Coming from a very big family, James’ aunt, who happened to be his mother’s youngest sibling, is the same age as him. They played together when they were young, but after a decade of no contact, Limin comes back from Australia to work in Singapore. Staying at James’ place, it didn’t take long for him to realise that the games you play when you were a kid and when you were a adult, can be ‘same same but different’.

I come from a very big family that is practically unheard of in this day and age. My parents, were Malaysians and they came to Singapore to work in the F&B industry. My dad was 20 when he met my mum who was 2 years younger. Life was simple back then, they fell in love and my mother had me when she was 19.

19 year olds today are probably still in school.

I was not the only one that was born that year, my aunt, Limin, my mother’s youngest sister, was born in Penang. Can you imagine that? My grandmother was 40 when she gave birth to Limin.

Anyway, growing up, i see Limin pretty often. My grandmother will bring her along to Singapore every now and then, they will stay in our place and i have a playmate.

Same age, but in terms of hierarchy, she is my aunt.

I remember calling her by her name all the time until when i was in primary school, my grandmother insisted that things need to change.

I need to address her as my senior, my aunt, or Ah Yee. Yes, stubborn old style mindset and all but while she grumble about it most of the time, she did not explicitly force me to say it except for chinese new year. Traditions dictate that we serve our elders tea and this is something that is observed in our family.

Limin and i kept giggling when i served her tea during Chinese new year. She was sitting on the chair, her legs dangling above the floor while i got on my knees and held up the cup of tea while the whole family looked on.

Nothing to shout about, just traditions.

Limin was a frequent guest at my place during school holidays, we go to the playground, we play, hit the arcades all the way till we were 12 years old. She went on to study in Australia and we sort of lost touch after that.

Yes there’s facebook and instagram and all but hello, searching for my Aunt’s name Teo Li min from Penang just feels so weird. I didn’t do it.

She did go back to Penang during festivities and family gatherings but i was not there.

I mean come on la, as a singaporean kid, at 12, is PSLE, then got ‘O’ levels. Then got ‘A’ levels, after that i hit the army, come out immediately go NUS.

I also have my own circle of friends so Limin just sort of drift to the back of my head. I know she’s there, i know she’s studying in Melbourne, and my mum mentions her sometimes. Other than that, she remained a figure in my past.

Until one Chinese new year.

I just graduated from university and landed my first job.

That will be one new year i will never forget.

Limin came to visit and my mum says she will be staying with us for a while.

Mum : She’s looking for a job here, got a few interviews set up already.

James: oh really? nice.

Mum : anyway, she’s arriving tonight. but i don’t think will be in time to join us for reunion dinner.

James: ok…

I didn’t think much of it.

It’s new years eve, after reunion dinner, i hit my gaming setup for a bit of Diablo and starcraft. I was already sound asleep when Limin arrived.

When my alarm rang at 7am, i stretched in bed and sighed.

New year, is about routine and ritual. There’s 6 places to visit on the first day and i’m already dreading the commute since my family don’t own a car, but it’s a once a year event. The least i could do was to show interest.

When i stepped out of the room, i froze.

I froze when i saw my aunt.

Limin.

She’s changed. Not in the way people change bit by bit, but all at once, like how a magician snap his finger.

The last time I saw Limin, she was a round-faced girl with a cropped haircut and a tendency to kick off her slippers before climbing into my bed to watch cartoons.

Back then, her arms jiggled together with her belly, her laugh was deep and loud, and her cheeks were always shiny and sticky from some junk food or snacks.

That image, was the last thing i remembered before she went to Australia.

But the woman standing before me is a stranger. She leans against the kitchen counter, scrolling her phone with one hand and holding a mug of coffee in the other. Her hair is now a few shades lighter, so straight it could’ve been cut with a blade, and it falls past her shoulders, framing a face that’s sharper, more pronounced.

The baby fat is gone. In its place there’s a poise, a confidence that seeps from her posture, her gaze, the slight tilt of her head when she sees me and lifts her chin in greeting.

She’s wearing a cheongsam. It’s nothing like the stiff, floral brocades my grandmothers wear for formal portraits, but a sleek and modern interpretation, white with pink lace, the collar high and the hem short enough to say, ‘i’m not a slut, but not a virgin either’.

The fabric clings to her, showing off curves I never imagined she would have. Her legs, impossibly long, and flawless and when she smiles, it’s both familiar and alien.

There’s no polite way to describe the feeling, my body responds before my mind can catch up, a flush of heat that creeps up my neck, lingering in my cheeks and ears.

I can’t help but stare; I know it’s wrong, but the sight of her stuns me stupid.

Even in this moment, I’m aware of the layers of taboo and tradition pressing down, but there’s something about the transformation that demands attention.

She glances up, catching me mid-gawk. Instead of looking away, she holds my gaze, a slow, knowing smile spreading across her lips. She’s amused by my discomfort, maybe even expecting it. This is a woman that knows how to hold men’s attention.

Limin : Ah boy! haha…

I swallowed a gulp of saliva as mumbled a hello.

It’s been 13 years since we last saw each other.

Can you imagine how i was feeling?

Mum : hurry up la James, late already. still need to serve tea!

James: orh ok…ok…

My mind was in a blur as i got changed, washed up, brushed my hair.

By the time i came back out to the living room, my family was ready for the tea ceremony. A couple of other uncles and aunties have arrived as well.

When it was my turn to serve Limin tea, she emerged from the crowd of elders and took a seat on the chair in front of me.

The contrast hit me like a slap. Those once pudgy legs that couldn’t reach the floor were now slender limbs crossed with casual confidence before me. Her yellow socks peeked from white Crocs that swayed slightly as she settled into the chair. My hands trembled around the teacup as my mind wandered to places it shouldn’t, places far removed from family tradition.

Coming soon