I was a witness.

I've known Aivonne since I was 13 (high school). And Kenny since I was 17 (tuition). In fact, Kenny was my prom date in 1995 (ok, that's another story). I still remember Aiv's comment about Kenny that night.

Aiv: He looks like a kid-lah.

She would have to swallow her words three years later because the boy blossomed somewhat. And one night she told me,

Aiv: Eh, he's cute-lah.

When she wasn't looking, I kepoh.

WN: Eh, she said you're cute.
Kenny: She DID? (and starts grinning like an idiot)

The next thing I knew they were dating.
And Aiv had to leave for Australia.
And Kenny back to the States.

A few trans-Atlantic trips were made.
A few years of courtship after that.
And now, they are Mr & Mrs Kenny Chin.

2 July 2005
It is a beautiful garden wedding at Ciao's. The rain made the night cool and the guests late. I give Aiv a hug and a fuzzy feeling hits me. Like WOW, she's married. Tears well in my eyes, so I skittle off on the pretext of getting my abandoned wine glass. Sentimental sap.

The girls (Shih Yee, Chris, Kuin, Eve, Marissa, Laykha and Suzi) are here, giggling, laughing and talking like we used to. Suddenly we are teenagers in turqoise and navy blue uniforms again.

We are still the same people. Yet, so different now.
We don't talk about boys and exams anymore.
But about jobs and who's getting married next.

We don't gush over boy bands (I swear I was never an NKOTB fan), but wedding bands (the bigger the diamond, the better).

That night, I see flashbacks of Aiv playing Princess Jasmine in an Interact Club IU Nite, lip-synching to A Whole New World with our cutie pie president-to-be (that was back in 1992).

And Kenny's I've-never-slow-danced-with-a-girl-before look on his face on the prom dance floor.

I laugh to myself and eat some very nice wedding cake.

Aiv & Kenny, congratulations. Love you both.