I thought I’d reserve such acts of tough love for my siblings, but Joachim is like the brother I actually have, who is a pain in my neck in equal measure:
- Quite an obvious fact, but he loves The Outsiders.
- Another oldie he likes is Great Teacher Onizuka.
- His grammar is questionable – who leaves a space between the last word and an exclamation or question mark?
- He and I made a pact to get together if both of us were single in December 2006 (it didn’t happen). In hindsight, what were we thinking?
- He’s been a fan of Rafael Nadal for almost as long as I’ve been supporting Roger Federer – I’m assuming he became one to piss me off.
- Sometimes, he forgets that he’s a guest in my house when we watch Federer and Nadal play – he is ruthless and unabashed with his cheers and I’ve threatened to kick him out several times.
- He and Christopher bet on tennis matches – Joachim is ahead, because they forget to wager on the ones that Federer wins.
- Joachim and I are meant to be rivals – we rooted for different finalists in the first season of Singapore Idol. Again, what were we thinking?
- To wit, he was behind London (I wanted Paris) in the bid for the 2012 Olympic Games – we know which country won.
- He is the only person for whom I would eat purple potatoes.
- One of the three cakes I’ve made in my lifetime was for his 17th birthday.
- He can be (uncharacteristically?) sentimental – until a few months ago, he frequently wore a band I got for him from Cambodia.
- He has a crush on… Yeah, she knows.
- The first time we spoke was on Maundy Thursday in 2004.
- A significant part of our friendship was built over roti prata.
- I used to call him ‘Milo Boy’, but I cannot remember why.
- We once spent 40 minutes in Orchard Road pointing out people whom we thought were attractive… And agreed on none.
- He has a big heart.
- He’s smart and cool – he received an award for his outstanding grades in Mass Communication and he can play the drums.
- A message from him makes my day, as he says the craziest things. Most recently, he commented that I look like Federer in the birthday video I did (WTF, right?) – it was either a jab at my nose or hair, and not because of my awesome tennis skills.
- He turns 21 today – HAPPY COMING-OF-AGE!
