Biggest fan...

"My friends know so much about you because I talk about you... a lot!"

"Whenever I'm caught in some situation, I'd always try to imagine how you'd react or what you'd do if you were in the same situation. That helps."

"Hey, that doesn't look good on you!"

"Let me fix that..."

"What on earth were you thinking? What kind of singing was that?!"

--
These are but some of the millions of lines I remember her saying to me. She'd tell me, in brutal honesty, whenever she saw anything wrong with my appearance (clothes, face), my performance (in singing, dancing, public speaking, teaching, etc.). She'd be the first to congratulate me in my little triumphs and achievements. She'd be the first one to fight for me or defend me if and when the situation called for it. She'd be the first to tell me when I'm wrong. She's my biggest support system and my biggest critic!

She gets away with things I will never allow any other person to do and/or say to me. She's the only one who can touch my things without permission and gets away with it, too. She's the only one who can ask me for anything and I'd, more often than not, give in. She's the only one who can unabashedly laugh at me even when I'm in the worst mood. She's the only one who can actually make me laugh even when I'm so angry at her!

All these years, people have been comparing us. People would say to either of us: "Ey, mas mataid sekaniyan adi seka!" (She's prettier than you!)

Whenever I got this comment, I'd just smile/laugh and say, "Importante na palaya kami mataid." (What's important is we are both pretty.)

I've never minded being compared to her. When people say she's prettier or she's better in this and that than I am, I'd feel very proud of her. But, when people say I'm prettier or better in so many things than she, I'd feel offended. I'd always refuse to accept this and I'd usually explain that she's very young so it's not fair to compare her to me. I know it's difficult to be compared to anyone because it would seem like people would put you in a box and limit what you can do to what that other person can do. I'm lucky, in our case, because I'm older so I'm not the one who's put in the box.

I don't think she minds being compared to me, too. I'm just so glad that she's become one of the most confident people I know, much more confident than I ever was. She's so comfortable with who she is that it amazes even me sometimes. She likes the same things I like. She's into the same stuff I am/was into. But, more than that, she has things of her own, too. She says she wants to be just like me, but I always tell her that she can be more- much, much more. And, she understands that.

All this time, I've been observing how she's grown into the person that she presently is. She used to like anything I liked and hate anything I hated. She used to ask my opinion about anything and everything. She'd ask me things like, "Do you think this person is cute/good?"

If I said the person's not cute/good, she'd totally stick to this and even fight for it. She'd always say, "Diane says so..." That was for her the ultimate argument that no one can rebut! It seemed like, to her, my opinion was the only correct opinion or that I was never, ever wrong. It was really funny.

She eventually outgrew that phase. She started to see things through her own eyes and taste. She started to argue with me about things that she liked.:) I remember when she became an NSync fan and she thought I hated them. She told me, "I don't care if you hate them, I like them. Nothing you say is going to change that!" I just laughed because I didn't really hate NSync, I actually didn't know who they were then. She couldn't believe that!

Slowly, as time passed, she became her own person. People started to see her as herself and not merely my shadow or my very own Mini-Me! She broke free from that box people put her in. And, I couldn't be happier and more thankful for that.

"You're my idol, you know!" She told me this the last time I was home and we were together.

I jestingly said, "Yeah, I better be..." But, deep inside, I was surprised and felt really flattered.

This is the girl I saw went from one phase/stage to another. This is the girl I, unbeknownst to her, gather strength and confidence from. This is the girl I truly admire for her whole being. This is the girl so similar to yet so different from me. This is the girl whose advice I always take seriously. This is the girl who knows the real me and who knows the most about me. This is the girl I'd give anything and everything up for. This is the girl I vowed to protect from any harm. This is the girl I'd easily die and kill for. This is the girl whom I'll always be here for. This is the girl, though much younger than I am, I look up to most of the time. This is the girl I will never tire of talking about. This is the girl I will always be proud of no matter what. This is the girl I love and trust most! This girl is my best friend. She's my one and only little sister, Ayeesha Maruki (or Maroo)! Not everyone has someone like her and I know how truly lucky I am to have her.

My mom told me once, "She's your biggest fan."

Now, as she turns 19 (on the 13th), I would just like the whole world to know that I am actually her biggest fan!



My favorite girl... (Equally pretty, right? *wink*)

From left: Maroo, Prince and Delight (Best friends!)