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Finally. After almost two years of waiting, praying, and hoping, this SONE has finally gotten his chance to see in person the nine blessedly wonderful human beings who have changed his life forever.
Some people would have called me insane, foolish even. To fly to a foreign land for the first time alone. To spend so much time, effort, and money just to see nine people who don't even know I exist. But flew to Thailand I did. Sacrificed some comforts I did. Spent a lot of money I did. Made that leap of faith and embraced hope I did.
On that fateful day, three hours before the concert started, I stood there, beholding the imposing presence of Impact Arena. I almost cried already at the sight of it. A really huge building where outside almost every single person that I saw was wearing pink, patiently waiting to get inside.
The gates opened an hour later. Section SD, Seat Number G9 (what a coincidence - "G9"). The first thing I saw was the diamond structure in which I knew they would come out from. I was utterly breathless as a tear immediately escaped from the corner of my eye. I still couldn't believe that I was finally inside Impact Arena, seeing just nine rows away the stage which they will grace with their presence a mere two hours later. As the place was filling up, I slowly began to understand why people would go to so much trouble just for this one night.
Fastforward to 6PM. The lights dimmed, and all I saw was the fabled Pink Ocean. Thousands of pink lights twinkled, danced, and waved in the darkness. I started hearing the cheers as well. It was such a magical and exhilirating experience right from the get-go that would last for the next three and a half hours. It was indeed one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.
After the opening sequence, there they were. For the first time in almost two years my surgically-repaired eyes finally fell on So Nyuh Shi Dae. Kim Taeyeon was sitting at the top tier. Jung Suyeon (Jessica), Hwang Miyoung (Tiffany), and Im Yoona were right below her. And on the bottom tier sat Lee Sunkyu (Sunny), Seo Ju Hyun (Seohyun), Choi Sooyoung, Kim Hyoyeon, and Kwon Yuri. As I realized that Tiffany was looking at my direction, my heart immediately melted.
And the moment Taeyeon sang the words, "Sowoneul Malhaebwa...", that was it. I started singing, cheering, and screaming my head off, frantically waving my lightstick. It was as if I metamorphosed into this crazy fanboy that was imprisoned inside this almost 30-year-old body.
By the time they got into the third song (Mr. Taxi), my throat was already starting to hurt. I didn't mind. I didn't care. At least for that night I said to myself I will give 1000% of myself to them, especially knowing the fact that Sooyoung wasn't 100% and all of them for sure were suffering from some jet lag from their flight from Paris the day before. I felt that it was my responsibility as a SONE sitting there in the concert to cheer for them as much as I can, no matter what. I didn't care what would happen to me afterwards.
The rest of the time was like that. By the time the first half of the concert was done, I could barely speak. My arms were hurting from incessantly waving my lightstick (I alternated between left and right hands waving it - when my left arm felt tired, I switched to the right one, and then back again). My shirt was starting to get soaked with sweat. My eyes were becoming tired from lack of sleep.
At that point I realized why, despite knowing that they are physically tired, the girls kept on going. I saw it in their faces that they were tired. But getting that kind of reaction, that overwhelming amount of love and support, from the crowd was such a huge well of energy that it takes away all the fatigue. I realized how solid SONEs are. For some reason that explained why I didn't care what would happen to me afterwards. I have been praying for this chance to show my love and support to Girls' Generation, and there I was. I wasn't going to falter at that moment. So through the aches and pains I went on with the rest of the SONEs, still singing, cheering, and screaming my head off, my lungs out, and my throat hoarse.
And then came "Complete". There was a fan-event prepared for this song. At a certain moment, we raised our banners hidden under our seats. One side said, "After 785 days of waiting..." while our side said, "We finally meet". It was such an emotional and overwhelming experience that I was already crying when the song started, way before we raised our banners. "Complete" always made me cry and this time was no different. Finally hearing that song in the flesh, right there and then, amidst all the other SONEs in the Pink Ocean, was something truly indescribable. Watching them perform "Complete" pricked something deep in my heart that I would forever feel from that point on every time I hear this song.
And then, after seeing Sunny, Seohyun, and Sooyoung and even Yuri smiling in tears as well, I let go and just cried my eyes out. It was also obvious that Taeyeon was holding her tears back, just showing that derp smile of hers. I tried stopping myself, but I just choked on my tears.
Simply put, it was an emotional rollercoaster ride the rest of the way. I was singing and fanchating to "Gee" and "Into the New World" with a very rough and dry feeling in my throat that I thought I would permanently damage it. And speaking of "Into the New World", I have never dreamed that I would be seeing and hearing that song live and alive. Watching them sing and perform "Into the New World", the song that started it all, was such a magical and nostalgic experience, and made me regret that I wasn't a SONE from the beginning.
Another song that gave me goosebumps was "Forever". I also cried watching them perform that song as well. Especially on that particular point in the song when the lights went out, with only the spotlights shining on the Girls, and then the lights came on again with confetti bursting out all over the place, that really blinded me with my tears and overwhelmed my heart with so much emotion.
By the time they sang their final song, "It's Fantastic", I was conflicted. I wanted more. And yet deep in my heart I wanted it to end, so that the girls can finally get some rest back in Seoul after all of their hectic activities.
In the end of it all, I realized now how much it takes to be a SONE. To exert that much effort, that much energy; to take that leap of fatih; to give so much of yourself to people who don't even know you; to give your precious time to them; and then don't care what happens to you. I realized that now, I'm at that stage, where chances are that I'll be a SONE for the rest of my life.
And it scares the hell out of me now. 52 hours after the whole experience (at the time of this writing), I'm still emotional about it. Going to that concert, seeing them in person, made me both happy and sad. Happy because I finally got to see their bright faces, their happy appearances, and their wonderful personalities. Sad because the experience was such a short one. And I know that to them, chances are they won't even remember my face, even if they saw it (they won't even know that I'm not Thai, but a Filipino who flew all the way from Manila to see them, hurting at the fact that they haven't been to my country). To them, chances are that I was just one more SONE swimming in the Pink Ocean.
But despite that, I also know that I'd be willing to do it all over again. I'd go through all the uncertainties and discomforts again, and go through the aches and pains again to cheer for them.
Finally being able to shout "Jigemeun, So Nyuh Shi Dae! Apuroudo, So Nyuh Shi Dae! Yongwonhi, So Nyuh Shi Dae!" with all my heart and with all my soul at the top of my lungs was truly an amazing experience. A dream come true. It was only at that time that I realized how powerful and how meaningful that particular fanchant really is.
Going to the concert simply galvanized my feelings for them.
If this isn't love for Taeyeon, Jessica, Sunny, Tiffany, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona, and Seohyun, then I don't know what love is.
And after this, I can confidently say, "I love you, Girls' Generation... and I always will... until the day I die."
That's me before the start of the show.
PS. I'm still debating whether I should upload the videos I took. Most of them were really crappy because I wasn't looking at the screen when I was taking them. I was looking at them. And they were kind of distracting a lot because I was screaming like a crazy fanboy almost the entire show that it's kind of embarrassing to upload them now that I think about it.
Edited by RickLovesSNSD, 12 November 2012 - 12:49 AM.
