My Hi-Touch Experience with Stray Kids
Stray Kids went here in Manila for the Unveil Tour last Saturday, April 27. Tickets went on sale last March 17. When it was announced, I already decided that I would go for VIP standing + Hi-Touch. I’ve tried both VIP Seated and VIP Standing in my previous concerts and my best memories are always in Standing! It’s incredibly tiring, but so satisfying! Come ticketing day, I was on guard on my laptop. I bought my ticket online within 2 minutes of the release! THIS WAS IT! It was happening! I’d be meeting Stray Kids up close!
I’ll share my experience during the concert in a separate post. For now, let’s talk about the hi-touch :)
I was quite nervous before the hi-touch. This was my first hi-touch ever! I’ve been a Kpop fan for nearly a decade now (started with Super Junior!). Seeing Stray Kids (or any other group) up close seemed like a dream and it was finally happening. Stray Kids’ hi-touch was scheduled after the concert. At this point, I had been standing for hours. We queued to go inside the venue at 3:30 PM, went inside at 5 PM, then waited again until 7 PM. The concert was from 7 PM to around 10 PM. I was so parched I was afraid I’d collapsed, but I knew I had to keep myself together because there was no way I was missing this.
We were asked to line-up in the standing area. We waited a little more to finally go to the hi-touch area. When we were finally called to get ready, I was so excited. It was finally happening! My aching legs nor my dry throat no longer mattered. It was time to meet the boys! We were asked to put our things in our bags and hold up our hands. The JYP security was very strict (and he was handsome too HAHAHA). He was very careful about checking that our hands were empty.
As I got closer, I could see the boys. They were behind a white table. While waiting, I was trying to figure out the line-up. I already planned what I wanted to say beforehand. I thought that knowing the order would help me with my script. I could already see the first three: Minho, Jisung, then Jeongin. I was trying to see where Seungmin was because he’s my bias and it was so important for me that I get to tell him what I wanted to say. I didn’t have the chance to figure out the whole order because the line was moving quite fast. I was up next!
Before I knew it, I was already in front of Minho! I couldn’t think anymore. I barely followed my script. I just said what came to my mind. I told him that he did so well! He responded with thank you. I also told Jisung that he did well. I knew he was handsome, but he looks even more amazing up close. He responded with have a good day. When I was in front of Jeongin, I told him that he was so cute! He said thank you! I always thought the members were exaggerating whenever they talked about Jeongin’s child-like charm (don’t hate me haha), but he really is such a pure, precious child. His smile is the cutest, sweetest thing I’ve ever seen. I also confirmed this throughout the concert. He is too precious to be real! He must be protected at all times! I understand why Seungmin is all over him!
It was seriously hard to follow the script that I had prepared because each moment passed by so quickly and you only get to comprehend who’s in front of you once you’re actually there. Felix was up next and I told him that he did so well! I was supposed to tell him YONGBOK HAENGBOK but I totally forgot! It was important for me to let him know that he’s doing really well too so it’s alright! Felix is a beauty. His looks are nothing like I’ve ever seen. He replied with have a good day, thanks for tonight! Chan was next and I could not miss the chance to tell him that I admire him so much! I knew I had to let Chan know that he’s such a great leader and person. He said thank you! As I passed the members, I remember thinking that their hands were kind of rough! Manly, hard working hands!
I was barely done with Chan when there was suddenly a loud AHHHHHH! IT WAS SEUNGMIN! Like I said, you don’t really know who’s in front of you until you’re there. I wasn’t expecting him to be next! Nor did I expect that HE WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE ME FIRST! It was loud. It was such a nice surprise. I was so shocked. He was pointing at me and he looked so happy! It was as if he recognized me! There could be 2 reasons he did this:
1) He remembered our 2 interactions during the concert (I was calling him and waving around a cardboard cutout of his face from the standing area and he waved at me both times! - More on my concert experience later!)
2) I was wearing a Kim Seungmin shirt
It’s more likely the latter but a girl can dream that her bias remembers her! Our highfive was kind of delayed because he was pointing at me. There was an awkward second there because I think I highfived him a little too excitedly. I was just so happy! I honestly cannot remember exactly what I blurted out but I’m sure I told him that I loved him so much! That was a priority in my script after all! I remember thinking at that moment if I should add that I was also a myday but I was already lingering in front of him so I decided not to. I did not want to risk being called out by the staff. I also wanted the moment to be all about him. I was all smiles at Seungmin and he was all smiles at me! To be honest, he was the only member that I felt REALLY SAW ME. I couldn’t blame the other members because there were so many of us in the hi-touch and we were also passing by quickly. Even I would have a hard time acknowledging everyone uniquely in that situation. I’m just so glad that I got to share that moment with Seungmin. I’m just so glad I got to have that kind of moment at all.
When I moved on to Changbin, he was already waiting for me. The person I was following in the line was no longer there. It seemed I took longer than usual in front of Seungmin. Changbin looked a little impatient as he was holding out his hand HAHAHA. His features are so strong, I was a little intimidated! I was supposed to tell him that I love his cheeks but it was lost to me! I felt a little sorry that I could no longer form any words in front of the remaining 3 members. My mind was still recovering from Seungmin! Woojin was next and he is really handsome. Pictures and videos do not do him justice. The last thing I remember is Hyunjin and his beautiful face. Unlike the other members, he wasn’t behind the table. All I could do was smile. He was smiling back. This boy always looks so cheeky! His smile was almost like a smirk! What a noona killer. I was Hyunjin-blessed throughout the concert because he was always on our side of the stage, but his visuals still manage to catch me off guard. He looked a little tired already, but in the most handsome way possible.
The whole hitouch probably lasted less than 20 seconds but WOW. IT WAS ONE HECK OF AN EXPERIENCE. It was such a nice way to cap off the whole night! I left the venue feeling so elated and satisfied. I usually have post-concert depression after a show but I felt very very happy with this one. I could not at all fathom being sad. How can I when I was blessed with so many good experiences and new friends? This is something I will always look back on with joy! I’m definitely looking forward to the next one!
SEE YOU AGAIN, STRAY KIDS!
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