Love is Love

Bobbie and I became cousins 17 years ago. We happened to be in the general office one afternoon when Mr Ho walked in and turned to Bobbie to ask if I’m the sister. Bobbie, being one year my senior, was kinda popular in school because of basketball, and of her love for talking. Me, on the other hand, had only just attended Sec 1 orientation. I’d only got to know about Bobbie the day before, during Basketball trials.

Being both tanned and seemingly sporty, we replied “cousins” as we knew we didn’t share the same surname. And cousins we became. Till this day, I think most people from school still think we really are related.

Though masquerading as Bobbie’s cousin, the Lee family was always so warm and welcoming. Every visit to the Lee’s always had me returning home feeling so full in my heart and tummy. Bobbie’s parents engaged me in their daily conversations and Bobbie’s brothers treated me like I was their sister. I’ve long forgotten about this fuzzy feeling I had after we both went overseas (Bobbie to the States and me to Melbourne) for our degrees. Until Bobbie’s wedding came.

Lester and I flew into Utah one week in advance because tickets were the cheapest. So did Bobbie’s family. (They probably flew in earlier to help out with the preparations.) We gathered altogether at BYU’s bowling alley and I was instantly reminded of all the good times I had with the Lees. All the feelings that I thought I had forgotten came rushing back to me.

For Lester, he didn’t know Bobbie and Summer well, nor their families but for the entire time we were there, Lester assimilated into the household like he was the family friend of 17 years.

Not that I mind, but when you were suddenly tasked to be the errand-runner, driver, hair stylist, water refiller and ring bearer on the wedding day, you know you are either a slave, or a family.

I’m just so heartened that this “cousin-hood” that we share didn’t just stop at Bobbie. And to Uncle John, Aunt Michelle, Spencer, Kenneth, Michael, lil’ John (you too, Woonie) and of course, Summer, thank you for loving both Lester and I like family.