Hello Donghae

Probably the cherry on top of my fan girl life so far ♥

It all started with Bench signing Donghae and Siwon up for the brand's Kpop endorsers, Bench promising local Ph ELF of bringing the two in the Philippines in the condition of helping their Twitter account @benchtm reach 100,000 followers.

Prior to that, they've released the shirts, billboards, and every promotional items Siwon and Donghae did for Bench, much to Ph ELF's glee. I myself didn't miss the opportunity as I bought Hae's One Earth, green Sorry Sorry and 'Save the Sea' (not sure if boys did wear this one but it came with the One Earth shirt and Sea is Donghae so yeah). I remember waiting for Bench to change the Balintawak giant billboard but unfortunately, they didn't. I contented myself with the one in Quezon Ave, loving the fact that it's situated in the place I got off every Monday. 

Never got the chance to see the famous Guadalupe billboards, but the one in Quezon Ave is my favorite so yeah, I managed.

Bench shirt collections with two EunHae-related customized ones <3 data-blogger-escaped-nbsp="nbsp">

I can still remember it as if it was yesterday when I've been constantly checking their page, keeping track in the number of followers and watched in amazement as the numbers grew in a matter of minutes whenever a fansite or merely an ELF promotes the page. I think it took a few more days but eventually, ELF were successful in said campaign and Bench indeed reached 100K. So now it all comes down to the waiting.

To be honest I wasn't that expectant because Filipino businessmen, local products, politicians, celebrities, all of them tend to make false promises which were left neglected over the time. Other foreign endorsers started coming in too, and I'm like side-eyeing Bench because hello! Where's our SiHae?!

And then one eventful day of July, Ben Chan tweeted about the matters regarding the much awaited #SiHaeinManila. 

It, of course, caused a pandemonium among local ELF and the hashtag #SiHaeinManila was even included in the Philippine TT. Everyone's bouncing in excitement and I myself swear to it that I must see them by hook or by crook.

I can't control the anticipation. I've been wanting to see Super Junior ever since and I've already loathed myself hard enough when I failed to see them for Super Show III and that sudden visit from WonKyuHyuk last January. So I know I'll hate myself for eternity if i missed the chance to see them, 2/15 of them, now. So starting my saving up, I prepared myself for what's about to come.

Somewhere by the end of July or early August, the date was confirmed to be August 15. A week day. And I never thanked the fact that I could leave work any time I want, perks of working in a family business. Now a setback happened when the promoters mentioned about this raffle thingy, and only 700 will be lucky to get up close and personal with SiHae.

It saddened me and most of the ELF. To be honest I don't really yearn for a close up, I just really want to see them, to see Donghae. I remember ranting about it on Twitter and how a ticket cost 1,000php (since one can get a raffle ticket for a minimum of 1K Bench purchases). I said I'll just buy a purchase worth 1K and that's it. If I wouldn't make it, I'll just cry in a corner and refused to talk to anyone until SiHae goes back to Korea.

Good news happened however, when it was announced the next day that the event will be held in TriNoma Activity Center! I remember grinning madly and spazzing and all because really, that's an open area and if I get into the right position I'll be able to see them! Yes! This is it! I love Bench again!! ^^

So since I have the money, I thought of purchasing 2 tickets, because 2:100000000 x 10 to the infinity has better chance than 1. Can't wait any longer, I rushed to SM North EDSA the first day the tickets were released and did my shopping. So SM North (Main) has two Bench outlets. Bench and Herbench. I first went in Bench because the gigantic posters of Siwon and Donghae were so inviting I want to do bad things with them but oh right shopping! But of course aside from perfumes and unisex accessories, Bench sells men products. So taking a last look at my Donghae, I rushed over Herbench.

I was contemplating on buying 2K worth at once or buy a 1K worth now and the other later because I want to visit Bench TriNoma the next day (I'll be picking my SF&S album for the day after). It's about time for me to buy a new perfume and jeans so I did just that.

Now the moment of doom happened while I was lining up for the counter. The cashier wasn't handing ANY ticket!! And I was so shy to ask because I've always been shy and it's like they know nothing of it (God knows how much I hated myself for dashing in for the first day of release I should have known some staff still don't know about it). So yeah, no ticket for me but okay I have my new jeans but still no ticket and I'm a freaking loser I just want to punch my face -3- 

I found out later that North EDSA's Herbench DIDN'T participate for the raffle. I just thought that if it's meant to be it'll be U_U

My sister then informed me when I got home that weekend that my dad gave her money to buy knew clothes. Getting hyped up, I went with her to buy new clothes, leaving the details that I already bought mine but no ticket because I was stupid. We headed for TriNoma since the Bench there both sold bench and Herbench products. I bought a cardigan worth 1K+, filled up my precious ticket and hold on to that although the probability of winning was back to 1 is to infinity.

If it's meant to be, it's meant to be U_U

Fast forward to the day of the draw, I wasn't included nor anyone I know on the first batch. As I've said I wasn't really expecting any. My sister and I even checked the right spots when we went in TriNoma that day so we could see where we could view SiHae better. (She and her friends made to it on that exact spot on the day of the event ^^)

I was crossing my fingers but wasn't hoping.

On the second batch, I was at work and it was Saturday and I was dozing off while working, haha! There were only a few of us in the office and there's nothing to do so I kind of felt sleepy and doze off. A few minutes later, I woke up and found out that Bench released the next set of winners. Realizing it was in alphabetical order, I checked for Ap's name first, none, and then mine. 

And then guess what.

I WON! I FREAKING WON! I can't even scream because I was in the office but I badly wanted to do so at that moment. I went to Twitter and cried out how happy I am when I found out Ap was cursing me and congratulating me already, haha! Euphoria. I just wanted to see them and now I had the chance to see them a little more closer. This is fate. I can't remember how much I thanked God right then.

So cheery and giddy, I see to it that everything will be perfect for August 15. It's a good thing I could leave work whenever I want to (not really, but i could without so much complications). I recalled praying and wishing everything will turned out fine for that day. There had been storms and warning signals and flood again! and I thought it wouldn't push through but guess what, it was raining and volumes of water were everywhere but SIHAE INDEED CAME TO MANILA! And I know there won't be anything that could ever stop me for August 15.

The winners were the first to go in but we had to stand for HOURS before getting in the area. Other fans followed suit and TriNoma was heavily jampacked with the ELF screaming and singing with the songs and watching the photoshoot BTS in the white screen, laughing with the live Twitter updates for #SiHaeinManila. 

This is the view from where I was when we fall in line for the registration.

lol I took a picture of this girl who made 'singit' in the line, haha! She's with someone but that girl went over to use the toilet or something. She's an EXOtic, lol.

The mark that indicated I'm one of the 700.

Already inside! Waiting for the event to start!!

The one I was with, Ate Chesca.

Ap and Friends :))

BTS! Super handsome Donghae <3 data-blogger-escaped-td="td">

The crowd while waiting for SiHae

The mini-banner they told us to raise when SiHae make their signature SJ pose.

The crowd having fun with the camera and the white screen :3

Twitter updates!!

Around 3pm, we (the 700) were told that they'll be removing the chairs and we would have to stand. I expected the 'stampede' and being pushed and crashed and all and I knew my body would be suffering later that night but just like what one ELF said then 'Ok lang yan.' I do realized it's all worth it.

Jinri Park hosted the event. She's very pretty and I took pictures of her but since camera's a little shaky and I couldn't find the video mode, my pictures turned all blurry.

There were luckier ones out of us 700 who got to come up the stage and shake hands with SiHae and they were all drawn in another raffle. I was envious -3- But then again, if it's meant to be it'll be. I'll get Donghae someday, haha!

Moment of truth and there they were! Donghae and Siwon in flesh and very real!! Although I was screaming and spazzing and I thought I'd faint or cry but I didn't, it's a little funny how I seemed to think I'm still watching them over my laptop screen and not about three meters away. It was all too surreal, and when it was over that was the only time I came to comprehend that yes, I did see Donghae.

I love Siwon too and he's incredibly handsome but Donghae ;~; To be honest I forgot that Siwon was there because all I can see is Donghae. He's my ultimate bias and he's sweet and caring and really cute and perfect I can't wait to see him performing onstage ;~;

My very first picture of  them ;~; Yes it's shaky but that's Donghae and Siwon right there okay.

Happiness :')

Thank you Bench, Mr.Ben Chan, to everyone who prayed and actually made an effort to make this happen, to international ELF who helped us reach 100K followers for @benchtm. And for Donghae and Siwon for being so amazing and perfect and just.. precious ;~;

Looking forward to more meetings to come!! :3