A Warrior's Heart (I)

It’s funny what you notice the first time you see someone. Confidence, a nice smile, a little connection. What you don’t see, what’s impossible to know at first glance, means everything else, at least everything that counts.

It was so long ago... When we were both 7 years old, I suppose... And I remember how, when our form teacher put us together, neither of us talked, or smiled, or even looked at each other. I was a shy girl, especially since I'd just came from what I thought was the best place on earth, where there was no school, no work, and basically all the best things in life. So I was thrown into this whirlwind of this thing called "going to school", and "waking up early", and all sorts of different things here.

You see, I didn't grow up here... Where I grew up, there were 4 seasons, familiar faces and the fluent and slightly "slangish" English. Well ok, I'll just say it then. I grew up in the States with Granny and Grandpa. Then all of a sudden I'm transported to this other place, where the sun is always shining, people look different, and a thousand languages fly across the room every minute. This was strange. And so I was shy, uncomfortable, sad...

Then after a while of awkwardness, you started talking. You introduced yourself, your family, your dreams, your everything, and we talked. Well ok, you're the first "new" person I'd ever talked to here. (Aren't you honoured?" :p) And so I told you about me too... And you were so fascinated. You asked me where America was and I remember I told you, "It's far far away...", cuz I had no idea where US was either... And then you said you would like to go there.  And I can't believe this, but you asked me if I could bring you there and I agreed.

Well that was so long ago. That was when we thought that holding hands with someone of the opposite gender was normal, and when we thought that school was all that we were gonna be doing for the rest of our lives. Those days, they're gone, but their memories are still with me.  I don't know if you remember these things, or if you even care to think about those days. But I do... :) Cuz when I look back, those days are the ones that make me smile, without fail. :)

And so somehow we became "best friends". And I remember how we always did our homework together, played catching during recess together, stayed in school to wait for our parents together... You know, now thinking about it, we were really innocent. Too innocent to be true. Until now I still can't believe that I was once that girl in the white and blue uniform the size of a dwarf, with two pigtails bouncing up and down.

Then the days turned into months and then years, but somehow, amidst all the streaming of classes, and the shifting of sitting arrangements, we were still together. Not only in the same class, but still sitting together. Weird right? I remember in Primary 4, after 3 rounds of streaming, we were the only ones, in the whole level, who have been in the same class since the very beginning. And even then, we were still sitting next to each other. Gosh it's kinda freaky don't you think? And so I thought 4 years was enough. Next year, after the last round of streaming, we won't be in the same class again. Or at least we won't be sitting next to each other again.

But that was only what I thought.

And so we were still in the same class, still sitting next to each other. And all the way until our 6 years in Primary school was over, we were still in that position... But it was different. I know that. And I know that you know it too.