to: the cutie that i love the most in the world 

This is my first time writing you a letter, and i’m sorry that this is the first even though we’ve been together for five years. Happy birthday! 

When the me five years ago first met you, i probably didn’t think you would change my world, or stay in the rest of my life, thank you for all of what you bought to me in the five years. 

I still remember the first time i met you, the seventeen year old you who suddenly walked into my world, you were cute and very shy. In fact, you were so shy that you could not talk to me in the beginning, and only greeted me awkwardly. You even kept a small distance when we walk together, yet, you always seem happy to chat to me and our chats always go late into the night. 

The first time we cosplayed together, I was sitting across from you, you were helping me with my makeup, my eyes only had you in it, and your eyes only had mine. You carefully drew one line by one line (metaphor for putting on makeup) and shyly smiled. I cosplayed date masamune and you cosplayed sand yukimura. I found out for the first time that i can be this handsome. After the nervous preparations, we went for the convention. I still remember the 2011 shanghai summer heat, i was sweating like crazy, and you wiped it off gently for me. As we go through different crowds of people, you introduced me to your friends. As i hold onto your hands in the crowd, i didn’t let go of that hand for another five years. (YO I LOVE THIS LINE) 

When we talk about the day we first go together, we can never figure out which day exactly can be our anniversary, we argued a long time over this, but we’re still together. 

When i’m at your house, i sleep on the top bunk and you sleep at the bottom, you’ll climb next to my head to wait for me to clumsily kiss you. The first time we went out to eat/date, we were so shy. On the way back, you waited until there was no one on the road to hold my hand. 

And then after that, we began our long distance relationship, where you always had to travel for 5 hours to see me. I waited for you at the station, and after i get your luggage, we go to the restaurant next to the school to eat. There were times where i came to Hang Zhou to find you instead, where we go shopping, eat or just stay at a hotel. Everytime the holiday’s over, you never want to go home, and we’ve had countless arguments over this, but you obediently went home in the end (aww). As i can’t stop you from staying for one more day, you make up lots of excuses to your mum to let you stay. I don’t remember why you always came and find me, but i always did feel very guilty that it took you so much trouble and time to come see me, thank god that this part of our journey is over. (long distance)

We then moved in together, into a very old, very little house opposite our university, i excitedly decorated. organised and renovated everything. In the end, it looked like a real home. We never have to meet at hotels in a rush anymore, and you don’t need excuses to stay anymore. Everyday, when i have lessons at the uni, i bring back lunch during lunch break, and afterwards, if we have no class, we’d go shopping, watch movies. Even though this isn’t the most expensive of dates, but thinking of it makes me feel warm and loved. 

We then had our first cat, and then came a second. Our money savings were also growing, i wanted to give you a better life, so i got ready to buy a second house. 

Then came the happiest period before we went out the country. We changed houses, it was very big and comfortable. I just remember being together almost all the time and our family expanded to 5 cats, they’re all your precious babies. We stayed there for 2 years, and had many beautiful memories. With the days passing quickly, we still had the pressure of thinking of our future and what we’re gonna do with it. 

We both told our families we wanted to study abroad. Starting in a new country was not easy. We faced our first time of being separated for a long time. You went to Singapore first to study, and i stayed inside the country to finish uni. It was a three month separation and i never thought that this period would be so hard to get over. Even though i flew over every month to see you, i always missed you, and you were also alone in another country, celebrating your birthday without me. We occasionally FaceTime, where you talk about your experiences in Singapore and i show you your five babies’s (Cats) activities. 

After that, we finally began our new life in Singapore together. It was a new life, of hard work and sweat and tears. It was all a new challenge for us, but as i wake up every morning and the first thing i see is you, there’s nothing that makes me happier. I occasionally miss the life back in china, where days were without trouble, where days were always happy with our cats –– this makes me very nostalgic. As you went back to school to study, the pressure of school also affected your emotions and mood. Really, this one year and a half really wasn’t easy, we always try our best to get over every obstacle. Through all those troubles and problems, i’m thankful i always had you by my side. We eventually also adapted to the harder life and began to save up money again. Life gradually became easier, and fitted into the ideal future we wanted. 

When the long holiday came, i was also busy completing the graduation procedures. Our first honeymoon trip (i think they meant a couple retreat?because they’re not married yet) was also on the calendar. We choose our airlines, hotels, clothes, packed our luggages. This was our first time out of the country that wasn’t for a anime convention. Everyday, i think back to the sweet memories of the holiday, i promise you we’ll go again!!

I’ve reached the end of the letter, and this is the 6th birthday i’ve celebrated with you, writing this letter made me nostalgic and gave me too many memories that cannot all be written. 

I love you, there are so many words i want to say that cannot surpass these three words, our journey had many troubles and obstacles and it was not easy. I always celebrate how our decisions allowed us to make it through the 5 years. In the future 10, 20, 30 years i always wish for you to be happy. I’ll follow you for the rest of time, forever, together, love you.