I'm 17

Approximately a year ago, on our way in a van to one of the scenic towns in Bali, the chinese local tour guide engaged us in a er.. friendly conversation,I suppose.

Tour Guide: I see that you have three grown up kids and an adorable baby.
Mum: Yes. She just turned one (pointing to Mei Ting), and this one is turning thirteen and..
Tour Guide: Ahh. And these two are the elder ones! So this must be Da Jie (smiles at me) , and this is Di Di..

Bro and I exchanged glances and his lips twitched into an evil grin. Laughing his head off, he smacked me on my back for no apparent reason and my whole family (but me) decided to join in this very "merry" occasion.. and God knows how long it took them to settle down and save themselves from further embarrassment in front of other tourists, whose heavy gazes seemed to be resting upon us.

Tour Guide: What is it?
Mum: (Stifling her laughter) You got it the other way round! This is the elder one..(poking my pulling-a-straight-face bro)
Tour Guide: (In aghast) You must be pulling me leg!! He looks younger! (Insensitive to me who hasn't been smilling very naturally)

I wasn't sure if the tour guide was convinced. I'm my elder brother's elder sister? How could she? Was it because I wasn't in pleats? Was it my plump appearance or mature hairstyle or my pimples? I remember concluding that my bro was behaving way too childishly for a 20-year-old adult.(which will be defended by a "Oh PLEASE" by my bro) But ANYWAY, I got over it.


And so a year later,

Neal (a new friend): I'm from Taman Sea. You?
Me: I used to be from CHS.
Neal: Used to be? Where are you kicked out to? (Jokes, i think)
Me: I graduated from there.
Neal: Whoa!!! So you are in college now?
Me: I graduated from there as well.
Neal: Oh my god, are you twenty or something?
Me: (Dumbfounded, stares blankly. Twenty registered in mind ) I'M NEVER TALKING TO YOU AGAIN! (Walks off)
Neal: (Comes running after) OK fine! You're eleven!
Me: (Rolls eyes) I'M SEVENTEEN.
Neal: But you graduated from college. OH MY GOD. (Pauses) CHILD PRODIGY!!!! (=.=)

(Whisked off in Aunt's car and saved from the I'm-speechless situation)

Come to think of it, I was kind of rude to not say goodbye.


What's with me and age? I'm a youthful, energised, hyper, sweet, lovable seventeen!


Seventeen, Seventeen, seventeen, seventeen, seventeen??


Mortifying, talk about wounded pride.The first cut is the deepest, and so is the second!!!!! Perhaps I'm being melodramatic. But, something has to be done.






A fringe perhaps.