Happy Birthday, Sis!

To my little sister:

When we were kids, we fought a lot. We yelled at each other, punched each other, grabbed each other's hair, kicked each other... It was quite unbelievable, wasn't it, considering we're only one and a half year apart. And we don't have other siblings. Back then each of us would always think that the other was mom's favorite daughter. (Why we would ever think that way still amazes me, because as far as I can picture it right now, we were both very naughty, and shared the equal number of pinches!).

I must confess that I had always envied you. You were Grandma's golden child (for reasons that we only came to understand after we grew up), you seemed to be always surrounded by heaps of friends, yet you followed me everywhere I went, and I felt like I couldn't have my own space with you around. You happened to be the brave one, never afraid to be the center of attention, while I shied away. There was a time when we were invited to a friend's birthday party, in which I was told to sing, then we ended up with you insisting to sing too.

And of course, the unforgettable moment when you were baptized. The congregation had just finished the song and the pastor was just going to start her sermon when the whole people realized that the baptized child was still singing "Sepanjang Jalan Kenangan", a popular song at that time. As always, you cared less. (Yes, yes, you got it from mom!)

No wonder wherever you are, you've always been very popular. And I kept silently envying you, throughout our teen years, the usually complicated and difficult period of a human life circle. You blossomed into a beautiful young woman, tall, lean, light skinned, with friendly nature and guys chasing after you. You also happened to be a bright student, a basketball player, and a member of a modelling agency in our town. (Ah, those years...)

Then you went to Bandung to continue your study. And we became good friends. Distance and maturity helped this process a great deal. Never had I realized that I could miss you badly until the day you flew to Singapore. I looked at your things and somehow tears were flowing down my eyes. Funny, because you would only be in Singapore for six months, and we had been living separately for two years. Of course, when I had the chance to visit you, it was a bliss.

(By the way, you were also very popular in your college. And smart. You graduated with honor, and got plenty of job offers, even before your graduation date)

I can say now that I am so proud of you. You have accomplished a lot. You have gone through millions of things, ups and downs that I could never imagine. You have always been a strong lady, though at times you are so bullheaded! I got mad at you, yelled at you again at some certain times (you do know which times I'm referring to, right?), when I thought you were heading the wrong direction. But after that, seeing you asleep with tired lines and traces of tears on a once full of joy face, I was overwhelmed with sadness. Why should you have such painful life? If only I could take over all your burden! You are my best friend, the one I turn to in difficult times, the keeper of my secrets.

I am proud of you, Sister. You are now standing tall. You have conquered your world, and is reaching another world. May God bless you in your attempts, in your way, in your everything.

I miss you. And I love you Sis. Happy birthday.