Friday, May 21, 2021- 9:36 A.M.

Surfing through ASTRO's official facebook page on my mom's phone while lying on my bed, I saw their recruitment poster.

The colors were inviting... Wait, what? 5th AROHA RECRUITMENT?

Wow, it's the first time I've seen a post like this up close! Last year I saw a different poster on Twitter, recruiting new Aroha members.

But I just laughed it off and didn't pay any more attention. I've been following ASTRO since 2016, so why should I?

That thing must cost some money, I can't afford to spend some of my nonexistent cash on that... Barely even having enough money to pay for my college tuition is enough blessing as it is.

Before I knew it, my messenger had a notification. Checking to see it, it was Hannah, Bianca and big sister Danica on our group chat.

Danica: Oi, good morning! Guess what?

Hannah: What?

Bianca: Check out the newest recruitment poster! #Nina

Me: I already saw it. So?

Danica: Sign up! Guys chant with me-

Hannah: We have to wait for the update yet, the poster says to watch out for further details on May 25.

Danica: Oh! Right, sorry.

Before I could reply, the phone was snatched away from me. "Hey!"

"That's enough, Nina. You've had enough screen time, wash the dishes at the sink." That person turned out to be my mom.

Her dark bob in pink plastic curlers, her look matched the frilly duster she always wore when relaxing at home.

I started to protest.

"But I cooked breakfast! Surely Miko can do it-"

Mom put her hands on her hips. "Then wear gloves. We didn't buy it for nothing."

I sighed. "Where's Miko, anyway?"

My mom started walking away, her squinting eyes paired with a frown as she looked at the screen, before returning the phone to me.

"I sent him on an errand. He'll be back after a while. Nina, log out. Help me log in to my account."

I sighed once again. "Sure." I've been teaching her for a dozen times on how to log in on Facebook but she still asks me to do it anyway.

By the time she left, I ran my hands through my hair. "Augh. Why did I have to sit on my phone accidentally?! Now I can't enjoy all those free video clips and pictures of him, even if it means spamming him on all his SNS?"

I stood up, feeling like a loser. Fixing my messed up blankets, I straightened up my green T-shirt and pink spotted pajamas before exiting my bedroom and heading to the kitchen.

As I started to put on the red rubber gloves at the sink, I pondered about the way I've been living my life as a fan all these years.

Following ASTRO, I've never really had the initiative nor the courage to actually sign up to their official fan club all this time. Yet by saving my own money with the help of my close friends, I've had the chance to actually attend one of their concerts two years ago.

Ah, the taste of temporary bliss.

To let me enjoy the experience of being an Aroha, they lent me one of their mini robong so I can actually grasp something while jumping like crazy at the concert.

I have the bestest of friends, I know. But sometimes I feel like a sham. Used to being a working student with a job of a part-time cashier, I was used to the simple and efficient way of becoming an unofficial Aroha.

ASTRO on Twitter? Yes.

Facebook? Yes.

Instagram? Yes.

YouTube? Yes.

Fanmeets? Nope.

Online concerts? Nope.

Ordering K-Pop Merch? Nope.

The only thing I've ever bought that's ASTRO-related is an Aroha T-shirt, that violet shirt that I've been taking care to only wear when buying tickets and attending a concert.

Which was only once, to be honest.

That 2019 ASTROAD tour, in Korea. The girls and I didn't wait for them to come here in the Philippines, we traveled there instead to feel the hype.

Oh my gosh, breaking all the piggy banks I hid in my room was so worth it. Mom was so surprised when she found out about it when I booked a ticket with my friends. Booked a hotel, plane ticket and a concert ticket. My diligent savings of three years gone with a bang.

Fabulous.

Pondering all of this, I chuckled. How crazy could I get, even unofficial me is gutsy on a spending spree. No wonder I'm suffering all this economic crisis.

'Pay for it at the end of the day', huh?

"I'm home!" I heard Miko's voice.

I turned around to see Miko entering the kitchen, in his blue hoodie and black jogging pants, setting the paper bags of groceries on the counter.

"Welcome back." I said, finishing the dishes and setting them to dry at the rack.

"Hey, sis."

"Did you buy me those raspberry donuts?"

He gave me a funny look and scrunched up his nose. "No. You know those things burn up our budget, Mom would never approve."

I slumped. "That's all I wanted for passing my midterms, though."

By this time Mom came inside, eyes glued on the phone. I came shuffling up to her cutely, my hands aiming for her touchscreen.

She lifted the gadget away from me. "Miko, did you get everything on the list?"

Miko nodded, stifling a laugh at my fail. "Yes, Mom. Everything."

I stomped my foot on the floor and pouted. Crossing my arms, I realized that I still had the gloves on. I took it off and tossed it immediately into the sink, missing by an inch. The gloves plopped on the floor.

Mom saw it and turned to me. "Nina. Do your job properly, it's the least you could do!" She grabbed a fluffy bunny slipper from her foot and aimed at me.

I ducked, scooted off her radius and picked up the gloves, making sure to clean them before returning them properly on the glove stand to dry.

Miko and Mom were now busy setting out the groceries from the paper bags on the counter.

As I started searching for my mother's phone, Mom asked me to take out the contents of another paper bag that Miko brought home.

With a sigh, I obeyed.

The bag were full of the usual bathroom essentials, until I brought out a compact box.

Wait, is this..?