I went shopping with Jun Wei tonight at Parkway Parade. He was looking for a pair of boardshorts as his mother threw out our favourite pair of white pants. Girls are (supposedly) the ones who adore shopping. Not me though. I ended up sitting on the floor outside Planet Surf (and partially blocking people traffic) while he tried on three to four different pairs of boardshorts.

I knew that the two salesgirls at that shop kept looking at me but I pointedly ignored them because I did not feel embarrassed. Shoppers and families walked past me. Parents gave me an odd look; Children gave me curious stares. I simply looked here, there, anywhere.

Finally, after about 9834753094 years, Jun Wei emerged from Planet Surf with his precious boardshorts. He squatted to my eye level and apologised for taking so long. Then he went, “Guess what the salesgirls thought you were?”

“Your younger sister?” I asked.
He was shocked. “Huh? How did you know?”

Actually, I just got those vibes from them. They thought I was his younger sister because I was sitting outside on the floor, looking rather gloomy and moody. If I were his girlfriend, they presumed that I would be waiting for him in the store while he parades in those four boardshorts for me to see how great he looked in each of them.

Then, it was his turn to give me a shock.

“They thought you were 12.”
Whaaaaaaaat?!

Okay, I know I’ve been mistaken for being 14 or 15 but 12?! I took my PSLE eight years ago! It’s my sister’s turn next week, you fool! Baka-mono!

He was sad. “Do I really look that old?”

“Well, they did not guess how much older you were as a brother,” I replied. “Just be happy that they didn’t think that you were my dad.”

That made him stop short in his tracks.

And that made me laugh.

Happy Children’s Day!