My Best Friends

For Jiahui.

Everyone needs a support network of friends and family, to tide them by the bad times, and to truly share and enjoy the best times. A person without strong relationships with his kith and kin, can merely exist as a buoy on an ocean – isolated and without direction. The people we come to love as best friends, serve as our mirrors, to reflect our weaknesses, that we may grow to become better. They remind us of our strengths and passions, that we may never stray from the great things we are called to do.

A girl who has become my longest-standing best friend to date, is Enid. I love her as a sister and friend, and have much in common with her, such that many can almost never tell us apart audibly. Yes, we are almost equally noisy and crazy, although naturally I win in most respects. She loves to travel, hates wimpy sorts, enjoys art, and will become one of the nation's many but few great teachers. I am glad that she is teaching with my team in Splashwurks, because we love to impact the world with art and education, I am blessed that she can join me. Enid is one of a kind - her mannerisms, her openness, her company. She has the neatest handwriting one can have even in a hurry, and she has great legs and fair skin. Her favourite makeup brand is i nuovi, and she has photos of a rabbit and Vincent Ng in her wallet. Although today I don't see her as much I hope to, she knows and I know that we will always only be a phone call away.

Another girl friend of mine whom I have come to love, is Shuyi. Because we shared a part of our lives together in Citibank, our lives have been bound together almost inextricably. Even today, we still enjoy an intimate drink together in town when we have a free night, margaritas or what have you, and we love to bitch forever. Mostly about good stuff - we have much to talk about. She cares about me like I care about her, and we enjoy each other's company often enough. Not just over drinks, but over shopping, films and performances, and of course, conversation. She introduced me to shu uemura cleansing oil, pays for me when I am often poor, loves the arts too, and we both love shoes, bags, clothes, makeup, all the girlie things, you name it, we love it. She has nice clothes, soft black long curls for hair, small chinese eyes, and she gives a charming yet slightly wily smile when she knows you are being cheeky.

I have another best friend, who sought very much to understand me from the day he first knew me. Despite being quiet and reserved regarding the most intimate things, he gradually lets me see his tears in motion while telling me his own dreams and thoughts. I could not be more grateful. But what is openness and vulnerability, where there is no exchange - for that I shared with him my poems, told him stories, and took his comfort because he was good at giving it right from the start. They say nice guys never win, but Calvin does, every time it must count. I know, that he is a man of great influence, and that is seared into his very destiny. He is a good companion for many things: conversation, movies, good meals, coffee, drinks, chilling out. Of course, being a man - and men come from Mars - he will do his caveman routines such as computer gaming, running a lot, soccer with other Martians, things that attest to the fact that men will truly always be boys. We will be different, but then again, we get things done together rather well. And so he remains a special best friend.

to be continued...