my best friend

With a big wide grin etched across my face, I bounced along merrily towards Gongshang Primary School. It was my first day and I was proud to finally belong to a “big-boys’” school - that was how my mother put it. I saw hundreds of others, dressed just like me, not realizing that he was one of them. Escorted to my class by the kind girl in the blue and red tie, I found a space in the queue beside a skinny little boy who seemed to be perspiring profusely. It was then that I was first introduced to Wong Jun Peng, my best friend-to-be.

We started our relationship as partners, seated in the first row, right under our teacher’s nose. We weren’t very tall then, you see. Jun Peng has always been a very excitable boy. A very clear indication of his excited state will be when his voice raises to ear-bursting decibels. This has never changed.

We spend most of our time playing soccer although that is not the only thing we do. We also go for tuition classes at Educare Learning Centre in hope of getting high marks for our PSLE. I admire my best friend for his good working attitude. He always encourages me to strive for the best and even to better his score.

When I was in Primary 4, I represented Gongshang in table tennis. My team and I went into semi finals where we met very powerful opponents. I played the first singles. Playing the first singles nervously, I lost the first set. However, before the start of the second set, Jun Peng walked over and offered me words of encouragement. He convinced me that I was better than my rival. Although I did not believe him, it spurred me on to try even harder. With Jun Peng cheering me on, I won the next set and the deciding rubber. Eventually, Gongshang bowed out of the tournament to our opponents that day yet I did not feel down for I know that we had given it our all.

It has been almost six years since our primary one days and I must say that our bond has grown stronger. We have made plans to go to the same secondary school but even if that plan fails, we can always turn to emails and sms-es. Looking back, I am very glad to have found such a good friend in Jun Peng. I don’t know what the future holds for us but wish that our friendships lasts to a ripe old age.