Today FP and I celebrated our 10th year together. 10 years, who would have thought?
10 years ago, at this time, I’d just gotten my A level results, still unsure of what to do with my life. I was sorely disappointed into not getting into “the coveted University” and was wondering if I should pursue Law as I’ve always planned.
And now, my career has finally stabilized with quite a solid resume (if I should say so myself) and couldn’t be any further than my love of Law – which I truly wanted to take on since my schooling days. To say that my career is relevant to my degree won’t be quite accurate too. I mean how does someone who took up Mass Communication end up doing techy stuff like SEO, Pay-Per-Click and develop a strong interest in digital media?
Somehow things have worked itself out rather strangely, but it is not necessarily a bad thing. And throughout my progression from a lost A Level Cert Holder to Uni Student to Struggling Fresh-grad (who couldnt get a job for the life of her) to landing my first proper job to my down-est moment in my career and finally to an Experience and Established Career Girl – the boyfriend has been there all along. To hold my hand, to guide me through, to give me the extra “push” when I needed it.
Just like how I’ve been there for his Polytechnic graduation, Army Days, 1001 different hobbies that he got bored off as quickly as he got passionate into them, through his career with the government – which consisted of 3 different “chapters” so to say, his decision to take up a part time degree. What I’m trying to say is that we’ve grown up together in the past decade. Today we met after work – him in proper office wear, and me in a dress with a cardigan and flats – and it made me think back of just how much we’ve grown up – individually and together as a couple.
Where were those two kids who had little money, unsure of their future, who wore casual clothes (I wear casual to work almost everyday now, but today I didn’t and it seems especially poignant), who were happy just eating cup noodles and people watch? We could only dream of taking frequent vacations, or even getting nice gadgets/things/clothes. And yet, we were happy.
We’ve somehow become these “adults” with financial stability, who can decide their next holiday destination in a split second, who own nice gadgets bought with our hard-earned money – and most importantly stay happy together throughout it all.
We still hold hands when we walk, and tell each other “I love you” ever so often. We laugh and joke everyday, often laughing at ourselves (and at each other). We make up silly and utterly nonsensical nicknames for each other on an almost daily basis. Strangely, everything still feels so new. Sometimes, even though we speak in English, other people just can’t “get” what we’re on about simply because for a lot of words, there’s a double, even triple meaning to us. It’s as if we made up a new language within the English language. Language-ception, heh.
When we first started, I couldn’t imagine we’d come this far. Not surprising considering my past relationships didn’t even go beyond a year. But we took the leap and without us realizing, 10 years has passed. I know that realistically, we ought to already been married and have a couple of kids by now, but it still hasn’t happened – but I’m happy now. He makes me happy and I’m truly blessed to have been paired with someone who is the polar opposite of me in so many ways, and yet puts me on a pedestal and adores me. Some people are married with kids but are not happy. We can’t predict happiness.
Of course with true love comes a whole load of challenges. And that has been very true for us. But we braved through each and every one of those challenges, holding to each other tightly and came out stronger than before.
I wouldn’t trade the past ten years for anything in the world. And I’m glad I’ve given the best years of my life to you. Thank you for always taking care of me, and loving me that much. Here’s to many more decades ahead. I love you 