Winning contests isn’t really my thing but somehow I was able to have some luck this time around. My prize? A formal invitational dinner with an idol group of choice for me and two guests. And naturally I chose my best friend and my mother.

                With the date set, guests picked and the group chosen, we were taken to a hotel where we’d be introduced and continue our night with dinner. But due to some circumstances, my idol group was unable to show up so the date had to be postponed. Looking forward to the next “official” meeting, I was jumping with glee and anxiety.

               Sadly, it seemed as though Lady Luck had left my side before my wages were even considered when the concierge said, “I’m sorry, miss. But it seems like we are booked for the next few weeks. But would you like to book a table still?”

               “But they go back to Korea in a couple of days!” I groaned with the group’s manager assistant beside me as I tried to pick out a date.

               “We shall get back to you about the date. Thank you,” he said to the concierge with a light bow and a heavy accent as he ignored my look of disbelief.

                I was about to protest about my dinner when he faced me, “Since the hotel restaurant is all booked, would it be alright if you’d host the dinner? The boys have to get one a plane within the few days and going to another sufficient place would require some time, especially if we do not want to be bombarded with fans.”

                Frozen with happiness, I could not utter a word as my mother answered for me saying that we’d love to host the dinner. With a bow we went our separate ways anxiously waiting for the newly appointed day as me and my friend squealed in delight.

                The entire day I spent cleaning the house and getting the food ready for the people I adored. With only half an hour left for the meeting, my friend came over as she helped me double check about the custom needs for the dinner to be perfect. Within moments my doorbell rang as anxiety crept up my back.

                Taking in a deep breath, I opened the door with a bright smile but it slowly began to fade as I saw who was behind it. As the cold wind shot at my face, my facial expression became distant.

                “Hello,” he said with a velvety voice and a shy smile. And he stood there with an awkward smile as I looked at him and around him with disbelief.

               ‘Did he come alone?’ I thought with a heavy heart and a small pout.

               Forgetting to let him in, my mother stepped up behind me and smiled at her new guest, “Oh, hello. Come in, come in. Sweetheart, let the poor boy in, he might catch a cold.”

               Quickly coming to my senses, I stepped out of the way and led him into the living room where the table was all set and ready. As he complimented the delicious smell and visual, I tried to blend in into the wall when my friend came up beside me.

               “Hey, it’s Changjo,” she said with a bright smile. “But where are the others?” When she looked towards me, she saw my distressed facial expression and shook her head. “Come on, at least your bias came even if the whole group didn’t.”

               She was right for the most part yet I couldn’t help but be a bit put down. Pushing my emotions to the side, I decided to put on a bright smile and formally greet our guest.

               With my mother at the head of the table, me and my friend on one side while Changjo sat on the other, we began to fill our plates with food. With the white tablecloth with intricate designs bordered the edges of the table as wonderful visual of food laid on top of it, I couldn’t help but feel as if our scenery was cut from a magazine. The aroma danced around us and gave a homey sensation. But it was a bit awkward yet at the same time I felt all giddy and ready to explode with joy.

               Who would be able to have dinner with not only an idol but someone who you looked up to? For one thing, I was lucky to have him at my dinner table so the least I could do was make him comfortable.

               “So, Changjo,” I began as I began to cut my steak into tiny bite size pieces. “How was your day?”

               “Oh, well the usual. Packing up and getting ready to leave back home,” he said while taking a small sip of his apple cider.

               “But I thought your concert was tomorrow,” my friend stated as she reached for the potato salad.

               “It is. That’s why we’ve practicing all day for a perfection concert tomorrow.”

               “Ah, I see. It must be hard being part of a boy group,” my mom interjected with a sip of her grape wine. The glint in her eyes seemed to say she was fascinated by the idol inside her home but at the same time she was a bit judgmental about his actions and words.

               “Well after a while, like two years, you get used to it,” he said with a small laugh.

               “Speaking of which, where are the others?” she asked chewing on a piece of meat.

               “They’re at the stadium trying to perfect the perfections.”

               “And you only came because?” my friend asked as she made hand gestures to add effect.

               He stared blankly at us as we patiently awaited his answer. “Our manager said that her bias was me. And that we didn’t all need to go as long as I went.”

               “Are you serious?” she blurted out in shock. “So in other words you neglected a fan! Oh my gosh! I feel so betrayed!”

               “Whoa! No hold on a second. I did argue that they should come and meet their fan though.”

               “But that doesn’t get them out of the fact that they didn’t even come to even greet their fan,” my mother said as she took another sip of her wine.

               As my throat became dry, my head became a bit woozy and my heartbeat accelerated. I reached for my glass of apple cider but turned to the glass of wine next to me with a shaky hand. I was devastated that my favorite group of all time wouldn’t even come to greet me. Me, a fan who had just won their contest in order to catch a glimpse of them; but what do I received in return? Neglect from my idols with a message from my bias that they had no reason to be present before me.

               “You guys are just too cruel,” I said to all three of them as I took a step outside with small droplets of tears in my eyes.

               “Now look what you have done,” my mother said as she gathered her lap cloth and rolled it up into a little ball. “Well it was nice meeting you, young man. But in the future I hope to see you with a better attitude and manners towards not only an elder but also to your fan. Oh and do tell your group members that they broke an innocent girl’s heart today.” With that she left to her room as she slammed her door close.

               Changjo looked a bit shocked and was at a loss for words wondering what he should do. He looked towards my friend with a facial plea, but she just raised her hands in defense and walked into my room that held no owner.

               With a heavy sigh he decided to leave but right when he came outside, he heard me sniffling. Would he pass me without a second glance? Or would he let bygones be bygones and apologize for both his behavior and for Teen Top’s?

               Whichever he may choose, I just hope he won’t choose to lose a friend.