The following story is a real-life example of what I meant in this comment. I won't say any names, and some things may be slightly different, since the story dates from some time between 2005-2007.

There was a girl in China, I believe, who had a thing for an HK actor. She liked him a lot and she collected some of his merchandise. Everything went nicely for a while. She then started to become attracted to him, so she collected more things. And more things. And more. Over time, she slowly became obsessed with this actor.

She left school so she could spend a lot of time on the internet watching his movies and videos. The girl also wrote a lot of letters. She also kept spending more on his merchandise. She spent so much, she resorted to her parents for money. She went to a meet and greet, which was very expensive. Some time later, she had spent so much, her parents didn't have anything left. The parents were feeding her obsession.

Her father became depressed. Around this time, I think the actor received word of the family's financial situation, because he gave them some money. The money was soon spent afterwards.

Some time later, the girl's father couldn't take his daughter's obsession any longer. He committed suicide, because he didn't know what to do. The actor heard about this and he sent the mother and daughter his condolences.

Again, a little while later (days or weeks). The girl's obsession for the actor had reached its breaking point when the father died. The obsession for the actor had turned into hatred against him. The daughter blamed the actor for getting her father killed, while it was her obsession that had killed him. Later, the girl and her mother both accused the actor of killing the father.

...I'm not sure how this story ends, since I didn't follow the rest of the news about this. (It was right before my internet hiatus.)

It really made me think. Were my feelings for Boa real or part of an obsession? Have I ever been obsessed with someone to begin with?

After a few years of soul searching and thinking, I came to a couple of answers.

Q: Have I ever been obsessed with someone?

A: Yes, but only in the beginning stages. I was obsessed with the actress Kristin Kreuk. I have since put that behind me.

Q: Are my feelings for Boa real?

A: After years of thinking and pondering, I can say "Yes". For years, I have kept a certain distance between me and her. I'm also being realistic these days. I know that she could meet someone else and have a relationship with him (or her). If that happens, I'll be sad of course. But I'll be happy for her and I won't get in their way. I'll move on with my life after a while. I'll accept what happened.

...But if we do end up together, remind me to say: "I told ya so."