this song gave every Carat a very intense feeling. The intro with Jeonghan's and DK's dance was very touching as well. In total, Ulgo Shipji Anha received tremendous cheers from the crowd.

ENCORE!!! ENCORE!!! ENCORE!!!

Then the VCR with Seventeen's message to all Carats played. I have heard some of those beside me cried because of the VCR.

Seventeen again stand on stage and performed the national anthem of Carats, Shining Diamonds! After it, the very last they sang was Healing. I even remember Seungcheol forgot to sing his part because he was having too much fun. During the ending song, Carats filled in the arena with Rose Quartz and Serenity ocean. Those who are on left side of the arena wrapped their Carat bongs with Rose Quartz while on the other side was Serenity. It was majestic actually. I wouldn't thought that the fan project to be successful. Seventeen did actually noticed the project. How?

After the song ended, they went on the main stage to sit and to give their final messages but before sitting, I saw how Leader-nim Seungcheol-sshi organized his kids to sit according to the ocean. I saw how he pointed on the crowd and explained to the members to sit according to the ocean. So unlike their other stages to which they have a certain sitting arrangement, all Seventeen members wearing Serenity color seated on the right side of the stage while the rest wearing Rose Quartz color seated on the left side. It was a sweet gesture if I say. Considering and appreciating the fan project was so thoughful, so thank you leader-nim, you are really the best.

Each and one of them say their thank you's to all Carats. The journey of Diamond Edge Concert ended that day and they were all grateful to all Carats who attended their concert. An end means a new beginning as I always say. The concert might have ended but Seventeen is only creating a new beginning. And that was after the concert, a new album would come out, Teen, Age album, their 2nd full length album.

The experience of the concert was very different. The excitement never subside the entire moment. I was sad because we have to say goodbye to Seventeen but I know that day would not be the last day I will see them.

And through enough, after a year Sebongies are ready to hit the Philippines once again for their upcoming concert, IDEAL CUT IN MANILA!! But the problem is I don't have enough funds once again to attend their concert. This is why I wrote this post because I wanted to reminisce all that happened during that day, October 6, 2017. Because I might not be able to see them this year. I just hope a good helping hand would give a ticket but that would be totally impossible except if you will notify Ms. Happee Sy about this post and she might give me a chance to meet Seventeen in person. 😅😅 That is how desperate I am to meet them again.

So for now, I am ending this post because it is too long already. Ms. Happee Sy I hope you read this and deliver my message to Seventeen: NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, WHATEVER DECISIONS YOU MAKE IN LIFE, I AND ALL CARATS WILL BE HERE FOR YOU OUR PRECIOUS PRINCES, ALWAYS AND FOREVER! 😍😊😗

SAY THE NAME!!!! Confession of a Kpop fanatic

Stan a group. Follow a boy idol group or a girl idol group. Watch and stream their music videos. Listen to every song they release. Laugh at their variety shows even if you don't understand a single word unless you will wait a week for english subtitles. Buy every korean dictionary just to study basic Korean words.

That is how a K-pop fan live every single day. That is how I lived as a K-pop fan. Basically, K-pop or Korean pop music is like any other pop music, American, Mexican or Filipino pop music. But what is with Korean Pop music that differs them from other countries' pop music?

I have been a K-Pop fan since 2009 during the era of 2NE1 where the Pambansang Krung-Krung ng Pilipinas, Sandara Park is a member, the era where everyone must know how to dance to the tune of "Nobody, nobody but you!", the era to which the famous line "DAO MING SI" became "GO JUN PYO!" from the hit Korean remake of Meteor Garden, Boys Over Flowers. To this era where Korean pop music totally bloomed and became famous in the Philippines and to the rest of the Asian countries and even worldwide. To this era that they considered it as the GOLDEN AGE OF KOREAN POP MUSIC.

But like what I have said, I have been into K-Pop since the golden age. And then I have stopped stanning. What stanning even means, right? I'll explain it later. Again, I have stopped listening to new K-Pop songs. Not totally stopped like the way you imagine it because I still listen to every single song my bias groups new releases like my ultimate bias, 2NE1, and of course from Super Junior, Girls Generation, Big Bang and a lot more. A lot more but only from the 2nd generation K-Pop groups. Until I get bored. Or maybe bored is way too offensive so let's use, uhmmmmm, until I get too much of it.

Now, don't be confused. I am not talking about songs here but instead, I am talking about groups that kept on debuting from side to side, right or left, north or south, up or down, west or east. Kind of out the step right? But what I am trying to say is that, there were too much groups that kept on debuting wherein some of them were being underrated. That was when I have stopped. That was from 2012 actually. Beyond 2012, I don't know all of the groups that kept appearing on TV except of course those groups coming from the Big 3 (YG, JYP, SM) like EXO, WINNER, RED VELVET, GOT7. It was not that I do not know them but I didn't pay much attention to them because like what I have said, there were too much. I don't even know the existence of BTS (2013) which is by the way the currently worldwide trendsetter and representative of Korean music, and NU'EST (2012) that actually debuted almost the same time as EXO.

Now, for all the K-Pop fans who might read this, most especially to EXO-L's or ARMY's, I am not saying I don't like your group or don't even know their existence in the K-Pop scene but I am simply stating I didn't pay much attention to their music because of too many new releases from new and fresh idol groups. I actually appreciate their music and actually started coming back to being a K-Pop lover.

But when did I really came back on stanning a boy group or a girl group? First, let me explain what does stanning means. Stanning means buying all the goods of a K-pop group from official albums to official merchandise to even unofficial goods released by co-Kpop fans. It also means following all the group activities from concerts to fanmeetings to music shows to variety shows to Korean dramas. Literally, stanning means knowing all the group members by name, by nicknames, by heart no matter how many members they have in the group.

For me, stanning a group is totally different from listening to a group. For example, you listen to a new song release from a group and you liked it but that doesn't mean you will also like the group. Maybe you will do some research about the groups background but not totally memorize all of their adventures and activities, even just the members' names. It will be enough for you to just know the name of the whole group who sang the song, period.

But in stanning a group, no matter how clumsy the song release will be, for you, their new song will be awarded the best song of the year in spite of the tight competition. For you, their album is the best ever album out there even if there are a lot of other good albums in the market. For you, no matter what the members do or whatever decisions they make, you will accept them wholeheartedly. For you, they became your inspiration in continuing to live and dream to the fullest.

That is what I exactly felt when I started stanning a group named SEVENTEEN but only have thirteen members! 😂😂😂😂😂

Actually, like what I have said, I didn't know Seventeen since debut to which by the way they debuted way back last May 26, 2015. I heard their group's name and even actually watched one of their live music show which was Pretty U. But I didn't actually finished watching it and didn't appreciated the song well. Now CARATS don't be mad. I'll explain. Or maybe the explanation was already discussed above. I had stopped liking new groups and paid little attention to them. So please, co-Carats please be a little bit understandable. 🙏🙏🙏

Now, how did I get to know them again and actually paid attention to them? I am a little bit apologetic of how I get to know them again but it was because of Produce 101. Remember IOI? Who did wrote IOI's last song before disbandment? It was Woozi. But did I know him before? It will be a lie if I say yes, so yeah, I didn't know him at all. Now here comes Season 2 of Produce 101 to which I got to know a lot of handsome and talented guys but one group stand out the most, NU'EST, Seventeen's sunbaes.

They debuted way back in 2012, I think just right after EXO did. But they were underrated. They participated in the show for a second chance. And thankfully they achieved it through hard work. But how it was related of getting to know Seventeen? Here's how. If my memory served me right, Dong Ho (Baekho of NU'EST) once said in an interview in PD 101 that they were jealous of the popularity of Seventeen and that they wish, one day NU'EST will get the same recognition as what Seventeen has.

I got curious. Why were they more popular than their seniors? Who are they by the way? Who is Seventeen? Then my curiosity brought me to knowing them. In timely, Seventeen released a new album by that time, around last week of May. It was ULGO SHIPJI ANHA or DON'T WANNA CRY. The first time I heard it, "Oh its good. I like the genre." Then I decided to watch their live. Second thing I know, I was amazed by the choreography so I thought, "Okay, they are really good."

But then again, I hesitated to know more about them. Why? Because there are too many members in the group and because I was traumatized. I doubted myself I would even listen to the group ever again so I just appreciated their music. But then again! I couldn't stop myself but to watch again their live performances on that certain song. So I challenge myself. If I will remember all of their names and recognize their faces, then I will give myself a chance to know them better. And so I did.

I memorized all of the names of Super Junior members for about 6 months, Girls Generation members for a about the same number of months and EXO members for a year. But for Seventeen, well it only took me a day to memorized their names and remember their faces.

So yes, I dig more about them and that was when I knew they actually have sub-units already. A Hip-Hop unit, a Vocal unit and Performance unit to which each unit encompasses members of the group who have the specialty of rapping, singing, and total performing. "So each member has actually time to shine," I thought. Unlike other groups that only one or two members really shine on stage and only them are being recognized by a lot of fans. It was the first time I saw a group that actually divided their image into fairness. And I was actually shocked that even the Chinese members have moments to shine. So I said, "Okay, so maybe I can stan this group."

So I researched their songs, listened to every track they had to which was very rare for me to do it since I only listen to the title tracks of every group. And I actually appreciated all of their songs. That was actually a sign that I am gradually stanning the group since like what I have said, in a group, I only listen to their title tracks and ignore the rest of their songs in their album. With of course, exception to my already biased groups. Then I dig more more information about them until I came across with their rings.

"So what's with the ring?" My curiosity about Seventeen got deeper. And so I learned the ring was considered to be their bond ring, a symbol that they are members of Seventeen. And I realized, the bond is deeper than what I had expected. Why?

Here's the thing. I think I mentioned this above. I was traumatized that was why I hesitated. Why was I traumatized.? It was my first heartbreak in K-Pop. My favorite member of the group left. And that was Jessica leaving Girls Generation. Then rumors spread as to why she left the group and those rumors doesn't really sound good. I began to question their bond. Despite all the rumors, I trusted them that their bond was stronger than any words coming out of every stranger and every hater. But that was when it hit me. She left. They accepted it. That was the end.

So I basically stopped knowing new groups because what's the point of it if one member leave the group then another one then another one until the group disband. It is like creating a new group with members who just wanted to debut but doesn't really care about each other. I don't really know what happened to GG and I may not have the right to judge what really happened but as of now, I think I understand what really happened and that their bond was overshadowed with something else. For Sones, I guess you might want to carefully see things around the group you adored.

So I doubted in stanning Seventeen. But my curiosity overshadowed it. Because there is a question that I want to know.

"How far will they go together as a complete group? How far will their rings bring them to the future?"

I want to see it. I want to witness it.

2NE1, my ultimate bias group disbanded. But I told myself even before stanning them, there would be a time they would go on their separate ways. But will the bond remain? And so it did. 2NE1 is still there supporting each other and their bond go beyond the group's name and popularity. They do not fear to show their bond is destined by faith.

For Seventeen, I want to see their future. They always say that their rings are very important. They actually don't even take it off no matter what they are doing. And I witnessed it. I want to see how far their bond will be. That even if the time will come for them to make a very hard decision, I want to witness the bond they will create beyond their idol image.