*This is not a tragic story.

I remember one instance when two of my favorite girls were bickering inside our van on our way to a nearby mall. Daddy was driving while I was busy browsing my IG feeds when mommy uttered her disapproval regarding the decision of my then 12-year old niece. "Sayang ang pera mo diyan, kung ano-ano 'yang pinagkakagastusan mo."

It was when Eliana told her grandparents about her plan of attending the PH concert of her favorite Kpop group, plus buying some merchs including its official light stick. "Si Ninang nga ang mahal-mahal ng bag eh," said by my niece who made an attempt to get me involved in the conversation and probably expected that I will be siding her.

Then the Bea Alonzo in me replied, "Bakit parang kasalanan ko?" 🙄

I recognized the dissatisfaction of my mom back then. Eliana was just a student and she's not yet earning her own money. In my head, she will understand it when the right time comes that she will be budgeting her own funds and she will be able to see that there's a minimal room for non-essentials.

On the other hand, I also comprehend what's on Eliana's mind. It's not that she's asking for money. She has money. She was able to save money from her daily allowances and added the remaining aginaldo she received from previous Christmas and birthday gifts. She was like a child who's buying a toy, but she has outgrown toys. In fact, she was just asking for a companion because her parents won't allow her to go to the concert alone, of course. She even has a budget for the concert ticket of her companion-to-be, including gas fee and meal allowance. Woah.

Admittedly, I was amazed by her. Bakit nung nag-aaral ako, lagi akong walang pera? Haha. 😁 

Six years later, mommy is not with us anymore, but I and Eliana are having the same conversation every so often. The only difference is that she's now busy with her studies that she doesn't have time for Kpop any longer while I was the one who's asking many things in connection to my fangirling hobby to Twice.

Then one day, by the virtue of my thumb print, it all happened.

"There will be no turning back," replied by my friend in our K-anything Viber group when I mentioned that after exercising months of restraint and formerly succeeding from so much self-control, I finally gave in and checked out my very first Twice collectibles.

I'm not sure if that was a warning or a blessing. 🤣

Formula of Love pink album with many inclusions, photocard set, poster

It's real. I've been looking at these Twice merchs for some time now in the web. I even asked some of my friends and nieces as to where I could get legit and official items, because you know, I'm afraid of budol in all aspects of life. I've been comparing prices, been checking FB, IG, and Twitter sellers, been considering 2nd hand light stick, and many more. Only if I could go to SK now, but nah, Covid sucks.

I guess the culprit was the video clips from the latest Twice World Tour, which made me wave my white handkerchief as a signal of surrender from the never-ending control of ones desire to indulge in these items.

When I sent Eliana the photos of my first purchases, she then told me to buy a binder to properly store my photo cards. She even sent me links on where to buy card sleeves because according to her, it should be acid-free, 90-100 microns to prevent damages. I do not understand a thing but I checked it out immediately. LMAO. 🤣

She notified me that buying a binder would result to the increase of my yearning to collect more photo cards since I'll be seeing empty pockets. Eottuke? Ito na ba 'yung walang hangganan? Truth is I want more Dahyun and J-line items, pinipigilan ko lang talaga. 🤣

And when Ma'am Eunice welcomed me in this kumunoy by saying "Once you get in, you'll never go out," she's not at all wrong. This week, my brand new Candybong Z arrived. 😍

I could not contain the joy, seryoso. 😁

Imagine my happiness when these beautiful pieces came to my possession. I was more excited than the time I received my first ever Marc Jacobs bag; my smile was bigger than the day I touched my first ever Cole Haan Zerogrand; and the pleasure of wearing my knot gold set for the first time ever can't even! Legit, ang saya! 🤣

If this is the kind of quicksand that will swallow me (and my pocket) whole, I guess I would love it. Don't save me. Yet. 🤣

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