It was more than 10 years ago. Auntie came over for the first time to borrow something and to say hi to a new neighbor. I was playing Saga Saturn or something and you joined me. After that we got along quite well. I remembered how we used whistle as a signal to call each other out. How we slacked at each others house daily. How we played Pokemon, Harvest Moon, and other GBA/PS2 games. How we raced with our scooters and bicycles around the neighborhood. How we played block catching, ice & water, hopscotch with the other kids. And also the location of our secret base (even though we didn't really use it). It was all so long ago.

But years later, all of a sudden, we turned distant. We stopped playing Gameboys. We stopped doing all the dumb stuffs with the other neighborhood kids. Gradually, even the windows that was always opened had closed. Now, I passed by your house everyday but i don't see you nor your family anymore. Not even a shadow. Heh...a neighbor that you couldn't even see more than 5 times in half a decade. How ironic. Now i had become used to walking down the corridor without turning my head a slightest bit towards your direction for i know that the windows will always be closed.

Not having a word to say to each other anymore, we pass-by each other as strangers.

It was sad to hear about uncle's illness. He was such a nice and friendly person despite all his tattoos. He would always ask about me when i walked by. I remembered that he always seems to be building things by the corridor. Cabinet, drawers etc. And also the half-a-bedroom size race tracks for our racing cars. But i was at his wake yesterday. He has succumbed to his illness. Rest in Peace.