The ELF Me - 1 Year Anniversary

2nd October 2011, I accidentally watched their A-Cha MV while my sister was watching it on the desktop in our living room. Her friend tagged her on facebook, nothing more, nothing less. She knew some of them and started introducing those some to me.

Out of curiosity, I searched their videos on youtube, and I came across this video. At that time, I thought, "Wow, this guy really can sing."

Okay, I admit. During that whole A-Cha MV, he's the one who caught my eye. And after watching the video of him singing live, all of a sudden I became interested in him. So, with the help of dear Google, I got quite a handful of his information.

Then, I went on to read from Wikipedia about this group called Super Junior. Because of him though. When I realized that there were two sets of names: the stage names and the birth names, I decided to just memorize Yesung's, plus his birthday, since it's quite impossible to memorize all 13+2 of them. Well, that's what I thought at that time.

But within an hour or so, all their names and birthdates were glued in my head. From the eldest to the youngest, no problem.

After that, I watched another video of them, Super Junior Show episode 18, if I remember correctly, about their Thailand trip. The video was taken way back in 2006. Their cheerfulness totally mesmerized me.

And all of a sudden, voila! Call me an ELF, Ever Lasting Friend.

Some days later, a friend said to me that she became their fan during the early part of 2011, and she also said that during these later months of 2011, her passion seemed to have died down. She's still their fan, but not as much as before. So, in conclusion, she told me that as the days passed, I would not like them as much as when we were chatting.

And today, 2nd October 2012, I believe she's right.

Now, after a whole year have passed. After learning almost (Note: just to be modest) everything about this group. After experiencing quite a number of things with them and the other ELF, just imagine, in an amount of time as short as a year, a lot of things have happened to them, and us, good ones and bad ones. After all these... I don't think I like them as much as a year ago.

I like them more than a year ago. Can I use the word love? It's such a strong word. LOL.

After knowing them, after realizing how much hardships they've been through, after understanding that this group that brought me so much laughter has endured so many hurtful incidents. They survived. With their tears and sweats, they've achieved so much. And yes, they deserve all of them.

I learned a lot from them. A whole lot.

Not giving up, giving all you've got, and working hard doesn't always give you what you've dreamed of. But if you are patient enough, if you are willing to keep going, you'll see that miracles do happen and dreams do come true.

I am proud to say that I'm a part of ELF, a part of the sapphire blue ocean. And I look forward to my 2 year anniversary post. 1 year down, forever to go.

It's not end, but and...

슈퍼주니어오빠들...
늘고맙고 사랑한다,
영원하자 슈주엘프...

Surprises For The Night

Her heart throbbed with excitement as the gentle hands which had been covering her eyes slowly moved away.

“You can open your eyes now.” A gentle voice whispered into her ear.

Bright, blinding lights replaced the darkness as she opened her eyes.

“Sam!!” she cried out in astonishment. “This is…”

“Surprise! This is especially for you, for tonight.” The person who had been standing behind her since they entered, moved next to her. He held up her hand and put it in his arms.

“This way.” He smiled and guided her through the room.

She had never seen a place like that. The room was almost empty except for a table and a vase on it at one corner. The chandelier hanging on the ceiling above shone brightly across the room, providing enough light so that no shadow could be seen. The crystals dangling from the chandelier reflected the light to every nook and corner of the room. The windows were tall and gave off a classic atmosphere with the carvings on the windowsills.

They made their way across the room into another smaller room. Sam pushed open the glass door and gestured to her to enter.

“Ladies first,” he said, with the same mesmerizing smile he had been given her since they first met. The exact same smile which attracted her to him at the very beginning of their fateful meeting.

She turned her head towards him. The whole room had wowed her so much that it was only then that she noticed the outfit of the person beside her. He was wearing a tuxedo; his hair neatly combed. An entirely different look compared to his usual image.

She frowned, opened her mouth, but closed it again, as she decided that it would be better to ask later. Still with her hand in his arm, she stepped forward.

In the smaller room, there were only a table in the centre of the room and a grand piano not far away from it.

She did not have a chance to ask about the décor as Sam pulled out a chair for her to sit in. She obliged, still with a frown forming between her brows. There were too many questions popping up inside her head.

“You are being weird today,” she said, after Sam took his seat across her.

“Am I?”

“Yes, of course, you are! You are so… sweet today, so… gentlemanly.” She gave him a puzzled look.

“Well, I thought I should give you surprises once in a while. So that you wouldn’t forget me.”

“Why would I forget…” She was stopped in her words as Sam motioned her to start the dinner.

The full course meal was delightful. But she couldn’t help asking questions during the dinner, to which Sam replied “Let’s concentrate on eating first. I want this to be the most perfect date.”

After eating, Sam stood up and walked up the steps to the small stage where the piano was placed on. She simply followed his movements with a puzzled look.

“This is a piece dedicated just for you. To Clarice,” He said before placing his fingers on the keys. He had always been good at music and his best was the piano. There were an awful lot of times when she would request him to write a piece for her. “Why should I?” he would cheekily reply.

Her eyes widened as Sam looked at her and smiled before starting his performance. The notes echoed in the room as his fingers danced across the piano keys. She could feel the emotion in the song. The song was sweet, or was it the way Sam played that made it seem like a sweet piece? She could not help feeling a tinge of sadness throughout the whole performance.

It was starting to rain as they once again stood at where they had come in.

“Well, what do you think?” Sam asked.

“Not bad,” Clarice chuckled. “But I don’t really like the appetizer, but I love the dessert and that song. I’d never thought that you’d write a song just for me.”

“You’ve asked for it so many times, I thought I might as well fulfill your wish tonight.” Sam blinked as a cheeky grin formed on his face.

How could she retort that answer of his after he made that expression? Her face reddened as she puffed her cheeks out of annoyance. “Why tonight then?” she asked.

“Well, it’s just one of the surprises I’ve arranged for tonight,” Sam exclaimed with a wide grin.

“One of the surprises? There’s more?” Clarice’s eyes widened.

Sam lifted his eyebrows and nodded. “Girls love surprises, right?”

“But you’re not the kind of person that likes to give surprises. You are being weird today. You’re not like the usual Sam. What’s got into you?”

“I’m not the usual Sam? So how’s the usual Sam like?” He smiled cheekily.

“The usual Sam would say ‘there’s no way I’m going to wear that tux, unless you let me wear a pair of jeans to go with it’. Or ‘why is there the need to be so formal? Relax”.” Clarice’s expression changed accordingly as she imitated Sam.

Sam laughed. “I am not like that,” he retorted.

“Yes, you are. And you…”

A gentle tap on her head stopped Clarice from continuing her sentence.

“I’m glad that you remember everything about me, Clare,” said Sam, his gentle eyes focusing on her.

It was almost as if she was hypnotized by his gaze. She could not look away. He had never looked at her with such tenderness before. For a moment, Clarice thought she saw tears forming around those charming blue orbs.

Was that sadness that she felt while looking at him? Was he hiding something? What happened tonight was so peculiar that a weird feeling suddenly welled up inside her.

What exactly is wrong with you, Sam?

“Remember, Clare.” His face leaned closer, causing her heart to beat faster as her cheeks turned redder. All the thinking process in her mind came to a sudden halt. “I love you.” Then he gently kissed her forehead.

“I’ve always known that you like me doing that.” He smiled as he pulled his face away. She opened her eyes which she had closed reflexively.

Then, in an instant, she leaned closer and placed a kiss on his cheek, to which Sam reacted with a shocked expression.

“I am quite good at giving surprises too.” Clarice chuckled after saying these words with much pride on her face. She decided not to ask anything, for it was Sam that she was facing. The Samuel who would say everything blatantly, who thought that the only way to solve a problem was by talking over it. He would clearly state his mind if he needed to tell her something.

A wide grin formed on Sam’s face. “I still have one last surprise in store for you,” he said as the wide grin turned into a gentle smile. “Thank you so much, Clare. For everything,” he continued as he stepped away from her.

“Good bye, Clare. I love you.”

***

Clarice was startled by the vibration of her phone.

“Why now?” She groaned as her hand reached out to the device placed on the small table beside her bed.

A frown formed on her forehead as she noticed the name on the screen. It was a message from Stacy, Sam’s sister.

“Clare, Sam’s at the hospital. He’s met with an accident. Critical condition. Come! Now!”

Clarice’s heartbeat stopped for a second. Then she thought of the dream she had just had.

I still have one last surprise in store for you. Sam’s words echoed in her head.

“No…” Her phone dropped to the floor.

=============

By Lidya Yang

An edited version of The Last Date
Writer's note: "I totally can't believe that it's been more than a year since I wrote the original version!"

10 Things I Must Do Before I Die

It's been such a long time since I last posted on this blog..
Sorry, bloggie..
I've been quite busy..
But I'll make sure I post here regularly..

So........
The title of this post!

10 Things I Must Do Before I Die

It's actually from a twitter trend: #10ThingsIMustDoBeforeIDie.

Just put in spaces between the words and take away the #, and you'll get the title.

The things on a list like this change from time to time. It's totally normal, since what you're into at a time may not be the same with what you'll be into a year later. So it's perfectly fine if you change the things on your list. :)

10 things I must do before I die [120828 (which means August 28th 2012) version] :

1. Buy a car, my own car, with the money I earned. Preferably a Honda Civic or a Toyota Camry.
2. Volunteer at disaster sites.
3. Watch Super Junior live, which includes attending Super Shows, fansigns, fanmeetings, or/and live performances.
4. Write a book and publish it, or rather: write books and publish them.
5. Able to speak fluently at least 5 languages.
6. Travel alone to a country where I've never been to before.
7. Fulfill my promise to my parents: a room with television, DVD player, laptop, Karaoke with Surround sound system, unlimited internet usage.
8. Travel to Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea.
9. Make my parents proud.
10. Earn a lot of money. Yes, of course.

Well, the list is a bit, umm..., funny?
I don't know..
That's what's on my mind right now.

Oh, and to those who read this, you can do the same! List down the 10 things you must do before you die! It sort of lets you know what you really want right now.

Till next time!

What A Wonderful Birthday!

30th June 2012

I woke up to a surprise today.
A cutely wrapped present on my desk. In front of it, two decks of printed photographs of Yesung oppa!
I haven't even opened this cute present from my sister yet. So I'll update on the detail tomorrow.
After that, I took A LOT of photos of the gifts..
Of course, along with the presents I bought for myself, namely SS3 DVD and Opera Japanese Version.
It's all about SJ. Yes, I know.
I like it this way!

Some time later, due to my careless tweet to @shfly3424 oppa, I received birthday greetings from my ELFISHics family and fellow ELFriends. Ah... Something I'd never expected. Sweet~!

So my birthday started with several surprises.
Then my friend sent me a 'Happy Birthday' message.
And, later, another friend said so through Facebook, so I logged in after being inactive on FB for several days.
Then, another friend commented on that FB post, a 'happy birthday' greeting~
These three, my best friends during senior high and junior high..
Ah... It's amazing!

Later in the evening..
The first friend (reference: the part before this), and I had a dinner.
More like a dinner with a loooooooong chat...
We chatted for three and a half hours, which we believe was not enough.
But what to do about it. It's already nine and we needed to go home.
But I did have an amazing time chatting with her. So happy!

Oh, miss NvL just sent me a message! How sweet of her to actually remember my birthday!
Touched!

And!
The last two hours of my birthday, due to the time difference, is also Leeteuk, Super Junior's angel leader's birthday..
(It is an 'is' as it shall always be so. Unless one of us suddenly change our birth date, which is impossible.)
So, it's a 'Happy Birthday Teuk Oppa And I' during that two hours..
Plus, SJ's 6th album 'Sexy, Free & Single' was released during that time!
Great!

This is the first birthday I celebrate as an ELF, and I celebrated it SJ-style!
How could I not?
The 6th album's online release and Teuk oppa's birthday were during the final two hours of my birthday!
Super!

Special thanks:

Thank you to my sister, Diana. I have no idea when you prepared this. And the most amazing thing is, I chose the wrapping paper you used to wrap the birthday gift. A total =_= very unexpected. But I love the presents, really! Jeongmal!

Thank you to Ifa. You've not missed my birthday even once since we knew each other during senior high. And chatting with you has always been an amazing thing to do. Thank you for your early sms, and that dinner. Let me treat you next time!!!!!

Thank you to Chi, ELFISHics family, and all ELF who greeted me a 'Happy Birthday'. Let's all 'fighting' together! kekeke...

Thank you to Melly and Sukina. Full name! Yes! Because this is a formal(?) thank you speech from me. Thank you both for remembering my birthday and greeting me. How many years has it been since we met in junior high? Thank you so much!

Thank you to NvL-Dai, aka, Novilia, who had brought me so much laughter during our senior high school days. Thank you for your greeting, but most importantly, for remembering my birthday. That meant a lot, miss 1101! :)

Thank you to SMEnt, for releasing Super Junior's 6 jib during the 1st of July in Korea, because it's still 30th of June here at that time. I know it was not a gift for me, but, I'll take it as one.

Thank you to the time difference between South Korea and Indonesia. The last two hours of my birthday was daebak! I managed to say 'Happy birthday Teuk oppa and I', I managed to listen to 6jib songs on my birthday, and it was my first birthday celebration since I've become an ELF. Thank you!

And to all the above and those who read this, THANK YOU! XIE XIE! KAMSAHAMNIDA! ARIGATOU GOZAIMASU! TERIMA KASIH! GRACIAS!

Ah! What A Wonderful Birthday!

Start of May - End of April

April's officially over!
Now, let's see how I did during the month.

• reach chapter 2 of my thesis. (=_=)
• Well, I managed to finish the 1st chapter. So, I guess this could be counted as done.

• finish character design for my novel. (^-^v)
• I didn't manage to finish character design, but I finished the plot writing, which, at first, I planned to do later. But then I figured that I'd need the plot to get a better grasp of how I wanted the characters to be. But then again, this is not done. Keep it up!

• finish 2 short stories.
• This I did. 2 short stories + 1 unpublished fanfic waiting to be edited. So proud of myself.

• learn 3 Japanese lessons.
• I relearned the 1st to 4th lessons instead of learning the new ones. I'm having more interaction with Korean now so I think I need to brush up on my Japanese. Hence, my relearning.

• learn 1 new piano piece.
• This I failed. LOL. How can I be so direct? Apparently, during the first half of the month, I was still learning the previous sonatina. And the first movement of another sonatina during the second half. So... Oh well...

Entering the month of May, I'm using a new system. I'm just going to tell myself 'No procrastinating. Time management.' and things like that.

I've set a target to finish my novel by August 24th of this year. (Yes, that's a special date~ my Jongwoon oppa's birthday~ ♥ ♥ ♥)

I'm reporting again on 31st of May.
:)

Quote of the day [120426]

I have no idea why but this sentence has been repeating itself in my head since this morning.

"To be wise is to know when to stop"

I Am SJ Biased

A song being played on radio : This song's not bad. Need to take note.

The same song being played almost every time I tune in : How many times are they going to play this song in one single day?

***

SJ song being played on radio : YAY! Perfect timing!

The same SJ song being played every time I tune in : This radio station is the best!!


========================================================================

See the difference?
kekeke..
I am so totally SJ biased~
What can I say?
I am an ELF after all~ XD

April's Special

April's Special Events :

Today is 4th of April!!
Dancing Machine, World Anchovy, Lee Hyukjae, Eunhyuk's birthday!!!!
Happy birthday, Oppa!!!!!

A lot of things are going to happen this month.
There's SS4France this Friday, 6th of April.
Captain Choi Siwon-oppa's birthday on the 7th.
SS4Shanghai on the 14th.
Kangin's release from the army on the 16th.
Zhoumi's birthday on the 19th.
SS4INA on the 28th and 29th, which I can't attend.

Hey! It's all about SJ!
LoL.. I guess I'm very addicted to them, but seeing that I'm an ELF now, there's nothing I can do about it.

Then again, there're also... *drum rolls*
My final exam, the finally final one, of my college life, which will be held from 9th to 12th.
The start of my finally final semester, with the thesis as my last, one and only subject.

Uh, it's less than the SJ list~
Oh well~

April's Special :

Ringtone : Mr Simple and Shake it up, both by SJ... kekeke..
Calender quote :

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

April's Target

It's already the fourth of April, time passes so fast..
Sometimes I really wonder what I have done during these three months of 2012..
It's like I've wasted the beginning of the year..
Well, one thing for sure, I finished my job training, which means one step closer to getting my degree~
But now I have another problem, I have no idea what to do for my thesis~
Aigooo~~~

Seeing how I'm totally slacking, postponing things, and procrastinating these days, I am 100% sure that I need to do something about it.
Writing down my targets and publishing them like this is one way.
Reason : I always keep promises I make to myself~ kekeke...

So here's my "April's special" target list :

• reach chapter 2 of my thesis. (=_=)
• finish character design for my novel. (^-^v)
• finish 2 short stories.
• learn 3 Japanese lessons.
• learn 1 new piano piece.

That's all I can remember now. I think I'll add some later on...
The deadline, the most important part, 30th of April!!

Tribute To Pencil of Mine

It’s been a week since my dear pencil was declared out of service.

The Meeting

I bought the pencil in 2004, back when I was still in senior high school.

Several weeks after my enrollment, I went to a local bookstore on my way home. I used to have this weird habit of dropping off some distance away from my home and then walk the rest of the way. It’s stupid. I still think it is.

So, on that particular day, I went to the bookstore which is located in a mall. At first, I just wanted to do some window shopping. I had nothing to do and I was on my own. As I was taking a look at all the stationeries sold, I randomly picked it up. Then I remembered that I haven’t a pencil in my bag. So, after playing a bit with it (it was a mechanical pencil, after all), I decided to buy it. It cost me a mere 1,500 Rupiahs. Quite a bargain since I’ll be using it for the next seven years.

The Time Together

All the way from when I was in the first year of my senior high school to the graduation, the pencil had accompanied me through the days. It had left its traces in my binder, notebook, exercise book, scrap book, text book, and even exam papers.

I used it to scribble numerous things:

-                 Song lyrics on my textbook and binder

-                 Weird doodles on my textbook, notebook and exam papers (yes, exam papers)

-                 Little notes on my notebook, textbook and exam papers.

-                 Story ideas and samples on my scrap book

There’re still a whole lot more down the list of scribbles, but well, I guess it’s almost the same for everyone.

Then, after I graduated from my senior high, the curiously long-lived pencil went with me to Singapore as I furthered my studies there. For the whole year I stayed there, it accompanied me in almost everything that concerned writing. And, just like how we went there together, I brought it back with me: safely placed in my pencil case which I brought around with me to everywhere I went.

During the days of my “incubation period”, it was not of much use though it never left me. Or rather, it never had the chance. :)

Since I enrolled in a piano lesson, it was put to great use as I did the theory exercises. And things happened so fast after that. I started my college life at a local campus, where my dear pencil was my primary weapon. I used it every single day.

I was really proud of it (and I still am). I would show it off to others, saying how long I’d used it and how it’d accompanied me through these years.

As I started to write again, my faithful pencil journeyed with me to the world of my imaginations. It put to words what my mind had to say.

The Goodbye

On the 15^th of July 2011, I accidentally dropped it during my piano lesson. It had experienced numerous of such falls since I bought it. But so far, nothing had happened.

But that last fall was an exception. It was the pencil’s fall to demise. Something in it broke and caused the mechanical pencil to lose its mechanical ability. I couldn’t use it anymore.

At first, I didn’t realize anything that was out of the ordinary. I clicked on it several times. Nothing happened. I opened it. Something dropped out. It was then that I realized I’ve lost my faithful companion for good.

My heart thumped a bit harder for a second. I felt a sudden loss. It sounds exaggerating, but it’s true. If you have something that has accompanied you for so many years, you’ll know the feeling when it leaves you ever so suddenly.

It has experienced so much. It was crooked because of the way I hold it when I write. The iron ornament has rusted. The insides were somewhat black (the colour was transparent blue). So much different from how it was before. But still, it’s my precious pencil.

To the pencil that has accompanied me throughout the years,

R.I.P. My Faithful Companion

Pencil Of Mine

2004-2011

P.S. I’ve bought a replacement for it by the way, from the same bookstore. I sincerely hope that it can accompany me for as long as its predecessor did, if not longer. :)

Yours sincerely,

Lidya Yang

The Last Date

The Last Date

Her heart throbbed with excitement as the gentle hands which had been covering her eyes slowly moved away. Bright, blinding lights replaced the darkness as she opened her eyes.

“Sam!!” she cried out in astonishment. “This is…”

“Especially for you, for tonight.” The person who had been standing behind her since they entered, moved next to her. He held up her hand and put it in his arms. “This way.”

He smiled and guided her through the room.

She had never seen a place like that. The room was almost empty except for a table and the vase on it at one corner. The chandelier hanging on the ceiling above shone brightly across the room, providing enough light so that no shadow could be seen. The crystals dangling from the chandelier reflected the light to every nook and corner of the room. The windows were tall and gave off a classic atmosphere with the carvings on the windowsills.

They made their way across the room into another smaller room. Sam pushed open the glass door and gestured to her to enter.

“Ladies first,” he said, with the same mesmerizing smile he had been given her since they first met. The exact same smile which attracted her to him in the very beginning of their fateful meeting.

In the smaller room, there were only a table in the centre of the room and a grand piano not far away from it. 

Sam pulled out a chair for her to sit in. She gladly obliged.

“You are being weird today,” she said, after Sam took his seat across her.

“Am I?”

“Yes, of course, you are! You are so… sweet today, so… gentlemanly.” She gave him a puzzled look.

“Well, I thought I should give you surprises once in a while. So that you wouldn’t forget me.”

“Why would I forget…” She was stopped in her words as Sam motioned her to start the dinner.

The food was delightful. But she couldn’t help asking questions during the dinner, to which Sam replied “Let’s concentrate on eating first. I want this to be the most perfect date.”

After eating, Sam suddenly stood up and walked up the steps to the small stage the piano was placed on.

“This is a piece dedicated just for you. To Clarice.” Sam started playing it. He had always been good at music and his best was the piano. There were an awful lot of times when she would request him to write a piece for her. “Wait till the time’s right,” he would reply.

It was starting to rain as they once again stood at where they had come in.

“Well, what do you think?” Sam asked.

“Not bad,” Clarice chuckled. “But I don’t really like the appetizer, but I love the dessert and that song. I’d never thought you’d play it in a date like this.”

“Well, this is not just a date. It’s our best date!”

“Yes, I know. You are being weird today. What’s up with you?”

“Remember, Clare.” His face leaned closer, causing her heart to beat faster as her cheeks turned redder. “I love you.” Then he gently kissed her forehead.

“I’ve always known that you like me doing that.” He smiled as he pulled his face away.

Then, in an instant, she leaned closer and placed a kiss on his cheek.

“Thank you so much, Clare. For everything.” He said as he stepped away from her.

“Good bye, Clare. I love you.”

*

Clarice was startled by the vibration of her phone.

“Why now?” She groaned.

It was a message from Stacy, Sam’s sister.

“Clare, Sam’s at the hospital. He met with an accident. Critical condition. Come now!”

Clarice’s heartbeat stopped for a second. Then she thought of the dream she had just had.

“No…” Her phone dropped to the floor.

========================================================

Finally!!! Another story....

Same as always, comments and critics are greatly welcomed!!