Hermanas (Sisters) Open Hearts Ring

⟡ 316 Stainless Steel PVD Plating
⟡ 18K Gold Plating
⟡ <7g weight
⟡ Tarnish Free, Water Safe Jewellery
⟡ Hypoallergenic

*Gift with purchase*

Love Story 4: Sisters by Shy & Curious TM

“Do you need separate bags?”
My sister and I glanced at each other with the same look of resignation.
“Nope, we live together so you can put them together. We’re sisters.”
“Oh really? Sorry I couldn’t tell!”

This was the script that used to play out when I first moved back home a decade ago whenever my sister and I went shopping. I was the eldest daughter while she was the youngest with six years of difference and a brother in between us. That was another area of contention whenever we encountered strangers – they’ll always assume I was the younger one. I was shorter, flirted and smiled more while my sister towered in the back, quiet and still with a stoic expression as she watched me flit around like a butterfly.

Our late mother used to take pleasure at narrating this particular story at family gatherings. She spoke of how when my sister was born and paraded as the prettiest, cutest, most darling baby girl that anyone had ever seen, I would curse and scowl and whisper angrily to my younger brother, “Look at that. She’s getting all the attention now, they’re going to forget about us.” It got so bad that when during one of my sourpuss tantrums sparked by jealousy, my sleep-deprived mother got so desperate and furious at me that she ran into the kitchen, grabbed a knife and put the blunt edge against my face, screaming, “Say you love your sister! She is family! Do you love your sister?” My prideful eyes were tearing as I defiantly shouted back, “No! I don’t love her!”

And my mother would laugh at this part of the story as she retorts in Malay to the rest of the enthralled listeners, “Degil nak mampus macam bapak dia!” (“She’s as pig-headed as her dad!”). Everyone else would roar with laughter and look at Shikin and I, now sitting side by side on the couch as we gave each other the same knowing look. See, we knew this was one of my mum’s favourite stories but the truth is simply that neither of us can remember a single snippet of it. We must have blocked out of our memory.

Over the years as I settled back and started to let my roots dig back in, my sister and I started to learn and unlearn more about each other’s quirks, dreams, fears, hang-ups and occasional tantrums. I’m a Leo, she’s a Pisces. I love gold, she’s a silver girl. I’m the messy one, she had her OCD moments. I’m a Minah at heart, she’s into K-pop. I put my heart out on my sleeve, she guards her secret to her chest. But now we can finish each others sentences and know what’s on the other’s mind with a secret look between us. Lately we’ve noticed that no one has brought up the question of separate shopping bags when we go out. Instead, they dive straight into the statement: “Oh you must be sisters, you look so alike!”

This time, it’s our turn to look at each other incredulously, raise our eyebrows and smirk at each other. “Really? Ok now guess who’s the older one…”