[ r i n . a i j y o ] – flavor of life, love, and all that you dream of

Wishing the most GORGEOUS, BEAUTIFUL, and TALENTED LADY in my life a HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY! <3

Dear Dea-chan, we’ve been friends for 11 years and counting now, and I’ve loved every single moment of it! Even though I’m not the most awesome friend and hardly manage to see you from time to time, I still love you lots, and want you to know I am ALWAYS ALWAYS here if you need me. <3

It’s been an awesome time knowing you since you were 10… The first memory I have of you is when you taught me how to fold origami in class (or was it the other way ’round?) and you exclaimed, “Li Yen, you’re so nice!!” Hehe.

All those times that we skipped class to “practice piano” for the SKKT Prizegiving ceremonies, hanging out with Encik Ghazali in the music room, trading off on the little keyboard that was blasted over the main speakers, and exchanging Sailormoon stickers… Making FF8 Triple Triad cards when we went through the fangirl phase (me loving Squall and you loving his father, Laguna Loire, president of Esthar…), writing fanfiction, making up love stories, watching the FFX underwater kissing scene 40 times over in your upstairs TV area, playing FF music on piano, teasing you about your cockroach man (Gojyo, right?) and the one that looked like a woman (Tokiya Mikagami :D hehehe), and all the other “men” in your life. :P

Then when we went into secondary school, we were separated but still hung out and did dumb stuff together–I have photos to prove it! Our “dress-up” as all our favorite characters, the overnight stay at Duta Vista and masquerading as Japanese peoples in your yukata, attending Bon Odori, random crazy hysterical times in my old room (which was never tidy, and still never is, haha)… OHHH, and don’t forget the time we made our first website together: The Kawaii Shinzo clique. Then it was the “Broken Dolls” phase + Gothic clothes, which I think we’re all still into. :P

Now, we’re all grown up and in med school together, where we occasionally see each other because I’m too busy working my butt off doing 100 000 000 things that I can get my hands on, and you’re off happily doing things in your usual, quiet little way.

Dea, I think you are truly a beautiful woman. You possess an inner, tensile strength that has enabled you to just cruise through life even though challenges are thrown your way. Your exterior is a polished, smooth veneer that speaks of elegance and refinement, yet for all I know of you, you’re a cute, sweet little goof that is secretly blur and disorientated at times. Hehe.

And now, you’re OFFICIALLY an adult! Wow. We’ve grown up together, from little girls to teenagers to adults. Remember our song and your verse in it? :P

In moonlit shadows of darkened nights
I wait in silence for the coming light;
To think I’m one– To think I’m whole
I’m but a patchwork with many folds.

You are a patchwork of a gajillion talents, abilities, and capabilities. <3 And you are beautiful. I’m so honored to be your best friend of 11 years, and so proud of you, Dea-chan. I hope that today will be one of the most special days in your life, and that you will always have the best memories of the day you officially hit adulthood. I wish you all the happiness in the world, all the strength and confidence in the world, all the intelligence and ability to become a FANTASTIC doctor cum astrologer cum manga-ka cum model (hehe, childhood ambition?), and ALL THE LOVE I CAN GIVE!!!!

HAPPY HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY TO MY BELOVED DEA-CHAN!!!! <3333333333333333 I LOVE YOU TONS HONEYY!!! GO ROCK THE WORLD!!!!

p/s – I’ll eat chicken (with bones) in public for you anytime.