We used to climb our favourite tree together, sharing stories and catching up on the things which happened for the past week. When we finally got bored of talking, we would find ways to entertain ourselves. I remember this clearly in my mind just as though it was yesterday. We had our groupie, if you may. Often consisted of Kenny, his cousins Yao Yang, Jin Fei, Wei Yen and myself, we were always seen together whenever we were in the church premises. We were like the Asian version of the Famous Five but without the mysteries to solve. There were the additions of Leslie and Chin Chin on certain occasions but they would normally only join us when we were tasked to take care of them. Granted, they were about six to seven years younger than us.
As times went by, Jin Fei and Wei Yen left the group when their parents decided to change church. It was left with the three of us and I can still recall our Sunday routine. It would always be a meet up after attending Sunday School, then we would walk all the way from SS17 to SS15 for an hour or two of computer games at the cyber-cafe. Then, we would go for lunch at the nearby coffee shop. The usual fried rice ala Thai would be ordered and after that, we would walk from SS15 to Kenny's place in SS19. After a session of resting and refreshing ourselves, we would make our way to either The Valley Club or the nearby bungalow lot, converted into half a basketball court to shoot some hoops. Then it was time to go home and I'd walk back to USJ2.
It was a simple routine which involved a lot of walking but I felt that the walking was where the most fun was for us. It was during that time which we talked most and although the scorching sun burned our skins, it was well worth it. I remembered that we made a promise with each other saying that no matter what happened, our friendship would remain as how it is and never change. True enough, we actually held on to that promise until today. We are as how we were and I believe, would be in the future.
There was a time when we were parted because of our studies and our careers. We each took separate paths and for a moment, we were on our own. Somehow, God has fated that one day, we would still meet up and eventually, we did. The beauty of it was that even after the long haul of not communicating with one another, we could still pick up where we left off. there were no "warming-up", "re-conditioning", nor were there any awkwardness between us. We just resumed our ways as how it was last time. But I did notice one thing. Like it or not, Kenny has somehow changed. He was still the Kenny I knew him to be, but now, there was like a "bonus". He was like a "Kenny" with added-on "something".
I guess, at this point, you would predict where this entry is leading to ... HIS MARRIAGE! He was engaged to his long-time girlfriend and honestly, it was because of Yen Yee that Kenny has become an even better person than what he already was. It is times like this that really makes me see the true power of love in a person's life. On the day of his wedding, I was honoured to be asked to be his groom's men. I am not sure about others, but as far as I am concerned, I felt that their wedding was one which was beautiful. It wasn't because of aesthetics, but more-so because my childhood best friend was going to take the next major step in his life. The feeling was like as though you were watching someone really close to you graduate in his or her studies. Seeing that makes me happy about his achievement.
Kenny and Yen Yee, here's to you, wishing that you will have a great and wonderful marriage. I can't really advise you on marriage life as I, myself, am not married. But if there is one common advise I can give to the both of you (and I am sure you would have heard this before) is that, it takes both the sun and the rain to create a rainbow.
God bless the two of you!
-Seki-
