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Dear members of SHINee,

          I'm supposed to be studying for two tests tomorrow, but I just had to write this first. I know, that's a bad idea.

          Hey. I'm another one of your fangirls. A fangirl who watches you sing, dance, laugh, cry, and smile throughtout your career, while I'm stuck with the other millions of fans you have. To tell you the truth, I wasn't there for you at the very beginning to support you. I don't have any of your CDs. I don't have any posters of you in my bedroom. However, it doesn't mean that I don't love you as much as any of the other fans who do. 

          I've only known you for about a year, which isn't really a long time. It's kind of interesting really, how I found out about you. It was somewhere in March 2011, during Spring Break. I had to go to this arcade called Boomers with my cousins, and over there was a dance machine. Some of the songs you could play with that machine were from B2ST, Orange Caramel, BIGBANG, and some others.

          Anyway, I spotted someone playing one of your songs, "Ring Ding Dong". Right away, you guys caught my attention, and I wanted to play that machine and that song immediately - and I despise dancing in public. So I played it. And I fell in love with all of you from the first second I played. Everything amazed me: the catchy song, the awesome dancing, Jonghyun's cool blonde-brown hair, etc. I still go to Boomers often, just to play that song on that machine, because that is how I found out about you and that is where my love for you began.

          Now let's fast forward to a year and 2 months later. At that point, I was a full-on Shawol. I listened to all of your songs, watched every show you were on, and so on. I started to love you all not as an idol, but as a regular person. It touched my heart how you care for each other, whether if it was trying to comfort a crying member or supporting a member on their solo activites. I eventually saw your auditions, and all of you (whose auditions I actually found) looked so sensitive and afraid. None of you looked confident that you were gonna pass your audition, and I wouldn't be either, so you should be happy that your talents got you in and not a streak of luck. I also saw your victories on music shows like Music Bank or Inkigayo, and how you were so surprised and touched that you sobbed your heart out. It reminds me that you're no different than the rest of us and that all of you are also human.

          Then it came.

          SMTOWN in Anaheim.

          At first, I was excited because it was probably the closest I have ever been to you. Anaheim is 15 minutes away from my house. Usually, you are on the other side of the world. Meeting all of you has now become a life goal, and I do believe that I will meet you at some point in my life. This concert was my chance to do that. But then I reminded myself that at this age, never would I be allowed to be near a concert, especially yours. I didn't even have to mention it to my parents because I already knew they would say no. Do you know how I knew? Because my parents hate you. They are so annoyed by you. 

          So I cried that night.

          To make matters even worse, my friend told me that she had the opportunity to hug one of your members, Key. She didn't even watch you guys perform, she was just there to pick up another friend of hers. In fact, she doesn't like the group that much, her favorite is actually Super Junior (which is no surprise there). And now you're probably gone forever, away from Anaheim and back to South Korea. 

          I have had loads of obsessions with others before you. I can even name a few: Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne, Paramore, Joan Jett. Yes, I'm not into them as much as before, but I still support them. I still check out their songs once in a while, and anticipate for any new ones. I believe the same thing will happen to you, SHINee. I love singing and writing, and all of the artists that I've mentioned before has become my idols. They have inspired me to become a singer-songwriter or the lead singer of a rock band when I grow up. Yes, you're one of them too. 

          Right now, this is all I could write for you. Yes, along the way, I have started to like other groups, but you five will always be my all-time favorite and hold a special place in my heart. You were the ones that got me into kpop, and I have to thank you for that. Kpop has teached me so many things that it's overwhelming, and without learning those things, I don't think I would be the same today. Please remember that I hope for you five to stick together for many more years and that I will stay with you until the very end, even if I wasn't with you in the very beginning. I love all of you in every single possible way, and happy 4th anniversary.

♥